Restoration of movement patterns of the Hawaiian Goose

Wilson Journal of Ornithology
By: , and 

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Abstract

We used visual observations of banded individuals and satellite telemetry from 2007 to 2011 on Hawai′i Island to document movement patterns of the Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis), commonly known as Nene. Visual observations of numbered leg bands identified >19% and ≤10% of 323 geese at one of two breeding sites and one of two distant non-breeding areas during 2007-2011. We used satellite telemetry to document movement patterns of 10 male Nene from 2009 to 2011, and log-linear models to quantify the magnitude and individual differences in altitudinal migration. Two subpopulations of Nene moved 974.4 m (95% CI ± 22.0) and 226.4 m (95% CI ± 40.7) in elevation between seasons on average, from high-elevation shrublands during the non-breeding season of May-August, to lower-elevation breeding and molting areas in September-April. Traditional movement patterns were thought to be lost until recently, but the movement pattern we documented with satellite telemetry was similar to altitudinal migration described by early naturalists in Hawai′i prior to the severe population decline of Nene in the 20th century.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Restoration of movement patterns of the Hawaiian Goose
Series title Wilson Journal of Ornithology
DOI 10.1676/12-005.1
Volume 124
Issue 3
Year Published 2012
Language English
Publisher The Wilson Ornithological Society
Publisher location Waco, Texas
Contributing office(s) Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Description 8 p.
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Wilson Journal of Ornithology
First page 478
Last page 486
Country United States
State Hawai'i
Other Geospatial Hawai ′I Island
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