We now have a flock of Red breasted geese, Branta ruficollis. They're a lot of fun and breed every year in their favoured territories throughout the grounds
Red-breasted Geese would have to be one of my favourites - brilliant colouration!
In 1982 there were free-ranging Emperor Geese, Common Shelducks and Coscoroba Swans as well as the Nenes. The Emperors and Shelducks stayed on the northern side of the stream, often on the lawns around the Spectacled Bears. The Coscorobas hung around the stream on the south side when it was safe to do so. By 1988 there were also Red-breasts on the northern lawns.
The Nenes occupied the lawns from the Reptile House and classrooms over to the gorillas/fodys and around the marmosets/tamarins. They were quite aggressive and would chase off the other birds if they came near. They never bothered the public much, but they wouldn't hesitate to attack staff if they felt the need. They must have been a nightmare during breeding season!
I always do a double take looking at photos of these birds these days when they're captioned with the Hawaiian name, as the Nene is the river flowing through Northampton, now my local town!
