The Spotted Shag is the most elegant of New Zealand's shags, and it knows it. Where the Black Shag is a hulking presence and the Little Shag is inconspicuous, the Parekareka is slender and graceful. It has a long, thin neck and a fine, pointed bill. A double crest rises during breeding displays, giving it the appearance of a small, feathered emperor. The plumage is soft slate-grey above and white below. Small black spots on the back and wings give the species its English name. It is a bird of distinction. This is a bird of the open coast, not the sheltered harbours favoured by other shags. It nests on narrow ledges on steep sea cliffs. Colonies can number hundreds of pairs. These are spectacular sights. Birds perch on every available ledge. Wings spread to dry in the sun. Crests rise. Bright blue eye rings and greenish facial skin gleam against the grey rock. The noise is constant. A low, grumbling chorus of breeding birds punctuates the air. Higher-pitched calls mark the arrival and departure of adults. It is a busy neighbourhood. At sea, the Parekareka is a pursuit diver. It chases small fish and crustaceans in clear coastal waters. It dives from the surface with a neat forward arc. Large, webbed feet propel it through the water. It stays submerged for a minute or more. It often surfaces some distance from where it went down. Unlike some shags that fish alone, this species forages in small flocks. They herd schools of small fish into shallow water. This makes them easier to catch. Cooperation pays. The breeding colony is a high-stakes environment. Each pair defends a tiny ledge. It is often barely large enough to hold the nest. The nest itself is a messy platform of seaweed and sticks. Guano cements it together. The female lays two or three pale blue eggs. Both parents share incubation. Chicks hatch naked and helpless. They grow slowly into scruffy, demanding juveniles. Eventually they fledge and leave the colony. The cycle repeats. Oil spills can devastate entire colonies. Disturbance by boats and kayakers approaching too close is another threat. A shag colony that is repeatedly disturbed may abandon its nests. Eggs and chicks die. Careful management includes buffer zones around breeding sites. With these measures, the Spotted Shag has remained common. It is a bird of the wild coast. A creature of the interface between cliff and sea. Its continued presence is a measure of how well we protect our most rugged shorelines. The numbers are stable. The bird carries on.