Moli live long lives, and while some accounts have their life span at 40 years, others report 50 years. One moli who breeds on Midway atoll, known as Wisdom, was banded in 1956, and was thought to be five years old at the time of banding. That would put her 62 years of age - the oldest known living wild bird. Just last February she and her mate successfully hatched baby Wisdom. Many happy returns Wisdom.
*** Update: Dec. 2014: From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service:
"Wisdom, the world’s oldest living, banded, wild bird has returned to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge! Wisdom’s mate has been waiting within a few feet of the pair’s former nest site since November 19. Wisdom was first spotted on November 22. This isn’t the first time these two have readied their nest. Laysan albatrosses mate for life and Wisdom has raised between 30 to 35 chicks since being banded in 1956 at an estimated age of 5. Laying only one egg per year, a breeding albatross will spend a tiring 365 days incubating and raising a chick." For more on this remarkable story, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2014/12/2/The-Return-of-Wisdom