In the 1970s, the woody vegetation The atop Little Mangere degenerated rap­ idly. The robin population plummeted (How the world's most endangered from 18 in 1973 to seven (two was saved from extinction) pairs and three males) in 1976, when the Wildlife Service relo­ cated the survivors on nearby 130 ha by Don Merton . Prior to this, 120,000 New Zealand Department ofConservation trees had been planted on Mangere to proVide additional habitat for the robins and other native wildlife. Editor's Note: By 1980 onlyfive other native birds, disappeared from During the final three years on Little Chatham Island Black Robins ­ the larger islands following European Mangere, only one robin chick had including just one effective breeding colonization early last century. survived to breeding age. Although pair remained. The story ofthe daring Forests and scrubland were cleared, chick survival improved following the bid to rescue the birdfrom extinction and rats and cats introduced. Seven transfer (five chicks in four years), the is as dramatic a conservation tale as bird species were exterminated. skewed age-structure of the popula­ any in the world. Here, Don Merton, Miraculously however, a remnant tion meant that recruitment of young the chiefarchitect oftheplan andpro­ Black Robin population of about 20 to was offset by natural mortality of old ject leader, gives a full account and 30 birds persisted for the subsequent birds. Unaided, no rapid recovery was brings readers up to date with the 90 years in five to seven hectares of possible and the species teetered on Black Robin sprogress. scrub forest on top of a 200 metre the brink of extinction; an urgent sheer-sided rock stack - Little remedy was required. The Chatham Island Black Robin Mangere Island. In common with some other New traversi is endemic to that Little Mangere is rarely ViSited, so Zealand endemics, Black Robins tend land apart -the windswept cluster of extremely difficult is it to climb. How­ to be long lived and to have a low islands 850 km east ofthe ever, in 1938 the late Sir Charles reproductive rate: the normal clutch of New Zealand known as the Chat­ Fleming, Alan Wutherspoon and size is just two eggs and a successful hams group. Once widespread on the Graeme Turbott scaled the cliffs and nesting cycle takes more than three islands, the robin, together with many rediscovered the Black Robin there. months. Thus, the species lacks the

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afa WATCHBIRD 21 ability to recover quickly when its a small, remote island for around four periods and would accept eggs and population is reduced. However, months each year. nestlings of other small . because Black Robins are capable of Summarized below are some imme­ Poorly sited or insecure nests of all renesting, their potential productivity diate objectives we had to resolve in three species could be secured with is greater. For this reason, in 1979 order to pioneer the cross-fostering string, or, in the case of robin and when the species had declined to just program which was to continue each nests, transferred into the safety of a five birds, I proposed cross-fostering spring and summer from 1980 to 1988: nest-box. It was even possible to as a means of capitalizing upon this • obtain basic biological informa­ move nests a metre or two in stages to potential -to boost productivity and tion for the Black Robin and three more sheltered or accessible posi­ so quickly restore the population to a potential foster species; tions. A poorly constructed or dam­ viable level. • determine the limits of tolerance aged nest could even be replaced with Five birds, including only one effec­ within which the robin and three a fresh nest. tive breeding pair (Old Blue and her potential foster species would permit Although warblers were able to mate Old Yellow) existed in Septem­ us to operate; hatch and care for robin eggs and ber 1980. However, an intense man­ • gauge reaction to manipulation nestlings, they proved incapable of agement programme developed since of nest contents in donor and host raising robin nestlings beyond ten then resulted in a spectacular recovery species; days ofage. It was thus a major break­ to about 130 birds by early 1991. This • gauge reaction of host and donor through to discover in 1981 that tits recovery can be attributed largely, if species to alien and artificial eggs, and were capable of hatching and foster­ not entirely, to innovative manage­ clutches of different size and color to ing robin chicks through to inde­ ment which included manipulating their own; pendence. the behavior ofboth Black Robins and • gauge reaction of host and donor Tits, however, did not occur on Chatham Island Tits Petroica macro­ species to reduced and increased Mangere Island so eggs for fostering cephala chathamensis living in the clutch size; had to be shipped 15 km by sea to wild. • gauge reaction of host and donor South East Island. A portable incu­ This involved: species to increased and reduced bator and brooder were developed to • Manipulating robin nesting cycles, incubation periods; help transfer eggs and nestlings and fostering eggs