O`ahu is depauperate when it comes to native forest birds. Only 3 species `Elepaio (Chasiempis ibidis), `Apapane (Himetone sanguinea) and `Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis flava) are known with any confidence on the island. What is hopeful is that all 3 species are showing signs of resistance to avian malaria. While still just a glimmer, O`ahu has a very real possibility of having native forest birds in people’s backyards, This very obliging `Apapane preening away in a koa tree could be a sight seen in backyards in the urban landscape in the near future. A lot of it depends on what we are willing to do.