World’s Oldest Wild Bird Hatches Another Chick

The 62-year-old Laysan albatross known as 'Wisdom' hatched a chick for the sixth consecutive year on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, reports the U.S. Geological Survey.

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Pete Leary, the chick is healthy. It was in 1956 that Wisdom was first banded by U.S. Geological Survey scientist Chandler Robbins while incubating an egg.  She was just 5 years old then, the earliest age at which these birds breed. Since then, she has worn out five bird bands. These birds basically breed at the age of 8 or 9 after a very involved courtship lasting over several years, so Wisdom could be even older than 62.

"Everyone continues to be inspired by Wisdom as a symbol of hope for her species," Doug Staller, the Fish and Wildlife Service superintendent for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (Monument), which includes Midway Atoll NWR, said in a press statement.

The health of this seabird was monitored by staff and volunteers at Midway.

In her entire breeding life, she has raised at least 30-35 chicks, reports Bruce Peterjohn, chief of the North American Bird Banding Program at the USGS.

"As Wisdom rewrites the record books, she provides new insights into the remarkable biology of seabirds," Peterjohn said in a statement. "She demonstrates the value of bird banding to better understand the world around us."

The information Wisdom offers will help scientists study about the long life of the bird.  

As reported in NBC News, the Laysan albatross have a wingspan of 6 feet and fly for about 50,000 miles as adults, indicating Wisdom has flown at least 2 million since she was first banded.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, 19 of 21 species of albatross are threatened with extinction.