New Zealand King Shag – stays in the cook strait waters

stays in the cook strait waters

Size: Length: 70-80 cm, Weight: 2.0-2.8 kg
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: Carnivorous - dives for small fish in coastal waters. Feeds in the swift currents of Cook Strait. Pursues prey underwater using feet and wings.
Habitat: Coastal waters, rocky shores, and open seas of Cook Strait. Breeds on remote rocky islets and cliff faces. Requires undisturbed sites with good perching rocks.
Range: Endemic to New Zealand. Restricted to Cook Strait, breeding on a few rocky islets off the South Island coast near Marlborough. Does not leave Cook Strait.
Endemism: Endemic
Main Threats: Disturbance of breeding colonies by boats and kayaks. Oil spills in Cook Strait. Climate change affecting prey distribution. Small population size increases extinction risk.
Population: Global population estimated at 600-800 birds, restricted entirely to Cook Strait. Classified as Nationally Critical by DOC, one of the rarest shags in the world.
Conservation Status: Nationally Vulnerable
Human Risk: harmless
Handling Note: endangered native shag, do not approach nesting colonies
Conservation Note: Endemic shag; breeds only in Marlborough Sounds, threatened by habitat disturbance and predation.
Assessment: NZTCS Birds (2021)
Te Ao Māori: Kawau is the Māori name for shags. The New Zealand king shag is the largest of the kawau. It was known to Māori who travelled Cook Strait. Its feathers were used in adornment. This use signified status. The bird's preference for remote, dangerous islets made it a bird of the wild places. It was associated with the power of the sea. It was associated with the wind. This association persists. The bird remains a symbol of the untamed coast. It represents the force of the strait.

A large, heavy shag that lives only in the rough waters of Cook Strait. The New Zealand king shag is a bird of the currents, the tides, and the wind. It does not travel far from the strait. It does not need to. Everything it needs is here. The location is specific. The isolation is total. This is its world. The plumage is black above and white below. A greenish sheen covers the back and wings. The face is dark with a blue eye ring. The bill is dark. The legs are pink. In breeding season, a small crest rises from the forehead. A yellow caruncle appears at the base of the bill. The bird looks decorated. It is. The ornamentation signals status. It signals readiness. It is part of the display. It feeds on small fish. It dives in the swift currents of Cook Strait. It swims low. It dives often. It surfaces somewhere else. A king shag underwater is fast, agile, and silent. On land, it is awkward. The legs are set far back. It waddles. It does not care. The clumsiness is temporary. The water is where it belongs. The land is just a place to rest. The nest is a platform of seaweed and sticks. It is built on a rocky islet or a cliff ledge. Two or three eggs are laid. Both parents share incubation. The colony is small. A few dozen nests are spaced apart. The birds do not crowd. They keep their distance. They value space. The king shag breeds on a handful of islets in Cook Strait. White Rocks, Duffers Reef, and Lion Rock. These are tiny islands. The waters are dangerous. The birds are safe there. For now. The safety is fragile. It depends on isolation. It depends on luck. The population has never been large. A few hundred birds. It has always been rare. The threats are many. Disturbance from boats is a risk. Oil spills are a risk. Climate change affects prey distribution. A single disaster could wipe out the species. The margin for error is zero. The numbers are not encouraging. Conservationists monitor the colonies. They count the birds. They protect the islands. They hope. The effort is constant. The outcome is uncertain. The bird persists despite the odds. The call is a low, grunting croak. It is often heard at the colony. It is not musical. It does not need to be. It serves a purpose. It marks territory. It maintains contact. The king shag is named for its size. It is the largest shag in New Zealand. It is also one of the rarest. It lives in one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the country. It seems to like it there. The Māori name "kawau" is shared with other shags. This one is the king. It has earned the title. It carries on.