05-04-2024, 02:39 AM
(This post was last modified: 05-04-2024, 02:44 AM by Wao nahele kane.)
The original official article is here...
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2024/04/23/...%20Gardens.
After observing thousands of duckling, chick's and some goslings being raised in a 100% free range environment, the biggest threat is mongoose, period. No ands ifs or butts about it. The mongoose are responsible for more than 90% of all fatalities with another couple percent from sun-stroke and or other natural causes. We see about a 5% survival rate unless we intervene by caring for them in a secure environment.
I may be going out on a limb here, but I rather doubt it's any better odds for Nene gosling as the moment they hit dry land, they're targeted by mongoose. This doesn't include the eggs that are raided by mongoose which is also a high percentage unless kept up high and out of reach of mongoose. Nene are ground nesters, therefore mongoose targets and no, the mother isn't always on the eggs, especially while laying a clutch, not brooding till the entire clutch is laid.
Bottom line, until the mongoose are eliminated from the island, I'm not buying any nonsense about feral cats posing some sort of threat to the Nene population. Rubbish.
https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/blog/2024/04/23/...%20Gardens.
After observing thousands of duckling, chick's and some goslings being raised in a 100% free range environment, the biggest threat is mongoose, period. No ands ifs or butts about it. The mongoose are responsible for more than 90% of all fatalities with another couple percent from sun-stroke and or other natural causes. We see about a 5% survival rate unless we intervene by caring for them in a secure environment.
I may be going out on a limb here, but I rather doubt it's any better odds for Nene gosling as the moment they hit dry land, they're targeted by mongoose. This doesn't include the eggs that are raided by mongoose which is also a high percentage unless kept up high and out of reach of mongoose. Nene are ground nesters, therefore mongoose targets and no, the mother isn't always on the eggs, especially while laying a clutch, not brooding till the entire clutch is laid.
Bottom line, until the mongoose are eliminated from the island, I'm not buying any nonsense about feral cats posing some sort of threat to the Nene population. Rubbish.