At the age of 74, Wisdom, the oldest known wild bird in the world, is back at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge with a new mate and her first egg in four years. This incredible milestone showcases her enduring strength and natural instincts as she continues her yearly return to the same nesting site in the Hawaiian Archipelago.
Wisdom, a Laysan albatross¡ªknown locally as m¨l¨©¡ªhas an impressive history of laying and raising eggs over her extraordinary life.?
While she spent decades with her previous mate, Akeakamai, he has not been seen in recent years.?
This has led Wisdom to engage in courtship dances with a new male, with whom she has now successfully laid an egg.?
And the pictures of her after she laid the egg are just the cutest!
Check them out here:
Wildlife experts estimate this is her 60th egg over her lifetime.
Jonathan Plissner, supervisory wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll, expressed optimism about the new egg's hatching chances. "We are optimistic that the egg will hatch," Plissner shared, noting that her new mate seems dedicated and is actively participating in the long incubation period.?
Albatross parents take turns incubating their eggs for about two months before the chicks eventually take their first flight about five to six months later.
Wisdom was first identified and banded back in 1956 and has since raised as many as 30 chicks in her lifetime.?
While the typical lifespan of a Laysan albatross is about 68 years, Wisdom continues to prove her resilience, earning her iconic status among seabird enthusiasts and wildlife experts alike.
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