Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
World's oldest wild bird returns to shore to lay egg at age of 64
Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, spotted on Midway Atoll nature reserve with mate
Wisdom, the world's oldest banded wild bird, incubating her egg last year Photo: USFWS Photo / Alamy
9:40AM GMT 01 Dec 2015
The world's oldest living tracked bird has been spotted back on American soil where she is expected to lay an egg at the ripe old age of 64.
Wisdom, a Laysan albatross, was seen at the Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge with a mate at the weekend following a year’s absence.
She was first tagged in 1956 and has raised at least 36 chicks since then.
Refuge staff said they were humbled and delighted to see her return.
Volunteers count Albatross nests on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: Alamy
Dan Clark, manager, said: “We are a part of the fate of Wisdom and it
is gratifying to see her return because of the decades of hard work
conducted to manage and protect albatross nesting habitat.”
Laysan albatrosses typically lay an egg a year, spending six months rearing and feeding their young.
They are giants of the sky, with a seven-foot wingspan, helping them forage hundreds of miles out to sea.
That means that over her lifetime Wisdom may travelled as much as six million ocean miles.
Wisdom returns to feed her chick. Photo: Alamy
For now though she is expected to stay close to the refuge, which is about 1500 miles north-west of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
“Wisdom left soon after mating but we expect her back any day now to lay her egg,” said Bret Wolfe, deputy refuge manager. “It is very humbling to think that she has been visiting Midway for at least 64 years.
“Navy sailors and their families likely walked by her not knowing she could possibly be rearing a chick over 50 years later.”
• World's oldest creature was 507...but scientists killed it
A Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) in flight Sand Island, Midway Atoll, National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaiian Photo: Alamy
Her return is a welcome morale boost at a time when seabird populations have dropped by 70% since the 1950s, when Wisdom was first tagged.
Some 19 out of 21 albatross species are threatened with extinction. Many are affected badly by pollution, accidentally feeding bits of plastic to their young.
Although Wisdom is the oldest tracked bird in the wild, parrots can live into their 80s in captivity.
Laysan albatrosses typically lay an egg a year, spending six months rearing and feeding their young.
They are giants of the sky, with a seven-foot wingspan, helping them forage hundreds of miles out to sea.
That means that over her lifetime Wisdom may travelled as much as six million ocean miles.
Wisdom returns to feed her chick. Photo: AlamyFor now though she is expected to stay close to the refuge, which is about 1500 miles north-west of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.
“Wisdom left soon after mating but we expect her back any day now to lay her egg,” said Bret Wolfe, deputy refuge manager. “It is very humbling to think that she has been visiting Midway for at least 64 years.
“Navy sailors and their families likely walked by her not knowing she could possibly be rearing a chick over 50 years later.”
• World's oldest creature was 507...but scientists killed it
A Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) in flight Sand Island, Midway Atoll, National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaiian Photo: Alamy
Her return is a welcome morale boost at a time when seabird populations have dropped by 70% since the 1950s, when Wisdom was first tagged.
Some 19 out of 21 albatross species are threatened with extinction. Many are affected badly by pollution, accidentally feeding bits of plastic to their young.
Although Wisdom is the oldest tracked bird in the wild, parrots can live into their 80s in captivity.
Wow. 64 and still dating!!
ReplyDeleteOur son's yellow nape Amazon parrot is 30. Just a chick by comparison.
I didn't realize they were so big - never saw one. Birds are so amazing, aren't they? :o)
DeleteShe's a good Mama, that's for sure!
ReplyDelete