Pro juventute (1)

From left to right :
Eurasian Capercaillie (松雞) ; Woodchat Shrike (林鶺伯勞)
Firecrest (火冠戴菊)
Switzerland (1968)
14th July, 2009. Bern (Philatelic Bureau)

Each year, Swiss Post issues a set of children fund charity stamps on its final season. Mostly stamps are related to children like different faces of child, folk stories, tales or toys. In 1968 to 1971, there were four issues illustrated 16 domestic birds, the above cover with three block of four were issued on 1968. Thanks zasa of her great covers.

Eurasian Capercaille and Firecrest have been shown here before, but they issued by Spain, Turkey and Egypt separately. However, these three birds are very common in Switzerland, and they can be found in parks, forest and resident area.

Red Kite in southern Europe

Red Kite (紅鳶)
Gibraltar (1996)
25th June, 2009. Gibraltar
15th July, 2009. Hongkong

It is the third time to show Red Kite stamp in here, last two are Great Britain and Switzerland separately. In last post says that Red Kite is very common in continent of Europe, however in western and southern of Europe, especially along the seashore of the Mediterranean, it is rarely to find its appearance. In winter, there are small number of Red Kites fly over Gibraltar when they migrating from northern Europe to North Africa, this WWF issue illustrated the birds bleed and live around the fort at the top of Rock of Gibraltar.

On the back of this cover franked with one extra stamp Honey Buzzard (鳳頭蜂鷹), it is one of newest Gibraltar definitive stamps but will not show in here.

Definitive stamps of Malaysia

30 sen : Ochraceous Bulbul (白喉褐冠鵯)
50 sen : White-rumped Shama (白腰鵲鴝)
RM1 : Emerald Dove (翠翼鳩) ; 20 sen : Spotted Dove (珠頸斑鳩)
Malaysia (2005)
5th May, 2009. Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor

In 2005, Malaysia issued a set of 8 domestic bird definitive stamps, they seem beautiful but some values are quite expensive. Here is one cover franked with four of them, thanks Ronny of this cover and luckily it includes one high value stamp. However so pity that the postmarks are not clear to be identify.

Although some of these birds are very common in south-east Asia, they are not have much chance appear on the stamps. Example only four countries have been issued such stamps for Spotted Dove, but it easily can be found in parks or resident area. Ochraceous Bulbul is new star of bird theme too.

On the cover also franked with one Malay Peacock-pheasant (鳳冠孔雀雉), it has been shown in here before.

Pied Avocet

Pied Avocet (反嘴鷸)
Hongkong (2003)
20th October, 2007. Santin
20th October, 2007. International Mail Centre, Kowloon
22nd October, 2007. Shatin

A beautiful species widely lives in European and northern Asia, specially features a thin and long upturned bill. In winter most of birds will migrate to Africa and southern Asia, include Hongkong. It can easily be found in wetlands, water ponds and lacks, in Hongkong they mostly live in the fish ponds located in north-west of New Territories like Santin, Yuen Long and Tinshuiwai.

The postcard shown famous Belgian artist Hub. Dupond's illustration of male and juvenile of Pied Avocet, he clearly illustrated its features, however the stamp not shown the colour of legs correctly which compare with the postcard.

Doves of Polynesia

L : Marquesas Pigeon (馬克薩斯皇鳩) ; R : Rapa Island Fruit Dove (拉帕島皇鳩)
French Polynesia (1995)
30th June, 2009. Mahina (Philatelic Bureau)
1st June, 2009. Mahina, Tahiti

These two endangered doves are small population endemic to French Polynesia. Rapa Island Fruit Dove lives inthe tiny island of Rapa in the Tubuai Islands, only about 270 samples has been recorded in 1990 and amount still decreasing until now. Perhaps it is because the birds lack of food, the situation changes little bit after introduced of the Chinese Guava (草莓番石榴).

Marquesas Pigeon is endemic to Nuku Hiva of Marquesas Islands, only 85 birds have been found and the population was estimated at 250 on 1998. In 18th century the bird can be found in the Society Islands of Tahiti, and fossil found in the Southern Cook Islands and Henderson in the Pitcairn Islands. Now this species becomes stable, the population increased by 28% in the 2006 and it is anticipated to reach 50 individuals by 2010.

Beside these two dove stamps, above cover also features the Polynesian tattoo, a folk arts painted on human skin. And the plant Night-blooming Cereus (曇花), origin planted in Brazil and Mexico.

Art of Turkey

L : European Roller (藍胸佛法僧) ; R : Waldrapp (隱䴉)
Turkey (1976)
13th July, 2009. Pasaport, Ízmir

Thanks A. Demír sent me many beautiful covers with his own illustrations, here is one example of his works. This cover features four stamps and two of them are birds, they are European Roller and Waldrapp. Wild life waldrapps are live in northern Morocco and Turkey, these two groups of waldrapps don't have any touch, and the population of northern Morocco group only recorded 500 birds currently but no more of Turkey one recorded after 1992.

