At 74, Wisdom the albatross is welcoming new motherhood once again
At the age of at least 74, Wisdom the albatross is showing that for many, motherhood simply never ends.
Three things to know:
- The Laysan albatross was first banded (or marked) in Hawaii in 1956. Meaning, she could be even older than the current estimate of 74.
- She’s been at motherhood for quite some time; Wisdom has likely produced 50 to 60 eggs, and brought as many as 30 chicks to the fledgling state, NPR’s Bill Chappell reported.
- But it still feels like a marvel to watch her keep at it; after laying her latest egg in December, she was captured returning to her nest last week on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge to tend to her young chick.
Want to understand the impact of tech on your body and how to live better with your devices? Subscribe to the Body Electric newsletter.
Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird, returned to her nest on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge last week to care for her new chick!
At an age of at least 74, the queen of seabirds is estimated to have produced 50-60 eggs and as many as 30 chicks that fledged.
pic.twitter.com/8WQaXXrnQH
— USFWS Pacific (@USFWSPacific) February 13, 2025
Is this normal?
Back in December, Jon Plissner, supervisory wildlife biologist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told NPR of the unlikely odds for a bird like Wisdom.
“Of the more than 250,000 birds banded since [biologist] Chandler Robbins banded Wisdom in 1956, the next oldest bird we know about currently is just 52 years old,” Plissner said.
Some of Wisdom’s eggs have gone missing, and in 2011, she survived a deadly tsunami. She’s also survived the threats of plastic debris and fishing nets, and has flown millions of miles over the open sea to migrate and most importantly, care for her babies.
Dive deeper with NPR
- For more on Wisdom’s life journey, read Chappell’s full story here.
- Listen to NPR’s Short Wave podcast for more discoveries, everyday mysteries and the science behind the headlines.
Here’s what we know about the 2 Israeli embassy staffers killed in Washington, D.C.
Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. were killed in a shooting after attending an event a Jewish museum. A suspect shouted "free Palestine" before being taken into custody.
Community groups say Louisiana is trying to stop them from monitoring air pollution
For community groups to allege violations of environmental rules, a state law says groups have to use federally-approved testing equipment, and it sets restrictions for analyzing and sharing the data.
Democrats seek to insulate security for judges from executive branch politics
Recent critiques of judges from the Trump administration have prompted fears the Marshals could be caught in the middle of a power struggle and forced to yank security for judges.
Dear Life Kit: My neighbor’s Christmas lights are still up. Should I call the HOA?
An NPR listener writes: "We live in a nice neighborhood that has homeowner association rules, and our neighbor is violating them." Social etiquette experts weigh in.
Jim Irsay, longtime Colts owner and music memorabilia collector, dies at 65
Irsay started with the Colts as a teenage ball boy and took ownership after his father's death in 1997. The team won a Super Bowl and two AFC championships under his nearly three-decade tenure.
No more pennies: In big change, Treasury will stop minting them
In a cost-cutting move, the Treasury Department will soon stop minting new pennies. The one-cent coins will still be legal tender. There are more than 100 billion pennies in circulation but many are gathering dust in change jars and forgotten pockets.
