Worlds oldest bird lays another egg at age 68
68-year-old Wisdom a Laysan albatross is the worlds oldest known banded bird in the wild according to the US fish and wildlife service, it’s been confirmed by biologists she laid an egg on Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge on November 29th. After raising at least 30 youngsters the albatross is ready for motherhood again.
Wisdom and her mate Akeakamai return to the same nesting site every year they have been together since 2006. Albatrosses mate for life only re-coupling if a partner dies. The albatross lays a single egg incubates it for just over 2 months then spend another 5 months rearing it to fly the nest.
Wisdom has caused biologists to reevaluate the age which they expect albatrosses to live, she has also helped in understanding more about the albatrosses behavior patterns. In 2017 the chick she produced in 2001 was observed just a few feet away from her, providing more evidence that adult albatrosses return to their parents.
Laysan albatross are known to live for many decades usually around 40 but at nearly 70 Wisdom shows no signs of slowing down.
Facebook Comments