State workers have removed 300 nene geese from the area around Kauai’s airport in the last few months to reduce the risk they will get in the way of airplanes taking off and landing. 

KITV reports wildlife biologists have been taking the birds to Maui and Hawaii island. 

The nene is an endangered species and the Hawaii state bird.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie last year signed a proclamation suspending some state laws so officials could swiftly move nene from Kauai Lagoons, the resort next to the airport where the geese have been nesting.  

The geese have thrived among the resort’s green golf course fairways and ponds. The population there exploded from just 18 birds in 1999 to about 400 last year.