Tiny, tough ‘old bird’

Press, 17 November 1981, Page 21

Tiny, tough ‘old bird’

Teetering on the brink of extinction, the tiny Chatham Island black .robin is again putting up a valiant effort to survive.

Two black robin females have obliged Wildlife Service officers by laying four eggs so far this season — an important accomplishment when the total population of the bird (the world’s third rarest) is only seven. The four eggs were just what the Wildlife team were waiting for. They have now been transferred to the nests of Chatham Island grey warblers as part of the Wildlife Service’s cross-fostering programme, initiated last year to boost the black robin population.

If all goes to plan the two deprived females will react by laying again, producing twice as many eggs as they would otherwise have laid. Meanwhile, a third female robin has mated with the unattached male and at last report was showing keen interest in building a nest.

“The future of the black robin is still extremely critical,” says a Wildlife Service officer, Mr Lynn Harris. “A devastating storm or infertile eggs could prove disastrous for the bird’s future.” But the Wildlife Service is optimistic. “We are confident the robin’s numbers will break into double figures this season,” Mr Harris says.