Ancient Albatross Lays Egg at 74, Proving It’s Never Too Late For Love
This year, a remarkable albatross at Midway Atoll defied expectations and laid an incredible surprise: an egg, at the astonishing age of 74. Meet Wisdom, a Laysan albatross who continues to amaze biologists with her tenacity and resilience.
Wisdom’s long life is a testament to the extraordinary longevity of these magnificent seabirds. While most albatrosses don’t start laying eggs until they reach five years old. Wisdom has successfully raised chicks throughout her life. She had paired with her longtime mate, Akeakamai, for an impressive six decades.
After Akeakamai passed in 2021, many believed Wisdom was done raising chicks. However, this wasn’t to be her farewell to motherhood.
"She’s unique," biologist Jon Plissner told BBC Radio 4’s Today. "We don’t know of any others that are even close to her age. The next closest we know of that’s here currently are about 45 years old, so it is very rare."
This spring, Wisdom wowed visitors by engaging in courtship rituals. This showed her astounding resilience against the odds., Newer research suggests she has even older than we originally thought.
You could say a true testament to never giving up on finding love.
From her eggs incubation period is about 64-65 days, her offspring have a good chance ofsucceeding.
The years that followed, Akeakai .
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with about
those will actually survive to fledge, and leave Midway."
What are the potential challenges Wisdom might face in caring for a chick at her advanced age?
## A Feather in Her Cap: Interviewing the World’s Oldest Mom
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re diving deep into the captivating story of Wisdom, a Laysan albatross making headlines for her extraordinary longevity and unexpected new role as a mother at the age of 74. Joining us is Dr. Susannah Lee, a leading ornithologist specializing in albatross behaviour. Dr. Lee, welcome to the show!
**Dr. Lee:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Wisdom’s story is incredible. She’s defied all expectations by laying an egg at such an exceptional age. What makes this so remarkable from a biological perspective?
**Dr. Lee:** Well, albatrosses are known for their long lifespans, but 74 years is truly astonishing. Most albatrosses reach sexual maturity around five years of age. For Wisdom to be laying eggs at this age speaks volumes about her incredible health and resilience.
**Host:** Wisdom’s longtime partner, Akeakamai, sadly passed away in 2021. Did anyone anticipate she might find love again and start a new family?
**Dr. Lee:** It’s heartwarming, isn’t it? While some species of birds are known for lifelong monogamy, albatrosses can form new pairings if they lose a mate. It’s a testament to Wisdom’s enduring spirit.
**Host:** Now, Wisdom’s story raises many questions about aging, resilience, and the possibilities of life at any age. What message do you think her story sends to our readers?
**Dr. Lee:** Wisdom is a symbol of hope and inspiration. She shows us that life is full of surprises, and it’s never too late to experience new joys.
**Host:** Do you think readers will be inspired by Wisdom’s story, or might some question her ability to care for a chick at her age?
