Wisdom, the Laysan albatross considered the oldest known wild bird, has returned to breed on Midway Atoll in the North Pacific. According to the US Fish & Wildlife ServiceAccording to researchers who have been tracking this animal for decades, the bird has occupied the same nesting site for over half a century. Its age is now estimated at around 74 years, a documented record in the world of ornithology.
A bird first identified in 1956
Wisdom was first ringed in 1956 by ornithologist Chandler Robbins, when she was already old enough to breed. At that time, no expert could have imagined that this female would one day become a global symbol of longevity among wild birds. Since that first identification, observations by the USFWS show that she returns to the same nest every year to lay an egg and ensure the survival of her offspring.
The albatrosses of Laysan are known for their conjugal fidelity
Laysan albatrosses are known for their mate fidelity, generally forming stable pairs after several years of courtship rituals. Once united, the partners live mostly separately, each traveling thousands of kilometers across the oceans, before reuniting once a year to raise their chick.
Studies published in particular by the NOAA and USFWS These observations also indicate that same-sex pairs exist in this species, most often two females, who then cooperate to raise a chick obtained after fertilization by a male. Regarding Wisdom, observations accumulated since the 1950s suggest that she raised at least thirty chicks, while outliving several successive partners. Recent data suggest that she may have paired with a new mate this year.
An egg already in incubation
According to managers of the Midway National Wildlife Refuge, Wisdom is currently incubating an egg, taking turns with his partner. The hatching success rate for experienced pairs like this is generally estimated at between 70 and 80 percent, depending on weather conditions, available food, and continuity of parental care. Once hatched, the chick is intensively fed by both parents until it sometimes grows larger than they do. Before taking its first flight, it must practice flapping its wings for several days, an essential step in developing the strength needed for long flights over the open sea.
A crucial asset for an endangered species
Wisdom's regular presence and fertility are a positive sign for the conservation of the Laysan albatross, a species listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Threats include, among others, the plastic pollution, which causes numerous deaths among chicks, as well as the accidental capture in fishing gear, a problem documented in several studies conducted by NOAA and various conservation organizations.
Biologists hope that Wisdom will continue to produce viable chicks for a long time to come, thus strengthening global efforts to preserve albatross populations in the Pacific.