and young to other • gauge reaction of host and donor between the two islands. No helicop­ species, so increasing production two­ species to nestlings ofalien species, to ter is based in the so three fold. And, through the use of nestlings of differing age, and of their for transport we were entirely depen­ nest-boxes, nest security was im­ introduction to nests at different times dent upon the few local fishermen ­ proved so that accidental losses dur­ ofthe breeding cycle; without their help the program could ing incubation and nestling periods • determine the time that embryos not have taken place. At 44 degrees were virtually eliminated. at various stages of development south the Chatham Islands are within • Establishing the major robin popu­ might safely remain out of incubation a zone of constant strong winds -the lation on South East Island. This move in the cool Chatham Islands climate; infamous "roaring 40s" -so that any has vastly increased the area ofhabitat • determine what constiultes normal boat trip entailed days of planning to available to the Black Robin, so that incubation, brooding and nestling coordinate weather conditions, availa­ for the first time this century the spe­ feeding routines in host and donor bility of a fishing boat and stage of cies has sufficient space to increase species; development of eggs or nestlings. and expand. (Little Mangere, where • discover incubation, nestling and Transfers took two to five hours to the species was confined for almost a fledging periods of host and donor accomplish. During the course of the century, and Mangere to which the species; and cross-fostering program, approxi­ depleted population of seven birds • closely observe breeding robins mately 40 robin eggs, 10 nestlings and was transferred in 1976, each had and up to 40 pairs of potential foster 25 independent birds were transferred about five ha ofhabitat whereas South parents in order to find their nests between the two islands -without East Island has more than 100 ha). early in the nesting cycle, log their loss. Survival, particularly of juveniles and progress, and prepare some to receive unattached birds, has improved robin eggs. Results markedly since their release in 1983 In 1983, permission was granted to on South East Island. We also had to develop ways of establish a robin population on 219 ha The. result is that there is now a safely handling tiny, fragile eggs and South East Island where extensive younger, more productive and suc­ nestlings in and out of (enclosed) areas of scrub and forest exist. Two cessful breeding population. Chatham Island Warbler Gerygone pairs of robins were transferred to albofrontata nests and (open) robin South East Island in 1983 and this and Chatham Island nests. event proved to be a turning point in HowItwas Done Warblers, robins, and proved the species' recovery, for the major But to return to 1980.... to be unusually tolerant at all stages of population is now found there. Fur­ We had to first qUickly determine the nesting cycle. European Dun­ thermore, the need to transport eggs the feaSibility of this daring proposal nocks (Prunella modularis), how­ and birds between islands diminished. in a species whose numbers were so ever, were prone to desertion and so Throughout the course of the pro­ incredibly low. We were also mindful were unsuitable. Robin, warbler and gram, techniques and procedures of the immense logistic problems tit could be induced to incubate for have been constantly reviewed and associated with living and working on almost twice their normal incubation refined, so that those used in the final 22 June / July 1993 years were very effective. Following is inexperienced males were subse­ ment of a means of overcoming it is of a summary of the management strat­ quently "taught" to feed young nest­ some significance and may have egy used in the final years of the lings through our placing week-old tit application elsewhere. program. nestlings in their nests for a few days. Briefly then, the main elements of About 30 pairs of tits breeding on To facilitate this, a continuity of the program were: South East Island were managed each "borrow-nests" was necessary. • to increase robin egg production spring so as to ensure a continuity of Although the eggs and young were by inducing breeding pairs to renest; secure foster nests was available well protected from the outside (from • to foster the additional robin eggs throughout the robin breeding season. attacks by starlings, for example), to Chatham Is. tits for incubation and More advanced pairs were induced to nestlings in particular remained vul­ raising to near-fledging age; and renest, and those nests selected for nerable to attack from within (from • to synchronize the time of hatch­ fostering transferred into nest-boxes. nest mites or fleas), and losses occa­ ing in fostered clutches so as to facili­ Here they were more easily manipu­ sionally occurred. To overcome this tate their return (as composite broods) lated, and were safe from interference problem we fumigated, and dusted to the few robin nests prior to fledging from other birds and adverse weather nests with