He said shag numbers appeared to have increased, but they settled in older structures and breakwaters in the port where they were less likely to be disturbed.
While they were annoying, PrimePort Timaru recognised the shags were a protected species and rules applied as to how they were treated, he said.
“It delayed the project as we had to wait for the fledglings to fly the coop,” Melhopt said.
“It created a challenge but that was a one-off. They don’t nest where we’re actually working.”
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Most of the shags are “quake refugees” having come from Banks Peninsula, others are moving north from Otago out of their usual habitat.