More shags nesting in Botanic Garden

Photos by Peter McIntosh.
Photos by Peter McIntosh.

A family of little shags nesting beside the Dunedin Botanic Garden duck pond have grown to become a small community.

Since last November shag numbers at the garden have slowly increased from the one nest in a hawthorn tree to at least five. Garden curator Alan Matchett said staff were monitoring the effect of the birds closely.

''We'd be concerned if it grew any more.''

There were one or two valuable trees in the area which the garden did not want to see damaged by the shags.

Shags defoliated trees to make their nests and when they roosted broke off branches and leaves so they could perch, he said.

There was also the issue of the smell created by their defecation.

No plans had been made on how to deal with increased numbers, Mr Matchett said.

 

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