5 captive nene get
protected habitat
on Maui ranch

OLINDA, Hawaii » Five nene now occupy a protected habitat at an Upcountry Maui ranch in hopes of helping the endangered Hawaii state bird survive.

An adult female goose and four goslings were released to a pen in an upper pasture at Piiholo Ranch near Olinda on Tuesday. All were raised in captivity at the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda.

The release was the result of an agreement between ranch owner Peter Baldwin and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to establish the first "safe harbor" on Maui for the native Hawaiian goose.

The birds were placed in a pen designed to protect them from rats, mongooses, feral cats and other predators. The enclosure includes a man-made pond and native saplings.

The birds' flight feathers were clipped about a month ago to make sure they would not fly away from their pen. They also had identification bands attached to their legs and microchips implanted in their breasts. The nene were reintroduced at Haleakala Crater 40 years ago, but winter storms and natural enemies kept their population from thriving.

Baldwin thought that the birds might have a better chance in Olinda, where the weather is less severe and predators could be controlled.