Recently, the Laysan albatross known as Wisdom was photographed engaging in a mating dance with potential suitors at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. At approximately 72 years old and recognized by her band number Z333, Wisdom returned for nesting season in late November. Despite her age, Wisdom was described as being quite spry and actively courting other male birds.
According to Jonathan Plissner, a supervisory wildlife biologist at the national wildlife refuge, Laysan albatross females typically lay a single egg in the first half of December. It is estimated that throughout her lifetime, Wisdom has produced 50-60 eggs and as many as 30 chicks that have successfully fledged. Biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg, and are aware that Laysan albatrosses do not typically breed before the age of 5.
Wisdom’s remarkable story has been shared on social media, highlighting the millions of seabirds that return to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the North Pacific Ocean to nest and raise their young. This update serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving these critical habitats for species like Wisdom and the countless others that call them home.
