ARC Biologist Jillian Soller Discusses Nēnē Road Safety in Hawaiʻi Public Radio Interview

Conservation efforts are underway on Kauaʻi to reduce vehicle-related deaths of nēnē, Hawaiʻi’s state bird. In a recent Hawaiʻi Public Radio interview, Jillian Soller of Archipelago Research and Conservation discussed the new Mānā Plains Nēnē Project, which focuses on a five-mile stretch of Kaumualiʻi Highway near the Kawaiʻele Waterbird Sanctuary—a known hotspot for collisions.

The project’s first phase will study why nēnē are drawn to this roadside, guiding strategies to reduce fatalities, particularly during the peak of nesting season. Kauaʻi is home to a large portion of the state’s nēnē population, making local road mortality a critical concern.

Learn more and hear the full interview on Hawaiʻi Public Radio.