Nene

River Wanderer
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Nene
Nene

An endangered species endemic to Hawai`i. The evolutionary theory is that somewhere along the way, Canada Geese were way off course and landed in Hawai`i, where they evolved into the Nene..

Much smaller than their Canadian forebears (forebirds?), they are making a comeback from near extinction on the major islands. Only here on Kaua`i have they been safe.

In a major environmental faux pas, well-intending people introduced mongoose to the islands to destroy rats that had escaped from whaling ships. The only problem is that the rat is a nocturnal animal, and the mongoose is diurnal. Since Nene next on the ground, rats ate the eggs during the night, and mongoose ate the eggs during the day.

Mongoose were never introduced onto Kaua`i, so here alone among the major islands are they plentiful.

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Taken on: July 6, 2013
Tags: Everybody's photos tagged with Kaua'i Kaua'i Everybody's photos tagged with Hawai'i Hawai'i Everybody's photos tagged with Birds Birds
Sets appears in:   • Kaua`i 2013    • Birds on Vacation   
Camera: Nikon D5000, f/5.3, 1/1250 sec, 220mm (=330mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Nikon D5000
Aperture: f/5.3
Exposure Time: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Focal Length: 220mm (35mm equivalent: 330mm)
ISO: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash
Exposure Program: Program AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Center-weighted average
White Balance: Auto
Gain Control: Low gain up
Color Space: sRGB
Software: Ver.1.00
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