Old Blue was a Chatham Island robin (also known as black robin) who at one time was the only fertile female of the species left, and who has been credited with being the saviour of her species. She lived for approximately 13 years.
History In 1979, there were just five of the Chatham Island robins left. By the time the Wildlife Service intervened in 1980, she was the only female capable of laying fertile eggs.Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand – Story: Small forest birds, Old Blue From her, the species was saved.NewScientist.com, 9 April 2014 – Killing with kindness: Conservation's cautionary tale By Stephanie Pain She is the ancestor of all living black robins, and lived from 1970 to 1983.NZ On Screen, 23 November 2012 – A Wild South perspective By Paul Stanley Ward
In 1983, she was moved to Rangatira Island so that the other breeding female, Old Green (who was not directly related to her), would have a chance to produce offspring and the remaining genetic diversity could be preserved. However, none of Old Green's offspring survived to the stage where they could breed. This resulted in Old Green's genes being lost.
Through Old Blue's breeding period, she managed to raise eleven chicks. All of the black robins today are descended from Old Blue and male Old Yellow.Endangered Species Foundation – Black Robin, Petroica traverse, Kakaruai, No longer the world's rarest bird By early 2013, the Chatham Island robin population was approximately 250.Department of ConversationTe Papa Atawhai – Chatham Islands black robin As of 2021, the population was approximately 300, and as of 2025, approximately 350.Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai - Karure / Kakaruia / Chatham Island black robin, The recovery of the Chatham Islands black robin from the brink of extinction is an internationally renowned conservation success story.
A book about her, Old Blue: The Rarest Bird in the World by Mary Taylor, won an award in 1994 for the Best Children's Non-fiction Title at New Zealand's National Book Awards.Routledge Handbook of Human-Animal Studies, edited by Garry Marvin, Susan McHugh – Page 171National Library of New Zealand, 9 July 2014 – Old Blue. The rarest bird in the world by Mary Taylor
Memorial A plaque dedicated to her is situated at the Chatham Islands Airport. She is also the only bird to have its death officially announced in a government parliament.
Film Seven Black Robins – Produced by Michael Stedman, 1981NZ On Screen, 23 November 2012 – A Wild South perspective By Paul Stanley WardNZ On Screen – Seven Black Robins
Songs In 1994, singer / songwriter Martin Curtis recorded "Yellow and Blue", a song celebrating the remarkable story of Old Blue and Old Yellow and the revival of the Chatham Islands robin. It has since been since re-released on the album The Sound of the Warning.
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