The Black Robin - A Chatham Island Story

In the mid 1970s the Chatham Island black robin was the world's rarest bird. With only two females left, the conservation ante was extreme. Enter saviour Don Merton and his Wildlife Service team. Their pioneering efforts ranged from abseiling the birds (including the 'Eve' of her species, 'Old Blue') down cliff faces, to left-field libido spurs. This 1988 Listener Film and TV award-winner united two earlier Wild South documentaries, and updated the robin’s rescue story to 1987. It originally screened on Christmas Day 1987, before being modified for this 1989 edition.

If the rarest bird in the world can be rescued, then — given human determination and effort — no species need become extinct.

– Don Merton

Key Cast & Crew

Rod Morris

Director, Producer

Richard Thomas

Writer

David Watts

Editor

Merv Aitchison

Sound

Mike Lemmon

Camera

Paul Donovan

Camera