

2021 Photo Competition
Date posted: 21-Jan-2021
2021 Photo Competition Now Open
It is that time of year again when we are look..
Primary School Science Conservation 2020 Award
Date posted: 18-Dec-2020
Dylan Lewis Y7 from Mahurangi College, Warkworth, being presented with the ..
Supporters of Tiritiri Inc and Fullers 360 Science Conservation 2020 Award
Date posted: 18-Dec-2020
The NIWA Auckland City Science and Technology Fair winner of the Supporters of Tiritiri ..
2020 Conservation Week
Date posted: 12-Aug-2020
Meet the Takahē on Tiritiri Matangi Island
When: 1:30 pm, ..
AGM 2020
Date posted: 25-Jul-2020
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE TO WEDNESDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2020 due to Covid restrictions at t..
Ferry Resuming July 4th!
Date posted: 01-Jun-2020
Great News!!!
We have confirmation Fuller360 ferry service to Tiritiri Matangi wi..
The 2020 Photo Competition Winners
Date posted: 22-May-2020
Here are the winning and commended photos from this year's competition. Congratulations to the photo..
Celebrate the Takahe Art Competition
Date posted: 08-Apr-2020
Hi Tiri Kids,
It’s TakahÄ“ Awareness Month!
Everyone loves our takah..
COVID-19 Important Information
Date posted: 25-Mar-2020
The government has announced that New Zealand is now at alert level 2 for COVID-19. Th..
2019 Winner Primary School Supporters of Tiritiri and Fullers 360 Science Award is Ethan Raymond
Date posted: 11-Mar-2020
Ethan has helped the Enviro-Warriors in many ways such as planning, gard..
Pied Shag
Scientific name: |
Phalacrocorax varius varius |
Maori Name: |
Karuhiruhi |
|
|
Conservation status: |
Threatened, Nationally vulnerable |
Mainland status: |
Widespread in northern sheltered regions |
Size: |
81cm, 2kg |
Lifespan: |
20+ years |
Breeding: |
All year |
Diet: |
Fish |
This large shag is glossy black above and has black thighs and feet. The face from above the eye and the under parts is white. The bill is long and grey with pink below the bill. There is a patch of buff-yellow bare skin in front of the green eye which is surrounded by a blue eye-ring. The Pied Shag is silent except when nesting when the bird makes guttural croaks and gurgling sounds.
Diet is mainly live fish – flounder, mullet, perch, smelt and eels.
Pied shags usually nest in small colonies in cliff-side trees and can breed all year round, but laying peaks in July–October and January–March. The nest is usually a large platform 0.5m across built of sticks and seaweed. The clutch of 3–4 pale bluish-green eggs is incubated for 25–33 days. The chicks fledge at 47–60 days old and are fed by their parents for up to 11 weeks after fledging.
Pied shags breed in small numbers on Tiritir Matangi and are seen frequently round the coast. The photo below shows a large chick being fed at its nest on the Island.
Learn more about the pied shag at New Zealand Birds Online.
Photography by: Dr Kerry Rodgers © (above right) and John Stewart © (below).
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking. Moon, G The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Birds.