Nene or Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis)

                               
Blog by Jacqueline Danielle Erdman 


What is a nene?

The Nene, or Hawaiian goose, is the Hawaii State bird. It is a waterfowl that is believed to be related to the Canadian goose. It has black cheeks and crown and cream colored cheeks and neck. The Nene’s wings are about 16% smaller than the Canadian goose’s which does not allow for long migratory flights. Nene's mate for life and remain close to each other for the most of the year. They are ground nesters and they take care of their young.


Where are they found?

Historically it is believed that nene were found on all the main Hawaiian Islands; Hawai’i, Maui, Lanai, Koho'olawe, Molokai, Kaua'i, Oahu, and Ni'ihau. It is thought that the nene lived down in the lowlands during the winter months for nesting which allowed for good survival rates for the young to increase because it was warmer, and during the heat of summer they would move up the mountain. 

 What has happened to them?

The nene is the eighth most endangered water foul in the world. There are currently about 1150 nene in the wild on the islands of Hawai'i, Maui, and Kaua'i. This number has increased since 1998 when the estimated population was 885 birds and were only known to be found on the island of Hawai'i. This increase was in part due to conservation efforts in both Hawai'i and England where a population was formed in captivity during the colonization of Hawaii. But the majority of this increase in population was from the population on Kaua'i flourishing. This population is increasing because they are in a fenced in area, low predation, and a lowland site. 

Why did they become endnagered?

The nene population has been under attack since the earliest settlers used them for food. In 1907 a law was passed making the hunting of the nene illegal which helped the population but only sightly. The major factor of population decrease today is predation. From 1978 to 1981 77% of all egg loss was to mongooses, a rodent native to Africa. Other animals that pray on the young are rats and cats. Adult nene are prayed on by dogs and cats. Another major factor is  limited availability of a suitable habitat. Their original nesting sites are now occupied by many humans so the eggs are now in higher altitudes which is colder and leads to a increase in mortality. Along with a decrease in nesting sites there is also a decrease in nutritional food. Their food consists of native Hawaiian berries and fruits which are now rare. There is also a problem of human caused disturbances such as golf balls, vehicles, hunters, hikers, and pesticides which poison the plants the nene consume.  Because of low diversity animals may not have immunity to certain diseases which could lead to a total extinction. 

What is the plan?

The nene was listed in 1967 as vulnerable. The recovery plan consists of captive breeding, a decrease in predation, and a decrease in human caused mortality and disturbances. Because nene reside on different islands which each have their own problems, each island has their own recovery plan that is altered to fit them. For example because Kaua'i does not have an established mongoose population they will have efforts to keep it that way instead of trying to get rid of the mongoose like other populations. On Hawai'i and Maui captive releases are important but first the predation must decrease. There are 8 steps for helping the nene populations recover and they are as follows:

1. Protect the nene's habitat that is left.
2. Manage the locations to allow the population to be sustained and protected. 
3. State-wide plan to keep the target population.
4. Study the limiting factors and carrying capacity. 
5. Improve predator control. 
6. Plans that decrease the interaction of humans and nene. 
7. Educate people about how they can help. 
8. Revise objectives if necessary. 

Personal Action 

Growing up in Hawaii I have always been aware of the nene. In the past couple years I have seen them more often. I plan on helping the nene by going out to the Awahi nature reserve and planting native plants that is an ample food source for the nene. 

You can help too by donating to Friends of Hawai'i Volcanos National Park: http://fhvnp.org/shop/nene-donation/ 

BirdLife International. 2012.  Branta sandvicensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species        2012.  http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T22679929A40123026.en. Accessed 28 November 2015.

"First Species Listed As Endangered." Endangered Species Program. http://www.fws.gov/endangered/species/faq-first-species-listed.html Accessed November 28, 2015.

"Hawaiian." "Nene" Goose Facts, Figures, Description and Photo. http://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/hawaiian-nene-goose#ad-image-0 Accessed November 28, 2015. 

"Hawaiian Goose - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office." Hawaiian Goose - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office. http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIgoose.html Accessed November 28, 2015. 

U.S. Fish and Wild life Service. 2004. Revised Recovery Plan for the Nene or Hawaiian Goose.     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon.