DOINews: USFWS: Getting Goosebumps as Nēnē Returns to Oahu

	Nēnē have reared three chicks at James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu in Hawaii, the first time nēnē have been spotted on the island since the 1700s. Photo by USFWS.

Endangered Hawaiian geese, or nēnē, have moved into James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu in Hawaii! This is the first time nēnē have been spotted on the island since the 1700s.

The pair of the endangered Hawaiian geese have nested and successfully hatched three goslings on the refuge near Kahuku, Oahu. It is possible more birds will arrive on Oahu in the future, particularly in places that provide safe and protected habitat like national wildlife refuges. The nēnē were first observed on Oahu around Jan. 9.

The Hawaiian goose was driven to near extinction in the early 1950s . Approximately 30 birds were left in the world – all on Hawaii Island. However, Hawaii's state bird is on the comeback with statewide totals estimated between 2,450 and 2,550 birds on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Kauai and, now, Oahu. Nēnē population increases and recovery are due to cooperative management by federal and state agencies, including the Service, Hawaii Division of Forestry and Hawaii and Wildlife, National Park Service and San Diego Zoological Park.

Submitted by: USFWS Public Affairs

April 2, 2014