Oil covered bird doing 'really well'

An oil covered young Black Shag found at Maungatapu after oil washed ashore.

A bird found covered in oil after a large oil spill in Tauranga Harbour is doing "really well".

The shag was found at a harbourside property on Moiri Pl, Maungatapu yesterday covered in oil.

Chrissy Jefferson, who runs Oropi Native Bird Care Trust, said the shag was doing "really well" and had a breakfast of fish and fluids.

The shag has been partially cleaned and is doing really well.

"He had his initial clean down yesterday, it took an hour-and-a-half to clean up the excess oil off him last night.

"He won't be washed down completely until tomorrow or the day after."

Mrs Jefferson said the shag had been set up in the crates used to help clean wildlife after the Rena oil spill.

She said the bird had an "overpowering" smell of oil and she had needed to open windows it was so strong.

"He hasn't ingested any oil and today he's standing upright rather than being spread out on the ground like the photo in today's paper."

It would take up to six weeks for the bird to regain waterproofing after it had been washed.

Any oiled wildlife should be reported to Department of Conservation's number 0800 362 468.