pyrethrum powder. in order to avoid mal-imprinting. -in a species whose numbers were When about 15 days old, nestlings This was apparently the first time so critically low, survival of every egg were sexed and individually color that cross-fostering had been used in and chick was vital. banded, and those in tit nests were the management of an endangered Plastic mesh with holes just large returned to robin nests where they (perching bird) living in the enough for tits to pass through was were often united with a brood ofsim­ wild. As a consequence of the pro­ placed over the entrances of the nest­ ilar age. Although broods of four to gram, cross-fostering, and the manip­ boxes so as to exclude White-faced five young do not occur naturally, ulation of breeding behavior, are Storm Petrels (Pelagodroma marina robins are able to raise this number if already being used with success in the maoriana), Broad-billed Prions supplementary food is provided. The management of some other endan­ (Pachyptila vittata) and European fostered young were returned to robin gered species in New Zealand and Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) which nests prior to, or at fledging, so as to elsewhere. breed on the island in immense num­ avoid imprinting problems which The Black Robin program has been bers and which otherwise enter and occurred when young were raised relatively inexpensive yet highly destroy some nests. Management of entirely by tits. Mal-imprinting has successful. Since 1980, a team of each clutch was carefully planned proved an obstacle in some cross­ between two to four people have before it was in fact laid. fostering programs so our develop- stayed in the field for approximately We closely watched breeding robins. Any that did not build their nest in nest-boxes were transferred 4th~"'~' .•. into boxes during laying. First and [ i~_, ',,~ j..~ often second clutches were removed %~i ! and fostered to tits for incubation, but I>ilr~ s"l third clutches were normally left with with their natural parents. Where practica­ •• Tony Silva •• sallyBlanchard •• Rick Jordan •• Kathleen Harring •• ble, the commencement of incubation •• Jan Roger van Oosten •• John Doole •• -other speakers and attractions- in two or more "close" clutches was OCTOBER 30-31, 1993 synchronized so as to ensure the Toronto Airport Hilton Hotel, Toronto, Ontario CANADA option existed to unite and return (Rooms $80. single or double) broods of similar age to robin nests REGISTRATION; prior to fledging. As will be seen later, Full: $135. includes 3 meals; add $20. for reg'n at the door this synchronization in hatching times of clutches was a key element in Basic: $75. for 2 days (meals not included); add $20. for reg'n at the door avoiding the effects ofmal-imprinting. $40. for 1 day (meals not included); add $10. for reg'n at the door Tit foster-parents were observed so Meals: Saturday - lunch $25. dinner $35 that any behavioral problems were Sunday -lunch $25 identified early. For instance, for the first two to three days following hatch­ pROCEEpINGS;..liia 1iiZ...... 1.W....1iiQ ing, male tits and robins feed their at door $15. $10. $10. $5. ·by mail $20. $15. $15. $10. young while females brood almost • discount $5. for 2 or more continuously. Inexperienced males must learn to respond to the female's EXHIBITOR INQUIRIES INVITED cue to cease feeding her and start INFOR~TIO~~YME~T; (che.que or visa) feeding the nestlings, and often the anadlan arrot iymposlum newly-hatched young perish in the 108 Meadowvale Road, West Hill, Ontario CANADA M1 C 1S1 process. Thus, it was necessary to tel: Jacquie 416-282-5997 have an alternative nest on hand to Hosted by The Canadian Parrot Symposium which such young could, ifnecessary, Directors: Silvio Mattacchione and Jacquie Blackburn be transferred at short notice. Such afa WATCHBIRD 23 four months each spring and summer. her mate then bred each year until her recently New Zealand Department of The program has created unprece­ death in late 1983 or early 1984 -and Conservation teams, which often dented interest from both within New unquestionably saved their species included volunteers. Over the nine Zealand and overseas. Its success can from extinction. All surviving Black years of the intense management pro­ be attributed to the patience, perse­ Robins are descendedfrom thispair. gram, many departmental staff and verance, attention to detail and very The Black Robin is the only avian volunteers were involved. Further­ high level of commitment by the species liVing in the wild in which the more, success could not have been small, dedicated team -together with identity and lineage ofevery individ­ achieved without the goodwill and the obvious cooperation of the robins ual is known and can be traced to a cooperation of the Chatham Islands and tits, and, of course, more than a common ancestor. community - in particular the Pitt fair measure ofgood luck! Islanders who provided generous hos­ Perhaps the most remarkable fea­ The Future pitality and support, including vital ture of the Black Robin story, how­ Following the 1988/89 breeding transport between the islands. Finally, ever, is