The world’s oldest known bird, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, has 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 she has laid between 50 and 60 eggs in her life. The event has been described as a “special joy” by wildlife biologist Jonathan Plissner, who is optimistic that the egg will hatch successfully.
Wisdom was first found and banded in 1956 after she laid her first egg, and has raised 30 chicks in her life. Laysan albatrosses are not known to breed before they are five years old, and Wisdom 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 laying of this egg by Wisdom has brought attention to the remarkable longevity and reproductive success of this bird, as well as the importance of conservation efforts to protect species like the albatross. Researchers and conservationists are hopeful that Wisdom’s egg will hatch successfully and contribute to the ongoing survival of the Laysan albatross population.
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