This morning was lovely, so I ran and enjoyed the stunning weather. After my run, I couldn't resist taking out my camera and walking around the Hokuala golf course. As I was walking, I stumbled upon a group of nēnē geese near a pond. To my delight, there were over a dozen of them! But one in particular caught my attention, as it was posing so elegantly for me. I couldn't resist taking a zoomed-in shot of the nene basking in the sunlight with its cute over-the-shoulder look.
The nēnē goose is such a unique creature, as it happens to be the state bird of Hawaii. Sadly, it is also an endangered species, with only 2500 left within the Hawaiian islands. This population decline is mainly due to habitat loss and the introduction of mammals into Hawaii. For instance, cats, dogs, mongoose, rats, and pigs have become predators of the nēnē, reducing their numbers. It reminds us that we must do all we can to protect these amazing creatures.
