Tuesday, October 18, 2011

N IS FOR...

N IS FOR ...NENE


The Nene, Kauai

Oh I'm sure someone has already used this before in ABC Wednesday, but it's just very much in my head right now.  Why?  Because in a little over a month I will be seeing them in the flesh  -- 'feathers' actually. Although I have become very much a homebody ( yes, I actually get homesick!) I feel the need for a change of scenery though I suspect that two weeks will be more than I want.


                                                                    THE NENE
The Nene looks very much like the Canada Goose and certainly they have the same roots.  Unfortunately the Canada Goose is not very popular in a lot of places because they have become so numerous that they are almost a pest. This is the Canada Goose:


THE CANADA GOOSE



THE NENE
See the difference in their neck coloring.

Unlike the proliferation of the Canada Goose, the Nene, which is Hawaii's national bird, can now only be found on four of the Hawaian Islands, Hawaii (the Big Island), Maui, Kauai and Molokai.  You can see a fair number of Nenes at Kilauea Point where the lighthouse is on Kauai.  That's the lighthouse in the distance in the second photo from the top.  There are other interesting birds to be seen up there too, such as the Tropic Bird, the Booby and Albatross. (Don't think those are supposed to be capitalized, as with the names of flowers, but I can never remember and somehow I think they should be. Hey, if e.e. cummings  can mess with capitals, I guess I can).


To see more of Mrs. Nesbitt's ABC Wednesday's entrants click on this LINK.  Now to find something for O!

27 comments:

Leslie: said...

Wow! Very interesting, since we have Canada Geese here in proliferation. Must check out the nene next time I'm in Hawaii. Have a great week,

Leslie
abcw team

Hildred said...

They are both very striking and stately birds.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I suppose you can't catch the national bird.

mrsnesbitt said...

I ,miss our geese xxxx Still love to see the |Canada Geese fly over first thing in a morning. x

Wanda said...

What handsome birds, Chris...Nice photos.

When are you going back to Hawaii?

Kay L. Davies said...

We didn't think two weeks was long enough to be in Hawaii, Chris.
We've just been trying and trying to remember if we saw any Nene. We were at the lighthouse on Kauai, and taking photos of far-distant red-footed boobies, but I just checked, and we have no Nene photos. I will be very interested to see yours.
Oh, and I'm so used to Canada geese, I didn't think the Nene looked anything like them until you pointed out the similarity. LOL

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel

kaybee said...

I must confess that I prefer to see Canada geese flying overhead rather than having them on the ground everywhere. We are so over-run with them and because people do insist on feeding them, they make a terrible mess(what goes in must come out!). It's sad, because they ARE a stately bird! Enjoy the Nene and Kauai!!

Roger Owen Green said...

interesting comparison.
i get homesick too, tho i've never been to Hawaii!
ROG, ABC wednesday team

Nanka said...

The Nene looks very majestic in the second shot!! Lovely patterns of the feathered twill!!

Diane said...

Sorry Chris, Ive still not had chance to post the Greensleves and I'm off on holiday in a few days, so i'll post it when i'm back. xx

Anonymous said...

Fabulously interesting, Chris!!

Shooting Parrots said...

I'd never heard of a Nene before reading this post, although we have plenty of Canada Geese. The Nene is a very proud looking bird.

Scriptor Senex said...

I thoroughly agree with you about capitals. My daughter - who is far more educated about nature than I am - says the name shouldn't be capitalised but I always use them. Otherwise, how could you tell a Pink-footed Goose from a pink-footed goose?

snafu said...

I have never heard of them, but I have never been to Hawaii. Canada geese abound in England and have become a pest when out walking near their habitats due to the poop everywhere. They congregate around lakes and ponds in many city parks and it amazes me that the less well off inner city inhabitants have not been culling them, particularly around Christmas time, they make a really nice roast.

jabblog said...

It sounds as though you're going to have a lovely holiday:-)
(When I saw 'Nene' I thought immediately of the River Nene in Peterborough.)

Chubskulit Rose said...

Wow, very interesting. A Nene word in my country means a young girl.

Nostalgic, is one of my ABC entries. Come by any time you get a chance. Have a great day!

Doohie said...

A handsome bird which looks as though someone has tried to ring it's neck. I hope not. :o)

Johnny Nutcase said...

Cool! I have a couple friends who worked with these guys recently.

Kim, USA said...

That is a very cool bird. And the name is cool too!

Nuptial

MorningAJ said...

I remember seeing the years ago at Peter Scott's place in Slimbridge. Nice reminder.

Meryl said...

Really interesting post! Have fun in Hawaii!

MorningAJ said...

Just in case you don't get chance to come back to read replies .... Thanks for the great and full reply on my blog. It explains a lot (which is what I wanted)and was honest. Thank you for appreciating what I was trying to do and responding so kindly.

claude said...

Happy to meet A NENE after having met Canada geese in Amaerica.
For the next ABC Wednesday and for N,
I propose you in title N for Nothing and you show Nothing !!!

Chronicles of Illusions said...

they are simple beautiful - there is just something special about all birds

Tumblewords: said...

Elegant bird. Too bad so many of the birds have become pests. They do seem to take over. Great photos!

photowannabe said...

Wish I was taking that trip. I know you will enjoy yourself and come back refreshed.
The Nene has wonderful feathers. I love the variation.

Liz Hinds said...

You mean you're going to Hawaii?! Wow, have a wonderful refreshing time.