Travelling around Kaua'i you see sign post both officially and unofficially about Nēnē's. Chickens are everywhere here on this island thousands of them and with no nature predators are thriving. Due to the lack of predators other birds thrive on this island including the state bird of Hawaii the Nēnē Goose.
Named for their soft call, these birds are similar to the Canada Goose in several ways but not as large as the ones we see at home. Their coloration is also quite different and distinct from other geese.
Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and the official bird of the state of Hawaiʻi, the Nēnē is exclusively found in the wild on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, and Hawaiʻi.
These birds where fairly easy to approach but the pair with the chick very quick to move away once I start to move towards them. Please take care with these birds if you come across them on any of the islands. Use a long lens to be respectful of their space. I was shooting with a 70-200mm. These birds are an important part of the ecosystem and culture of these islands so always use care and caution.
Thanks for reading.
Scott
For more images and animals - http://www.scottstevensonphotography.ca/