Black robin country is the Chatham Islands, a little known group 870km south east of the New Zealand mainland. The islands were once covered by in forests inhabited by a wealth of insect and bird life. No land mammals existed. With the arrival of the first Moriori 1100 years ago, then European sealers, whalers and settlers, the natural world came under threat. Of the 70 known species of birds, many of them only found on the Chathams, 30 became extinct. Of the survivors, and facing the greatest danger of extinction, is the black robin. Conservation work on the islands has been in progress for many years. In 1976, when the black robin population dropped to seven, an urgent project was started to save it. The book is the story of the project, compiled by artist David Cemmick and wildlife officer Dick Veitch during one expedition to the Chathams. It tells of experiments, disappointments and successes. It is also a pictorial essay on the wildlife of the islands, in paintings, detailed sketches and text.

Published: 1985

No. pages: 135

ISBN: 0340358111

Condition: GOOD - softcover - 365g