American biologists say the world’s oldest wild bird laid eggs at the age of approximately 74.
Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, was filmed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) at the Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge in the Pacific with a new partner most of it is taking care of the egg.
Members of this species typically only live 12-40 years, but Wisdom was tagged in 1956 when she was about 5 years old.
Her last one hatched in 2021. She is said to have had more than 30 chicks in her life.
USFWS said on X that Wisdom has been dating a new partner this year and that her previous partner Akeakamai has not been seen in several years.
This species typically mates for life but she is believed to have outlived at least three mates.
Jon Plissner, the supervisory wildlife biologist at the refuge, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that Wisdom is one of two to three million Laysan albatrosses that come to Midway to breed.
He said biologists are not aware of any other birds even close to her age, the oldest being 45 years old.
“It’s really remarkable,” he said. “Wise seems to attract the interest of people around the world. Every year we wait with bated breath for her return.”
He said Wisdom still seems to have enough energy and instinct to raise another chick and the chances of the eggs hatching are 70-80%.
Albatross parents share incubation duties and feeding duties when the chicks hatch.
Intellectuals were first identified and tagged in 1956 after spawning. Laysan albatrosses are not known to breed before the age of five.
Midway Atoll is part of the Hawaiian archipelago but is not part of the US state of Hawaii and is described as an unincorporated territory of the United States.
The wildlife refuge is home to the world’s largest flock of albatrosses.
