At the age of 74, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross residing in Hawaii, became the oldest known wild bird in the world to lay an egg. This egg recently hatched, making Wisdom a new mother once again. With her vast experience, having laid between 50 and 60 eggs and fledged around 30 chicks in her lifetime, Wisdom is now caring for her newest offspring along with her mate. Albatross parents take turns caring for their chicks, allowing one parent to hunt and feed while the other stays to protect and nurture the baby. The chick successfully hatched on January 30, and Wisdom was captured on camera nuzzling the baby upon her return from a feeding trip in early February.
Wisdom was first discovered in 1956 and fitted with a tracking band after laying an egg, making her the world’s oldest known bird. Laysan albatrosses typically do not begin breeding until they are at least five years old, and the species has an average lifespan of around 68 years. Wisdom has previously mated with an albatross named Akeakamai, but her current mate is unknown as Akeakamai has not been seen in several years. Bird enthusiasts are excited to witness Wisdom providing care for her newest chick, showcasing her exceptional parenting skills at the age of 74.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
