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Summary
An aerial survey of New Zealand king shag colonies was conducted on 22 May 2025 during the early breeding season. Of the 15 known colonies checked, 7 had birds actively nesting. A total of 197 occupied nests and 239 birds were counted.
The largest colonies were at Kuru Pongi/North Trio Island (56 nests), Duffers Reef (37), White Rocks (29), and Rahuinui (25), with three smaller colonies making up the rest. This total is 30–40% lower than the 287–326 pairs counted between 2019 and 2021.
It is similar, however, to the low counts recorded in 2015–2017 and again in 2024. It is unclear whether the recent drop reflects normal fluctuations in a small population or signals an emerging decline. To clarify this, more regular surveys are needed.