Meet the latest arrival at Martin Mere

Mar 26 2009 by Gemma Jaleel, Ormskirk Advertiser

Hawaiian nene 160

SAY Aloha to Martin Mere’s newest arrival!

The first Hawaiian Goose gosling – or Nene – of the year has been born at the centre on Red Cat Lane in Burscough and heralds the start of the duckling season at the reserve.

The Nene is well known at the centre for being one of the birds that will actually take bird food from the hand and is an enjoyable attraction for children and adults.

The Hawaiian Goose represents WWT's greatest conservation success story by breeding the birds in captivity and releasing them in the wild.

The reintroduction programme started was at Martin Mere in the 1980s by Sir Peter Scott – who would have been celebrating his centenary year in 2009 – when just three eggs were delivered to the centre.

There are now approximately 60 Hawaiian Geese in the grounds.

The gosling, born last week, can be seen wandering around by the pond house with its parents, and it has already attracted a lot of attention from families visiting the centre.

Sometimes known as Lava Geese, they are the only waterfowl adapted for life on lava flows. An estimated 25,000 Nenes used to inhabit the Hawaiian islands, but following the arrival of Europeans in 1778 their numbers immediately began to decline.