The life expectancy of animal species are today well established. They are the result of decades of research and analyzes. Scientists are thus able to predict the average lifespan of animals with a certain precision.
Two birds over the age of 40 identified in England
A male aged around 41 years and 8 months was first observed in the SNETTISHAM RSPB nature reserve in the county of Norfolk. A few weeks later, ornithologists have identified an even older oyster bird in The Wash estuary in Lincolnshire.
It is a female whose age is estimated at around 43 years. Not only are these two individuals very old, but they are also in good health and in good physical condition.
The two eightners challenged the longevity limits of their species. Indeed, the average lifespan of an oyster bird is 12 years.
The importance of the swimming to monitor populations of wild birds
“It was incredible to find the first huistrier and confirm that it was the oldest in the United Kingdom, but we are even more stunned than it was reproduced in just a few weeks,” said Jacquie Clark of the Wash Wader Ringing Group (WWRG) which specializes in the swimming of coastal birds.
“Discovering an even older bird on the Wash is amazing. This shows how crucial this huge coastal area is for these birds, ”he adds. The ornithologists were able to determine the age of the two birds thanks to their ring.
The 41 -year -old male had been bathed in 1983 in the nature reserve when he was still chick. It has been more than a century that the banding technique was used to monitor populations of wild birds.
Record longevity, but not completely unexpected
WWRG explains that birds in Great Britain and Ireland is coordinated by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). It is the organization dedicated to the scientific study of birds.
Oyster birds are easily recognizable by their black and white plumage, their red legs and their orange beak. They live on average 12 years, but ornithologists regularly observe individuals aged 20 to 30.
As Dr. Ellie Leach says, responsible for the BTO dying program, “these two birds are therefore old, but not completely unexpected”.
This estuary is a key site for the survival and longevity of oily birds
The Wash estuary where the 43 -year -old female was observed is a site of international importance for oyster birds. About 26,000 individuals nest there.
The birds “depend on the wash's milestones to eat. These are full of invertebrates such as nematodes, snails and shells, “explains Jim Scott, operations manager in the RSPB field.
It is therefore not really surprising that birds beating longevity records are those that spend winter in this estuary. Moreover, the longevity of the oysters could continue to lie over time.
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