Fri Dec 06 23:57:22 UTC 2024: ## Ancient Albatross Lays Egg at 74
**Midway Atoll, Hawaii –** Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird, has laid an egg at the remarkable age of approximately 74. The Laysan albatross, first banded in 1956, laid her potentially 60th egg at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. This marks her first egg in four years.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service officials confirmed the news via a Facebook post. While Wisdom’s long-time mate, Akeakamai, has been absent for several years, she has paired with a new mate. Officials remain optimistic the egg will hatch, a process that involves about two months of incubation by both parents. Chicks typically fledge five to six months later.
Wisdom’s feat is particularly noteworthy considering the typical lifespan of a Laysan albatross is 68 years. Throughout her life, she has successfully raised an estimated 30 chicks. Millions of seabirds annually utilize Midway Atoll for nesting and raising their young. The refuge plays a crucial role in the life cycle of these birds, who spend most of their lives soaring over the ocean and feeding on squid and fish eggs.
First Piper 