Oldest known bird in U.S. is a mother again
A Laysan albatross named Wisdom had an identity ring attached to her in 1956 as she was incubating an egg. These birds typically breed at nine years-old, so Wisdom would be in her early 60s. A photograph taken by the US Geological Survey (USGS) at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the North Pacific, show her with a new chick.
Scientists estimate that Wisdom has probably raised 30-35 chicks during her breeding life. These birds lay only one egg per year, and spend most of the year incubating and raising their chicks.
Adult albatrosses also mate for life, with both parents raising the young, but researchers do not know if Wisdom has had the same partner during her 60 years of raising young.
About Post Author
Holte Ender
More Stories
Parlez-vous and Red Roses Too
Roses are a girl’s best friend, or so I’ve been told; at the same time, wondering why I wasn’t my...
Living In A Dead Man’s Town
The following contains extremely violent images some may find distressing. This is Part One of my anthology—you can find Part...
The Gaze of the Telleri: Echoes of a Withering World
Vekti’s limbs stretched with the precision of one attuned to the rhythms of the cosmos. The sleep chambers hissed softly...
Why I’ll Never Cut Grass Again
I stopped cutting my grass a few months ago, and the transformation has been remarkable. At first glance, you might...
Sacred and Profane: The Complexity of Prison Spirituality
I’ve watched this unfold repeatedly, and I'm struck by the theater of it all each time. The inmates walk into...
Pay Attention—The Heat Is Going to Fuck Us and Not In a Good Way
The media isn’t paying attention, and neither are the Republicans. Fat Donald Trump will eventually go away, but the fucking...
Good for her!
I had no idea birds like this could live so long. Amazing! She doesn’t look a day over 30.