As 1000’s of birds nest within the heat solar of Halfway Atoll, some are inclined to their new chicks. In a video posted by Mates of Halfway Atoll (FOMA), one of many latest Mōlī (Laysan albatross) chicks will get a cautious “beak preen” from its dad or mum.
Mōlī Father or mother Gently Preens Chick
CREDIT: Mates of Halfway Atoll.
In accordance with FOMA, their beaks are important survival instruments, however will also be used with “precision and gentleness, making use of solely the strain wanted to are inclined to a fragile chick.” When first born, a chick will obtain some yummy regurgitated fish oil as considered one of its earliest meals. Chicks this younger are fed a nutritious oily mixture of partially digested squid and fish eggs.
Yearly, Laysan albatross return to this wildlife refuge on the northeastern fringe of the Hawaiian Archipelago and reunite with their mates. If all goes effectively—because it has for this pair—the feminine birds will lay one egg and keep on the atoll to nest.
To rely what number of birds are coming again to the atoll, hearty volunteers conduct an annual nest census. The 2025/2026 census discovered:
- 28,246 Ka’upu (Black-footed albatross) nests
- 589,623 Mōlī (Laysan albatross) nests
- A complete of 617,869 nests
Annual Albatross Census 2025/2026
CREDIT: Mates of Halfway Atoll.
The nesting birds additionally embody a record-breaker named Knowledge, a roughly 75-year-old albatross generally known as the world’s oldest breeding chicken. Knowledge was noticed on the atoll in November 2025, however it’s nonetheless unclear if she has laid one other egg. She was first recognized and banded in 1956 and has since produced 50 to 60 eggs and as many as 30 chicks have fledged in her lifetime. In 2024, Knowledge grew to become the world’s oldest recognized wild chicken to efficiently lay an egg on the estimated age of 74.
You possibly can watch the birds from the consolation of your personal house due to the 24/7 livestream positioned on the island. Nevertheless, the video received’t be fairly as shut up as this particular beak preen.
2025 PopSci Better of What’s New
