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Part of Drumbuoy Farm lies within Blanket Nook Wildfowl Sanctuary, along the shores of Lough Swilly. Blanket Nook is an extremely unique site in that it was reclaimed in the 19th century similar to Inch levels in Burt, through the construction of an embankment cutting off over 1000 acres of mudflat from the Swilly estuary. The lands have been drained to create flat, large, fertile fields that are a disparate feature within this contrasting landscape. This land reclamation has created a habitat for a wealth of wildlife and as such Blanket Nook forms part of two Natura 2000 sites designated under the EU Habitats and Bird Directives.

Lough Swilly Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) protects 31 birds species, 1 mammal species and 6 habitats within the site. Nearly all of the bird species are found within and around Drumbuoy Farm. The sanctuary is an internationally significant site for migrating birds from across the world as well as being an important site for a diverse range of habitats and other wildlife. The fields and lagoon at Drumbuoy Farm are an important stopping and staging site for migratory birds in autumn/winter when they first make landfall to Ireland from several countries including Iceland, Greenland and Northern Canada. Similarly, these migratory birds stop here and fuel up on crops and grass before making the thousands of kilometre journey back to their breeding grounds.

The sanctuary includes a 70-acre man-made brackish lagoon which bounds Drumbuoy Farm and was formed when the embankment was constructed to drain the land. This is an important habitat for roosting and feeding birds particularly waders.

Drumbuoy Farm is involved in a variety of wildlife initiatives and projects primarily aimed at habitat and bird conservation. Most notable is the management plan for geese through the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The farm hosts in excess of 30% of Irelands wintering flock of greylag geese at any one time during the wintering months.

Drumbuoy Farm was the first farm in Ireland to enter into this farm specific farm plan for birds approximately 20 years ago. Measures are undertaken for the benefit of geese (and other birds) including the establishment of a fodder beet strip which is sown specifically for geese to feed on. Other measures include the management of grassland to a suitable sward height through conservation grazing to accommodate foraging and roosting birds. Other notable species found on Drumbuoy Farm include whooper swan, pink-footed goose, kingfisher, redshank, lapwing, curlew, oystercatcher, grey heron, snipe otter and bat species including soprano pipistrelle, common pipistrelle and Daubenton’s bat.