Pied shags at Thames Coast colony die of starvation
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Date: 11 July 2008
Stormy weather conditions in late June prevented the Thames Coast pied shag colony at Tararu from obtaining sufficient food sources leading to the starvation and deaths of a number of birds in the colony.
The long period of wet cold weather and rough seas has caused extended disruption of these coastal seabirds gaining access to their food source in the Firth of Thames. Pathology results obtained from Massey University, Palmerston North of one of the Tararu pied shags gave a body condition score of 1/9 (very poor). The recent consumption of a small bird suggested that normal food was in short supply. The resulting diagnosis: starvation / malnutrition, caused weakness with insufficient energy for flight. In combination with cold conditions could result in hypothermia.
Pied shag
"This phenomenon has been observed in other shag colonies (Banks Peninsula, Marlborough Sounds and the West Coast) where younger shags tend to be most vulnerable" says Maurice Alley, Veterinarian at Massey University.
While botulism (a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by bacteria) was considered by some as a possible cause of the shags odd behaviour; it is a summer time condition and tends to occur more commonly in rivers and lakes.
Pied shags breed in pÅhutukawa or pine trees overhanging the sea, a distinctive feature of the Thames Coast. They are a coastal species feeding only in coastal waters and rarely venture more than a kilometre or so offshore. They feed on coastal fish such as mullet and flounder and also paddle crabs and eels. Pied shags dive below the surface to feed, diving down to depths of 20 metres. The pied shag or karuhiruhi is a native species which is totally protected.