50 years on, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Clockwise from top-left :
Barnacle Goose (白頰黑雁) ; Black Scoter (黑海番鴨)
Gadwall (赤膀鴨)
Iceland (2011)
27th January, 2011. Reykjavik (first day special postmark)

In 1960, Sir Julian Huxley (22 June 1887 – 14 February 1975), a British biologist wrote a couple of articles related to his observation for newspaper after his East African trip. Huxley received number of feedback on his concerned, one of feedback from Victor Stolan suggested him found an organisation for further conservation. Huxley accepted his suggestion but Stolan did not join the occurrence. Later on, Huxley together with Max Nicholson and Peter Scott produced a document Morges Manifesto, a foundation document of World Wildlife Fund for Nature and signed on 29 April of 1961. It was a beginning of WWF and its organisation registered at Morges, Switzerland on 11th September, 1961. 50 years on, WWF founding and controlling variety conservation areas and supporting different environment events over the world. Today, is a day to celebrate 50th anniversary of the foundation of WWF.

More than 20 countries to be issued stamps to commemorate this event. Guinea-Bissau and Iceland two of the firsts two issued on January, Iceland one features four waterbirds commonly to be found in Europe. Nevertheless, those four species are endangered in Iceland, they are wholly be protected in this island country.

Maxicard
White-fronted Goose (白額雁)
Iceland (2011)
27th January, 2011. Reykjavik (first day special postmark)

Arubian birds

150c : Bananaquit (蕉森鶯) ; 50c : Tropical Mockingbird (熱帶小嘲鶇)
70c : Venezuelan Troupial (擬黃鸝) ; 60c : American Kestrel (美洲隼)
Aruba (1998)
27th October, 2010. Philatelic Services, Oranjestad

Aruba is located in the south part of West Indian Islands, it is more nearby South America instead of Caribbean so the weather not similar to those islands of Caribbean. This time, the envelope shown as above selected four species commonly to be found in this island but unfortunately the envelope sent inside a packet, while originally would send by registered mail.

Tropical Mockingbird is a resident bird breeding in the range from southern Mexico to Brazil, most common to see in open area. Venezuelan Troupial, is endemic to the Netherlands Antillean also north-east of Columbia and north Venezuela. American Kestrel is widely to see from the range from Alaska to most part of South America.

These four species are not endangered and easy to be found in Aruba.

Common Tern

Common Tern (普通燕鷗)
The Philippines (1992)
19th November, 2010. Araneta, Cubao

Last few days, here has been posted a set of beautiful parrot stamps from Philippine, and also three tern stamps. The last tern stamp shown as above maxicard, however it seems oddly as two terns are in different looks : the feathers of Philippines one is in black colour while the card photographed as grey. No surprisingly they are two sub-species, the photograph of the card is Sterna hirundo hirundo while stamp is S. h. longipennis, the photograph and the stamp clearly to show what's different of them. In most of south-east areas, S. h. longipennis is having large population than nominate subspecies.

Parrots of the Philippines

From left to right :
40s : Philippine Cockatoo (菲律賓鳳頭鸚鵡) ; 3.60p : Blue-backed Parrot (藍背鸚鵡)
3.20p : Great-billed Parrot (巨嘴鸚鵡) ; 2.80p : Luzon Racquet-tail (山扇尾鸚鵡)
5p : Philippine Hanging Parrot (菲律賓短尾鸚鵡) ; 2.30p : Guaiabero (菲律賓鸚鵡)
The Philippines (1984)
19th November, 2010. Araneta, Cubao

From left to right :
Striated Heron (綠簑鷺) ; Great Crested Tern (鳳頭燕鷗) ; Ruddy Turnstone (翻石鷸)
The Philippines (1992)

Thanks to Jean-Pierre of Amily, France and Myron of the Philippines, above cover finished successfully with their great help and kindly stamps provided. As Myron says, the parrot stamp sets now selling in dealers of Philippine are near US$3 however I got it in friendship price.

Those six parrots are endemic or near endemic to the Philippines or nearby island Sulawesi, the largest island in the east of Indonesia. Only Azure-rumped Parrot to be found in farther south of Java. Although all of parrot not have endanger situation, the Philippine Cockatoo and Luzon Racquet-tail now listed as endangered species, the reasons because illegal trapping for cage-bird trading or habitat lost. That is, these six parrots are common to see in cage-bird markets over the world.

In the meanwhile, on the back side of the envelope also has three terns and herons stamps, for made-up postage. Those sea birds are commonly to be found south-east coast or off-coast islands of South China Sea and west Pacific Ocean.

Fulmar

Northern Fulmar (暴雪鸌)
Alderney (2006)
16th November, 2010. Alderney, Guernsey

In the past, Fulmar is one genus either the bird lives in North Atlantic or sub-Antarctic areas. However as they live in different hemispheres, finally divided into two species Northern Fulmar and Southern Fulmar (銀灰暴風鸌). Fulmar is not an endangered species, it mainly visible in coast of North Atlantic with 30 million birds, and the population is increasing in recent years.

The stamp issued by Alderney which is a small island under Guernsey. Alderney began to issue stamps since early 80's years and the stamps either issued by Guernsey and Aldernsey are also valid in these two places. But, honestly speaking, most of Alderney stamps become souvenir instead of postally used.

Wild bird protection

From left to right :
10p : Kingfisher (普通翠鳥) ; 11½p : White-throated Dipper (河烏)
13p : Moorhen (黑水雞) ; 15p : Yellow Wagtail (黃鶺鴒)
Great Britain (1980)
30th June, 2010. Padgate Lane, Warrington
5th July, 2010. Hongkong

From 1969 to late-90's year of last century of Great Britain, perhaps the print quantity of stamps over collector's demand, most of them are selling in bargain price nowadays, thus so many people - especially for auction sellers (mostly philatelic dealers) who are happy to use them for postage to customer. Above package is a good example to shown how to use these bargain stamps and counter used label for make-up postage.

I never mind use the old stamps in present envelope, just they still valid for postage. This beautiful and classic bird stamp set issued on 1980, for 30 years ago. The stamps illustrated four common species to be found in wild area of England.

Singapore ATM - Singapore Botanic Gardens

Mute Swan (疣鼻天鵝)
Singapore (2009)
24th December, 2010. Singapore

Following the issue of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singpost renewed their vending machine label as similar as the issue. This vending machine label locally called SAM, as known as ATM stamp in the world. Thanks Eddie sent me a Christmas greetings card in the Christmas Eve so I got a copy of the label. The label shown a couple of Mute Swan, seems they are feed by the botanic gardens. This species is not domestic bird of Singapore however most of gardens in the world feeding them as attraction.

The famous feeding place of Mute Swan is Abbotsbury Swannery, where is in Dorset, England. A set of stamps issued as a cover shown here on February 14.