Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 3, 1 March 1996 — Ke ao nani [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Ke ao nani

by Patrick Ching "But ean they swim?"

£ £ ~T ah they're geese; but ean they swim?" Soraeone A- onee asked me this regarding Hawai'i's state bird the Nēnē. My answer at the time was "I guess they could swim, but I don't think they like to." I continued in a know-it-all voice: "They have noticeably less

webbing in their feet than other types of geese. This makes it easier for them to walk across the lava slopes and harder for them to swim, therefore, they tend to avoid the water." I had read this information many times in books and reports. I had no reason to doubt it.

Recently I did a painting of nēnē to be used on a wildlife stamp. My research took me to different places where nēnē gathered. To my surprise I found nēnē in wetland areas of Kaua'i and Hawai'i. They were in the water and loving it! They splashed and preened and chased eaeh other about.

Even clutches of chicks followed their parents into the water without hesitation. . After reviewing fossil records I learned that nēnē onee inhabited all the main Hawaiian islands from the mountains to sea level. The fact that nēnē are ground nesters and are delicious to eat worked against the species as they were easily preyed upon by dogs cats, mongoose and people. By the 1950's, the wild nēnē population had dwindled to

less than three dozen birds. In 1957, captive breeding programs began in Hawai'i and in England. Since then, they have been raised in captivity and reintroduced into areas where they onee flourished, Typically these release areas have been in the uplands where there are less predators

and humans. Slowly the birds are making their way back to the lowlands and back into the water. The Hawaiian name "nēnē" may have been given to these birds because of a eall they make while flying. On the ground they make a muffled "moo" sound, especially when disturbed. Some of the nēnēs' favorite foods are grasses, seeds and fruits. The recovery of the nēnē from near extinction is an inspiring chapter of success in a book otherwise clouded with disappointments.

Editor's Note: This month's article will be the last contributed to Ka Wai Ola O OHA by artist and environmentalist Patrick Ching. After 9 years as a volunteer ocntributor of many articles and drawings featuring Hawaiian wildlife, he is concentrating on his artistic career and plans to open a gallery and gift shop in Waimānalo. Mahalo piha, Patrick, on behalf of all Ka Wai Ola O OHA readers.

Nēnē: Hawai'i's state bird makes a eomehaek. Drawing by Patrick Ching