Having spent several weeks at sea, Wisdom, a Laysan albatross and the world's oldest known banded wild bird, returns to Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) on February 6, 2025 to a newly hatched chick! Within hours of Wisdom’s arrival she traded parenting responsibilities with her mate before he headed out to sea to replenish his energy. Mahalo nui loa (with much gratitude) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Volunteer Dan Rapp for capturing the following timely imagery.
Wisdom's mate had been incubating the egg for at least a week or more leading up to the egg pipping on January 29. By January 30th the chick was fully hatched.
For more about Wisdom's back story go to: https://friendsofmidway.org/…/lay…/wisdom-the-albatross/
Wisdom and her chick's first photo shoot February 7, 2025.
Photographs by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biology Volunteer Dan Rapp
Wisdom (wearing band Z333) and her one-week-old chick. 
Wisdom (Z333) talks to her one-week-old. 
Wisdom keeps her one-week-old chick warm. 
Wilsom (Z333) and her one-week-old chick. 
Wisdom (Z333) and her one-week-old old chick. 
Wisdom gives her chick some fresh air. 
Wisdom settles down to keep her one-week-old chick warm. 
Wisdom and her chick take a mid-day nap. 
A passerby Laysan Albatross offers a friendly preening while Wisdom keeps her chick warm.
Article by Ann Bell