Researchers stationed on Midway Atoll in the North Pacific Ocean have observed Wisdom, a septuagenarian female Laysan albatross, engaging in courtship behaviors with potential partners following the conclusion of the nesting season.
Regarded as the oldest known wild bird globally, Wisdom is believed to be in her 70s and has traversed the North Pacific Ocean for decades, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Initially identified in 1956, she was banded with a leg band that remains intact to this day. If estimates are correct, Wisdom could be 72 years old, a remarkable feat considering her species’ average lifespan.
Recent sightings of Wisdom on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge depict her participating in mating rituals, while her longtime mate, Akeakamai, has been absent for the past two nesting seasons, raising concerns about his well-being.
Laysan albatrosses, known as moil in Hawaiian, typically form lifelong bonds with a single partner. They congregate in significant numbers on islands such as Laysan, part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where a sizable breeding colony resides.
Despite the usual timing of egg laying in December, Wisdom continued engaging in courtship behaviors well into the spring months, highlighting her vitality and resilience. Jonathan Plissner, the supervisory wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, noted Wisdom’s active pursuit of potential mates during March.
While Wisdom’s presence on Midway Atoll since late November 2023 suggests a reluctance to nest this year, her vigor and mobility belie her age, earning admiration from researchers.
USFWS scientists estimate that Wisdom has traversed an astonishing 3.5 million miles in her lifetime, equivalent to seven round trips to the Moon. With Laysan albatrosses typically beginning to breed at 3 to 4 years old, Wisdom may have laid up to 60 eggs over her lifetime, contributing significantly to the population’s sustainability.
