<
https://freedium.cfd/https://grrlscientist.medium.com/shes-back-wisdom-the-incredible-laysan-albatross-has-returned-2fcff1ba0cdf>
"Wisdom, the Laysan albatross (or mōlī in Hawaiian),
Phoebastria immutabilis,
has once again returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to nest. She
was originally banded as she incubated an egg on 10 December 1956 by legendary
bird biologist and USGS scientist Chandler Robbins. Since Laysan albatross
don't nest until they are at least 6 years old and may not successfully raise a
chick until they are between the ages of 8 to 10 years, Wisdom is estimated to
be at least 75 years old. This makes her the world's oldest known wild bird. In
her lifetime, scientists estimate that Wisdom has flown more than 3 million
miles, laid 50–60 eggs, and fledged some 30 chicks.
"Last year, the second oldest known-age birds at Midway Atoll were just 47
years old," said Wildlife Biologist Jon Plissner, who now works as a USFWS
Supervisory Wildlife Biologist at Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge. "The
Service observed a total of 18 Laysan albatrosses and one black-footed
albatross that were 40+ years old. In 2022, we had a nesting black-footed
albatross that was at least 63 years old; but it has not been seen since then,
and there have not been any birds besides Wisdom older than 50 years since
then."
The Laysan albatross is a large seabird with a wingspan that reaches more than
6-and-a-half feet. Albatrosses are famous for their skill in riding the wind
using a technique called dynamic soaring, where they soar above oceanic waves
for hours — or even days — without flapping their wings. These seabirds are so
adept at dynamic soaring that they are known to soar for literally
years
before touching land, and they can even sleep in flight."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
