Black Shag is a New Zealand native bird also known as Black Cormorant, Great Cormorant, Large Black Shag, and its Maori name Kawau.
DISTINCT FEATURES
Kawau has prominent dark brown to black feathers, green eyes, cream-coloured cheek with a yellow hint at the base of its beak. It is often mistaken with the smaller Little Black Shag. The two native birds have similar characteristics except for the cream-coloured neck seen in Kawau, and their size difference.
ARE BLACK SHAGS ENDANGERED?
This native bird is not facing the risk of extinction, but they are easily intimidated by human presence due to past experience with fishermen hunters. The population of Black Shags or Kawau drastically dropped throughout New Zealand because past fishermen deemed them as pests competing for fish and trout. It wasn't until the 1980s that Black Shags were claimed as protected local wildlife, after research studies confirmed them to be harmless to the fishing industry. Unfortunately, it is still unknown to some locals that Kawau are non-threatening — some are still hunted today.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
When aboard The Rock Adventure Cruise in the Bay of Islands, you can easily spot Black Shags sprawling on the coastlines after a good dive to catch fish and crustaceans. They usually spread their wings to dry out after every dive.
FUN FACTS
In Asia, Black Shags (Great Cormorants) are believed to be trained and tamed birds that can dive up to 45 meters deep to catch fish for their master. For every 7 fish caught, they get one to eat.