Wisdom, the World’s Oldest Known, Banded Wild Bird has a new chick!
Wisdom checks in with her newest chick. Photo credit: Naomi Blinick/USFWS Volunteer
By Holly Richards, USFWS
Wisdom Returns!
On a remote atoll in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the world’s oldest known, banded bird just became a mother again. Last December, volunteers and staff at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Memorial documented that Wisdom, a Laysan albatross at least 66 years old, had returned to the atoll and was incubating an egg with her mate. About two months later, word came from Midway, Wisdom had hatched another chick!
“Wisdom continues to inspire people around the world. She has returned home to Midway Atoll for over six decades and raised at least 30-35 chicks,” said Bob Peyton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Project Leader for Midway Atoll Refuge and Memorial.
Wisdom and her newest chick. Photo credit: Naomi Blinick/USFWS Volunteer
In her lifetime Wisdom has likely flown over three million miles. She spends much of her life in the air, crisscrossing the North Pacific. When she’s not soaring over vast expanses of open ocean, or resting on the waves hunting for squid, she returns nearly every year to the same nesting spot on remote Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. Wisdom and her mate are not alone in their annual pilgrimage to Midway Atoll - over three million seabirds call the Refuge and Memorial home.
Every available space at Midway Atoll Refuge and Memorial is taken up by nesting albatross. Photo credit: Dan Clark/USFWS
Starting in late October, albatross begin to arrive at Midway Atoll to rest, find a mate, and fledge a chick. There are over three million seabirds that nest at the Refuge and Memorial.
Most seabirds, including albatross, return to the place they hatched to breed and raise their young. Biologists call this type of behavior “nest site fidelity,” and it makes preserving places with large colonies of birds, like Midway Atoll, critically important for the future survival of seabirds like Wisdom.
A Laysan albatross, black-footed albatross, and short-tailed albatross at Midway Atoll. Photo credit: Dan Clark/USFWS
Nearly 70% of the world’s Laysan albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) and almost 40% of Black-footed albatross (Phoebastria nigripes), as well as endangered Short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) all rely on the Refuge and Memorial. In addition to albatross, there are 20 different birds species that rely on Midway Atoll. In total, over three million individual birds call the Refuge and Memorial home.
“Laysan albatross and other seabirds depend on the habitat protected by Midway Atoll and other Pacific remote wildlife refuges to raise their young,” said Peyton. “Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, we have been able restore the native habitat that the birds need for nesting sites, ensuring a future for these seabirds.”
Wisdom and her newest chick on their nest. Photo credit: Naomi Blinick/USFWS Volunteer
It Takes Two
Raising the next generation of albatross is no easy job. Starting around age five, juvenile albatross begin the process of finding a mate and can be found all over Midway Atoll practicing elaborate courtship dances. Laysan courtship dances can have dozens of ritualized movements. They are looking for just that special bird to dip, bow, and preen with, and once a pair bond forms they stay bonded for life. Wisdom and her mate Akeakamai will spend a approximately seven months on Midway Atoll incubating and raising their chick. When not on parenting duty, Wisdom and Akeakamai take off to forage for food. Because this process takes up so much time and energy, most Laysan albatross don’t lay an egg every year.
“Because Laysan albatross don’t lay eggs every year and when they do, they raise only one chick at a time, the contribution of even one bird to the population makes a difference,” said Peyton.
Wisdom and her mate on their nest, waiting for their egg to hatch. Photo credit: Naomi Blinick/USFWS Volunteer
A Chance Encounter
Wisdom was first banded during a bird survey in 1956 by a biologist named Chandler Robbins. In a strange twist of fate, Robbins “rediscovered” Wisdom 46 years later during a survey near the same nesting location. Thanks to detailed bird survey records kept by biologists and volunteers, they were able to verify that it was the same bird.
USFWS volunteer and a staff biologist work together to band one of Wisdom’s previous chicks. When this year’s chick is old enough, it will recieve it’s own carefully applied band - helping us gather the science we need to ensure a future for albatross and other seabirds! Photo credit: USFWS
Bird surveys and banding projects have helped scientists understand the complex life cycles and migration patterns of birds across the globe. By pairing modern data analysis with detailed current and historical records, we can better understand the migratory paths of millions of birds and spot changes in those patterns. This helps scientists make better management decisions and take action to ensure seabirds have the habitat and resources they need in the future.
Wisdom and her newest chick - a fluffy reminder that one bird can make a difference for future generations of seabirds. Photo credit: Naomi Blinick/USFWS
Located at the far northern end of the Hawaiian
archipelago Midway Atoll
Refuge and Memorial,
within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. One the
oldest atoll formations in the world, the atoll provides nesting habitat for over
three million seabirds, and was the site of the decisive Battle of Midway, one
of the most significant naval battles of World War II, and in history. To learn
more about Midway Atoll, visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/midway_atoll/.
