The oldest known wild bird in the United States, a Laysan albatross named Wisdom, recently became a new mother. A biologist from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spotted the bird in a remote wildlife refuge on Midway Atoll, which is part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, located about 1,300 miles northwest of Honolulu.

The albatross is at least 60 years old. Scientists are able to tell the age of the seabird because they first banded it when she incubated an egg in 1956. At that time the bird was estimated to be at least 5 years old. Since then it has worn out five bands.

Wisdom is the oldest wild bird documented by the North American Bird Banding Program. Scientists estimate that Wisdom has raised at least 30 to 35 chicks in her lifetime. And it is amazing that at such an age she is still able to become a new mother and raise a chick.

Albatross lay just a single egg a year. It takes a full year to incubate and raise it, and after this parenting period, many albatross take a year off before mating again.