The oldest wild bird in the world, Wisdom, is a female Laysan albatross who has been courting potential mates on Midway Island following the loss of her long-time mate. Despite being over 70 years old, Wisdom has been flying around the North Pacific since the time of President Eisenhower and is currently seeking a new partner on a remote island off the coast of Hawaii.
Wisdom has been actively courting other birds during the mating season, demonstrating her willingness to find a new partner despite the nesting season being over. Female Laysan albatrosses typically lay eggs in December, but Wisdom continues to participate in mating rituals, showing her resilience and agility for her age. She has laid an estimated 60 eggs in her lifetime, contributing significantly to the population of Laysan albatrosses.
Midway Atoll hosts the largest population of Laysan albatrosses, with 600,000 breeding pairs returning to the islands each year. Wisdom’s usual partner, Akeakamai, has been missing for two nesting seasons prompting her to seek new potential mates on Midway Atoll. With an estimated 5.6 million kilometers flown in her lifetime, Wisdom’s endurance and determination are truly inspiring as she continues to cover significant distances in the North Pacific fueled by a diet of small squid, fish and crustaceans.
In conclusion, Wisdom’s presence on Midway Atoll is a testament to her endurance and determination as she continues to seek out new partners despite being over 70 years old. Her willingness to find love even after losing her long-time mate shows that love knows no bounds and that age should never stand in our way of finding happiness.