Like Rodney Dangerfield, Maui's land-bound fauna gets no respect, at least not in comparison with Maui's over-the-top attractions: its matchless beaches, the Pacific Ocean, its vistas, its operatic sunsets, and its vibrant flora.  It's hard to compete with such exuberance. We'll ignore whales for now: they aren't really Maui's; they spend a lot of time in Alaska. And they aren't land-bound, so you aren't going to stumble into one while walking or driving or biking.

Fauna doesn't have to be over-the-top. We should be happy to accept Maui's fauna for what it is - more mellow, less insistent on calling attention to itself - and appreciate its quiet and reassuring charm.

So, no whales here.  Or feral pigs.  In fact, nothing flashy. Just some quietly and reassuringly charming examples of Maui fauna. What you see when you walk or drive or bike.

Beach tracks and beach birds

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Up-country birds

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Monarchs in flight are not easy to track

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Larger animals up country

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And smaller

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Barking deer are not indigenous. Young males fence for dominance. EF4A3742

A big stag watches over the harem.

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This big stag is blind in its left eye, probably the result of a fencing match. EF4A4283

Canines at a farmers' market

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Driving around, you have limited chances to see fauna. This owl made a hunting pass over the field as we were driving by. The wrong lens and all the wrong settings for birds were partly remedied by creating a sequence in Photoshop. 

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A Monarch stunned by turbulence from a passing car gets a lift.

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Small fauna shore-side

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Contemplating

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