Part One: From Five to Hundreds – The Recovery Story of the Chatham Island Black Robin
Imagine a world where only five individuals stand between a species and extinction.
That was the reality for the Chatham Island black robin-one of Aotearoa’s smallest birds, and the subject of one of the most remarkable conservation recoveries on Earth.
A Bird on the Brink
Endemic to the Chatham Islands, the black robin (Petroica traversi) once thrived across forested areas of Chatham and Pitt Islands. But by the late 20th century, introduced predators and habitat loss had pushed this tiny bird to the edge.
By 1980, only five black robins remained, all confined to a small patch of scrub on Little Mangere Island. Among them was a single breeding female, later known worldwide as Old Blue.
Without her, the species would have vanished forever.
Old Blue and Don Merton: The Turning Point
In one of the most daring rescue efforts in conservation history, Don Merton and his Department of Conservation team devised an intensive management strategy that would become a global model.
Eggs were cross-fostered under Chatham Island tomtits, a related species that raised the chicks until black robin pairs could sustain their own population. Through tireless dedication-banding, translocation, and round-the-clock nest management-the population slowly began to rebuild.
Every black robin alive today descends from Old Blue, the matriarch who defied extinction.
From Five Birds to Hundreds
Thanks to decades of effort, the black robin population has climbed from just five individuals in 1980 to around 445 today.
Most now live on Rangatira (South East) Island, with a smaller population re-established on Mangere Island.
This success story remains one of conservation’s crowning achievements. It’s cited in textbooks, documentaries, and international recovery frameworks.
But the story doesn’t end here.
Lessons in Conservation and Collaboration
The black robin’s recovery underscores what can happen when science, community, and perseverance intersect. It also highlights the importance of predator control and habitat restoration-critical factors in every species comeback story.
As one DOC ranger put it, “We didn’t just save a bird. We proved that extinction isn’t inevitable.”
Yet the black robin’s genetic bottleneck and limited habitat remind us: even success stories need ongoing care.
Stay tuned for Part Two: “Beyond the Recovery – The Next Chapter for the Black Robin,” where we’ll explore the challenges ahead and how everyday New Zealanders can help keep this legend alive.