Black shag

Commonly seen fishing Bon Accord Harbour or resting on rocks along the shore.

Story

New Zealand's biggest shag is also called kawau. For decades anglers persecuted it, convinced it ate too many trout. Today fishing lines and set-nets are the greater danger, and 5,000–10,000 adults remain.

Behaviour

Black shags usually fish alone in water under 3 m deep, with dives of about 21 seconds. They eat mullet, spotties and eels, and even ducklings. Breeding adults grow a small crest and white thigh patches.