World’s Oldest Known Wild Bird Hatches Another Chick

A Laysan albatross known as “Wisdom” – believed to be at least 62 years old – has hatched a chick on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for the sixth consecutive year. Early Sunday morning, February 3, 2013, the chick was observed pecking its way into the world by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Pete Leary, who said the chick appears healthy. Wisdom was first banded in 1956, when she was incubating an egg in the same area of the refuge. She was at least five years old at the time. Read more


Winter finches and other irruptive species, like the Red-breasted Nuthatch (far right) are making news this winter. (L-R): Red Crossbill, Marya Mooseman; Common Repoll, Norm Dougan; Pine Siskin, Margaret Gompper; Red-breasted Nuthatch, Linda Lamb