Hawaii Nene - Endangered Species
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…GPS Tracking Reveals the Hawaiian Goose Doin’ What Comes
Naturally… By Fern Gavelek… Hawai‘i’s beloved state bird, the nēnē, is
making a comeback, and a new Hawai‘i Island study has revealed some
fascinating facts about the Hawaiian goose and how we can help it
thrive. The good news is the birds’ population has rebounded from [...]
…GPS Tracking Reveals the Hawaiian Goose Doin’ What Comes Naturally…
By Fern Gavelek…
Hawai‘i’s beloved state bird, the nēnē, is making a comeback, and a
new Hawai‘i Island study has revealed some fascinating facts about the
Hawaiian goose and how we can
help it thrive.
The good news is the birds’ population has rebounded from a low of only
20 or 30 in 1950 to about 900 on Hawai‘i Island, and, surprisingly, they
are now traveling the island more extensively than anyone thought.
High-tech transmitters are sending back tracking data for a project
code-named “Nēnē in the Space Age.”
The project, Satellite Telemetry of Hawai’i’s Endangered Goose, began in
early 2009 and is wrapping up this spring. A collaborative effort
between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service,
the study outfitted 11 nēnē ganders with solar-powered platform
transmitter terminals (PTTs). Worn by the male nēnē like mini
backpacks—each one carrying a luxury price tag of $4,000—the PTTs tell
scientists where the nēnē are via precise GPS coordinates.
By February 2012, PTTs recorded the studied nēnē at about 12,000
islandwide locations. The coordinates provided daily insight to flight
patterns and pit stops along the way, as well as preferred habitats for
feeding, breeding and socializing.
Nēnē are thought to have made landfall in the Hawaiian Islands some
890,000 years ago. It’s estimated their population grew to an estimated
25,000 birds. Ancient Hawaiians gave clues as to where they commonly saw
nēnē, naming locations after them, like Kīpuka Nēnē on the slopes of
Mauna Loa.
According to Dr. Steven Hess, USGS wildlife biologist, the introduction
of predators—rats, dogs, cats and mongoose—precipitated the decline in
Hawai’i’s nēnē population beginning about 1,000 years ago. Unregulated
hunting and habitat destruction further threatened the nēnē, which Hess
explains,
“is the most terrestrial of geese.”
“The bird’s plight had become so grave by 1949 that a captive
propagation program was initiated,” says Dr. Hess, who is stationed at
the USGS’s Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center at Hawai‘i
Volcanoes National Park. In 1950, there were only 20-30 birds known to
exist in the wild—all of them on the Big Island. Dr. Hess credits
“decades of captive breeding, releases into the wild, habitat management
and predator control” for restoring nēnē to four of Hawai‘i’s largest
islands.
Classified today as an endangered species, nēnē are given broad
protections under law to recover to a self-sustaining population. There
are roughly 900 nēnē currently on Hawai‘i Island and as many as 2,000
combined across four major islands, which include Maui, Kaua‘i and
Moloka‘i.
The Science of Tracking Nēnē
According to Dr. Hess, wildlife managers noticed in the late 1990s
that Big Island nēnē had “begun regularly moving” between leeward Kona,
the isle’s windward side and the southern Kahuku areas.
“We questioned if nēnē were making direct flights between the sites or
stopping along the way,” explains the wildlife biologist. “If the nēnē
stopped, we wondered what were the threats and food in these habitats?”
The satellite telemetry tracking, it was felt, would be the best way to
get the answers with the island’s dense and varied terrain. Ganders for
the study were chosen from several locations where flocks frequented,
such as Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) and Big Island Country
Club (BICC) in Pu‘uanahulu.
Once the data started coming in, the nēnē revealed their flight patterns
and it was found they were once again roosting at their historic haunt
of Kīpuka Nēnē, a rugged site high on Mauna Loa in HVNP’s Kahuku area.
Also, it was noted the birds’ north-south and east-west island crossings
were intersecting at Kīpuka ‘Ainahou in the island’s high saddle, where
some of the last wild nēnē were observed.
