Wednesday, February 20, 2019

World’s Oldest-known Bird is Nesting Again!

A female Laysan Albatross, aged 68 years old, is raising another nestling with its mate on Midway Island in the mid-Pacific. (USFWS photo by John Klavitter)

A female Laysan Albatross aged at least 68 years old has nested again on Midway Island, where she and her mate are nurturing their single nestling! Considered to be the oldest known wild bird, this albatross was originally banded by famous ornithologist Chandler Robbins in 1956 when she was believed to already be more than five years old. During her lifetime, the matriarch albatross and her mate have raised many nestlings to fledging on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the mid-Pacific, far west of Hawaii.

For more information about this historic bird and Midway Atoll Refuge, please refer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s article at http://usfwspacific.tumblr.com/post/182616811095/wisdom-has-a-new-chick