The oldest known bird in the world, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, laid an egg at approximately 74 years old at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. This is the first egg Wisdom has laid in four years, and researchers estimate that she has laid between 50 and 60 eggs in her lifetime. The father of the egg appears to be content on the nest during his long incubation shift, and observers are optimistic that the egg will hatch.
Wisdom was first found and banded in 1956 after she laid her first egg, and Laysan albatrosses are not known to breed before they are five years old. She has raised 30 chicks in her life and has previously mated consistently with an albatross named Akeakamai, who has not been seen for several years. The average lifespan of the species is around 68 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Region described the event as a “special joy”, and stated that they are hopeful for the successful hatching of the egg. Wisdom’s continued ability to reproduce at such an advanced age is a testament to the resiliency and longevity of the Laysan albatross species.
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