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LIHUE — One of Kauai’s oldest nene has died after being struck by a vehicle.
The nene named Black XL was brought to the island in 2000 as part of a re-population effort for the endangered Hawaiian geese.
The Garden Island newspaper reported Monday she was one of 12 nene killed or injured by motorists since January.
The death is prompting officials to again remind motorists to be careful driving near nene because many of them are flightless this time of year.
From January through early May, nene stay on the ground because it’s breeding season, so goslings aren’t yet able to fly, and adults are shedding feathers.
Because of the re-population effort, 2,500 of the birds are in Hawaii, half them on Kauai.