World's Oldest Wild Bird Finds New Mate, Lays Eggs at 74

Despite approaching her 80s, the world's oldest wild bird has successfully laid eggs.

The Laysan albatross, named Wisdom, is about 74 years old and the world’s oldest known wild bird, with an identification band on her leg bearing the number Z333. Wisdom recently returned to her nesting ground, a small, isolated Pacific island called Midway Atoll, to lay another egg.

Biologists from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) believe that over the course of more than 70 years, Wisdom has given birth to about 30 chicks.

In a social media post, the USFWS shared images of Wisdom and her new mate fiddling with the egg in the nest.

Midway's supervising wildlife biologist, Jonathan Plissner, called the egg a "special delight." "We're optimistic it will hatch," he said. Wisdom, 74, still has the energy and instincts to raise another chick, and there's a 70-80 percent chance the egg will hatch.

(Photo: USFWS Pacific / X)

In 2012, Wisdom reunited with her longtime mate Akeakamai at Midway to lay eggs. The pair were last spotted together in 2021, when they gave birth to another chick. But Akeakamai has not been seen since.

Wisdom has found a new mate, the USFWS said, and the bird also wears an identification band on its leg.

Wisdom has outlived at least three of her mates. Laysan albatross pairs typically spend months “parenting” if their eggs hatch. Since the parents incubate the eggs for several months, it won’t be until early 2025 that we’ll know the full results of Wisdom’s efforts.

Renowned American ornithologist Chandler Robbins gave Wisdom an identification band in 1956. Robbins died in 2017. He had previously reunited with Wisdom in 2002.

Researchers have extensively documented Wisdom's life. And the USFWS regularly updates Wisdom's "parenting" process on social media.

Wisdom spends 90% of its life at sea, resting on the waves to feast on squid and fish eggs. But it returns to its birthplace each year to continue the cycle of life.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/chim-hoang-da-gia-nhat-the-gioi-tim-duoc-ban-tinh-moi-de-trung-o-tuoi-74-172241209072548648.htm