World's Oldest Laysan Albatross is Back!

Wisdom sitting on her egg. Photo Credit: Pete Leary/USFWS.

On December 1, 2011, the world's oldest Laysan albatross, a female named "Wisdom", was sighted by a Fish and Wildlife Service biologist for the first time this breeding season nesting on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Having survived the tsunami generated by Japan's earthquakes last March, Wisdom has returned along with her mate. She was observed in her normal location behind the Bravo Barracks and was proudly incubating an egg. Wisdom is at least 61 years old. She was banded as a nesting adult in the same location by Chan Robbins in December 1956. Robbins estimated that the bird was a minimum of 5 years old at the time.

The oldest albatross in the world appears to be a northern royal albatross which was located on the South Island of New Zealand and was named "Grandma." She reached a banded age of 51.5 years and probable actual age of 61+ years.

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World's oldest Laysan albatross, Wisdom. Photo Credit: Pete Leary/USFWS.

Wisdom incubating her egg. Photo Credit: Pete Leary/USFWS.