Wisdom is the oldest bird in the world. just laid an egg
Wisdom is an albatross who recently lost her life partner. She found a new one last week, and with his help, she will soon become the world’s oldest (bird) mother at 74.
Most albatrosses don’t even live past 45, but Wisdom, the world’s oldest bird, laid an egg at age 74 after finding a new mating mate.
The old albatross will be a “mother”, shortly after losing her partner to whom she remained faithful for 60 years.
SHE DID IT AGAIN!
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.
— USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific)
The remarkable event took place in Atoll de Midwayin the northern Pacific Ocean, a place to which Wisdom has returned annually since it was first placed there by biologists in 1956. Chandler Robbins placed a tracker on a random albatross. For 46 years, the bird was no longer seen, until it reappeared in 2002, when the biologist analyzed the bird again. Her apparent advanced age and good health earned her the name Wisdom (English for “wisdom”).
Typically, albatrosses begin laying eggs around the age of five, leading researchers to assume that Wisdom is at least 74 years old.
Throughout your life, it is estimated that she laid between 50 and 60 eggsof which 30 became puppies. Most of her offspring were raised with her longtime partner, Akeakamai, with whom she shared a six-decade connection.
Akeakamai stopped returning to his nesting site a few years ago — he is presumed to have passed away. In March this year, Wisdom was observed courting other albatrosses, raising hopes that she might find a new mate.
Albatrosses generally mate for life, but may form new bonds if they outlive their mates. Nothing a nice mating dance can’t solve:
In November, Wisdom returned to the atoll and was seen with a new partner. This Tuesday, the US Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that she had laid an egg: “HE DID IT AGAIN!”
Wisdom, the oldest bird in the world, and her new companion look at their new egg.
“Each year that Wisdom comes back, we learn more about how long seabirds can live and raise young,” explained U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Dr. Beth Flint, in 2021: “Their return not only inspires bird lovers everywhere, but also helps us better understand how we can protect these graceful seabirds and the habitat they need to survive in the future.”
“She is unique”, said, quoted by , biologist Jon Plissner to . “We don’t know of any others who are even close to your age. The closest one we know of that is currently here is about 45 years old, so this is very rare.”
The incubation period for albatross eggs is 64-65 days, meaning Wisdom’s offspring are expected to hatch in January or February of next year. According to biologist Jon Plissner, the egg has a good chance of survivingas approximately 70-80% of eggs laid in Midway hatch annually, successfully flying out of the hatch when prepared.
Tomás Guimarães, ZAP //
