Wisdom a mōlī or Laysan albatross has returned to Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) and was sighted on December 3, 2023 by US Fish and Wildlife Service Supervisory Wildlife Biologist, Jon Plissner doing all the synchronized dance moves with a handsome mōlī!
Her former lifelong mate, Akeakami has not been sighted for three fall breeding seasons and is therefore believed to not have survived his voyaging time at sea. Until December 3, 2023 no one seemed sure a 73-year-old plus Wisdom had it in her to ever dance again. Well, this Grandest of Grandmas have proved us humans wrong.
Wisdom was first sighted and photographed solo on Friday, December 1 by US Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer Nick Minnich. On December 3, 2023 Jon Plissner spent his usual off-duty time looking for banded birds through his binoculars in anticipation of recording a band number not in a study plot. Many of the albatross have metal bands that are often hard to read and take meticulous time, patience and the right natural lighting. As fate would have it, Jon was double checking a metal band number on a bird that he had sighted earlier in the day when he witnessed the bird he as looking for dancing with Wisdom! The dance went on and on and according to Jon, Wisdom didn't miss a beat!
Because it is so late in the season Wisdom will probably not nest but it is not for trying! Last year she was observed very briefly and then was never sighted again. However, this year she been hanging out for weeks since she was first sighted on December 1st! US Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer Nick Minnich spotted her near her former nest site on December 7th. The following week on December 13, US Fish and Wildlife Service Selena Flores captured photos of her around sunset. Selena noted, “It was very windy and she was walking, so it was difficult to get clear shots of her band with so much movement.”
Selena also noted that Wisdom appears to be flirting with other birds, and has been indulging in some pair bond activities, but still acting a bit aloof . Selena observed Wisdom preening with another bird while he was sitting and Wisdom standing. Wisdom reciprocated the preening briefly, then walked away to go sit on her own, and promptly went to sleep!
