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The world’s oldest known wild bird, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, hatched another chick this season at age 70.
Wisdom with chick – Photo Credit: Jon Brack/Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Every year, millions of albatrosses return to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to their same nesting site—and reunite with the same mate.
In the world’s largest colony of albatrosses, Wisdom and her mate, Akeakamai, have been hatching and raising chicks together since at least 2012, when biologists first banded the male.
“At least 70 years old, we believe Wisdom has had other mates,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Dr. Beth Flint. “Though albatross mate for life, they may find new partners if necessary—if they outlive their first mate.”
Albatross don’t typically lay eggs every year and when they do, they lay only a single egg.
Biologists estimate that Wisdom has hatched at least 30–36 chicks in her lifetime. In fact, in 2018, biologists observed the chick that she fledged in 2011 returning to the spot just a few feet away from her current nest.
Continued below.
The World’s Oldest-Known Wild Bird—Named Wisdom—Hatches Another Chick at 70 (WATCH)
Wisdom with chick – Photo Credit: Jon Brack/Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Every year, millions of albatrosses return to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to their same nesting site—and reunite with the same mate.
In the world’s largest colony of albatrosses, Wisdom and her mate, Akeakamai, have been hatching and raising chicks together since at least 2012, when biologists first banded the male.
“At least 70 years old, we believe Wisdom has had other mates,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Dr. Beth Flint. “Though albatross mate for life, they may find new partners if necessary—if they outlive their first mate.”
Albatross don’t typically lay eggs every year and when they do, they lay only a single egg.
Biologists estimate that Wisdom has hatched at least 30–36 chicks in her lifetime. In fact, in 2018, biologists observed the chick that she fledged in 2011 returning to the spot just a few feet away from her current nest.
Continued below.
The World’s Oldest-Known Wild Bird—Named Wisdom—Hatches Another Chick at 70 (WATCH)
