By Jay Jones
Hawaii’s nene is one of the
rarest geese you’ll ever see. In the early 1950s, only 30 of the
endangered birds remained in the Hawaiian Islands, their only natural habitat.
The state bird has bounced back
since then, but now faces a new threat: motorists.
Park rangers on Hawaii Island are
warning drivers to make way for nene right now, when the young fledglings are
most vulnerable.
The plea comes from Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park after two nenes just 6 months old were
killed last month by an unknown driver.
Two adult nene can be seen in
underbrush near Crater Rim Drive in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. (Kathleen
Misajon/National Park Service)
The endangered nene become
more active, and therefore more visible, in late spring as fledglings, under
the watchful eyes of their parents, test their wings.
The young birds can unpredictably
land on roadways, according to wildlife biologist Kathleen Misajon, who manages
the park’s Nene
Recovery Program.
“Nene crossing” signs are posted
in various parts of the national park to urge drivers to use caution. Visitors shouldn’t
approach them or try to feed them either.
Read on …
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