Stepping out!Hawaiian nene goose

Nene are an endangered Hawaiian goose.

This is what the Hawaiian Zoo page has to say about their status.

In this photo I felt that the geese on the heap of excavated dirt in their territory showed the extent to which they are having to adjust to human disturbance.


ENDANGERED STATUS:

A list of factors that limit Nene survival includes loss of habitats to development and agriculture, establishment of nonnative species (mammalian, predators, avian competitors, non-native plants, mosquitoes), and direct human disturbance.

Human-caused ecosystem changes will probably always necessitate some degree of management for the Nene in order to "compensate" for severe ecosystem disturbances.

Nenes used to be more common. Prior to 1778 (when Capt. James Cook arrived) there were about 25,000 Nene. By the mid 1900's, wild Nene numbered less than 30. Breeding programs at Slimbridge in England and Pohakuloa, Hawaii have helped bring the current population in Hawaii up to about 3,000 birds.