On a remote island off the coast of Hawaii, biologists have recently discovered that a female Laysan albatross named Wisdom is seeking new mates after the nesting season ended. Wisdom, who is over 70 years old and considered the world’s oldest wild bird, has been flying around the North Pacific since President Eisenhower was in office and has been wearing a collar ever since.
Laysan albatrosses are known for their long lifespan and their tendency to mate for life with one partner. Wisdom’s usual partner, Akeakamai, has been missing for the past two nesting seasons, causing her to seek out potential mates on Midway Atoll. Despite the fact that the nesting season has already ended, Wisdom continues to participate in mating rituals, showcasing her resilience and agility for her age.
Female Laysan albatrosses typically lay eggs in December, but Wisdom is actively courting other birds during the mating season. With an estimated 5.6 million kilometers flown in her lifetime, Wisdom has covered significant distances in the North Pacific, fueling her flights with a diet of small squid, fish, and crustaceans. She has also laid an estimated 60 eggs throughout her life span.
Midway Atoll hosts the largest population of Laysan albatrosses in the world, with 600,000 breeding pairs returning each year to lay their eggs on these remote islands. The presence of Wisdom on Midway Atoll is a testament to her endurance and determination as she continues to search for a new partner despite being well over 70 years old.