the incredible endurance and season, 99 robins existed and since without the matriarch, "Old Blue's", resilience of the birds themselves ­ the population was believed to be suf­ remarkable and timely contribution, despite intense over a very ficiently strong to continue its reco­ together with the unwitting coopera­ long period. For such a tiny popula­ very unaided, we ceased manipulative tion of the tits of South East Island ­ tion to survive, entirely isolated, for management. Nevertheless, during the unsung heros of the program ­ almost a century on the windswept the 1989/90 breeding season, the there would be no Black Robins summit of a rock stack in mid-ocean is population increased to 119 birds, an today. The Black Robin's rescue has no mean feat of endurance. I believe increase of approximately 20 percent been a classic team effort involVing that no more than 30 birds could have over the preVious year! This was the both man and bird. existed at any time on Little Mangere proofeveryone had been waiting for- and the population was at a critically that the robins could continue their About theAuthor low level -only one or two effective historic recovery without our help. Don Merton is Kakapo (parrot) breeding pairs -during the late 1970s There are now (Feb. 1992) more than Recovery Group Leader, and Opera­ and early 1980s. All surviving robins 130 individuals on the two islands. tions Coordinator in the Threatened are descended from a single pair, "Old Although interventionary manage­ Species Unit of the New Zealand Blue" and "Old Yellow". Nonetheless, ment has ceased, it is desirable to re­ Wildlife Service. Highlights of his there is no indication of "inbreeding establish the species on a major island career include: depression" or "random drift" -gene­ in the Chathams. However, because • establishment of a second popula­ tic conditions which may jeopardize the robin is incapable of co-existing tion of the endangered Noisy Scrub­ the survival of small, isolated animal with cats or rats, the species can never bird in the south ofWestern Australia; populations. The new generation of be reinstated on the main Chatham • helping to save the critically­ robins show no indication of genetic Island where feral cats and two spe­ endangered Echo Parakeet in Mauri­ degeneration. They are highly produc­ cies of rats are established and eradi­ tius (believed in 1984 to be the world's tive, and fertility (about 90 percent), cation is not feasible. On the other rarest parrot); hatchability (83 to 88 percent) and hand, (6,270 ha), the • removing the threat of imminent recruitment to the breeding popula­ second largest island in the group, is extinction posed by rabbits to the tion (75 percent of young reaching rat-free, and plans are already in train many unique plants and reptiles of independence) are surprisingly high to eradicate its feral cat population. In Round Island, Mauritius - Round for what must be one of the most a cooperative program with the resi­ Island was said to support more intensely inbred wild animal popula­ dents of Pitt Island, the New Zealand threatened plants and than tions anywhere. Adult mortality is low Department of Conservation intends any comparable area on earth! (21.6 percent average over the nine to start this ambitious project in early • and he was instrumental in having years ofintense management). 1992, for such is probably the only the tropical rainforest breeding Without doubt, the most important means by which the-long-term sur­ grounds of Abbott's Booby (the larg­ character in the Black Robin drama vival of the Black Robin and many est and most endangered gannet), and was "Old Blue", a female so named other Chatham Island species might other endemic birds of Christmas for the color of her leg band. Old Blue be assured. Island (Indian Ocean) saved from started life on Little Mangere Island in The Black Robin's rescue has destruction through phosphate min­ about 1970, and lived for at least 13 demonstrated that intense, interven­ ing and permanently preserved, when years -more than twice the life span tionary management ofan endan­ in 1977-79 he was seconded to the of almost any other robin (females gered species living in the wild is prac­ Australian government as Christmas average three to four years). In 1976, ticable, and that even in the most Island's first conservator. Old Blue was one of two surviVing extreme circumstance (one remain­ However, Don is perhaps better females and together with the last five ing viablepair) recovery ispossible. known as a pioneer in the manage­ males was transferred to nearby Man­ ment of New Zealand's sadly-swollen gere Island. Old Blue's productive life Aclrnowledgements list of , and for his began at the incredible age ofabout The Black Robin could not have key role in helping to save some of nineyears when she mated with "Old been saved without the extraordinary New Zealand's most endangered birds Yellow", at which time she was the dedication and commitment of New -the two races of saddleback, the only productivefemale! Old Blue and Zealand Wildlife Service -and more Kakapo and the Black Robin.• 24 June / July 1993