More than 300 years ago, waldrapp was begining disappear from Austria to whole Europe. But as religion reason of Muslim thought the bird can guild them to Mecca, area of Birecik of Turkey kept 500 pairs of waldrapp in 30's year of last century, however it decreased to only one before bleeding season in 1990 but it dead afterward. Now the place feeds couple of birds humanly, they are free except bleeding season of autumn. Nowadays, except those 500 birds live in northern Morocco, there are have 1,100 birds feed in zoological gardens, locations include Europe, America and Japan. Those european countries have been tried to reintroduce waldrapp but not successful.

Second mail from Cambodia

From left to right :
Black-naped Oriole (黑枕黃鸝) ; Bohemian Waxwing (太平鳥)
Great Grey Shrike (楔尾伯勞) ; Varied Tit (赤腹山雀)
Cambodia (1995, 1997)
6th July, 2009. Phnom Penh

It is second mail from Cambodia, four stamps are come from two issues released on 1995 and 1997 separately. Actually, they are real stamps and valid for postage until now, however as the image of Cambodia stamps are not good during 90's year of last century - people dislike to collect them because some of stamps printed with faked postmark sell in cheap value to beginner collector. Beside of this reason, the stamps still collective as some species only illustrated on Cambodia stamps.

Those four species are very common in Asia, but only Black-naped Oriole can be found in Cambodia. Black-naped Oriole is a beautiful bird, looks golden-yellow feather with blacked nape, also can sings nice sound. It breeds in north-east China and migrates to south Asia in winter.

Below cover from Taiwan also features two Varied Tit stamps, subspecies of Varied Tit is endemic to Taiwan. Other population can be found in the range from Kuril Islands of Russia, Japan, Korea Peninsular to Taiwan.

Varied Tit (赤腹山雀)
Taiwan (2007)
21st December, 2008. Keelung

⭕️Kagu

MaxicardKagu (鷺鶴)
New Caledonia (2007)
3rd April, 2007. Nouméa (First day special postmark)

In December of 2008, here has been shown you a set of bird stamps of New Caledonia, two covers feature two different stamps separately. Now here is the last one Kagu, the national bird of New Caledonia. Kagu is endemic to New Caledonia, is the only one species under Rhynochetos (鷺鶴屬). It can't fly and only nests on the floor with branch, mostly can be found in forest of the islands. Kagu looks grey and white with reddish legs, eyes and bill.

As the non-resident mammal bought to New Caledonia by human endangering Kagu, also the change of habitat and illegal hunting, it is facing extinction. Now it is protected by governor of the islands.

Below cover features other two stamps again. Now the series is completely collected.

L : Crow Honeyeater (紅臉裸吸蜜鳥) ; R : Caledonian Greybird (山鵑鵙)
New Caledonia (2007)
29th June, 2009. Nouméa
8th July, 2009. Hongkong

Another mail from Vietnam

From left to right :
2000d : Pel's Fishing Owl (橫斑漁鴞) ; 1000d : Tawny Owl (灰林鴞)
400d : Eastern Brown Fish Owl (褐漁鴞)
10000d : Northern White-faced Owl (白臉角鴞)
5000d : Spotted Wood Owl (點斑林鴞)
Vietnam (1995)
22nd May, 2009. Hanoi
5th June, 2009. Hongkong

This mail arrived on the same day with last mail from Vietnam, actually they are same requests on the stamp exhibition. Same as last mail, it didn't send by registered mail although postage paid. Not surprise these five stamps not illustrate species of Vietnam again, as it is feature of this country. Pel's Fishing Owl is a large owl can be found in most African countries. Northern White-faced Owl and Brown Fish Owl can be found in some south-Asian countries, one of subspecies lives in Vietnam and south-east China called B. z. orientalis. Spotted Wood Ow can be found in south-east Asia, seems rarely live in Vietnam.

Nation symbol of U.A.E.

Peregrine Falcon (擬游隼)
United Arab Emirates (2007)
4th November, 2007. Sharjah

Peregrine Falcon is a common bird of prey in the world, it appears on any places except two poles and high level areas, there are recorded 17 to 19 subspecies of Peregrine. Only two subspecies F. p. pelegrinoides and F. p. babylonicus can be found in United Arab Emirates and rounded countries.

Peregrine Falcon is a nation bird of United Arab Emirates, a rich country lay on Persian Gulf. The stamp illustrate a decorated Peregrine Falcon with Arabic which is a newest nation symbol of this country.