The world’s oldest bird of the albatross species named Wisdom made history when it successfully hatched its chick at the age of 70 years.
The baby hatched on Feb. 1 in the Midway Atoll islands, north of the Pacific Ocean in the United States. The historic event was noticed by a biologist on a nearby island of Hawaii.
He first noticed the bird’s eggs hatching on Jan. 29 before announcing the news on Twitter on Friday.
Wisdom hatched the chick on 1 February in the Midway Atoll national wildlife refuge in the North Pacific, where more than a million albatross return to nest each year.
Typically, albatrosses only lay eggs once in a few years and only one egg will hatch each time they lay eggs. Still, experts in the pacific islands believe Wisdom managed to hatch an egg containing 36 chicks in its lifetime.
US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) biologist Dr. Beth Flint said she believes Wisdom has more than one partner at her age who is now 70 years old.
“We believe Wisdom has had other mates. Though albatross mate for life, they may find new partners if necessary – for example, if they outlive their first mate,” she said.
It is estimated Wisdom has hatched more than 30 chicks over the course of her lifetime.
Cute baby alert! Wisdom's chick has hatched!!!
Wisdom, a mōlī (Laysan albatross) and world’s oldest known, banded wild bird is at least 70 years old. Biologists estimate she has had at least 30-36 chicks. https://t.co/cjM8X2clme
-Jon Brack/Friends of Midway Atoll NWR pic.twitter.com/voK0kO27ed
— USFWS Pacific Region (@USFWSPacific) February 5, 2021
Source: The Guardian, US Fish & Wildlife Service Twitter, USFWS
