Sadly, the world’s oldest bird has likely lost her mate. But life goes on and now, in her 70s, she is looking for a new suitor.
A female dark-backed albatross named Wisdom aka Wisdom was photographed dancing alongside potential partners at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.
Supposedly, she is about 72 years old and can be recognized by her Z333 ring. In late November, Wisdom was back for another nesting season.
Her longtime partner, Akeakamai, had not been seen for some time (he had been absent for the last two nesting seasons). It is worth noting that Dark-backed Albatrosses are monogamous, so the long-lived mate was also closely monitored, but his age is not reported.
But this spring, Wisdom was seen socializing with other males.
According to Jonathan Plissner, chief wildlife biologist at the national wildlife refuge, female albatrosses lay one egg each year.
Plissner estimates that in her lifetime, Weisdom has laid 50 to 60 eggs from which up to 30 chicks hatch.
Biologists first identified Weisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg. It is known that this species does not start breeding before 5 years of age – hence the approximate age of the bird.
