Story: Small forest birds

Old Blue

Old Blue

In 1979 the black robin of the Chatham Islands was on the brink of extinction, with only five birds left. When the Wildlife Service intervened to rescue them in 1980, there was only one female who could lay fertile eggs. She became known as Old Blue. Today there are about 250 living black robins – all of them her descendants.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10032084
Photograph by Don Merton

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How to cite this page:

Christina Troup, 'Small forest birds - Robins and tomtits', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/12485/old-blue (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Christina Troup, published 24 Sep 2007, reviewed & revised 17 Feb 2015, updated 1 Aug 2023