People Asked to Care For King Shag

Chronicle (Levin), 3 February 1949, Page 3

People Asked to Care For King Shag

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Eeb. 2. A species of New Zealand native bird whieh exists nowhere else -in the world, is in danger of complete extermination, states the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Bird lovers throughout New Zealand 1 and particularly residents of the Marlborough Sonnds disU'ict, are asked by the Minister of Internal Affairs to do all that they can to ensure that the few remaining members of the species are not molested in any way whatsoever. The threatened bird, says Mr. Parry, is the King or Carunculated ' shag. This very rare species is found only in the bounds, on White Rocks, on the Sentinel beyond Chetwode Island, and on the northernmost of the Trios Group. It forms nesting eolonies on the surface of the rock and when sitting on | these nests is entireiy defeneeiess. The King shag is similar in size and general appearanee to the Pied shag but may be distinguished by some white patches on the upper surface of the wings and back and by its pink or whitish feet. It feeds mainly upon small rock fish in the vicinity of its nesting places and it is quite harmless to commercial lisheries. It has been absolutely -protected for the past 21 years. A more slender species, silver grey with a white stripe and plumes on its neck inr- spring, is the so ealled Spotted j shag which frequents narrow rock j ledges. This beautiful cormorant is also rightly 'aiforded proteetion by our . laws. j Mr. Parry adds that nnder this pro- j teetion it- was- hoped that the King shag vvould inerease in numbers but unfortunately today the total population of this bird is not much more than 100.