The world's oldest wild bird, a 74-year-old albatross, is expecting a chick again

For decades, she has returned annually to Midway Atoll, near Hawaii, to lay her eggs. During its long life, Wisdom has already produced more than 50 chicks, according to an article on Phys.org.

Wisdom was first tagged by researchers back in 1956. At that time, being at least five years old (the approximate age of sexual maturity in Laysan albatrosses), she laid her first egg. That means she is now at least 74 years old, and possibly more. Biologists believe she is the oldest wild bird recorded on the planet.

For a long time, Wisdom nested with the same partner - albatrosses are known for their tendency toward monogamy. But since her long-time mate hasn't been seen for several years, researchers have noted that Wisdom has recently begun to show interest in other males. She returned to Midway again this year and laid another egg, with her new partner now helping to incubate the offspring.

According to Jonathan Plissner, lead wildlife biologist at Midway Atoll, experts are hopeful the egg will hatch safely. Images provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service show the birds taking turns "talking" to their future offspring, and then the male taking his place on the nest to warm the egg.

Laysan albatrosses are large seabirds with wingspans that can reach 203 centimetres. They can travel up to 1,500 kilometres in search of food. The average life expectancy of birds varies greatly: many small birds live only a couple of years, while some species of seabirds, including albatrosses and penguins, often live to 40-50 years. Among all birds, parrots stand out, some of which can live for more than a century.

Albatrosses live not only in the North Pacific, but also in the Southern Hemisphere. These birds have long been part of maritime legends and literature. A classic example is Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem "The Tale of the Old Mariner", where the killing of an albatross brings bad luck to the entire crew.