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 and five males left, time was running out to save the bird from extinction. Eventually, conservationist Don Merton (who also rediscovered the kākāpō) and his NZ Wildlife Service team bought the bird back from the grave with their pioneering efforts. This award-winning documentary unites two earlier Wild South episodes (Seven Black Robins and The Robin’s Return) and updates the robin’s rescue story to 1987. After debuting on Christmas Day that year, it was modified for this 1989 edition. More info can be found here. 

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

Peter Hayden

Narrator

Richard Thomas

Writer

Rod Morris

Director, Producer

Cathie Brumley

Research

Mike Lemmon

Camera Operator

Paul Donovan

Camera Operator