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Post by imperialbirders on Jan 28, 2022 16:49:52 GMT -8
Aloha When we first visited the Hawaiian Islands in 1977, the only Nene were held in a captive a breeding program facility. In 1949, there were only 30 Nene and the Nene were on the way to extinction. Here is a link to a nice article on their repopulation of the Islands. jaymiheimbuch.com/articles/conservation-photography/a-nod-to-nene-how-hawaiis-native-goose-is-returning-from-near-extinction/The Nene were captured and taken to a captive breeding facility. In 1982, damage to the captive breeding facility caused by Hurricane Iwa allowed the first Nene to be released on the island of Kauai. Visiting Kauai a few years after Iwa, we were lucky to see these accidentally released Nene at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife refuge on the north shore of Kauai. This refuge is a “ must visit” for birders. Here is a link to the website: www.fws.gov/refuge/kilauea_point/During our frequent visits over the past many years, we witnessed the gradual return of the Nene. Near our condo on the Big Island of Hawaii, the Nene have returned for nesting. Each January for the past 20 years, we see breeding pairs and their fluffy little goslings. We have watched many goslings grow and take flight. This January we watch three pairs of Nenes with a total of 9 goslings. Three days ago a flock of seven Canada Geese arrived. Although they feed near the Nene, they don’t appear to be mingling. I hope their presence does not hurt the Nene families. On our visits to the Volcanoes National Park for volcano viewing and bird watching, we now often see Nene in their most natural environment. This January we saw a family with two goslings. See link to my photo. The volcano park is home to many birds native only to the Hawaiian Islands such as the apapane, Iiwi and amakihi. flic.kr/p/2mZEVXLAloha Mike
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Post by graeme45 on Jan 28, 2022 19:28:41 GMT -8
Nene is one of my favourite birds. In 2007 I saw a pair on Kauai. And then in 2012 I saw a pair on Haleakala on the island of Maui.
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