Imagine a brilliant red and black iiwi , one of Hawaii's unique honey creepers, sweeping into your yard to sip on ohia lehua nectar. Kepler writes of a 19th century ornithologist who observed nectar dripping from the iiwi ' s bill as it busily probed the flowers. Planting native trees and shrubs may draw birds from the mountains into your neighborhood so that you can catch a glimpse of a native bird. Nurturing native wildlife and plants in your own backyard, your own neighborhood, or your own ahupuaa not only brings native treasures into your living space, but may be a lifesaver for Hawaii's natural communities. A nationwide campaign called Backyard Conservation is a program that encourages the use of preservation methods in your backyard based on methods originally developed in a country setting.
Birdhouses attract birds.
And so do native plants, which are becoming readily available at plant sales and garden supply stores. The Natural Resources Conservation Service Booklet describes how to create a wildlife habitat for birds and butterflies, build a backyard pond, terrace flower beds, and make compost. While caring for your backyard or neighborhood wildlife refuge, you may see birds grow from egg to adult, or plants grow from seedling to tree. Because of the uniqueness of Hawaii's native animals and plants, transforming your backyard into a shelter for wildlife will take dedication and a little bit of research. A fun way to learn how to begin is by working with local environmental service groups that are actively developing Hawaiian style methods to protect and restore natural areas.