Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge last week and began interacting with a new partner, according to U.S. Wildlife officials.
The worldβs oldest known wild bird, Wisdom, a 74-year-old Laysan albatross, is continuing her remarkable legacy by laying her first egg in four years in Hawaii, U.S. Wildlife officials announced.
Wisdom returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Ocean last week, where she began bonding with a new male partner. Wisdom, who has been returning to the same nesting site annually since the Eisenhower administration, typically reunites with her mate each year to lay one egg. Her species, the Laysan albatross, known as mΕlΔ« in Hawaiian, has a tradition of lifelong bonds, but Wisdomβs longtime mate, Akeakamai, has not been seen in recent years.
While the age of Wisdomβs new partner is uncertain, he was tagged last week for future monitoring. In a video shared by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Pacific, the two birds are seen getting along well, with Wisdom affectionately rubbing her head against him before he incubates their egg. He will remain on the egg for about three weeks until Wisdom relieves him.
Jon Plissner, a supervisory wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll NWR, expressed joy at Wisdomβs ability to lay another egg, calling it a special moment. “We are optimistic that the egg will hatch,” he said. Wisdom has laid an estimated 50 to 60 eggs in her lifetime and raised as many as 30 chicks.
Wisdom was first identified in 1956, when she was banded with number Z333 after laying an egg at about six years old. Laysan albatrosses typically do not breed before age five. With a typical lifespan of 68 years, Wisdom has far exceeded this, continuing to contribute to the survival of her species.