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Volume 1 Issue 3 A Quarterly Newsletter July 1996

A Look Ahead Although increasing the numbers The Commitment Of Proposed Assessment of nënë in the wild through captive of Reintroduced Nënë propagation has carried the Long-Term Management away from the threat of imminent  Determine dispersal of newly re- In the coming decades the nënë on leased nënë on Molokaÿi extinction, it has not necessarily Kauaÿi, and the Big Island  Plot locations on maps to evaluate brought the nënë to recovery. Since will face new challenges as more movements the beginning of the Nënë Recovery natural resources are used to sustain  Determine activities Plan a lack of funding and a burgeoning human population.  Identify nesting areas manpower has prevented Accelerating development will  Carry-out banding operations implementation of a comprehensive destroy many of the habitat  Investigate mortalities management program. Placing conditions necessary for the  Document survival rate young inexperienced in survival of the species. It will  Maintain individual life histories remote release pens with only become increasingly important to  Establish census methods occasional follow-up as to their find innovative ways to sustain the  Identify permanent transect whereabouts, activities, or survival routes for seasonal monitoring wild population while (Continued on next page) accommodating the needs of the community. The reintroduction of the nënë to Molokaÿi will face these challenges and discovering solutions will be an ongoing effort and part of the commitment of long -term management. In formulating a management program for Molokaÿi a number of annual and long-range objectives will be established. Objectives will be defined by assessing the ability of potential nënë habitats to support a viable population and by determining the effects of human pressure upon this population. Nënë O Molokaÿi will assist landowners in the development of management strategies with sound conservation practices to ensure maximum Wildlife Conservation Stamp Released sustainable benefits for the species. th Hawaiÿi’s first wildlife conservation stamp was released on May 11 , and features a nënë with goslings in a Hanalei Valley wetland setting.

© Funds raised by the sale of the stamp will be used exclusively for The Nënë News is sent to over 400 corporations and 200 private individuals enhancement of local wildlife projects that deal with hunting programs, world-wide, and every private, public and game management, and recovery programs for endangered and native home school in Hawaiÿi. Hawaiian birds such as the nënë and ÿälala. Oÿahu artist Patrick Ching was selected as the artist to create the artwork. (See inside story.)

This newsletter is made possible through private donations by nënë lovers from all over the world. Page 2 Nënë News

(Contd. from Pg. 1) was about all Management Through where a well-documented release

the species management that could Partnership program can be implemented. be afforded. Unfortunately, many of Radio telemetry and global  Maintain roads, trails, and positioning systems can track the adverse conditions impacting access routes in serviceable the survival of the nënë must be individual birds to note preferred condition remedied to successfully restore the habitats, locate nesting sites for the  Post boundary and nënë to Molokaÿi. It is imperative banding of goslings, locate injured instructional signs that the Molokaÿi community be or sick birds, retrieve carcasses for  Maintain fences informed about the nënë, its needs, necropsy, and to locate poached  Develop food plots and water and management so that they will birds. gain an appreciation of this species units The importance of long-term  Clear undesirable vegetation and add their efforts on its behalf. management of ’s future  Plant beneficial plant species wild nënë population lies within Methods Employed By  Intensive predator control Nënë O Molokaÿi previously unanswered questions.  Erosion control During the releases of the ‘60s,

For Public Education  Safeguard watershed areas ‘70s, and ‘80s it was asked “How  Nënë Hotline to report sight- On Molokaÿi the success of many nënë do we need?” Today ings recovering the nënë will rely on playing the ‘numbers game’ is far  Nënë Net website partnerships. What is learned about less meaningful than knowing how  Nënë News quarterly news- the nënë through joint observation the nënë population is evolving. letter and management will benefit not The questions of the ‘90s are “How  “Don’t feed the Nënë” signs only the nënë, but the community is the nënë adapting to today’s  “Nënë Flyway” and “Nënë and island as a whole. Partnerships habitats? Where do the nënë go Crossing” signs can find simple solutions to after fledging [from remote release  Classroom talks and commu- complex problems of altered sites]… are they surviving? How nity meetings habitats and human encroachment, many are reproductively  Field trips for Molokaÿi and each small victory forms a successful? How long are the nënë

 students larger piece of the overall success. living?” Until there are answers it

