'Shaggy' the shag has died overnight after being covered in oil in Tauranga Harbour this week.
Shaggy was found and recovered by Bay of Plenty Times staff on Monday night and was taken to the Oropi Native Bird Rescue Sanctuary to be looked after.
Chrissy Jefferson, who runs the sanctuary, said Shaggy was doing well on Tuesday night and she was very sad to find him dead this morning.
It was not unusual for birds to die two or three days after being rescued when the shock got too much for them, she said.