Birds of Solomon Islands 2005 ( Part 3 ) – Parrots

The 3rd miniature sheet of Solomon Islands birds which issued on , September 01, 2009,  features species of parrot and the similar species. The bird species depicted are : Red-breasted Pygmy Parrot  (Micropsitta finschii), Cardinal  Lory    (Chalcopsitta cardinalis), Broad-crested Corella    (Cacatua ducorpsii) on the top rows,  Eclectus  Parrot    (Eclectus roratus), Coconut Lorikeet    (Trichoglossus haematodus),  Singing Parrot    (Geoffroyus heteroclitus) on the bottom rows.

To be continued in more detail of  each stamps in the next issue.

Birds of Solomon Islands 2005 (Part.2 ) - Pigeon

The 2nd miniature sheet of Solomon Islands stamp 2005, which issued on September 1, 2005 features species of pigeon birds. The species depicted on stamps are : 

• Top row :  Red - knobbed  Imperial  Pigeon    (Ducula rubricera),  Yellow - bibbed   Fruit   Dove    (Ptilinopus solomonensis),  Claret-breasted  Fruit  Dove    (Ptilinopus viridis).
• Bottom row :   Nicobar Pigeon    (Caloenas nicobarica),    Stephan's Emerald Dove   (Chalcophaps stephani), Crested Cuckoo-Dove (Reinwardtoena crassirostris).

Birds of Solomon Islands 2005 (Part 1) - Blyth's Hornbill and others

The first of miniature sheet of Solomon Islands stamp which issued on September 01, 2009 , features the birds like Blyth's Hornbill, and others species. The species depicted on stamps are : Pied Goshaw (Accipiter albogularis) , Imitator Goshawk    (Accipiter imitator),   Buff-headed  Coucal   ( Centropus milo) on the top row, Black-faced Pitta   ( Pitta anerythra), Melanesian Megapode    (Megapodius eremita) ,Blyth's Hornbill    (Rhyticeros plicatus) on the bottom row.

World Bird Festival 2004 (Purple Swamphen etc) – Solomon Islands Part I

World Bird festival 2004 (Kingfisher) – Solomon Islands Part II

Word Bird Festival 2004 (Owl Birds )– Solomon Islands Part III

White Eye Birds of Nauru. Nauru - 2005

 

The miniature sheet comprised of 6 pieces stamps depicted White Eye bird species of Nauru.The species are Long-billed White-eye, Golden White-eye, Bridled White-eye, Samoan White-eye, Fai-chuck White-eye.This is part of three set of miniature sheet issued by Nauru on 2005 with logo of Bird Life International.

Long-billed White-eye (Rukia longirostra) is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is endemic to the island of Pohnpei  in the Federated States of Micronesia. Their natural habitats are subtropical and tropical moist forests, and plantations. This species is threatened by habitat loss.The species  has a curious nuthatch-like behaviour of creeping along large tree limbs, and especially seems specialize in using its long slightly-de-curved bill to extract insects from the severed ends of branches.

Golden White-eye (Cleptornis marchei) is a species of bird in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. The species is restricted to the islands of Saipan and Aguijan in the Northern Mariana Islands. This bird has golden coloured plumage and a pale eye-ring. It is a large white-eye, 14 cm long and weighing around 20 g .The species has bright, unmistakable plumage, with: a orange yellow head coupled with a pale eye-ring; a yellow-green back, wings, and tail; and golden orange undersides. Both the bill and legs are orange as well. The Golden White-eye is a generalist, feeding on fruit, berries, insects and nectar, forages in pairs or small family groups.The species is monogamous and lays two eggs in a small cup nest. They usually make a variety of calls. The species makes rasping shorter calls and whistles when in flocks and in flight.

Bridled White-eye (Zosterops conspicillatus) is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is endemic to the Mariana Islands, where it is today restricted to the islands of Tinian, Saipan and Aguijan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The species formerly occurred on the island of Guam, but that population is almost certainly now extinct. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, plantations, and rural gardens.

