A Rare Visitor to Hawai’i
December 2, 2009
Unlike most human visitors to Hawaii, occasionally birds will accidentally find themselves in Hawaii, such as this Brant Goose (Branta bernicla) in the picture at left. Found predominately in Northern Europe, Northwestern Canada, Alaska and Eastern Siberia, the Brant (or Brent) Goose is usually observed along coastal zones and estuaries. Geese that breed in the Yukon Delta of Alaska and Eastern Sibera tend to spend their winters in a range from Southeastern Alaska to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico. It is possible that this particular goose was making its way to its wintering grounds when it was blown off course by a storm. Scientists believe this is how the Nene or Hawaiian Goose ended up in Hawaii.
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A few years ago there was a species of duck found at Pu’ukohola Heiau NHP that was found to have been an intentional introduction by a local Kona resort. It is possible that this is also the case for the Brant goose.