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First albatross chick harbinger of more big things to come

In this Febuary 2011 photo provided by the US Geological Survey, a Laysan albatross, roughly 60-years-old, named Wisdom is seen with a chick at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge near Hawaii. The oldest known wild bird in the U.S. has returned to a remote atoll northwest of the main Hawaiian islands after surviving the March 11, 2011 tsunami resulting from an earthquake in Japan. Officials at the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Midway Atoll, said they are thrilled at Wisdom's return. (US Geological Survey)
In this Febuary 2011 photo provided by the US Geological Survey, a Laysan albatross, roughly 60-years-old, named Wisdom is seen with a chick at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge near Hawaii. The oldest known wild bird in the U.S. has returned to a remote atoll northwest of the main Hawaiian islands after surviving the March 11, 2011 tsunami resulting from an earthquake in Japan. Officials at the Hawaiian and Pacific Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes Midway Atoll, said they are thrilled at Wisdom's return. (US Geological Survey)

WILDLIFE WATCHING -- Even though it's far out in the Pacific, even far out there from the main Hawaiian Islands, it's still cool to know that the first Laysan albatross chick of the season has hatched on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge.

As seen on the Laysan Albatross Cam, the hatch was completed hatching on the morning of Jan. 28.

The chick stretched and greeted the world as its dad preened and seemed to be very proud (video below and here).

The female was away feeding at sea -- where these birds spend most of their lives.  Two more eggs were ready to produce chicks.

Over the next few days, one of the parents will constantly brood the chick, keeping it warm under his or her feathers. It will be fed on dense stomach oil and partially digested food regurgitated from the parent’s belly.

Keep watching the cam here to follow the chicks' progress.

 

Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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