Samoan White-eye (Zosterops samoensis) is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is endemic to Savai`i, Samoa.  Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist mountain forests and subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland. It is threatened by habitat loss. The population estimated 1,000 – 2,499 birds, but it is it is restricted to one island only where it occupies a very small area of forest. Therefore Bird Life International evaluated as Vulnerable Birds.The species has characteristics  are small warbler-like bird size only 10 cm, Olive-green above, dingy white below with yellow tinge to throat and conspicuous, completely white eye-ring and pale iris.

Rota Bridled White-eye (Zosterops rotensis) is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is endemic to Rota in Northern Mariana Islands (USA).Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It feeds on insects, seeds, and fruit, and perhaps nectar.The species has characteristics are  Small, warbler-like bird , 10 cm in size,  yellowish-olive above, saffron-yellow lores and underparts. This is special characteristic of bold white eye-ring .The bird moves about in small groups.This species qualifies as Critically Endangered due to small population has declined very rapidly as a result of this habitat loss in combination with other factors. It may decline even more rapidly in the near future if brown tree snake Boiga irregularis becomes established on the island. Population estimated 1,100 birds.

Faichuk White-eye  (Rukia ruki) is a species of bird in the Zosteropidae family. It is endemic to the summit of Mount Winipat on Tol, in the Faichuk group of islands within the Chuuk (Truk) atoll in Federated States of Micronesia.Its habitat is mountain rainforest dominated by the endemic Chuuk Poisontree. Due to it restricted range on one small mountaintop and the locals' disdain for the native poisontree, it is severely threatened by habitat loss. This species qualifies as Critically Endangered because Population estimated in the hundred, 530 birds, which is likely to be declining owing to continuing habitat loss. A large typhoon could plausibly lead to its extinction.The species has characteristics are medium-sized 14 cm,  all-dark, warbler-like bird, uniform dark-brown with black bill, orange legs and conspicuous white "teardrop" below the eye. The voice lively song and lilting warble very similar to song of Golden White-eye of the Marianas. Some advocate that it is the only true member of the genus Rukia, or the "Great White-eyes". It feeds by foraging for insects in the foliage.

Breeding Birds of Christmas Island – Kiribati 2005

 

Seabirds are plentiful on Christmas Island, and make up the bulk of the breeding bird population. There are 18 species of seabirds breeding on the island, and Kitirimati or Christmas Island  is one of the most important breeding grounds anywhere in the world . Christmas Island was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in May 1975, in accordance with the Wildlife Conservation Ordinance of the then self-governing colony. Ngaontetaake and the Sooty Tern breeding grounds at North West Point of Christmas Island  also became restricted-access zones.

The second miniature sheet of the issued stamp  on August 15, 2005 by Kiribati Post  featured the breeding birds of Christmas Island.  In this regard Kiribati Post has been collaborated with Birdlife International organization . The species have been depicted are : Lesser Frigatebird, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Blue Noddy, Christmas shearwater, Sooty Tern, and Masked Booby.

Seabirds of Kiribati – Kiribati. 2005

 

Kiribati,  officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean.The island nation is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres.

On August 15, 2005, Kiribati Post collaborated with Birdlife International have issued  two miniature sheets, respectively consist of six postage stamps, featured sea birds species. The first miniature sheet depicted sea birds of Kiribati are White-tailed tropicbird (Phaeton lepturus), Black Noddy ( Anous minutus), Red-footed Booby (Sula sula), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus), White Tern (Gygis alba), and Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor).

Birds of Saint Lucia - 2004

On June 30 , 2004, Saint Lucia Post collaborated with the Birdlife International organization, have  issued  the protected species of birds from their country  to celebrate the Unique Carribean treasures.    The  issue comprise of eight  postage  stamps  depicted  the bird species as follows:

• Top row :  Antillean Crested Hummingbird   ( Orthorhyncus cristatus),   Lesser Antillean Pewee    (Contopus latirostris) ,  Purple-throated Carib    (Eulampis jugularis),  Grey Trembler    (Cinclocerthia gutturalis), 
• Bottom Row:  Rufous-throated Solitaire    (Myadestes genibarbis),  St. Lucia Warbler    (Setophaga delicata),   Antillean Euphonia    (Euphonia musica),  Semper's Warbler    (Leucopeza semperi).

