Laysan Albatrosses Wisdom (68 years old) and Akeakamai hatch their latest egg on Midway Atoll

Wisdom, the Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis who is the world’s oldest known wild bird, has returned once more to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the USA’s North Western Hawaiian Islands for the 2018/19 breeding season.  She was first seen on the atoll’s Sand Island on 29 November, subsequently laying an egg which was seen to be hatching on 27 January.

Wisdom (Red Z333) and her colour-banded mate Akeakamai ("Love of Wisdom") have been returning to the same nest site on Midway Atoll each year since at least 2016.  Wisdom was first banded as an adult on Midway in 1956, and is considered to be at least 68 years old, factoring in the age of maturity for the species (click here).

Akeakamai (Red G000) has been photographed recently standing over a small downy chick, so Wisdom’s long breeding record continues.

Wisdom with her 2018/19 egg in October 2018

Wisdom over her hatching egg, January 2019

Wisdom's mate, Akeakamai and their 2019 chick

Watch a video clip here.

Photographs by Robert Peyton and Madalyn Riley, USFWS and the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.

John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 19 February 2019