After releasing “Owls of Taiwan” stamp sets in 2011 and 2012, Chunghwa Post is following up with another set of four stamps in 2013 featuring Otus lettia, Tyto longimembris, Ketupa flavipes and Otus elegans botelensis. Printed in intaglio, the set is scheduled to be released on June 26, 2013. The designs follow.

1.    Otus lettia (NT$5): About 22-26 centimeters in length, it has a tawny-gray facial disc with random black markings. The edge of its facial disc is black. It has prominent ear tufts.Its body is tawny-grey. Breast and underbelly feathers have arrow-shaped streak. The center of its belly is white. It can be found nesting in old growth forests, orchards and even city parks.

2.  Tyto longimembris (NT$5): About 34 to 42 centimeters in length, it has a heart-shaped facial disc, which is red-brown when birds are young, gradually lightens over time. Its facial disc is edged in black dots that connect to create a dark outline. It lacks ear tufts. The top of its head and its back feathers are dark brown, it breast feathers are tawny, and its underbelly is off white. It lives in grassy areas of the mountains and foothills.

3.  Ketupa flavipes (NT$10): About 55-60 centimeters in length, it is the largest scops owl in Taiwan. It has an orange-yellow facial disk, with yellow-brown ear tufts and head and breast feathers. The feathers on its dark brown back are edged with orange. It is found in broad-leaved forests near creeks, rivers and lakes.

4. Otus elegans botelensis (NT $25): About 19-22 centimetres in length, it is a subspecies of Otus elegans that is found only on Orchid Island, which is off the East coast of Taiwan proper. It has a brown facial disc and ear tufts. Its head and upper body feathers are brown with dark brown and tan stripes. Its breast and belly feathers are tawny. It lives mainly in forests.

The stamps are planned by Mr. Lin Wen-long, painted by Mr. Chi-jen Lai and printed by Central Engraving and Printing Plant. By-issues including a first-day cover, folders with and without crystal mounts, a loose-leaf album page, and a set of maximum cards will be released along with the stamps and will go on sale on June 24, 2013. A pre-cancelled FDC with a NT$5-denominated stamp or the full set of stamps and a pictorial will go on sale on June 26, the issuing date of the stamps. The pictorial, a brilliant blend of text and images, includes all three sets of “Owls of Taiwan” stamps released between 2011 and 2013, and 12 postcards designed by the stamps’ designer.

Source: Taiwanese Post

published July 12th, 2013