“It was puzzling that birds discovered at Kīpuka Nēnē came from the
Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge some 50 miles away, yet the
Hakalau population did not exist prior to 1996,” says Dr. Hess. He adds
that the terrain of Kīpuka Nēnē has changed dramatically over time from
an open ‘ohi‘a forest with small pools and sedges to one that had been
altered by “one of the largest lava flows on Earth.” However, still the
nēnē returned there.
Dr. Hess notes the behavior of nēnē reappearing in ancestral places
makes researchers wonder if it took the captive-raised population 50
years “to figure it out” or had a small number of wild survivors passed
this knowledge on to contemporary descendants? “We still don’t know for
sure, but it seems to be catching on in a big way,” he adds.
The ganders also exhibited a pattern of seasonal movement—from lowland
breeding grounds during the winter to high-elevation, non-breeding areas
in the summer. The geese visited subalpine scrub during the summer,
which is home to ‘ōhelo berry and pukiawe—traditionally their favorite
foods.
In fact, Dr. Hess reports a nēnē was recorded at 9,100 feet, where
temperatures reach freezing. “Birds are good at thermal regulation,” Dr.
Hess explains. “They can adjust their feathers to their climate so
don’t mind so much if it’s hot or cold.”
Looking at the habitats used by nēnē—low elevations with green ground
cover for breeding and subalpine scrub for non-breeding—scientists found
nēnē were dramatically changing their elevations. “That surprised us,”
admits Dr. Hess. “Though early naturalists reported this kind of
movement, we had never observed it as nēnē hadn’t done this for awhile.”
Telemetry also showed that Kīpuka ‘Ainahou acts like a “social magnet” between the BICC and Hakalau Refuge populations.
“We think Kīpuka ‘Ainahou is where youngsters are hooking up with
potential mates and, if that’s the case, then there’s more interbreeding
among populations,” notes Dr. Hess. “This is important because nēnē
need to transcend their lack of genetic diversity.” He says low genetics
is an issue because of inbreeding among the few captive pairs in the
1950s to save the species.
The Importance of Habitat Protection
Dr. Hess stresses wildlife managers are encouraged by the
re-establishment of traditional nēnē movement patterns. “Nēnē in the
Space Age” identified what locations are being used by nēnē today and
why.
He explains, “If we want nēnē to behave naturally, we have to protect
both their breeding and non-breeding areas.” He says it’s up to the
state to manage the land and provide protection through the Department
of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), in partnership with the park
service. “Their goal is to restore the land, like the subalpine
scrublands, to its natural condition by keeping out predators and other
invasive species.”
Some protection is already in the works. Nēnē, which mate for life,
return each year to breed at HVNP. “We have a little over 200 birds
either breeding in the wild, in the Kīlauea and Mauna Loa Strip areas,
or in a two-acre ‘exclosure,’ which keeps out predators with a fence,”
explains Dr. Rhonda Loh, natural resource chief at HVNP. She says a
grassy lawn is mowed for the birds inside the exclosure, while the
park’s other breeding birds forage for berries and grass in the wild.
“Sometimes we’ll assist birds breeding outside the pen by temporarily
closing a park trail to minimize human disturbance to nesters,”
continues Rhonda.
The Hawaiian Goose also breeds at BICC, where it’s warmly welcomed. The
preservation and support of nēnē “represents BICC’s vision for the
entire property,” according to Richard Oliver, the on-island, owner’s
representative. He explains, “Proper turf management enables a good food
source for nēnē and their goslings while our lakes provide great safe
zones to evade predators. We know by the health of the nēnē population
if we are indeed doing a good job for all BICC inhabitants and guests,
including the nēnē.”
“The ponds at BICC are used by nēnē primarily for protection and
bathing—they get most of the moisture they need for diet from grass,”
details John Polhemus, a wildlife biologist. “Nēnē molt (shed their
feathers) between February and May and for about a month are flightless,
so the ponds provide an escape from predators.” He says nature “takes
over the timing” when breeding adults molt and re-grow feathers so they
and their young can fly together.
