Hawaiian Geese - Nene

Phil has been having fun exploring parts of Hilo while Lunel has been doing physical therapy.  These are few of the local geese (Nene) he saw just a few yards from the parking lot.  Wouldn’t you love to have a pair of these handsome creatures in your yard?

After watching K54 & K55, we are sure they are a pair!

Hawaiian geese are found only in the Hawaiian Islands and are currently restricted to Hawaii, Kauai and Maui. They are very distantly related cousins to the Canadian geese; it is surmised they were blown off their migratory course hundreds of years ago.  They like to build their nests in both sparse and dense vegetation on beaches, shrub lands; grasslands and woodlands on well-drained soil, volcanic ash, cinder and lava rock substrates. Females typically nest on the ground and lay an average of 3 eggs. 

The Hawaiian goose is among the most isolated, sedentary and threatened of all waterfowl.  They are the sixth most endangered waterfowl species worldwide. These cautionary signs are seen around the Big Island.

To LISTEN to them CLICK on this LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-xAJZ-TvX0

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