Meet Wisdom, the world’s oldest wild bird who could be a great – or great great – grandmother
The oldest wild bird in the world is widely thought to be the rather remarkable Laysan albatross known as Wisdom, who lives on the Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean.
Initially ringed by biologist Chandler Robbins in 1956 when she arrived on the island to breed, she is estimated to be an amazing 73 years old (she could be even older as Laysan albatrosses’ reach reproductive age at the age of five but can take up to 10 years to start breeding.)
Whilst albatrosses mate for life, Wisdom is thought to have outlived at least one previous partner and has been joined in recent years by Akeakamaiare, her current mate.
Albatrosses lay just one egg per successful mating season; Wisdom is thought to have laid as many as 50-60 in her lifetime, and fledged about 35 chicks at least. Super mum! Although by now she is prob a grandmother or even great-granny.
Every year she migrates back to Midway Atoll and it is estimated she has flown at least 3 million miles.
Main image: The Laysan Albatross “Wisdom”, at at least 60 the oldest known wild bird in the United States, with her newly hatched chick, at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in March 2011. Photo by By John Klavitter/U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – http://gallery.usgs.gov/tags/NR2011_03_08, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14580487