Oldest Wild Bird Hopes to Welcome a Chick at 75
Wisdom, the legendary Laysan albatross or moli, stands at right with red leg tag next to her new partner as they admire their recently laid egg at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 in Honolulu. (Dan Rapp/USFWS via AP)
Wisdom, the 75-year-old Laysan albatross, is once again returning to her nesting grounds at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the central Pacific, hoping to add to her remarkable legacy. First banded in 1956, Wisdom is recognized as the oldest known wild bird and continues to surprise scientists with her enduring vitality.
Albatrosses are known for their loyalty and routine, returning each year to the same nesting sites and mates, laying only one egg at a time. This season, Wisdom arrived slightly earlier than usual, while her new mate from last year didn’t show up until November 26, according to ZME Science.
After several years without laying eggs—following the absence of her longtime mate, Akeakamai—Wisdom paired with a new partner, EX25. Though their chick did not survive, the pair has been seen performing their signature courtship dance of touching beaks this season.
“Wisdom’s return is a living testament to longevity, resilience, and the extraordinary life cycles of the Moli,” as Laysan albatrosses are called in Hawaiian, said Friends of Midway Atoll. While the average lifespan of the species is around 30 years, Wisdom has laid between 50 and 60 eggs, with approximately 30 chicks surviving to fledging.
Her ongoing success continues to inspire researchers and bird enthusiasts alike, demonstrating the remarkable life and endurance of these iconic seabirds.
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