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| Don Merton: The Man Who Saved the Black Robin
| | Alison Ballance
| "Don Merton you will always be a inspiration"
Don Merton - 22 February 1939 – 10 April 2011
Don Merton, the man who saved the black robin, is recognised world-wide as a passionate pioneer in the conservation of rare birds. During a remarkable 50-year career he has led extraordinary efforts to bring endangered birds back from the brink of extinction, both in New Zealand and overseas.
In New Zealand, Don developed techniques that were pivotal in securing the future of both North and South Island saddlebacks, and he was prime architect and leader in the rescue of the Chatham Island black robin, when just a single breeding pair remained. For more than 30 years he was at the forefront of the Kakapo recovery programme, co-ordinating and leading last ditch conservation efforts in Fiordland, the discovery of a previously unknown population of kakapo on Stewart Island, and the successful translocation of all known birds to offshore islands where their future has been secured. Don is also world-renowned for island restoration efforts on the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles, and for his involvement in the conservation of rare Australian birds.
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