Partridge – Bird of the 2013 Year

 

 

On March 07, 2013,   Estonian Post  issued one stamp features the game-bird species as bird of this  year, Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix), also known as the English Partridge, Hungarian Partridge.

 

 

 

The Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix) is a small bird  of the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. who mainly lives in farmland – in fields as well in pasturelands.

The Grey Partridge is a rotund bird, 28–32 cm long, brown-backed, with grey flanks and chest. The belly is white, usually marked with a large chestnut-brown horse-shoe mark in males, and also in many females.

 

 

The Grey Partridge passes the winter in groups, often in the vicinity of human settlements. The groups split up in April when coupling takes place. In the nesting period, in May to June, they lead a very covert way of life.

There are presumably about 4,000 to 8,000 couples of the grey partridge in Estonia at present.They are a seed-eating species, but the young in particular take insects as an essential protein supply.

 

 

The nest usually has from 15 to 20 eggs on the ground, and the young fledge at ten days old. It is a species of dwindling numbers that are most affected by predation and by the use of pesticides in farming.

The species has been successfully introduced to many parts of the world for shooting, including vast areas of North America, where it is most commonly known as Hungarian partridge. Widespread and common throughout its large range, the Grey Partridge is evaluated as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Forest 2011–San Marino

 

The Europa 2011 theme is dedicated to forests. The San Marino Post have issued a set of two stamps on April 5, 2011. The issued stamps depicted  images which  have been taken in the Teso Forest of the Municipality of San Marcello Pistoiese in the Tosco-Emilian Apennine.

 

 

The set is made up of two values: the € 0.60 value represents an age-old lush, flourishing forest, contrasted with the image of the 0.65€ value, which shows a pile of tree-trunks as a symbol of man’s repeated, uncontrolled and unauthorised exploitation.

 

Karadag Nature Reserve

 

Ukrainian State Enterprise of Posts Ukrposhta , issued  a souvenir sheet stamp consist of four stamps depict several endangered species, e,g: the Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, Butterfly-lion, Saker Falcon, and Beech Marten on July 28, 2005.

Karadag Nature Reserve was organized in 1979 on the base of Karadag research station named after T. I. Vyazemskiy and founded by him back in 1914. Karadag Nature Reserve occupies the area of 2874 ha. It is a unique haven of landscape and biological diversity (2870 flora species and 5350 fauna species), a gene pool of rare plant and animal species, a kind of refuge of Mediterranean fauna in the Crimea.

 

Black Sea bottle-nosed Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus ponticus )

Bottlenose dolphins live in groups typically of 10–30 members but group size varies from single individuals up to more than 1,000. Their diets consist mainly of forage fish. Dolphins often work as a team to harvest fish schools, but they also hunt individually.

Bottlenose dolphins search for prey primarily using echolocation, which is similar to sonar. They emit clicking sounds and listen for the return echos to determine the location and shape of nearby items, including potential prey.

The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, the genus Tursiops, are the most common and well-known members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphin.

The Black Sea bottlenose dolphin, or Tursiops truncatus ponticus , qualifies for listing as Endangered species.The range of the Black Sea subspecies includes the territorial waters and exclusive economic zones of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine in the Black Sea.

Fresh Water Fish of Fiji

 

Fiji Post issued a set of four stamps feature the fresh water fish which found in Fiji islands on May 13, 2002. The depicted species are the Redigobius sp., Spotted flagtail, Silver-stripe Mud-skipper,  Snake-head Gudgeon.

The 48 c stamp represents Redigobius fish. Redigobius sp has been observed in mid-water schooling, only in clear headwater areas. This fish is carnivorous and feeds on benthic invertebrates. There is evidence of parental care of demersal eggs. 

The main threat to this endemic fish is habitat destruction brought about by the logging activities being carried out in its only known sites; and the possibility of introduced invasive species encroaching the headwaters. Excessive gravel and boulder removal are also direct threats.

Redigobius lekutu is a goby, belonging to the family Gobiidae. Members of the family Gobiidae are generally small fishes, and this species is no exception. It measures only 3.5 cm from the snout to the tip of the tail - probably smaller than the index finger of the average adult.

Definitive Flower Stamps of Canada

In year 2010, Canada Post issued the definitive stamps consist of four stamps that feature orchid flowers in one miniature sheet format. The depicted species are Striped coralroot, Giant Helleborine , Rose Pogonia , Grass Pink. 

