Nesting season begins for endangered Hawaiian geese (KHON)
By Web Staff Published: October 27, 2015, 2:03 pm
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reports that, with the beginning of the breeding and nesting season for nene, park visitors are urged to drive with caution and to give the endangered Hawaiian geese their space.
Nene, the largest native land animal in Hawaii, are present in the park and other locations on Hawaii Island year-round, but this seasonal window is vital for their survival, and it’s also when they are the most vulnerable to being run over by drivers.
While getting ready to nest, the geese are focused on eating, and often forage from dawn to dusk. They blend in with their surroundings, and in low-light periods, they are especially hard for motorists to spot.
“One of the most important things people can do is give nene space,” said Kathleen Misajon, the park’s Nene Recovery Program manager. “This means not approaching them and never feeding them. Nene are easily habituated to food hand-outs from people and vehicles, and these birds often fall victim to vehicle strikes.”
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By 1952, only 30 of the birds remained statewide. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park began efforts to recover the species in the 1970s, and thanks to the recovery program, more than 250 birds thrive in the park from sea level to around 8,000 feet. As many as 2,500 nene exist statewide.
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(not much) more: http://khon2.com/2015/10/27/nesting-season-begins-for-endangered-hawaiian-geese/
I remember when the nene was once considered one of the most endangered species in the world. Good to see they've increased in numbers, and even been sighted on Oahu for the first time in over 200 years.
