Little Pied Shag jumping up out of the water to dry its wings off. Shags (cormorants) have no oil gland - this makes them less buoyant and able to dive more easily to feed, but it also means they have to dry their feathers, particularly the wings or they drown.

So they find a place to stand and shake their wings and spread them out in the air to dry. While doing this they are vulnerable and if driven back into the water can drown, so it's important they aren't disturbed.


Maori Name: Kawaupaka.
Phalacrocorax P. malanoleucos