Septuagenarian Laysan albatross Wisdom hatches new chick on Midway
February 9, 2021 7:29 AM   Subscribe

Wisdom the Laysan albatross has done it again

The world’s oldest known banded wild bird hatched a new chick on Monday at Midway Atoll, wildlife officials announced today. Biologists first observed the egg pipping — or shell cracking — on Jan. 29, and the chick hatched several days later on the first of February.

“Each year that Wisdom returns, we learn more about how long seabirds can live and raise chicks,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Beth Flint. “Her return not only inspires bird lovers everywhere, but helps us better understand how we can protect these graceful seabirds and the habitat they need to survive into the future.”
posted by zinon (4 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite
 
Good job, wisdom! Wow. love her. Today I learned that there are 22(!!) different species of albatross, and the Laysan are known to mate for life, occasionally with same-sex female pairs! wow i love this.
posted by FirstMateKate at 8:10 AM on February 9, 2021 [4 favorites]


Filled with good feelings.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 8:29 AM on February 9, 2021


That is so cool. First banded when my dad was still in short pants!
posted by notsnot at 8:48 AM on February 9, 2021


That is fantastic.

If you're interested at all in Laysan Island, check out the U of Iowa's Laysan Island Cyclorama.

I've visited the Cyclorama more or less annually since I was about 5. I am nearly 50. It's a lovely little retreat on a freezing Iowa day in January, or a muggy one in August.
posted by Caxton1476 at 10:01 AM on February 9, 2021 [3 favorites]


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