Oldest known bird in the wild hatches healthy chick at Midway Atoll
February 15, 2016
Wisdom’s chick hatches at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge!
PRESS CONTACT: Ann Bell | (808) 954-4814 | Ann_Bell@fws.gov
The oldest known bird in the wild, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom – at least 65 years old – is a mother again at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The chick was observed still coming out of its shell on February 1, 2016 and days later was named Kūkini, which is a Hawaiian word for messenger. Wisdom’s mate had been on the nest since January 20 when he took over incubation duties while Wisdom headed out to sea. Wisdom returned just as the Super Bowl ended yesterday with her belly full. Shortly after Wisdom arrived, Wisdom’s mate was on the march towards the shoreline and immediately took flight in search of food.
“Wisdom is an iconic symbol of inspiration and hope,” noted Robert Peyton, Refuge Manager. “From a scientific perspective, albatrosses are a critical indicator species for the world’s oceans that sustain millions of human beings as well. In the case of Wisdom, she is breaking longevity records of previously banded birds by at least a decade. With over a million albatross on Midway Atoll alone, this shows just how much is left to learn about the natural world around us.”
Wisdom can bee seen incubating the egg that recently hatched into her newest chick, on Midway Atoll. Photo credit: Greg Joder/USFWS Volunteer
Wisdom has raised at least eight chicks since 2006, and as many as 40 in her lifetime. Just as astonishing, she has likely flown over three million miles since she was first tagged on Midway Atoll in 1956.
“That is up to six trips from the Earth to the Moon and back again,” noted Bruce Peterjohn, Chief of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center’s National Bird Banding Laboratory. “What is also miraculous is that biologist Chandler Robbins, who banded her as a breeding adult in 1956 on Midway Atoll, sighted her 46 years later near the same nesting location.” Today at the age of 97 Robbins still comes to work on occasion doing what he loves to do.
Just a few of the albatross that call Midway Atoll home. Photo credit: USFWS
Wisdom’s chick is not the only bird in town! Albatrosses arrive on Midway Atoll in late November by the hundreds of thousands. In December U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) volunteers counted 470,000 active nests across the entire atoll – since each nest represents two adults, the total breed population at Midway is 940,000. A low estimate of Midway’s overall population, this number does not account for the non-breeders present in the colony, resting, searching for a mate, and practicing their mating dance skills.
These numbers indicate Midway Atoll Refuge is responsible for maintaining healthy nesting habitat for the world’s largest albatross nesting colony. While side-stepping around nests on every square foot of available island surface, a team of Service volunteers and staff monitor 13 species of birds and accomplish hands-on management of nesting habitat by out-planting native plants while suppressing aggressive and invasive plant species that once displaced nesting habitat over 40% of the atoll.
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- Wisdom, the world’s oldest known banded bird in the wild, is sighted (left) with her mate (right) on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial. Photo by Kiah Walker/USFWS
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- On November 19, 2015 Wisdom returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge and was observed with her mate on November 21. Photo by: Kiah Walker/USFWS
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- Wisdom “talks” to her egg shortly after laying her egg on November 28, 2015. Male and female Laysan albatross couples make shift changes with the male making the first a very long shift (up to 3 weeks) allowing the female a chance to replenish her fat reserves. After the egg hatches they both continue sharing the responsibility of feeding and rearing their chick. Photo by Dan Clark/USFWS
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- Male and female Laysan albatross couples make approximately 48 hour shift changes while incubating and sheltering their egg. After the egg hatches they both continue sharing the responsibility of feeding and rearing their chick. Photo by: Dan Clark
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- Wisdom returns Christmas Day 2015 to take the place of Wisdom’s mate to incubate their egg laid November 28, 2015. Photo by: Dan Clark/USFWS
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- The oldest known bird in the wild, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom – at least 65 years old – is a mother again at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, part of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The chick was observed still coming out of its shell on February 1, 2016 and days later was named Kūkini, which is a Hawaiian word for messenger. Wisdom’s mate was caring for the egg when it hatched and was caught on camera, bonding with the new chick. Credit: Kiah Walker
More photos and video of Wisdom, her mate, and her newest chick.
Papahānaumokuākea is cooperatively managed to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and perpetuation of Northwestern Hawaiian Island ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future generations. Three co-trustees – the Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, and State of Hawai‘i – joined by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, protect this special place. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument was inscribed as the first mixed (natural and cultural) UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States in July 2010. For more information, please visit www.papahanaumokuakea.gov