A male nene, banded as 595, was killed Thursday morning by a hit-and-run driver while apparently crossing a road in Lili‘uokalani Gardens off Banyan Drive, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife received a call about the incident Thursday before its offices opened, and a staff member responded and picked up the bird.
DOFAW plans to have the dead nene tested for toxoplasmosis, a deadly disease spread by cats.
“Since people have been regularly feeding nene in the park for many months now, they’ve grown accustomed to humans (habituated),” said DOFAW’s Raymond McGuire in a press release. “This is a primary reason we’ve pleaded with folks to stop feeding feral cats. Yet even after one woman was cited earlier this year, regular feeding is continuing.”
The male nene’s mate, with a leg band of NTC, has now lost her partner and experienced trauma with two of her chicks. One chick, born this season, died of suspected toxoplasmosis in the spring. Another, nicknamed Onion and banded as NYN, was abducted from another Hilo park several years ago, but eventually recovered, returned to its parents and then released into a bird sanctuary.
“Nene’s normally have mate fidelity and will breed for life with their partners. In this case, NTC had one offspring bird-napped, one apparently felled by a disease spread by feral cats, and at least one partner killed,” McGuire said.
The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement has opened an investigation and is encouraging anyone who may have seen a vehicle in the park early Thursday morning to report it.
DLNR also is encouraging the person who hit the bird to step forward.
Nene regularly cross the roads in the park, traveling to cat-feeding locations created by people.
DOCARE officers are aware of the feedings and regularly patrol the park looking for anyone who is putting food out. Anyone caught placing plates of food that nene can eat can be cited and face criminal prosecution.
Witnesses can contact DOCARE at 643-DLNR or via the DLNRTip app, both anonymously. Or they can call the DOCARE Branch Office in Hilo at (808) 933-3460.