74-Year-Old Bird Lays Egg, Sparking Debate and Amazement
At approximately 74 years old, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross and the world’s oldest known wild bird, has laid another egg at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. This remarkable feat follows a lifetime of breeding, with an estimated 30+ chicks already hatched. Despite the species’ typical lifespan of 12-40 years, Wisdom, initially tagged in 1956, continues to demonstrate remarkable vitality and breeding instincts with a new partner. Biologists remain optimistic about the egg’s viability, noting a high probability of hatching and subsequent chick rearing.
John Q. Hosedrinker