The U.S. Postal Service salutes five kings of the sky with the Birds of Prey stamps:  the northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, osprey and northern harrier. The 85-cent definitive Birds of Prey stamps are being issued in self-adhesive sheets of 20 at a price of $17.00 per sheet. The stamps can be used with virtually all domestic First-Class Mail weighing up to 3-ounces.

“Anyone with a love of the outdoors will be enamored with these beautiful stamps,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Manager, Stephen Kearney. “The stamps go on sale today at Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.

The powerful birds are depicted in colorful portraits and shown from the neck up. The artwork appears against a plain, white background. Illustrator Robert Giusti of Bridgewater, CT, worked with art director Howard E. Paine of Delaplane, VA, on this issuance. Giusti painted the original designs in acrylic on canvas board.

Birds of prey, also known as raptors, thrive in diverse habitats and live on every continent except Antarctica. The roughly 500 species of raptors include birds that hunt by day, such as falcons, eagles and harriers and birds that hunt by night — owls. They share several common characteristics, such as being carnivorous and using their powerful talons to capture prey. Their exceptionally keen eyesight allows them to see small objects in detail, even from a great distance. As predators high on the food chain, raptors play an important role in maintaining the balance of nature.

Source: United States Posts

published January 27th, 2012