Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Dangers for Over 60 Years

Written by Darcy Pattison

Narrated by Greg Robinson

Survival! The oldest bird in the world had survived plastic pollution, longline fishing, and lead poisoning. But in 2011, she faced one of her hardest challenges: the Japanese tsunami.

On March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck off the shore of Japan sending a tsunami wave west to overrun Tōhoku, Japan. It killed thousands and destroyed a nuclear plant. But it also sent a tsunami wave east toward Midway Island.

Scientists knew the tsunami was coming, so they sheltered on the third story of an old army barracks building. The tsunami hit the island about midnight. The scientists said the scariest thing was that they could hear the water crashing ashore, but they couldn’t see anything.

Would the wildlife survive this natural disaster?

In this “Biography in Text and Art,” Harvill takes original photos as references to create accurate wildlife illustrations. These aren’t generic birds, but one particular individual in detail. Pattison’s careful research, vetted by scientists in the field, brings to life this this true story of an infant cub that must face a complicated world alone—and find a way to survive.

ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY ANIMAL -

Biographies of individual animals, including a bird, mammal, spider, amphibian, and reptile.

• Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years, Starred Publisher’s Weekly review
• Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub, BOOK 2, 2015 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
• Nefertiti, the Spidernaut: The Spider who Learned to Hunt in Space, Book 3, 2017 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
• Rosie, the Ribeter: The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, Book 4
• Diego, the Galápagos Giant Tortoise: Saving a Species from Extinction, Book 5

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mims House
• Release date: Feb 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781629440897

Darcy Pattison

DARCY PATTISON is the author of The River Dragon, illustrated by Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng, as well as the fantasy novel The Wayfinder. She teaches writing at the University of Central Arkansas. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas.<br>

Reviews for Wisdom, the Midway Albatross

[sharonwillett-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This true story for children about an Albatross named Gooney gives us a glimpse into the life of what is called - The Oldest Bird in the World. Scientists found Gooney and put a band on her leg in 1956, but when they found her again in 2002 they realized she was then 51 years old. It was then they named her Wisdom.Wisdom lived most of her life at Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. She defied the odds and lived to be...well you'll have to read Darcy Pattison's book to find out.

[skstiles612 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gooney is an albatross who lived on an island. Gooney survived many things such as sharks and a tsunami. She finally mated and had a chick of her own. A scientist found her and put a band on her leg so they could keep track of her. Throughout her life thunderstorms, tropical storms and hurricanes threatened her and she survived. When many albatrosses died from eating plastic floating in the water Gooney survived by not eating it. She managed to not get tangled like so many others in discarded fishing lines. She was banded again and was given the name wisdom because she had lived over 50 years. She had a chick each year. In 2011 she had a chick and a big storm came and washed many of the chicks away. Wisdom and her chick survived. She is known as the oldest living albatross. The author not only tells a great story about an actual event, she has done a tremendous amount of research. Check out her book and learn about the research she has done and this wonderful bird