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Blue eyed shags, also known as Imperial shags, are the only member of the cormorant family to venture down into the Antarctic proper. They are found particularly along the Scotia arc islands and down the Antarctic peninsula, as far as 68 degrees south. Characterized by the vivid blue color and the orange /gold growth at the base of the beak that increases in size and brightness during the breeding season. They feed mainly on fish frequently forming a "raft" made up of dozens or hundreds of birds that repeatedly dive down onto the shoals below helping each other by confusing and frightening the fish into the beak of the next bird. Excellent divers, once underwater they use their strong webbed feet to propel themselves. They have been known to drive over 300 feet deep. Shags are clever and compulsive thieves and will steal unguarded nest material from any neighbouring nests. As a result, Shag colonies tend to be lively, noisy and tubulent.
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