“It’s especially important to protect the breeding locations for nēnē so their populations can continue to recover,” emphasizes Polhemus. John, who owns JT Productions, is contracted by the DLNR’s Division of
Forestry and Wildlife to monitor the 130 nēnē making up the West Side
Flock: those frequenting BICC, sections of Pu‘u Wa‘wa‘a and Waikoloa
Village Golf Club.
At BICC, John hops on a golf cart and drives around doing a “roll call,”
recording nēnē that are ID’d with colored bands to do periodic
population counts. He also bands goslings and intervenes, when
necessary, to help injured birds. “The frequency of injured or sick
birds is low,” he says, and a Kona veterinarian has been employed when
necessary. Some of the birds John monitors were first banded in the
mid-90s and he makes sure their “bling” is fitted properly and “not a
deterrent.”
BICC has a partnership with the new Hawai‘i Wildlife Center (HWC) in
Kapa‘au, which has set a goal of receiving birds for rehabilitation
starting May 2012. Since 2006, BICC has been donating a portion of its
greens fees to HWC, which have totaled $2,500.
“We will be working with BICC to treat any sick or injured nēnē that
come from the course,” says Linda Elliott, HWC president and center
director. She points out HWC is the only facility that will be
rehabilitating native birds from the entire Hawaiian archipelago.
“Getting the donation from BICC is important for our efforts of not only
helping sick or injured birds, but also facilitating the conservation
of nēnē and our other endangered birds,” continues Linda. “Big Island
Country Club is a model for accommodating wildlife. They’ve included
wildlife in everything they do, and they don’t have to.”
HWC, which completed major construction last November, has provided BICC
with info and photography to provide guidelines for golfers using the
course. In addition to nēnē, BICC is home to the endangered Hawaiian
coot (‘alae ke‘oke‘o), black-crowned Night Heron (‘auku‘u), Hawaiian
Hawk (‘io) and the short-eared owl (pueo).
While The Hawaiian goose is increasing in numbers, it still faces
challenges of low genetic diversity, periods of drought and an
ever-shrinking natural environment with non-native enemies.
Summing up the importance of protecting nēnē, Linda notes the challenge
is to teach people “what human behaviors are best around nēnē so they
can thrive.” She concludes, “We all need to understand and accept what
we have to do to live with our environment and be good neighbors.” It’s
up to everyone
to help protect this beautiful and resilient state bird in its native habitats.
Contact writer Fern Gavelek:
ferng@hawaii.rr.com
All nēnē photos provided by Christina Cornett, Nēnē Research Specialist,
Hawai’i Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawai’i at Hilo,
Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center
For more information:
hawaiiwildlifecenter.org
bigislandcountryclub.com/nature.html
nps.gov/havo
How We Can Best Live with Nēnē?
How can we help them to thrive? One solution is to leave them alone. “Nēnē are grazers, and feeding them decreases their proficiency at
foraging in the wild, causing a variety of problems,” emphasizes
wildlife biologist John Polhemus.
Feeding results in incorrect diet. Case in point is a female nēnē that
lives at BICC year-round because she has an “angel wing.” The flightless
condition is common among ducks and geese that are fed by humans, resulting in a nutritional imbalance.
“People think they are helping by putting out water and food—they
aren’t,” stresses Polhemus. He says feeding nēnē from vehicles teaches
the geese to get in the path of traffic.
Dr. Steven Hess, USGS wildlife biologist, adds, “If you live around
nēnē, keep your pets away from them as dogs can kill adults and cats
kill goslings.”
As nēnē are protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, it is
illegal to kill, harm or harass them, including disturbing nesting
individuals or altering their behavior. Violations can be reported by
calling 808.887.6063.
October through April is the most sensitive time for nēnē because
individuals are pairing up to nest and rearing goslings. Information
signs at HVNP caution vehicles to slow down to watch for geese crossing
the road and visitors are encouraged to keep a respectful distance when
observing birds. “We want visitors to keep far enough away so as not to
alter their normal behavior,” advises Dr. Rhonda Loh, natural resource chief at HVNP.