Striped Coralroot or Corallorhiza striata is a species of orchid that native to much of North America, especially Canada and the northern and western United States.

It is a member of the coniferous understory flora, where it lives in the layer of decaying plant matter on the ground obtaining nutrients from fungi via mycoheterotrophy.

This coralroot has an erect stem which may be red, pink, purple, or yellow-green to almost white. It is mostly made up of an inflorescence of orchid flowers.

Each flower is an open array of sepals and similar-looking petals which may be pink or yellowish and have darker pink or maroon stripes. 

Inside the flower is a column formed from the fusion of male and female parts, which may be spotted with purple or red. The fruit is a capsule one or two centimeters long.

National Park of Spain

Espana Post promote their National Park by issuing a set of two stamps feature Cañón del Río Lobos Natural Park and Izki Natural Park on March 09, 2009.

Cañón del Río Lobos Natural Park is a natural environment protected by the autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. Subdivided Natural Park territory Lobos River Canyon between the provinces of Soria and Burgos.This area was declared a Natural Park in 1985 and a Special Protection Area for Birds in 1987. 

It is covered  an area of ​​9580 ha. and is a unique biogeographic space structured on the axis of a deep pit dug in the riverbed of the Mesozoic limestone that has left huge vision and sheer walls. 

From its flora include the juniper, pine repudiation, and the oak gall, while the spaces may be covered juniper scrub, huckleberries and gorse.

As for wildlife, the Canyon live animals and various species, in particular birds abound among prey like eagles, falcons, griffon vulture, the hawk and the vulture. Also in the living river otters and trout.

Wilderness Australia

 

 

Australia Post promote their nature by issuing a set of three stamps on September 25, 2012.  The issue depict the wilderness of Australia, the vast Nullarbor Plain, the Daintree National Park, and Cradle Mountain. 

  

Historically, the Nullarbor was used by the semi-nomadic Spinifex Wangai people. The Nullarbor Plain, located on the Great Australian Bight coast, is the world's largest limestone karst landscape covering an area of 270,000 square kilometres, extending 2,000 kilometres between Norseman and Ceduna. Two thirds of the Nullarbor is within Western Australia and one third is in South Australia. 

 

The name Nullarbor derives from "no trees", but the plain is covered with bluebush and saltbush plants, hardy shrubs that are drought-resistant and salt-tolerant.

 

 

The Daintree National Park, north of Cairns, is made up of two sections - Mossman Gorge and the Cape tribulation - and is part of the traditional lands of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji people.

 

Much of the Mossman Gorge section is covered in tall, dense rainforest and supports a range of habitats and a diverse assortment of wildlife.




 

 
 
 
 

Cradle Mountain forms the northern end of the wild Cradle Mt - Lake St Clair National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, covering approximately 1.38 million hectares  and encompassing more than 20 per cent of Tasmania.

It is one of the last true wilderness regions on Earth. Aboriginal use of the Cradle Mountain area dates from 10,000 years ago. The area ranges from rainforest to grassland, containing ancient plants and a diversity of animals.

Crested Iguana of Fiji

Fiji Post Limited is proud to commemorate the magnificent creature, Brachylophus vitiensis and to bring attention to its protection and ongoing survival. By collaborating  with the WWF organization, Fiji Post Limited issued a set of four stamps feature Brachylophus vitiensis in their habitat on October 2010.

The issue stamps presented in many forms, single stamps, miniature sheet which composed of two set stamps, and local First Day Cover .

The Fiji crested iguana (Brachylophus vitiensis) is a critically endangered species of iguana native to some of the northwestern islands of the Fijiian archipelago, where it is found in dry forest. They are only found in Fiji on the dry leeward islands off Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. They have been found in the Mamanucas, Yasawas, Mali and Macuata Islands.

The Fiji crested iguana is a large stocky lizard distinguished from the Fiji banded iguana by the presence of three narrow, cream to white colored bands on males, rather than the broader bluish bands of the latter species. These whitish bands often have chevrons of black scales close to them.

Mammals of Latvia - 2007

In yearly Latvia Post released the stamp series feature the wild mammals which found in their country. On November 16, 2007, a set of two stamps was issued and the wild mammals depicted on stamps are Red fox or vulpes vulpes and Alces alces   or Moose.

