The oldest known bird in the wild apparently just hatched its 40th chick in Hawaii. This Laysan albatross gave birth in a nesting colony in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge which is also a part of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
Motherhood is never too late for this albatross, who is also known as Widsom, where her mate was in charge of incubating the eggs until January 20, as Wisdom hunted for food. Researchers say that the mates exchanged their places on that day, when Wisdom returned with a full belly after searching for food in the sea.
The new chick showed signs of emerging last February 1, and shortly after a few more days, the chick finally came out as researchers named it Kūkini, which is translated as "messenger" in Hawaii.
According to refuge manager, Robert Peyton, Wisdom has been always a symbol of inspiration and hope, adding that Wisdom is also breaking records again when it comes to lifespan and longevity, lasting longer than prior banded birds for more than 10 years.
Researchers also reveal that Wisdom has raised around 40 chicks during its lifetime, with more than eight chicks in 2006. Her hatching powers are even more remarkable as Wisdom is already 65 years old, and still enjoys travelling, more than most aging birds.
Scientists also believe that Wisdom is estimated to have journeyed more than 3 million miles since 1956, when it first made the Midway Atoll its home. According to Bruce Peterjohn of the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Wisdom's amount of travelling can be estimated at six roundtrips from Earth to the moon.
According to biologist Chandler Robbins who is the one who banded Wisdom in 1956, he is still amazed how Wisdom still prefers the same nesting area for 46 years. Robbins still sometimes goes to work to check out Wisdom's progress.
Peyton also reveals how the presence of albatrosses can determine the state of the world's oceans. To date, the Midway Atoll is home to a million albatrosses, which has been a crucial part of the region's ecosystem, revealing much more about nature.
In late 2015, more than 100,000 birds arrived at the Midway Atoll as volunteers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counted the populations to 470,000 active nests in the atoll. Since each nest is home to two adult birds, the total estimated albatross population in the atoll is 940,000.