HABITS OF SHAGS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 257, 27 July 1936, Page 10

HABITS OF SHAGS

Reported Feeding on Grey Duck

DR. G. F. V. ANSON’S VIEWS

The possibility that shags may be changing their habits and adding another notch to their stick of iniquity by feeding on the young of the grey duck is suggested in a report from Hawke's Bay. and the feeding habits of shags are being investigated by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society. Mrs. G. Fleming, of Wanstead, who has been observing wild duck and their habits for some years, was watching a grey duck and brood of ducklings swimming on a lagoon near her home when she noticed that they seemed very disturbed. As she watched a shag rose from beneath the water and was seen to swallow something. A few seconds later the shag chased one of the ducklings. The duckling dived ; so did the shag; then the shag was seen to rise, alone, and swallow something again. Mrs. Fleming procured a gun and shot the shag, which,, on being opened, was found to have five ducklings in it. “I feel inclined to state definitely that shags will not touch ducks, but that seems to be a reliable report,” said Dr. G. F. V. Anson, president of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, when commenting on the report. “As far as we know, the Shag feeds entirely on fish. At the present time its feeding habits are under investigation by, the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, which proposes to offer a bonus for a limited number of shags’ stomachs from the different rivers iu the district. A report is to be made by a student at Victoria University College, who will be working under the supervision of Professor H. B. Kirk.” Mr. E. F. Stead, the Christchurch naturalist, considers that the biggest enemies of the grey duck next to the man with the guu are hawks and eels. Mr. Stead’s observations have led him to the conclusion that the muchmaligned shag does not kill very many cluck. There is, he considers, no doubt that the shag might occasionally make a meal of duckling. In the ordinary course of events, however, duck is not a usual article of diet for the shag.