Listed as Vulnerable, this endemic has a greater population than other NZ subantarctic shag species, some 7-8000. Found on most of the Auckland group,
they are listed as Vulnerable, but since the eradication of rats and feral cats the population is thought to be stable, in fact due to staggered breeding it may be underestimated. Most of the
birds shown here are immatures and they seem quite common on the main Campbell Island. They forage in flocks, small or up to a thousand, presumably dependent on fish availabilty and may
wander in search of food but are basically sedentary. The only record
elsewhere was a bird reputed to have been taken in the Antipodes in 1888, which is now in a museum.
Taken Campbell Island, NZ subantarctic Dec.2003
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