The World's Oldest Wild Bird, 74-Year-Old Leisan Albatross, Has Laid Eggs

Last week at Hawaii Midway Sanctuary
Laid 60 eggs and raised 30 chicks so far

The 74-year-old Laysan albatross known as the world's oldest bird, 'Wisdom,' has laid eggs once again.

On the 5th (local time), CNN reported that last week at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, located at the northernmost part of the Hawaiian Islands, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, was confirmed to have laid eggs with a new mate. John Pletzner of the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge described this as a "special joy" and expressed optimism that the eggs laid by Wisdom would hatch. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) also posted on social media a video showing Wisdom rubbing heads with her new mate, along with a message saying, "The queen of seabirds has done it again."

The world's oldest bird, the Laysan albatross 'Wisdom'. AP Yonhap News

Wisdom was banded with an identification tag on her leg while laying eggs 68 years ago in 1956. At that time, Wisdom was estimated to be at least 5 years old. Albatrosses leave their natal nests and only return after about five years when they reach adulthood; it is believed that Wisdom was tagged during this period. The USFWS reports that Wisdom has laid up to 60 eggs and raised 30 chicks over the years.

Since 2006, Wisdom has returned to Midway Atoll every year with a male albatross named 'Akeekamai' to lay eggs, incubate them, and raise chicks. However, Akeekamai has been missing since 2021. This albatross lays only one egg at a time and incubates it for about seven months. After hatching, the chick is protected by the mother and grows until it can fly over the sea in about 5 to 6 months.

A social media post updating the status of 'Wizdom.' Instagram of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

The Laysan albatross primarily inhabits the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and is the second most common seabird there. Its name comes from Laysan Island in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. With a wingspan of 1.8 meters, this bird flies approximately 80,000 km annually once it reaches adulthood. The average lifespan of a Laysan albatross is 12 to 40 years, but recently, many have died prematurely after mistakenly ingesting plastic debris. Therefore, biologists consider Wisdom's longevity and reproductive activity to be highly extraordinary.