Wisdom, a 74-year-old Laysan albatross, has amazed scientists yet again by laying an egg at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii.
This milestone, achieved on November 27, marks her 30th known offspring, with her last chick hatching in 2021.
The event took place on Midway Atoll, a remote Pacific island that serves as a critical nesting site for millions of seabirds.
Jonathan Plissner, supervisory wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll, highlighted the rarity of such longevity and reproduction:
“Most Laysan albatrosses live around 30 years. Wisdom’s age and continued fertility make her truly exceptional.”
A Legacy of Resilience
First tagged in 1956 by ornithologist Chandler Robbins, Wisdom has flown an estimated 3.7 million miles in her lifetime, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Defying the odds, she has outlived at least three mates.
Her current partner, who incubates the egg while Wisdom ventures to sea, only joined her recently.
Marine ecologist Carl Safina noted:
“Her survival, despite threats like plastic pollution and climate change, is extraordinary.
She is aptly named and serves as a powerful symbol of resilience.”
Thriving Amid Environmental Challenges
Wisdom nests on Midway Atoll, which faces severe plastic pollution. Many albatrosses perish from consuming plastic, but Wisdom continues to thrive. The USFWS praised her as “a world-renowned symbol of hope for all species reliant on healthy oceans.”
Reproductive Feats and Scientific Insights
Laysan albatrosses lay one egg per year, with both parents sharing incubation duties over seven months. Chicks take flight after five to six months.
Wisdom, having started nesting around age five, has raised over 30 chicks—an unmatched achievement among her species.
Her continued reproduction challenges scientific assumptions about aging in wild animals.
Safina remarked:
“That she’s old is remarkable. But her survival, given the environmental threats she faces, is even more astonishing.”
A Remarkable Species
The Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) is known for its six-foot wingspan, long-distance gliding, and nesting on North Pacific islands like Midway Atoll. Typically monogamous and living 12 to 40 years, some, like Wisdom, far exceed expectations.
As Wisdom’s latest egg is expected to hatch in early 2024, her story continues to inspire hope for ocean health and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