Vulpes vulpes  or Red Fox

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the largest of the true foxes and live around the world in many diverse habitats including forests, grasslands, mountains, and deserts. They also adapt well to human environments such as farms, suburban areas, and even large communities. The red fox's resourcefulness has earned it a legendary reputation for intelligence and cunning.

Red foxes has a long history of association with humans, having been extensively hunted as a pest and furbearer for centuries, as well as being prominently represented in human folklore and mythology. 

Because of its widespread distribution and large population, the red fox is one of the most important furbearing animals harvested for the fur trade. Because of these factors, it is listed as Least Concern for extinction by the IUCN. It is included among the IUCN's list of the "world's 100 worst invasive species".

Red foxes are solitary hunters who feed on rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small game birds—but their diet can be as flexible as their home habitat. On occasionally, Red foxes will eat fruit and vegetables, fish, frogs, and even worms.  The average life span ranges 2 to 4 years.

The Giant Sea Fan of Niue

 
 

To pay  tribute to the giant sea fan (Annella mollis),  Niue  Post  pleased to issue the special stamp series that   feature  a coral found throughout Niue’s picturesque coral reefs. It has been released as part of the WWF Conservation Stamp Collection on September 5, 2012.

 

Each of the four gummed stamps in this issue features the official WWF logo and they are presented together on the miniature sheet. The background of the miniature sheet gives a close-up view of a giant sea fan, and is a beautiful addition to the stamp collection.

 
 

The giant sea fan is a soft coral (Octocorallia) and belongs to the class of flower animals (Anthozoa). Its fans measure up to two metres. In this case, the ramifications are braided together and adopt the appearance of a network, whose peaks are barely distinct.Colonies are colored red to shades of pale yellow, but when the polyps are open, it seems tinged with orange-red. The ramifications are issued in a single plane.

Paeonia officinalis – Common Peony

 

To dedicated the Europe Nature Protection,  Serbia Post has issued one miniature sheet consist of two stamps feature the Paeonia officinalis on February 10, 2010. Paeonia officinalis, or European peony, Common peony, is the common peony cultivated in Europe for five hundred years.

Fruits of Fiji

Fiji Post Limited proudly to issue a set of five stamps feature the Fiji’s edible fruits on December 02, 2010.  

The issue stamps are depicting fruit species, Moli kana or Citrus maxima (20c) , Vutu kana or Barringtonia edulis (40c), Dawa or Pometia pinnata (65c), Fei ( banana) or Musa troglodytarium ($1.20), Kavika or Syzgium malaccense ($10).


There are more then 18 native tree species with edible fruits in Fiji. The majority of these species are thought to be of aboriginal introduction, brought in by early indigenous settlers to Fiji.

Moli kana or Citrus maxima   flowers and fruits throughout the year. The scraped root is used as an internal remedy for hemorrhoids in the island of Taveuni. The fruit is eaten as a dessert fruit and also used for marmalade. This native tree can grow up to 12 m tall bearing edible fruits 10-30 cm wide. The fruit is very thick peel and pale yellow or pink pulp.

Flowers of the Bahamas Garden

Bahamas Postal Administration issued a set of four stamps feature the flower of Bahamas Garden on May 25, 2004. The flower species shown on stamps are Cattleya, Hibiscus, Canna, and Thunbergia.

Cattleyas are widely known for their large, showy flowers, and were used extensively in hybridization for the cut-flower trade  when pot plants became more popular.The flowers of the hybrids can vary in size from 5 cm to 15 cm or more. Cattleya is a genus of 113 species of orchids from Costa Rica to tropical South America. Cattleya presents in all colors except true blue and black.

The typical charateristic of  this  flower has three rather narrow sepals and three usually broader petals: two petals are similar to each other, and the third is the quite different conspicuous lip. Cattleyas have been hybridized both within the genus and with related genera for more than a century.

2012 Children's Health: New Zealand Sea Lion

 
 

New Zealand Post is proud to continue to support Te Puna Whaiora as  The New Zealand Foundation for Child and Family Health and Development with its annual Children’s Health stamp issue.

Therefore New Zealand Post issued the 2012 Children’s Health stamp issue features the New Zealand sea lion on the first of August 2012. The mother of sea lion (as shown in above miniature sheet) is shown sniffing her pup for recognition before taking her for feeding. Just like children, pups are dependent on their mothers for protection, and this unique product portrays the close relationship they share.

