Many birds call the Porirua Harbour home. When the striking pied shags arrive and take up residence in trees next to the estuary, neighbours are forced to consider how close they want the wildlife.
What do shags use use to build there nests?
What are some interesting observations about shags?
What sort of trees do shags nest in?
January
Recreation
February
Fishing
March
Shags
April
Pollution
May
Tides
June
Urban Catchment
July
Pauatahanui Reserve
August
Sediment
September
Creatures Great & Small
October
The Rural Catchment
November
Industrial Catchment
December
The Future
Episode information
Because of their size and strength, macrocarpa trees are the currently the best nesting trees around the harbour for shags.
Get a permit, talk to DOC, (Richard Gill Doc Kapiti knows what to do if you have problems with shags).
Involve your neighbours - knock on their door & tell them what you’re up to.
The amount of shags in a colony depends on the size of the tree the birds have to nest in, as well as whether they are at all threatened by external factors such as weather or tree felling.
Pied Shag eggs hatch between 27 and 31 days from laying. The chicks grow quickly and usually fledge between 4 and 6 weeks. For more info, read the Shags part of this GOPI newsletter.
Te Ara has more information on the history of bird watching in New Zealand
Have a look at the Ornithological Society NZ website for more information on the study of birds in Aotearoa
Pied Shag eggs hatch between 27 and 31 days from laying. The chicks grow quickly and usually fledge between 4 and 6 weeks. For more info, read the Shags part of this GOPI newsletter.
Te Ara has more information on the history of bird watching in New Zealand.
Have a look at the Ornithological Society NZ website for more information on the study of birds in Aotearoa.
Read more about local birds around Whitireia Park here.
Get involved in protecting native species. For a list of our native bird rescue centres, visit nzbirds.
The Department of Conservation has some handy tips on what to do if you find a banded or injured bird.
If you follow this link you can find the ‘Birdwing’ brochure from the SPCA Birdwing Centres in Auckland under ‘Preserving and Caring for the Bird in our Natural Environment’. It has great information and practical advice for looking after birdlife, especially what to do if you find one that is injured.
A colony of birds will try their best to find another suitable tree nearby. The shag colony in our video has relocated to Pukerua Bay.
For a list of Native Bird rescue centres visit birdrescue.
