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Rare and Endangered 2


Rare and Endangered 2
Photo Information
Copyright: Michael Halliday (pompey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 146 W: 4 N: 745] (2768)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-30
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 300 D, Canon EF 75-300/4.0-5.6 III, Skylight
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Geese from around the world. [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-02-05 13:04
Viewed: 1767
Points: 25
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis)

Its extremely restricted range (the smallest of any living goose) and remarkably furrowed neck plumage make this goose unmistakable. It is of small stature with heavily barred plumage and the sexes look alike. It does not tend to associate with other geese. It is one of the few species that actually evolved in Hawaii and differs from true geese by having longer legs, reduced webbing between its toes, and a more erect posture - all presumably adaptations to a more terrestrial lifestyle. In addition, it has much smaller wings than those of its closest relative, the Canada Goose. Its calls are similar to those of the Canada Goose.
The Hawaiian Goose, or Nene to give it the Polynesian name, represents WWT's greatest conservation success story. 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. As with many island endemics, their approachable nature proved to be their downfall. Mule loads of geese were killed and transported by clipper ships to California to feed the Forty-niners, while some were salted down and used for food on whaling ships.
The introduction of the mongoose in 1883 then seemed to seal their fate as it prayed voraciously on eggs, chicks and adults alike.
By 1907 the Nene was recognised as a protected species, but this seemed too little too late and only 20 or 30 birds survived by 1949. Luckily though, a few birds were taken into captivity by Herbert Shipman, three of which were sent to Slimbridge in 1950.
A major re-introduction programme then began and by 1992 over 2200 Nene had been released into the wild, including 200 supplied by WWT between 1962 and 1969.
Although this release programme probably saved the Nene from extinction, when releases were reduced in the 1970s the population declined sharply from over 875 birds in 1977 to about 400 in 1980 suggesting that releases had kept the population artificially high. Further work was clearly needed to identify and remedy the causes for the Nene's decline.
Between 1980 and 1989, various research and conservation initiatives in Hawaii, including work by WWT, eventually culminated in the Nene Recovery Initiative, a five year research programme implemented by the Nene Recovery Action Group (with members from the Hawaiian Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Hawaiian National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, University of North Dakota, Smithsonian Institute and WWT).
Photographed at the Wetland and Wildfowl Trust in Arundel. Most of the information supplied from the WWT Website.
Demetrio, Fisher, liquidsunshine, LordPotty, coasties, willie, jossim, mogens-j, Luc, sandpiper2 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Michael, Very good detail seen in the plumage..Interesting markings/color in your endangered Goose.. Exceptional note. Well done!

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-02-05 14:49]

Well done with the composition and note. Very interesting. You did well capturing the goose details.

Mike

Nice shot Michael,
This looks like a friendly goose. Great details and nice composition
very interesting notes
Thanks for posting

I can definitely see the similarity to the Canada Goose.
I'd never heard of this one before. A nice capture. Well done.

Good feather detail captured in this shot. Nice to be introduced to a new Goose. Good job. TFS

Very good Michael. This is informative on the notes. Excellent image. No nits. Good work

Nice post, focus a bit soft on the face, very good POV.
TFS.

  • Great 
  • jossim Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1575 W: 5 N: 2181] (12250)
  • [2005-02-06 7:18]

Photo avec des bon détails et une belle lumière. Félicitations et bonne journée.

Michael, this is a very good capture of this beautiful goose - nicely presented in a good composition and with very nice colours. Excellent dof to show the details in the plumage. I can see that it is marked on the one leg, so I guess that some qualified organisation is following these birds to see where they come around. Great note.

  • Great 
  • livios Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2156 W: 322 N: 4258] (16906)
  • [2005-02-06 13:45]

Michael, this is a cute shot. Nice POV and composition. Great details and sharpness.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1873 W: 304 N: 4300] (14729)
  • [2005-02-06 16:11]

Critic:
Personal assessment of the photo: good
Aptness of the photo for the site: great
Degree of difficulty for the photographer during the capture (personal assessment): medium
Degree of utility of the note: excellent
Comment: I test at present a new and personal way of writing my critics and you are among the first ones to whom I send it.
Any comment will largely be appreciated.
A good work, Michael.
Thanks

I don't think this is as good as some of your other shots. I think the POV is to angular. I'm not keen on the big ring on its leg either, you could have spent a few moments cloning that out I think. The note is great and the species is interesting, sorry to be so harsh.

Well captured,like the colour and detail.
And your note are great...
Cesie

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