IN THE avian world, age is but a number—especially for a remarkable Laysan albatross named Wisdom.
This extraordinary bird continues to defy expectations by nesting at an age when most would have long retired from parenthood.
But is it true that the world's oldest known wild bird has laid an egg at the age of 74?
Verdict:
TRUE
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has reported that Wisdom, a Laysan albatross estimated to be 74 years old, has laid an egg on a North Pacific island.
United Press International (UPI) shared that Wisdom was observed nesting with a new partner at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, located on the northwest edge of the Hawaiian Archipelago.
This marks Wisdom's first egg in four years, adding to the estimated 50 to 60 eggs she has laid over her lifetime.
"Wisdom returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate and, if able, lay one egg," the wildlife service's social media post noted.
"For decades, she did this with the same partner, Akeakamai, but that bird has not been seen for several years."
Jon Plissner, a supervisory wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll refuge, mentioned that researchers are "optimistic that the egg will hatch."
Wisdom was believed to be five years old when she was first banded and observed laying an egg in 1956. - Bernama
