Nene/Hawaiian Goose

The Hawaiian name nēnē comes from its soft call.

The nene is a medium-sized goose at 41 cm (16 in) tall. Although they spend most of their time on the ground, they are capable of flight, with some individuals flying daily between nesting and feeding areas. Females have a mass of 1.525–2.56 kg (3.36–5.64 lb), while males average 1.695–3.05 kg (3.74–6.72 lb), 11% larger than females.

Adult males have a black head and hindneck, buff cheeks and heavily furrowed neck. The neck has black and white diagonal stripes. Aside from being smaller, the female Nene is similar to the male in colouration. The adult's bill, legs and feet are black. It has soft feathers under its chin. Goslings resemble adults, but are a duller brown and with less demarcation between the colors of the head and neck, and striping and barring effects are much reduced.

Strong walkers, nene have adapted to the rugged lava and subtropical island environments. Nene geese are less aquatic than most geese, although they can still swim when necessary because of their reduced webbing. These geese are excellent flyers, in contrast to their extinct prehistoric counterparts. Though Hawaiian geese are capable of flight, for the most part they spend their time on the ground. However, unlike Canada geese and brant geese, Nene are not long-distance travelers. Nene are not hostile unless they are using their beaks and wings to protect nests.

The breeding season of the nene, from August to April, is longer than that of any other goose; most eggs are laid between November and January. Unlike most other waterfowl, the nene mates on land. The nene is a herbivore that will either graze or browse, depending on the availability of vegetation. Food items include the leaves, seeds, fruit, and flowers of grasses and shrubs. The optimal habitat during the breeding and molting seasons appears to be lowland grassland, including exotic grassland, where there is an abundance of high protein food, adjacent to natural scrubland nesting areas.

The species originally declined as a result of hunting by Polynesian and non-Polynesian people, habitat loss and the introduction of mammalian predators or eaten by Hawaiian guardians like Mo'o. The introduced small Indian mongoose occurs on all range islands except Kaua‘i, and is the main predator of eggs. Eggs are also predated by Black, Norway and Pacific Rats (USFWS 2004). Dogs, mongooses and occasionally cats predate on goslings, feral pigs trample nests and predate eggs, young and adults.

The habitat has been restored at key sites through mowing, controlled grazing, control of alien plants and reintroduction of native plants. In the absence of continued habitat management and/or predator controls, its area of occupancy, area and quality of habitat, and population size would all likely decline. For these reasons, the species is listed as Near Threatened.

Reproduction

• Breeding season: Typically August–April (long season).

• Monogamous pairs often lasting for life.

• Nesting: Ground nests concealed in vegetation or lava crevices.

• Clutch size: One to five eggs, incubated mostly by the female for ~29–32 days.

• Goslings are precocial—leave the nest within a few days and follow parents to forage.

Although the immediate family is the fundamental unit of the Hawaiian goose, the nene is sociable and forms flocks or gaggles of up to 30 birds. Although geese can fly, it seems to prefer running because its legs and feet were designed to sprint on volcanic terrain.

Particularly in protected parks where they are used to humans, the nene are often peaceful, kind, and tolerant of people. Unless they are in danger or are protecting their young, these geese are usually not hostile. Although feeding is discouraged since it affects their nutrition and behavior, this species frequently approaches humans seeking food. Gentle honks, murmurs, and delicate "nē-nē" cries are their primary vocalizations for the nene.

Threats

• Historical decline: From tens of thousands to 30 birds in the 1950s.

• Native and Introduced predators (mongooses, cats, dogs, rats, eagles, seals).

• Habitat loss.

• Vehicle collisions.

• Human feeding leading to dependency or aggressive behavior.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (NT)

Conservation Efforts

• Habitat protection.

• Anti-poaching enforcement.

• Rescue and rehabilitation centers.

• Awareness campaigns against illegal pet trade.

The nene is an inhabitant of shrubland, grassland, coastal dunes, and lava plains, and related anthropogenic habitats such as pasture and golf courses from sea level to as much as 2,400 m (7,900 ft). The nene is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands of the United States. Following an extensive reintroduction programme beginning in the 1960s, reintroduced populations are now also found on Maui, Kauai and Molokai Islands. For some time, all populations were dependent on continued releases of captive birds to persist.

During The Recollections of Queen Arianna (TROQA) saga in the 2600s and 2700s, the "Sky People," or Terrans from Earth, brought the nene goose to two exoplanets that resembled Earth: Berbania from Ursa Major and Reinachos from Cygnus. Despite the death of our planet, conservation efforts are helping this species recover from endangerment or near extinction. The goose became an invasive species as a result of human interactions for game hunting and rewilding. In two exoplanets that resembled Earth, the nene lived in conditions and climates identical to those of Earth.

• Movement Pattern: Altitudinal Migrant

• Individual Type: Nomadic

• Population Trend: Increase

• Population: 1,700-2,200

• Locomotion: Versatile

• Habitat: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): United States (Hawaii)

• Berbania: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): Hirohito Islands

• Reinachos: 

  • Extant & Introduced (Resident): Ascunsia

Coming soon

This animal was descendants of the Canada goose in ancient times when Hawaiian islands shortly formed due to remote isolation from terrestrial faunas in Hawaii at Cretaceous to Pliocene.

2022 Version

• Ilocano: Ganso nga Hawaii; Nene

• Hawaiian: ネーネー (nēnē)

• Navajo: Kéyah Ałkééʼ Naaznilgo Dah Ndaaʼeełídę́ę́ʼ Naalʼeełítsoh noodǫ́zígíí; Néné

• Japanese: ハワイガン / ネネ

• Korean: 네네

• Hungarian: Néné; Hawaii Lúd

• Irish: Gé Haváíoch; Néné

• French: Bernache Néné; Néné

• Spanish: Ganso de Hawái; Néné

• The first goose ever to drawing on this year.

• The second characters are in Hawaii; along with Queen Liliuokalani (a songwriter princess and an Austronesian), and Kealani family are Kahiau (father), Ronaldo (old half-brother of Asuka and middle child), Paolo (young half-brother of Asuka and last), and Asuka Kealani (old half-sister of Ronaldo and Paolo and eldest child).

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nene_(bird)

• https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22679929/194369606

• https://a-z-animals.com/animals/hawaiian-goose/

• https://greenglobaltravel.com/hawaiian-goose-facts-nene-goose/

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Nene-goose-916175533