It’s breeding and nesting season for nene, and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitors are urged to drive with caution and give the endangered Hawaiian goose adequate space.
Nene, the largest native land animal in Hawaii, are present in the park and other locations on Hawaii Island the entire year, but this seasonal window is vital for their survival, and it’s also when they are the most vulnerable of being ran over by drivers, park officials said.
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 especially are hard to spot.
“One of the most important things people can do is give nene space,” said Kathleen Misajon, Nene Recovery Program manager at the national park. “This means not approaching them and never feeding them. Nene are easily habituated to food handouts from people and vehicles, and these birds often fall victim to vehicle strikes.”
Nene crossing signs posted throughout the park call attention to roadside areas frequented by the birds. These include sections of Highway 11, Crater Rim Drive and Chain of Craters Road. Motorists are urged to use extra caution in signed nene crossing areas, and obey posted speed limits.
By 1952, only 30 nene remained statewide. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park began efforts to recover the species in the 1970s. The Nene Recovery Program continues today, and more than 250 birds thrive in the park from sea level to about 8,000 feet.
As many as 2,500 nene exist statewide.
“While we have had success protecting nene and maintaining the population in the park, it is so important that humans keep a respectful distance from the geese, especially during this sensitive time,” Misajon said. “We advise visitors to keep at least 60 feet away from nene, any time of year.”
Wild nene, the world’s rarest goose, are found only in Hawaii. Their strong feet sport padded toes and reduced webbing, an adaptation that allows them to traverse rough terrain such as lava plains.
Most nene fly between nighttime roosts and diurnal feeding grounds. The female builds a simple ground nest and incubates one to four eggs for a full month while her devoted mate acts as a sentry.
Shortly after they hatch, goslings leave the nest and follow their parents to their traditional foraging grounds, which can be more than a mile away. At 14 weeks, nene can fly, and along with their parents, they join large flocks where they meet relatives and potential mates. They usually mate for life.
Visit www.nps.gov/havo/photosmultimedia/nene_psa.htm for more information. To report nene on the road in the park, call 985-6001 or 974-4221 outside the park. For information about other endangered species the park works to protect, visit the “On the Brink of Extinction” brochure at www.nps.gov/havo/learn/nature/onthebrink.htm.
