Transcript The Hawaiian Goose

The Hawaiian Goose
By: Brittany Bailey
Biology 586
The Hawaiian Goose
Classification
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordota
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anantidae
Genus: Branta
Species: sandvicensis
Nickname: Nene
Anatomy of Nene
• Has partially webbed
feet
• Ranged from 21-26
inches long
• Weighs 4-5 pounds
• Male and Female
similar in plumage
• Male is slightly larger
Where did they come from?
• Scientists believe that the
Nene was once nearly
identical to the Canada
Goose and evolved over
hundreds of years.
• They seldom swam and
were not bothered by
predators or cold
temperature so the didn’t
fly as much
• Results:
– Webbed feet are only half
as webbed as other geese
with longer toes for
climbing on rocky lava
flows.
– Wings are much weaker
compared to other geese.
– Closer to other subspecies
of Canada geese than the
subspecies are themselves.
Distinctive Neck Pattern
Habitat and Behavior
• Frequents scrubland, grassland, golf courses, sparsely
vegetated slopes and Kauai in open lowland country.
• Vegetarian diet consist of seeds of grasses and herbs,
leaves, buds flowers and fruits of various plants
• Does not need fresh water but will use it when available
• Found mostly in the rugged lava fields of Hawaii.
• Has reduced webbing in the toes in order to walk more
easily on the lave flow,
• Sounds resemble the Canada Goose but when aggravated
gives a sound similar to the ‘moo’ of a cow.
Breeding
• Season from November – June
• Nests are down-lined and well
concealed in bushes
• Prefer to nest in same nest area
• Prefer a kipuka(island of
vegetation surrounded by lava.
• 2-5 white eggs layed and
incubated for about 30 days.
• Gosslings are flightless for 1114 weeks after hatching
• Families remain in breeding
area for about a month after
this.
• The male cares for the female
•
FACTS
• Official state bird of
Hawaii
• Does not spend time in
water
• Does not migrate
• 800 left in the wild
• An endangered species
• Endemic to Hawaiian
islands and only goose
that breeds here
History of Nene Goose
• In the 1940 this goose was allowed to be hunted
during winter breeding seasons.
• On May 7 1957 it was designated Hawaii’s State
Bird.
• Currently small, stable populations on the islands
of Hawaii, Maui and Kauai
• Became wild on Kauai in 1982 after hurricane Iwa
wiped out all the cages of the captive Nene
• They soon adapted to the grassland habitat
• Currently about 1,000 outside Hawaii in Zoo’s and
only about 800 wild in Hawaii due to the
introduction of domestic cats and dogs that
continuously prey upon the eggs and young.
What is “Endangered”
1. Present or threatened
destruction, modification or
curtailment of the species
habitat or range
2. Over-utilization for
commercial, recreational,
scientific, or educational
purposes
3. Disease or predation
4. Inadequacy of existing
regulatory mechanisms
5. Other natural or manmade
factors affecting the species
survival
Threats
•
•
•
•
•
Habitat loss and degradation
Hunting
Predation by cats, rats, dogs and the mongoose
Nutrition deficiency= leads to low productivity
Human caused disurbances (roads and
disturbances from hikers)
• Inbreeding depression
Conservation
• Hunting was officially banned
in 1907 but poaching still
occurs
• Since 1960 over 2,300 geese
have been introduced but
survival rates are poor and he
population can’t sustain itself
• Management of vegetation is
required to meet nutritional
needs.
• Kauai ( only island without
mongoose) the population is
growing
•
Conservation Continued
• Current actions include:
– Captive propagation and release of captive bred
individuals into the wild.
– Predator control
– Habitat enhancement
– Research and monitoring
– Formation of Nene Recovery Action Group
– Public Education
ANY QUESTIONS