The nene, a type of goose native to Hawaii, is the state bird. It has weak wings and prefers land to water due to adaptations made to its environment. The nene is endangered due to predation by introduced animals, but restoration efforts are underway.
The state bird of Hawaii is the nene, a type of goose that stands nearly a foot and a half tall when fully upright. This bird is native to the Hawaiian Islands. Wild nenes are found on many of the islands, including Kauai, Maui, and the big island of Hawaii. It was selected as the state bird of Hawaii in 1957.
Nenes, pronounced neh-nay or nay-nay, are unusual geese in that they have rather weak wings and are unable to fly very far. These birds also prefer to be on land rather than in water and have lost some of a goose’s natural ability to swim. These changes are due to the adaptations made by the nene to the conditions it encounters in much of Hawaii.
The Hawaiian Islands have historically been a relatively safe place for nenes. Hawaii’s state bird didn’t have to fear predators in the past, so it didn’t need to maintain its ability to fly or swim to get to safety. With the area’s consistently warm temperatures, the nenes didn’t need any sort of seasonal migration, further diminishing their need to fly.
Because Hawaii is made of volcanic rock, the nene had to adapt to the rugged terrain. To facilitate their ability to climb lava flows and rough, rocky surfaces, the Hawaiian goose has lost much of the webbing between the toes found in other types of geese. Instead, the nene has rather long toes that more closely resemble claws than the typical flat, webbed feet of other geese. This allows them to safely climb up and over lava flows and along the rocks that make up much of its homeland.
Nenes look amazing. Their necks are long and white, with black feathers adding a striped or mottled look. Their beaks and the tops of their heads are solid black, with a distinctive black stripe around the base of their necks. The nene’s body and wings are gray, with distinctive black stripes and bits of white trim.
The state bird of Hawaii is currently on the endangered species list, but not from natural predation or any other similar cause. Wild cats and dogs prey on these birds, as well as their eggs and young. Mongooses that have been introduced to the Nene home ranges are also predatory creatures. There are groups in Hawaii trying to restore the population of these birds to previous levels, and small colonies have been re-established in their home ranges.
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