In December, the worlds oldest known bird, an albatross, laid an egg in her 74th year.

albatross aged 74 photo credit US fish and wildlife service

The bird, called Wisdom, is a Laysan albatross was photographed with her current partner and the egg. Normally expected to live between 12 and 40 years, this is an incredible lifespan. She is also thought to have had around 30 chicks, which given that they do not breed every year is a phenomenal number. Perhaps more impressive, the chick survived, and has been seen within the last month, suggesting that not only did she have this chick at such an old age, but she raised it successfully.

She was first tagged in 1956 (the year that my father was born) and they do not breed until at least 5 years old.

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