Earlier this year Norway Post issued two postage stamps with birds as their subjects. Now they are going to have four more for company!

King eider (Somateria spectabilis)

This species of the duck family is a little smaller than the common eider, but is more colourful. It mainly keeps to the polar areas of North America and Russia but also breeds in the northernmost areas of Norway. Even though the majority of the king eider population spends the winter in the Barents Sea, up to 100,000 individuals winter on the windswept edges of the islands off the coast of Northern Norway. The king eider is a capable diver that brings up molluscs, crayfish and sea urchins from depths of 40 to 60 metres.

Common eider (Somateria mollissima)

This is the largest of our diving ducks and can weigh up to three kilos. The eggs hatch after almost a month of brooding, and after two to three months the young are able to fly. The common eider is a powerful diver who (read more)

published October 16th, 2015

The first stamp of the series represents a bird of prey (Eagle) who starts his flight from the hand of the Hunter. The second stamp of the series represents a Falcon hovering in the still air and looking for a prey. In the background a typical mountain landscape of Kyrgyzstan is depicted. At the third stamp the final phase of falconry is presented: catching the prey (a Hare).

Source: WOPA Stamps

published May 21st, 2015

Including this year’s issue, Norway Post has issued over 40 postage stamps on which birds are either the main subject or part of the subject. In this new series of bird stamps the Eurasian blue tit and the crested tit have the honour of being the first ones out. (read more)

published January 7th, 2015

British Antarctic Territory – LETTER AND POSTCARD RATE PENGUIN STAMPS 2014

These stamps, illustrating the 5 species of penguin that live on the Antarctic, are available on reels as small self-adhesive postcard rate stamps and also in sheets, as larger gummed letter rate stamps. It is the letter rate stamps that will be affixed to the Official First Day Covers.

Of the 17 different species of penguin the emperor and Adélie make the Antarctic continent their true home, whilst the chinstrap, gentoo and macaroni breed on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, where conditions are less harsh. (read more)

published November 18th, 2014

Each stamp will be released in the edition of 80 thousand copies. The nominal values of the stamps are LTL 2 for the stamp featuring the Barn Owl, and LTL 3 for the one with the Eurasian Pygmy Owl. The author of the both stamps is Irma Balakauskaitė. (read more)

published July 2nd, 2014

Tristan’s finches traditionally were called buntings, given their resemblance to the buntings that were familiar to the early European explorers and collectors that first visited the Tristan islands. However, we now know that they are derived from South American finch-tanagers, which makes sense given that their ancestors were carried to the islands by the prevailing westerly winds. Recent studies have confirmed that the Gough Finch arose from a separate colonization event, and is more closely related to the two species of Melanodera finches from Patagonia and the Falkland Islands than it is to the finches at Tristan. As a result, it is sensible to retain it in its own genus, Rowettia, named after John Quiller Rowett, the sponsor of Shackleton’s last expedition, which called at Gough in mid-1922 after Shackleton’s death. (read more)

published June 20th, 2014

To strengthen collaboration between the cross-strait postal services, Chunghwa Post and China Post simultaneously plan a stamp on the theme of “the swan goose carries a message.” This will be issued on May 9, 2014.

The most famous stories associated with the idiom “the swan goose carries a message” are “Su Wu Shepherds Sheep” from the Han Dynasty and “Wang Baochuan Sends a Letter to Xue Pingguei via the Swan Goose” from the Tang Dynasty. In later years people began to use this idiom as a figure of speech to describe the sending of letters or correspondence. Soaring high above the vast land and the river that runs through it, the swan goose of lore carries a message across the water—much as the two postal services work together to seamlessly deliver mail across theTaiwan Strait.

The stamp is painted by Mr. Au Ho-nien, a master of the Lingnan School of painting, and designed by Delta Design Corporation. It is printed by the Central Engraving & Printing Plant in intaglio with offset.

A first-day cover, folders with and without crystal mounts and a loose-leaf album page will be released along with the stamp. These will go on sale on May 7, 2014. A pre-cancelled FDC and a pictorial will go on sale on May 9, 2014, the issuing date of the stamp.

Source: Taiwan Post

published May 14th, 2014

Due to its extraordinary colours the Common Kingfisher, (Alcedo atthis), is called the Nordic jewel and the pearl of rivers. Both the kingfisher’s plumage, as well as the shape of its body, are unique. (read more)

published April 18th, 2014

Romfilatelia resumes its series of projects dedicated to the Faunatheme that collectors appreciate so much, by introducing into circulation the postage stamps issue Wild Ducks.

(read more)

published April 17th, 2014

These magnificent “giants of the sky” roam the southern oceans and Pitcairners are fortunateto experience the thrill of seeing these magnificent birds, mostly out at sea.

Three types have been identified:
Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans
Wandering Albatrosses have the largest wingspan of any living bird, typically ranging from 2.5 to 3.5m and are capable of remaining in the air without flapping their wings for several hours. Spending most of their life in flight, their range is all the southern oceans from 28° to 60°. (read more)

published April 9th, 2014

One of the most recognisable birds in New Zealand, the Pūkeko (Porphyrio melanotus) is also one of our country’s most beloved birds. Pūkeko populations are abundant across the country, though they’re mostly around wetlands and farmlands. The Pūkeko is affectionately known as a swamp hen, pook, or for some hunters, the blue pheasant.
(read more)

published March 27th, 2014