At 63 Years Old, Wisdom Hatches Another Chick

Wisdom and her newest chick on Midway Atoll NWR. Credit: Dan Clark/USFWS.

On February 4, 2014, a Laysan albatross known as “Wisdom” – at least 63 years old – hatched yet another chick on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. First banded in 1956, Wisdom is known to have nested in 2006 and then every year since 2008, and has likely raised at least 30 to 35 chicks during her breeding life, though the number may well be higher. Wisdom has worn out five bird bands and logged millions of miles over the Pacific Ocean in her lifetime to find enough fish eggs and squid to feed herself and her multiple chicks.

Read more on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Tumblr page here.

See more pictures of Wisdom and her chick here.

Read the Press Release.