Dog tramples endangered Nene nest leaving cracked eggs
HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) — Hawaii has brought back its state bird from the brink of extinction, but there is still more to be done to keep them thriving. Officials are asking the community to be more aware of Nene nesting sites after one was destroyed over the weekend.In the 1950's, there were only about 30 Nene, according to the Department of Land & Natural Resources (DLNR). Now, Hawaii is home to almost 3,000.
Adults stand by as dog tramples nēnē nest at Liliuokalani Park
'Nene are also found nowhere else in the world,' stated Jordan Lerma, Executive Director of Nene.org. 'They separated from Canadian geese about a million years ago, so they are their own unique species endemic to Hawaii. They're the only remaining goose species.'
It's still tough for these birds to reach adulthood especially when their favorite nesting areas are near well-maintained grassy areas like golf courses and parks. DLNR stated lowland habitats are also preferable to Nene because of warmer climates.
Liliʻuokalani Gardens is a common nesting site for one Nene who nested in the same park the year prior. Following an incident last weekend, one of the female Nene's eggs were destroyed and another potentially cracked.
DLNR's Wildlife Biologist, Raymond McGuire, and Lerma reported seeing a man's dog disrupting the nesting area.
Two nēnē killed by cars on Maui, precautions in place for nesting season
'The dog's nose was in the bushes where the nest was. We tried calling out to him to stop, to pull his dog back and nothing was happening,' stated McGuire. 'People, they don't necessarily always see the signs or read the signs.'
The incident was reported to the State's Division of Conservation and Resource Enforcement (DOCARE). Those who endanger or disturb Nene can be subject to fines up to tens and thousands of dollars, per Lerma.
'These birds nest once a year. So, if this nest fails, we have to wait a whole nother year before we are able to add more birds to the Hilo population,' said Lerma.
According to experts, relocating Nene is not what is best for their survival. DLNR stated part of the birds recovering as a species is reclaiming habitat.
'If we were to continue to [relocate] just whenever we see them in an area we don't think is a suitable habitat for them, they would never recover their habitat,' said McGuire. 'We're basically not giving them a choice of where they live and we create this much less wild population of birds.'
Lerma said areas like Liliʻuokalani Gardens are their native habitat.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
'This is where they have the highest success rate for nesting., and to be honest, they tried moving this bird and it flew back,' said Lerma.
To prevent Nene from getting used to humans, you should never feed them, keep your pets leashed, and admire them from afar.
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