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Nēnē are believed to have once lived on all the main Hawaiian Islands. At the time of European contact, populations were only known with certainty on the island of Hawai‘i. It is believed that they were abundant on Hawai'i Island before the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778. Scientists estimate that the Kaua'i population become extinct between 900 and 350 years ago.¹ The Maui population became extinct before 1890. The remaining population continued to decline after 1800 as birds were extirpated in lowland habitats. Nēnē rapidly declined between 1850 to 1900 due to aggressive hunting and collecting of eggs. From 1900 until 1944 their range was reduced to upland habitats in more remote areas. By 1952 there were only 30 birds remaining.² The drastic population decline is attributed to the introduction of alien animals and loss of habitat. Nēnē are extremely vulnerable to depredation by introduced animals like mongooses, rats, dogs, cats and pigs.³ Captive propagation programs began in 1949. Captive-bred nēnē have been released at various locations throughout the State since 1960. Today many deaths are still associated with humans. Nēnē evolved without people. They have no instinct to avoid us and approach without fear. If fed, they quickly associate humans with food. These birds learn to frequent roads and parking lots where they are often killed by cars.² Why do they wear jewelry? |
Watch for Nēnē crossing signs and slow down in these areas. Collisions are a leading cause of death.
Photo: Tom David flickr CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0
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Many of the nēnē you may see have monitoring bands. They are used to identify the birds and to track information about families, ages, population numbers and movements.
Photo: Dan Culver Wikipedia CC-SA 4.0
Photo: Dan Culver Wikipedia CC-SA 4.0
THREATS TO SURVIVAL
Photo: Kathleen Misajon/NPS
CollisionsNēnē love to forage in the short grass alongside roads and trails. When in a car or golf cart, please obey all speed limits and pay extra attention in nēnē zones where collisions may be likely to occur.
Slow for Nēnē poster (PDF) 
Photo: Daniel Ramirez flickr CC BY-2.0
Habitat LossThe development of agricultural systems by the Polynesians, and later by Europeans, resulted in the extensive loss and alteration of habitat. Present day development has turned areas nēnē may have preferred into housing developments, resorts etc.
Protect wildlife by keeping pets on leash or in a fenced in area.
DisturbanceEven the best trained pets can disturb or harm nēnē and other wildlife. Attempting to touch, chase or scare nēnē can injure them, you or your pet. Harassing nēnē is illegal. View from a distance and remember that if the birds move when you move, you are too close.
Photo: Rosa Say flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 |
Photo: DOFAW
EntanglementNēnē may loose legs, become ill or die from eating or becoming entangled in trash. Please make sure to always properly stow and dispose of your trash. If you see garbage, please pick it up.
Small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus). Mongoose are predators of birds, small mammals, reptiles, insects, fruits and plants. The eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting native birds and sea turtles are especially at risk.
Non-native PredatorsMongooses and dogs are responsible for most of the known cases of predation on adult birds, though cats also kill nēnē . Adult nēnē that are incubating eggs, have goslings, or that are molting, are particularly at risk. Rats and mongooses take eggs. Feral pigs destroy nests and predate eggs, young, and adults during their flightless stage. Pig foraging activities can trample ground cover, destroy seedlings and under-story plants that nēnē utilize for food.
Mongoose raiding a nēnē nest (video) Photo: J. N. Stuart flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 
Photo: BenGrantham flickr CC BY 2.0
FeedingFeeding or watering nēnē can habituate them to people. Fed birds lose their natural instincts and are less likely to survive in the wild. Animals accustomed to humans have a much greater risk of becoming injured by cars or domestic animals.
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¹Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Nēnē
²Haleakalā National Park, Endangered Species Management
³Hawaiian Goose - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (Hawaiian Goose - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office)
http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIgoose.html
Header photo: Larry Loos flickr CC BY 2.0
²Haleakalā National Park, Endangered Species Management
³Hawaiian Goose - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (Hawaiian Goose - Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office)
http://www.fws.gov/pacificislands/fauna/HIgoose.html
Header photo: Larry Loos flickr CC BY 2.0