Nene

Giclee by Marian Berger

Previous Next

Nene - Anatidae Branta sandvicensis

Also known as the Hawaiian Goose.

From the series of thirty-three prints, Living Endemic Birds of Hawaii, by Marian Berger.

From Wikipedia: "This is the world's rarest goose. It is believed that it once was common, with approximately 25,000 Hawaiian Geese living in Hawaii when Captain James Cook arrived in 1778. However, hunting and introduced predators, such as small Asian mongooses, pigs, and cats, reduced the population to 30 birds by 1952. However, this species breeds well in captivity, and has been successfully re-introduced; in 2004, it was estimated that there were 800 birds in the wild, as well as 1000 in wildfowl collections and zoos."

The Nene is Hawaii's state bird, an herbivore that grazes and browses on grasses, leaves, shrubs, and flowers. Nene form monogamous pairs and mate for life. They are found in upland lava slopes, grasslands, and agricultural areas on Kauai, Hawaii, and Maui and were recently reintroduced to Molokai. The nene was nearly extinct in 1951, but a breeding and reintroduction program has successfully reestablished the population. The HEBCP has been working on reintroducing the nene since 1996, hand raising and reintroducing more than 400 birds.

Copyright Marian Berger. All rights reserved; images are protected under US copyright laws and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner.


Back to: Birds by Marian Berger
Back to: Dick Shirley's Web Site