 Volunteer workdays will not be possible to determine if Measuring Success “The nënë has been saved!”  Annual Open House  A reproducing and self- Good conservation practices sustaining wild nënë encourage communication between population Nënë Hotline the private sector and state and  Control of the factors threaten- federal agencies. A cornerstone in Report your nënë sightings! ing the survival of the species the foundation of the Nënë O  The safeguarding of future Molokaÿi management plan is well- www.nene.net nënë ecosystems guided community involvement Information requested at the web  Increased awareness of the combined with cooperative site includes the date, time and nënë and the factors which led research. Often the flame of location of the sighting, the band stewardship flickers the brightest at to its decline number and color (please report if the grassroots level as volunteers  Communication and there was no band), if the (s) trade sweat equity for visible cooperation between the were in a pair, if there were any results. private sector and governing goslings with that pair and if so, agencies how many, and the activity of the  Partnerships committed to long Don’t want to receive the Nënë nënë. -term management News©? Please call, fax, e-mail, or The reporting of these sightings send us a postcard and we’ll remove Nënë releases on Molokaÿi will be will help improve nënë habitat and your name from our mailing list. unique by virtue of the fact that releases in the future by identifying Have interesting information on nënë Molokaÿi will be the first island areas where nënë frequent to forage anywhere in the state? Drop us a line. or nest.

To increase awareness of the plight of the nënë. Nënë News Page 3

Earth Day On Molokaÿi

The 4th Annual Molokaÿi Earth Day celebration took place April 20th at Kaunakakai’s Mitchell Pauoli Center with activities focusing on Molokaÿi’s environmental concerns. The event, spearheaded by the Molokaÿi branch of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiÿi and organized by the Molokaÿi Community Earth Day Committee, featured a contest with a grand prize drawing of a helicopter ride into the TNC Kamakou Preserve. Participants DOFAW’s Peter Shannon answers questions about the future Molokaÿi nënë releases. were given a ticket with six blank squares to be stamped by booth “Do Not Feed the Nënë…Keep called…Why are nënë members. Ticket holders were Them Wild!” signs. DOFAW’s endangered…What is a male nënë asked a question by a booth nënë posters and Hawaiÿi’s called…What is the No. 1 rule of member about their exhibit and Endangered coloring the nënë…and why?” The most when answered correctly a square books were given away. Booth asked questions of booth members on the ticket was stamped. members included DOFAW’s Peter were “What are you going to do Completed tickets were placed in a Shannon and Greg Massey, about poaching?” and “What’s barrel for drawings of numerous D.V.M., Nënë O Molokaÿi’s that?” while pointing to the doorprizes throughout the day. Arleone Dibben, and volunteer mounted nënë. For many Molokaÿi Nënë O Molokaÿi partnered with veterinarian Dr. Lori Gaskins. residents this was the first DOFAW to create a booth featuring Examples of questions asked opportunity to see a nënë. a mounted nënë, a nënë facts and contest participants are “What do photo display, and prototype nënë eat…What is a baby nënë Plant Some Poop Project (Vaccinium reticulatum), pükiawe (Stypelia sp.), and pilo (coprosma Receives DOFAW Grant sp.). Two plants, ÿülei (Osteomeles The State of , Division of anthyllidifolia) and naupaka Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) kahakai (Scaevola taccada) have has awarded $2,000 to Nënë O not been previously noted as a plant Molokaÿi for their Plant Some Poop species preferred to be eaten by Project. The focus of the nënë. More ÿülei seedlings have educational program is for students sprouted than any other plant Transplanted seedlings sprouted from to learn what nënë are eating in the species. nënë droppings (scats) (above) are wild (See Nënë News April 1996). Several surprise non-native plant pükiawe, (foreground), kükaenënë and The funds will be used to purchase species have also sprouted from the ÿöhelo (middle two rows), and ÿülei (back potting supplies and to publish an droppings gathered by Drs. Helen row). These native Hawaiian plant species produce berries with hard educational brochure about the and Paul Baker on a lava flow ranging from the size of a grain of sand to nënë. between Hölua cabin and the grass that of a small pea. Non-berry producing The native Hawaiian plant species flats of Waikau in the Koÿolau Gap plant species have also sprouted, such as a to appear in abundance in the sterile in Haleakalä National Park: One native sedge. Introduced species that have sprouted soil potting mix have been marijuana plant, one oregano, a include panini (cactus), pangola grass, and predominately berry producing California pepper tree (Schinus numerous weeds. plants. They are kükaenënë molle), and one yet unidentified Photo: Arleone Dibben (Coprosma ernodeoides), ÿöhelo plant. To encourage community stewardship of nënë habitat. Page 4 Nënë News