 

The 70c gummed stamp presents a New Zealand sea lion pup in the Sub-Antarctic Islands.

Sea lions live all over the world whether in the wild, in marine parks, and sometimes even in cities. However, the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) or whakahao lives only in New Zealand and is sadly listed as nationally critical.

It is monotypic of its genus.The primary habitat of New Zealand Sea Lions is several sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand and their surrounding waters. The breeding pattern of sea lions is very similar to that of fur seals, with males arriving in November to set up territories. Females give birth to single pups every one or two years, and pups are born in December and January each year. 

Endemic Palm of Fiji – Balaka Palm

Balaka is a genus of about seven species in the palm family, Arecaceae or Palmae. Five species are native to the islands of Fiji and two to Samoa. Endemic to Fiji. They are widely distributed throughout rainforest areas in Vanua Levu and Taveuni Islands with high rainfall from 140 meters and more in elevation.

Post Fiji Limited  broadcast this plant by issuing one miniature sheet consist of two stamps, features Balaka Palm , Balaka seemannii on April 29, 2002.

Fiji Goshawk

Post Fiji Limited  proudly to release a set of four stamps feature the endemic bird of prey on  September  10, 2002.  The issued stamps depict the Fiji Goshawk as endemic bird to Fiji, presenting the chicks to the adult bird. These are beautiful bird stamps.

 

The Fiji Goshawk (Accipiter rufitorques) is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family. It is endemic to Fiji, where it occurs on the larger islands of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Taveuni, Kadavu, Gau and Ovalau.

Their habitat is  a range of wooded habitats in Fiji, from natural rainforest to coconut plantations and urban gardens and parks.

Sea Eagle of Lithuania Red Book.

 

On October 08, 2011, Lithuania Post Office issued one stamp features a rare bird species  which listed in the Lithuanian Red Book, White-tailed Eagle also called Sea Eagle or Haliaeetus albicilla.

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)  is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Lithuania's first sea eagle's nest was found in  Čepkeliai Reserve.

The territory of the White-tailed Eagle ranges between 30 and 70 km², normally in sheltered coastal locations. Sometimes they are found inland by lakes and along rivers. Nests in trees growing close to the open areas: wetlands , harvesting, forest parks. They feed on fish, water birds, mammals.

Forest – Europa 2011 Gibraltar

 

To support the declaration of the United Nations to save forest for future generations, Gibraltar Post under Europa stamp organization  pleased to release a set of four stamps features the famous forest which found in the world on April 04, 2011. The issue stamps depict the Alpine Swiss National Park, the Amazon Rainforest, Yosemite National Park, and the Plitvice Lakes.

 

The Alpine Swiss National Park is located in the canton of Graubünden in the east of Switzerland between Zernez, S-chanf, Scuol and the Fuorn Pass in the Engadin valley on the border with Italy. It has an area of 174.2 km² and is the largest protected area of the country. It was founded on 1 August 1914, the national holiday of Switzerland. It was one of the earliest national parks in Europe.



 
 

Trees of Ireland

Ireland Post annually issued the stamps feature fauna and flora series since 1978. On March 7, 2006, they launched  subject , flora theme, ” Trees of Ireland “ on four postage stamp, one miniature sheet and one First Day Cover. The issue stamps featuring Ireland’s Tree species, such as: Sessile oak, Strawberry-tree, Ash, and Yew.

The Yew (Taxus baccata) is one of Ireland’s native evergreen conifers. Its dark green leaves are striking in appearance, long and narrow and complemented by scarlet berries and mahogany-coloured bark.

Yew makes an excellent hedge, but its leaves and seeds are poisonous which makes it a hazard for children and livestock. Yew found in woods, but  easily found almost close to the old churches in Ireland.

Flora of the Ljubljana Botanical Garden

 

Ljubljana Botanical Gardens established by Franc Hladnik as a second home of a great many plants in Slovenia. Within 2 years since 1810, 766 different species had been planted by Franc Hladnik. On March 30, 2012, Slovenia Post issued the stamp set features the plants of this garden, which connected with Hladnik. The issue comprises of three postage stamps and one souvenir sheet.

 

The stamp of 0.40 EUR, presented Fleischmann’s Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa var. fleischmanni). This plant is a variety of the common parsnip. Felischmann discovered this species at Ljubljana Castle between 1819 and 1840. Then transplanted by him into garden, results the plants remains to the presents day.