MAKAWAO, Maui — With the first four nene geese Pi'iholo Ranch was hosting having flown the coop, to the annoyance of at least one neighbor, eight new goslings have been installed in a custom-built pen on ranch land in Upcountry Maui.

The horse and cattle ranch, which provides trail rides to visitors, has a 10-year "safe harbor agreement" with the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to raise the endangered birds and eventually establish a free-roaming flock of 75 to 100 nene.

But the first four geese, brought to the ranch in September 2004, matured and in July began roaming, visiting nearby properties. While most of the neighbors welcomed the native birds, the occupants of one house complained repeatedly to ranch owners and state officials that the birds were in their yard and fouling their roof, which is used as a water catchment.

The Advertiser was unable to immediately contact the complaining neighbor.

"Some people called to ask what to do, which we appreciated," said Duke Baldwin, Pi'iholo Ranch's resource manager and son of ranch owner Peter Baldwin. "Because they are on the endangered list, you cannot wave nene birds away — they have free rein. Most people were amicable about (it) ... but there was one house that was not happy, not supportive of our efforts, and started calling me about it incessantly."

DLNR staff recently collected the four geese and are holding them until they can be released in Haleakala or the West Maui Mountains, where wild nene live.

In a second attempt to establish a flock, four male goslings and four females raised at the Maui Bird Conservation Center in Olinda were placed in a 1-acre enclosure in the middle of the ranch. Their wings were trimmed to help them get used to the pen. The feathers will grow out by springtime, when they are expected to take flight around the ranch and beyond.

"I want people to know that we are trying to re-introduce an endangered species and that our intentions are noble," Duke Baldwin said. "With the next go-around ... we are definitely hoping to get more community support. It's for the greater good, Hawai'i's natural ecosystem, and the general conservation effort on the island of Maui."

He said he hopes the second group will be able to take up permanent residence at the ranch.

Under the August 2004 agreement with the state, Pi'iholo Ranch agreed to maintain or improve approximately 600 acres of nene habitat, establish a release pen, control predators and plant native plant species known to provide food for the birds.

Peter Baldwin, whose family has been ranching on Maui for six generations, said he was disappointed the first group had to be removed.

"It was so neat. Visitors would come to the ranch to ride horseback and the nene would be walking around the stable. It was just so cool," he said.

Ranch employee Ed Uweko'olani said he appreciated having the native species around. "(The neighbors) need to understand that these birds were here long before they were," he said.

One neighbor, Jamie Hunter, said it was "wonderful" to have nene in the area. "I heard them honking and they were flying overhead," he said. "It was the first time in the 36 years I've been here that I've seen nene except at (Haleakala) Crater. It amazed me."

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.