Oldest furious bird in the world has given birth!

Oldest furious bird in the world has given birth!

Things you may not have known, but probably should know because they are fantastic, especially not by the great-ness: 1) oldest known wild bird in the world is a female albatross 63 years of age. 2) It's called "Wisdom." 3) Wisdom has just given birth.

"As the world's oldest known bird in the wild, Wisdom is an iconic symbol of inspiration and hope for all seabird species" said Dan Clark, refuge manager for Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, in a news release. He continues:

She provides to the world valuable information about the longevity of these beautiful creatures. In the case of Wisdom, she has logged literally millions of miles over the Pacific Ocean in her lifetime to find enough fish eggs and squid to feed herself and multiple chicks, allowing us the opportunity to measure the health of our oceans which sustain albatross as well as ourselves.

According to Mother Nature Network, it's likely that Wisdom has helped raise around 35 chicks to fledging age (the point at which the young bird's wing feathers are developed enough for flight) in her lifetime, including one hatched just last year. This is no mean feat:

Both parents are necessary for feeding the chick, so their safety at sea is always a concern. Finding enough food, avoiding fishing lines and nets, and avoiding the frightening abundance of plastic pollution are all key. Unfortunately, many chicks die as parents mistake plastic objects for food, such as cigarette lighters, toothbrushes and fishing floats, and bring it back to feed to the chick along with the flying fish eggs that are a staple for the growing birds. Their stomachs fill with the indigestible objects and they end up starving to death.

Source:www.io9.com

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