March 12, 2004 - Wellington
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE
International Recognition for Kiwi Conservationist
Kiwi ornithologist Don Merton has been honoured with a BirdLife International Conservation Achievement Award. The
ceremony took place at the BirdLife International World Conference which is being held this week in Durban, South
Africa.
Conference delegate, Peter Maddison, Deputy President of Forest & Bird (the organisation representing New Zealand within the BirdLife Global Partnership), said: "This is a terrific
recognition of Don's work in New Zealand and elsewhere, such as Mauritius and the Seychelles, in saving endangered
birds."
Don Merton is well known in New Zealand as the saviour of the Chatham Island Black Robin and for his work on Kakapo and
other threatened birds.
ENDS