Written By
The n膿n膿, sometimes called the Hawaiian goose, is an endemic species found only on the Hawaiian Islands and is the official state bird. Once common, the species declined to only 30 individuals by 1957 due primarily to habitat destruction, introduction of predators, and historic hunting pressure. Thanks to the dedication of the State, its many partners, and agency funding like the bet365下载ios鈥檚 (Service) Wildlife Restoration Program grants, the n膿n膿 population has risen to over 3,500 individuals today.
To the average person outside of Hawai鈥榠, the n膿n膿 may seem like just another goose, lacking the bright feathers that many tropical bird species are known for. However, the n膿n膿 is the last surviving species of the eight goose species once found on the Hawaiian Islands. Recently discovered fossils suggest that the ancient distribution of n膿n膿 included Kaua驶i, Moloka驶i, Maui, and the Big Island. Prior to the arrival of Capt. James Cook in 1778 there were an estimated 25,000 n膿n膿 across the Hawaiian Islands. By the mid 1900鈥檚, the wild population was estimated at 30 individuals. A major contributor to their decline was the introduction of non-native predators including rats, mongooses, cats, dogs and pigs that can disturb the ground-nesting birds and feed on young n膿n膿 and eggs. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize how close these birds were to extinction, with just 30 birds in the 1950s,鈥 said Raymond McGuire, biologist with the Hawai鈥榠 Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. 鈥淭oday we have over 3,500 and are working to keep the n膿n膿 wild.鈥
The Wildlife Restoration Program is the nation's oldest and most successful wildlife restoration program. For more than 80 years, it has served as a model of conservation partnership among industry, states and territories, and the federal government, protecting and restoring wildlife and the lands they depend on for current and future generations. The n膿n膿 is one of many Hawaiian species that have benefitted from these grants. 鈥淭hrough Wildlife Restoration Program funds the Service has collaborated on a variety of actions to recover the n膿n膿 species,鈥 said Chris Swenson, the Service鈥檚 WSFR grant manager for Hawai驶i. 鈥淭his includes controlling invasive mammalian predators that prey on n膿n膿, managing habitat and vegetation, maintaining predator-proof fences to protect nesting birds, and conducting n膿n膿 monitoring and surveys.鈥
鈥淭he needs for protecting species is vast and complex. It takes the shared knowledge and resources of partnering agencies, NGO's, and even individuals to protect and recover Hawaii's unique flora and fauna,鈥 added McGuire. There is still a long road to full recovery for the n膿n膿, but the species was downlisted from endangered to threatened in 2019. 鈥淲ildlife Restoration (Program) funds support great on-the-ground work with our partners,鈥 explains Swenson. 鈥淩ecovering this iconic species is a team effort with dedicated partners and other stakeholders working together to bring back the n脓苍脓.鈥
The Service and these stewardship partners will continue a collaborative approach to recover n膿n膿 and the dozens of other bird species endemic to Hawai鈥榠 to foster conservation of the region鈥檚 ecosystems and culturally important species.
To learn more about these efforts view the new Hawai鈥榠 Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife video highlighting 苍脓苍脓:
Written By
