THE BIRD THAT ONCE HAD FIVE LEFT JUST WON BIRD OF THE YEAR.
Karure black robins fell to five birds in 1980. Decades of conservation brought them back to around 350 adults — and on September 21 the species won New Zealand’s 2026 Bird of the Year.
Karure, the Chatham Island black robin, won Forest & Bird’s 2026 Bird of the Year after a recovery from just five birds in 1980. Around 350 adults now live on two pest-free nature reserve islands.
WHAT HAPPENED
In 1980, only five karure black robins remained, including the only fertile female. The Chathams community and New Zealand’s Wildlife Service worked from the last breeding pair, Old Blue and Old Yellow, and intensive conservation rebuilt the population.
Forest & Bird says around 350 adult birds now live on two pest-free Department of Conservation reserve islands. On September 21, karure won the 2026 Bird of the Year after record overall participation in the competition.
The species remains Nationally Critical, its current island habitat is near capacity, and conservationists say a third population and more safe habitat are needed.
WHY THIS IS HOPESLOP
This is not a generic inspirational comeback. It is a documented multi-decade recovery from five individual birds to hundreds, followed by a very silly and very public national victory lap. The species is still in serious trouble, which makes the progress meaningful rather than complete.
ORIGINAL SOURCEForest & BirdRead the original report
A DAILY ALLEGATION OF PROGRESS.
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