OLDEST KNOWN ALBATROSS BECOMES MOTHER ONCE AGAIN AT AGE 74
Ornithologists have been captivated by a Laysan albatross called Wisdom over the past few decades. She is the oldest wild bird in the world, estimated to be 74 years old. Wisdom recently laid an egg, so she may soon be raising a new chick well into her golden years if that wasn't already impressive enough. The average Laysan albatross lives for 68 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
They also have a reputation for being monogamous, returning year after year to their nesting grounds and mating with the same bird for the rest of their lives. Wisdom, on the other hand, has had several partners. Wisdom started courtship rituals with other birds to continue breeding after she mated with a bird named Akeakamai for many decades, but he hasn't been seen in several years. Since 1956, ornithologists in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Hawai‘i, have been aware of wisdom.
After laying an egg, she received a band with the number Z333, and because of how long she has been tracked, the band has changed at least six times. Biologists believe she was born in the 1950–51 breeding season at the latest since seabirds of her species do not reach sexual maturity until they are 5 years old.
Because she has continued to give birth and raise offspring, the Laysan albatross has played a crucial role in the preservation of her species, which is listed by the IUCN as a near-threatened species. Given that albatrosses typically only lay one egg annually, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) estimates that Wisdom has produced 50–60 eggs and up to 30 chicks that have fledged during her lifetime. When her chick had a chick of her own in 2011, she even became a "grandma."
This was Wisdom's first egg in four years, and Jonathan Plissner, supervisory wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, calls it "a special joy." Fortunately, additional observations have shown that she still possesses the vitality and instincts necessary to raise another girl.
Plissner states, "We are hopeful that the egg will hatch." Wisdom and her new partner will continue to incubate the egg for several months if everything goes as planned. Next year, hopefully, she will welcome her newest chick.
SHE DID IT AGAIN!
— USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) December 3, 2024
Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird, is back with a new partner and just laid yet another egg.
At an approximate age of 74, the queen of seabirds returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge last week and began interacting with a male. pic.twitter.com/6qomvs0rKL