07-11-2006, 02:23 AM
Folks:
I worked for the Smithsonian National Zoo for 13 years and I can tell you from personal experience it is VERY easy to raise Nene's. Primarily I was working as a reproductive physiologist designing and evaluating breeding programs for a multitude of endangered species. The key with the Nene is that you have a diverse enough gene pool to ensure viability of the population over time. At National we imported specimens from England's Jersey Wildlife Trust and from two private aviculturists in the US to combine with National’s gene pool. Prior to the availability of PCR analysis to map the specific gene pool or lineage of a particular specimen we had to rely on the accuracy of the records kept by each institution, some good, some bad.
On an annual basis at the height of the work at National Zoo on the Nene I was raising 35-50 birds a year. They are grazers unlike most waterfowl and consume unbelievable amounts of kale and collard greens as they forage. They also get very tame which is a downfall because then they have no flight response to predators and ill intentioned humans. Many of our stock were returned to Hawaii through the Honolulu Zoo who had established a release program which focused on the Big Island. Other stock were sent to other zoos to keep the captive population genetically viable in the event of a die off in the wild population.
Over and above the seed feeders that you folks are enjoying you might try is to use conventional hummingbird feeders to attract some of the Hawaiian specific honeycreepers. They are nectarvorus and in the captive population that I worked with they really enjoy and need the nectar supplementation.
A simple way to prepare nectar is the following:
Boil 1 cup of water
Add 1 quarter cup of granulated sugar (So it is a 4 parts water to 1 part sugar ratio)
mix until dissolved; cool to room temp before putting out for the birds.
We also added a powdered protein supplement that you can also use or not.
Be sure to keep the feeders VERY clean. Nectar is an enriched media and grows all kinds of organisms in a very short time. Also, do not use honey in place of the sugar. I know it seems more natural/organic etc, but honey contains some specific funguses that can damage the liver of nectar feeding birds so stay with the granulated sugar.
Once they find it they will continue to return to supplement their diet, great fun!
Enjoy
Will Peratino
I worked for the Smithsonian National Zoo for 13 years and I can tell you from personal experience it is VERY easy to raise Nene's. Primarily I was working as a reproductive physiologist designing and evaluating breeding programs for a multitude of endangered species. The key with the Nene is that you have a diverse enough gene pool to ensure viability of the population over time. At National we imported specimens from England's Jersey Wildlife Trust and from two private aviculturists in the US to combine with National’s gene pool. Prior to the availability of PCR analysis to map the specific gene pool or lineage of a particular specimen we had to rely on the accuracy of the records kept by each institution, some good, some bad.
On an annual basis at the height of the work at National Zoo on the Nene I was raising 35-50 birds a year. They are grazers unlike most waterfowl and consume unbelievable amounts of kale and collard greens as they forage. They also get very tame which is a downfall because then they have no flight response to predators and ill intentioned humans. Many of our stock were returned to Hawaii through the Honolulu Zoo who had established a release program which focused on the Big Island. Other stock were sent to other zoos to keep the captive population genetically viable in the event of a die off in the wild population.
Over and above the seed feeders that you folks are enjoying you might try is to use conventional hummingbird feeders to attract some of the Hawaiian specific honeycreepers. They are nectarvorus and in the captive population that I worked with they really enjoy and need the nectar supplementation.
A simple way to prepare nectar is the following:
Boil 1 cup of water
Add 1 quarter cup of granulated sugar (So it is a 4 parts water to 1 part sugar ratio)
mix until dissolved; cool to room temp before putting out for the birds.
We also added a powdered protein supplement that you can also use or not.
Be sure to keep the feeders VERY clean. Nectar is an enriched media and grows all kinds of organisms in a very short time. Also, do not use honey in place of the sugar. I know it seems more natural/organic etc, but honey contains some specific funguses that can damage the liver of nectar feeding birds so stay with the granulated sugar.
Once they find it they will continue to return to supplement their diet, great fun!
Enjoy
Will Peratino
Will Peratino