Wisdom, World’s Oldest Known Wild Bird, Spotted In US At The Age Of 71

Biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956.

Wisdom, the world’s oldest known bird, has returned to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced on Thursday. Taking to Twitter, the wildlife officials said that the Laysan albatross is at least 71 years old. The large seabird, who was spotted on Thanksgiving day, has reappeared at the same nest site in the North Pacific for decades. 

“Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird, recently returned to Midway Atoll! The beloved Laysan albatross, or moli, is at least 71 years old. Biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg, and the large seabirds aren’t known to breed before age 5,” USFWS wrote on Twitter. 

Take look below: 

Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird, recently returned to Midway Atoll!

The beloved Laysan albatross, or mōlī, is at least 71 years old. Biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg, and the large seabirds aren’t known to breed before age 5. pic.twitter.com/PAWgzFaqv6

— USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) December 8, 2022

In the following tweet, the agency said biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg. Over the course of her life, she has produced 50-60 eggs and raised around 30 chicks. As per Huffpost, last year scientists also learned that she had become a grandmother after one of her offspring was observed helping raise a chick of its own. 

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However, USFWS said that Wisdom’s longtime mate named Akeakamai has not been seen at the wildlife refuge this year. The pair’s most recent chick hatched in early 2021 when Wisdom was believed to be at least 70. 

The ageless Wisdom, with her well-known band number of Z333, was first spotted this nesting season on Thanksgiving Day.

Her long-time mate has yet to be seen and was absent last nesting season, too. Males typically return to the breeding site first. pic.twitter.com/C0jmpDEld5

— USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) December 8, 2022

Meanwhile, on Twitter, the news of Wisdom’s return this year was met with celebration and appreciation for her resilience. “Wisdom may be the single most impressive organism on Earth,” wrote one user. “This specific individual bird is older than my parents, and approximately 4% of my happiness is tied up in whether or not this specific individual bird mates every year,” said another. 

“Wisdom is the only celebrity I care about,” commented a third user. “Impressive!” added fourth. 

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