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| Credit: Depositphotos.com/Denis Pepin |
The nēnē goose (nay nay, named for its soft cry or whimper) is the state bird of Hawai`i. The endemic species was present before the arrivals of the Hawaiians. They were almost extinct in the 1950’s, but with the help of expert conservationists, about 1000 exist today. With the introduction of the mongoose and feral pig, the number of Nēnē struggles to keep them off of the endangered species list. Through evolution, these geese have lost most of its webbing in its feet, allowing them to traverse rough terrain, such as over lava rock. They also spend most of their time on the ground, rarely taking to flight. I’ve been lucky to see them at the Volcanoes National Park, on the Big Island, and also up at Haleakalā ( ha lay ah kah lah or house of the rising sun), National Park. Like any endangered animal, its best not to feed them, or go near them. They are one of the rarest in the world, so enjoy their beauty from afar…..
A hui hou,
Haunani
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