Hawaiian geese, also known as nene, nested and hatched young on the island of Oahu, the first time the endangered species has been seen in the area's wild since the 1700's, the Huffington Post reported.

Only in captivity has Hawaii's state bird existed on Oahu over the last four centuries or so. Otherwise, the remaining 2,000 (all that's left in the world since the geese are only found in Hawaii) live in Kauai and Maui.

Hawaiin geese are the sixth most endangered species of waterfowl worldwide. According to the Huffpost, their population neared 25,000 when Captain Cook reached Hawaii in 1778 and fell to 50 in the 1940's.

Researchers believe the geese, known for their ability to fly long distances, traveled from Kauai or Maui and into Oahu. Thus, the distance wasn't remarkable, but the fact that they'd settle down in new lands was, especially because Oahu is the most developed of Hawaii's islands. There, they face not only limited space, but urbanized predators like dogs and rats.

"But the fact that they would stop and raise youngsters over there -- that's pretty remarkable," Steve Hess, a U.S. Geological Survey wildlife biologist, told the HuffPost.

Not only is the nene unique to Hawaii, but it's the only living species of goose that does not occur naturally on any continent, according to ducks.org (the number one site for your duck questions). They prefer nesting near the ground on a variety of surfaces, such as beaches, shrublands, grasslands, woodlands, volcanic ash, and cinder and lava rock substrates.