World’s oldest known wild bird lays her first egg in four years at age 74
The world’s oldest known wild bird, a 74-year-old Laysan albatross named Wisdom, has laid an egg much to the astonishment of scientists.
The bird was spotted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at the Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge in the Pacific Ocean with her latest partner looking after the egg.
Wisdom and her former mate Akeakamai had returned to the atoll in the Pacific Ocean to lay and hatch eggs since 2006.
But Akeakamai has not been seen for several years, causing Wisdom to begin courtship dances with other males.
In a recent Facebook post, the Pacific region of the USFWS disclosed that Wisdom laid what experts estimate may be her 60th egg.
Jonathan Plissner, a supervisory wildlife biologist at the refuge, said Wisdom’s achievement is a “rare feat”.
He said recent activity seems to indicate Wisdom still has the energy and instincts for raising another chick.
“We are optimistic that the egg will hatch,” said Plissner from the remote refuge.
He said Wisdom was first banded as an adult in 1956 and has raised as many as 30 chicks.
The typical lifespan of a Laysan albatross is 68 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.