Nënë Records

Project Continues

The first phase of documentation of the historic captive propagation nënë flock which was responsible for restoring the wild nënë population to its current status is nearing completion. Linda Robledo of the New Orleans Zoo began the data compilation phase in 1994. The DOFAW sponsored project, funded through Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act*, compiles Patrick Ching’s nënë in a Hanalei Valley wetlands (stamp on right) graces a “First Day Cover.” His “First the Pöhakuloa and Olinda records. of State” with a and gander by an ÿöhelo bush is on the left. The goal of the final phase of the Nënë Featured On Each stamp is individually project is to determine how mate numbered, and is available as a selection affects breeding success. Hunting Stamp “First of State” stamp, a limited The project is expected to be The first Hawaiÿi wildlife edition decorative mini sheet (only completed in 1997. conservation stamp featuring an 1,500 were produced), and “First The study was prompted by the adult nënë and two goslings is sold Day Cover” signed by the artist, theory that nënë allowed to select to hunters as part of Hawaiÿi’s Patrick Ching, and canceled on the their own partners are probably hunting license requirements. The first day of issue with both postage more productive than birds that are $5.00 stamp is required for hunting and the Hawaiÿi stamp. Prints and arbitrarily placed with a mate. wild pigs, goats, pheasants, and other collector’s items are also Adult birds have traditionally been other species. State officials expect available. Patrick Ching is well- placed together with the goal of stamp sales to hunters and stamp known for his cartoon surfing forming breeding pairs. However, collectors to generate $1,000,000 manual and children's coloring many times males will show over the first three years, with the books about Hawaiÿi’s endangered aggressiveness towards the female, funds going to hunting programs species. For more information with the end result being that no off and wildlife and wetlands contact the artist directly at -spring are produced. The process preservation. Naturally Hawaiian Gallery & of forced mate selection could The new stamp is expected to Gifts, 1025 Kalanianaÿole Highway, potentially be eliminated if the quickly become a collector’s item. Waimänalo, HI 96795 (808) 259- information extracted from the 5354. newly correlated data proves that nënë who are permitted to choose Did You Know...? their own partners produce more — A gander hatched by Mr. F.E. Blaauw of the Netherlands, lived to be goslings. the oldest nënë recorded. Upon the death of Mr. Blaauw in 1936, the nënë was given to Dr. Jean Delacour for his private collection at Cleres, *Section 6 (d) of the Endangered France. At the time of the German invasion of France in 1940, the Species Act of December 28, 1973 gander was the last nënë specimen in Europe and was reported to be 42 Cooperation With The States - years of age. The gander was believed to have been eaten by the Allocation Of Funds authorizes the invading soldiers. Secretary to provide financial — Haleakalä National Park boasts a Slimbridge gander still alive from assistance to any State, through its one of the early crater releases. Two years ago this gander lost his mate respective State agency, to assist in and has since remated with a much younger female. development of programs for the — Several pairs of nënë that have previously mated and breed off-spring conservation of endangered and have “divorced” and chosen new mates, indicating that not all nënë mate threatened species. for life. To foster partnerships for nënë management. Nënë News Page 5 NËNË ARCHIVES By 1960, Sir Peter Scott felt that enough nënë had been reared from the breeding stock given to The Waterfowl Trust in Slimbridge, England, to make it feasible to return some nënë to Hawaiÿi. It took nearly two years to plan the first nënë release in Haleakalä National Park. The Palikü area of the crater was chosen based on a) that the area was excellent nënë habitat and contained year-round feed, b) the remoteness would insure a minimum of disturbance, and c) “…the excellent accommodations available at the Palikü ranger cabin…” In late June of 1962 thirty nënë were shipped via airfreight from England to New York and taken Boy Scouts volunteered to carry nënë into Haleakala Crater for the first Maui release in 1962. The remote release site near Paliku ranger cabin was directly to the U.S. Federal Quarantine Station at 8.5 miles across the volcano. These photos were taken by Jerry Chong while Clinton, New Jersey. After a 21-day quarantine on assignment for National Geographic Magazine. period they were shipped to the Honolulu Zoo for banding and a 3-day rest. On July 26, the Slimbridge birds were flown to Kahului, Maui, where they were joined by five nënë hatched at Pöhakuloa. The trip to the rim of the crater was made by truck in cardboard vegetable, fruit, and Coca-Cola® boxes with holes cut in them. At the top of the crater 23 volunteer Boy Scouts tied the boxes onto their backs and hiked the 8.5 miles down and across the volcano to the one-half acre release enclosure near Palikü. By late afternoon all 35 nënë had been placed in the release pen. Two weeks later several of the birds began making short flights in and out of the release site.

