#piedshag

[nunoxaviermoreira]

Pied Shag. NZ. (Phalacrocorax varius,) by Bernard Spragg The pied shag is found exclusively in Australia and New Zealand, wintering along the whole coast and inland in both countries Shags are swift underwater swimmers, with a sharp hooked beak to help them catch fish and small crustaceans. They are often seen sitting on a perch with their wings spread out, drying their feathers. This is because a shag’s feathers are not waterproof, making it easier for them to dive and stay underwater for an average of 20 to 30 seconds per dive. But it also means the birds quickly get waterlogged and cold. So after a bout of fishing, shags must spend a lot of time preening and drying to restore their feathers and warm up. http://flic.kr/p/W2Mozm

[thewildmenagerie-blog]

The juvenile Pied Shag (Phalacrocorax varius) differs from the adults in coloration. The adult takes on a solidly black and white plumage, bright yellow in the corner of the eyes and blue ring surrounding the eyes—and indication of being breeding age. The pied shag is a native to New Zealand’s coastlines, using trees alongside coastal cliffs as their nesting sites. Generally foraging solitarily during the day, they return to nesting sites at night. Formally they were under threat from fishermen who viewed them as competing for the same fish, though this is much less common now. The greatest human threat facing pied shags is drowning in craypots, set-nets and on inshore longlines (which have claimed the lives of many seabirds). Species status: Vulnerable

[superbnature]

Pied Shag by timz501 http://flic.kr/p/jkRf9b