SHAG (Phalacrocorax varius)

I sometimes wish in New Zealand shags werent called Shags but Cormorants, much like the rest of the world. I've never really been able to figure why we have to be different and call them shags- SHAGS? - it seems to have such conitations - like "stuffed" or the like. Well someone can enlighten me - I do like them - great flyers and feeders.  Sometimes people liken the cross like shape as having some spiritual significance but I'm afraid not.  They can remain about 20 minutes in the water feeding -anything longer and they would get water logged so they alight and put their wings out to dry and recondition for the next feed. hence the cross like shape. Lovely
rgds poo