Archive Update Nënë O Molokaÿi Records state that 31 nënë were raised at the Mökapu Fish and T-Shirts Game Farm, and that a total of 42 100% cotton birds were shipped out across the state. The Mökapu facility also raised $17.50 each Plus shipping guinea fowl and pheasants for Available in child L, and adult M, release into the wild in an effort to White shirt with blue sky, L, XL, and XXL. Add $3 shipping make Hawaiÿi “the hunting capital for orders of up to three shirts. Add green island, black design of the Pacific” expounded Mr. $1 more for each additional shirt. Frank H. Locey, however this early Natural shirt with Send check or money order to endeavor to increase tourism never brown design address on back. caught on. (Sorry, no credit cards accepted.)

To expand public education and participation in saving the nënë. Page 6 Nënë News

The Nënë Net© containing research reports, Nënë: Integrating The Nënë Into magazine and newspaper articles, Today’s Altered Habitats Through www.nene.net and historical documentation on Public Education And Community Nënë O Molokaÿi has started the nënë. Involvement, Kathy Smith, refuge © Nënë Net on the World Wide Web manager, Keälia Pond National (http://www.aloha.net/~nënë)with Earth Maui wildlife Refuge, will talk about the goal of centralizing and Hawaiÿi’s endangered waterbirds Nature Summit disseminating information about and public involvement in projects nënë. Currently available is the The First Annual Earth Maui on the refuge, and Cathleen Hodges Nënë Hotline© for reporting Nature Summit, organized by the of Haleakalä National Park, who statewide nënë sightings, the Nënë Kapalua Nature Society, will take will discuss their endangered Registry© for world-wide place August 23 - 25 at the Ritz- species management program. registration of nënë in the nënë Carlton, Kapalua, featuring an eco- There will be a charge for several of studbook being compiled by Ken trade show, astronomy night, keiki the eco-activities, while admission Reininger, Nënë Notes© an activities, and guided nature hikes to the eco-trade show is free. For educational page with facts and and snorkeling. The theme for this more information call the marketing fiction about nënë, the Nënë year’s seminar on Saturday is “On division of the Kapalua Nature Exchange© to foster communication The Brink” which will focus on Society at (808) 669-0244. between individuals and institutions increasing awareness of Maui’s researching nënë and avoid unique environment and protection The Nënë News© is a quarterly news- letter to educate the general public duplication of research, and a of its natural resources. Scheduled © Nënë News request form to receive the Nënë speakers include Arleone Dibben of about Hawaiÿi’s nënë. The © is published by Nënë O Molokaÿi, a 501 News by mail. Still under Nënë O Molokaÿi, with a slide (c)(3) non-profit organization. © construction is Nä Nënë a library show presentation about The Urban

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