To be continued in more detail in the next issue.

The Nauru reed Warbler – Nauru. 2003

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Nauru Post issued the bird life international stamps on year 2003 wihich featured the specific endemic bird only in their country, the Nauru Reed Wardbler. The issuance represent in stamps and souvenir sheet. Logo of Bird Life International was printed in the sheet and stamps.

The Nauru Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus rehsei) is a species of the Acrocephalus warblers and the only bird species endemic to the island Nauru. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, as its habitat on Nauru may be a threat.

The Nauru Reed Warbler measures are small, 15 centimetres long and has a straight beak .The Nauru Reed Warbler is insectivorous passerine birds and its body is greyish-olive above with an off-white below chest and a white eyebrow.

Southern Giant Petrel – British Antartic Territory . 2005

British Antarctic Territory Post issued the stamp series featured the birdlife Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes gigantues) also known as Antarctic Giant Petrel on year 2005. The issuance represent in stamps and one souvenir sheet.

The Southern Giant Petrel (Macronectes giganteus), is a large seabird of the southern oceans and  was first described as Macronectes giganteus by Johann Friedrich Gmelin, in 1789, based on a specimen from Staten Island off Tierra del Fuego. The Southern Giant Petrel is the largest of the Precellariidae and measures 86–99 cm with a wingspan of 185–205 cm .The male weighs approximately 5 kg and the female 3–8 kg .They have a very large yellow bill, with a green tip and greyish brown legs. The leading edge of its wing was lighter as are the base of the inner primaries, on the underside. White morph unmistakable, normally flecked black. Dark morph has sooty-black juvenile, becoming paler with age. In flight this species has a somewhat hunchbacked appearance.

The range of the Southern Giant Petrel is quite large as it ranges from Antarctica to the subtropics of Chile, Africa, and Australia, and has an occurrence range of 36,000,000 km2 (14,000,000 sq mi). It breeds on numerous islands throughout the southern oceans. The islands with larger populations include the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Orkney Islands, Staten Island, South Shetland, Heard Island, Macquarie Island, Prince Edward Islands, and Crozet Islands. The other locations with small populations are the Kerguelen Islands, Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, Diego Ramirez, Isla Noir as well as four locations on the continent of Antarctica, including Terre Adélie, and small islands off the coast of Argentina near Chubut province.

The Southern Giant Petrel will feed on krill, squid, and offal in coastal and pelagic waters, and unlike most other Procellariiformes, this bird will eat carrion and even attack smaller seabirds. The Southern Giant Petrel starts sexual maturity at six or seven years of age;[ however the average age of first breeding is ten years. Its breeding season begins in October. Its nest is a mound of moss, grass, and stones with a depression in the center and located on bare or grassy ground.

On the year 2009 this species was upgraded to a status of Least Concern from Near Threatened, by the IUCN. Major threats to the well-being of this species start with the typical accidental deaths caused by longline fishing as well as trawl fishing near the Falkland Islands. Human disturbances have also adversely affected this bird.

West Indian Whistling Duck – British Virgin Islands. 2002

British Virgin Islands Post has issued the Birdlife International stamp series depicted the West Indian Whistling Duck or Dendrocygna arborea on year 2002. The issued stamps combined in one souvenir sheet depicted from their life ( from egg till a mature bird). Of course logo of Birdlife International was printed on the sheet.

The West Indian whistling duck is a large goose-like duck with relatively long legs that extend beyond the tail in flight. The upper-parts are mostly brown with pale edgings to the feathers; the rump and tail are blackish. The bill is black and legs are greenish.The length average is 52 cm and the weight average is 1,150 grams.This ducks usually feed nocturnally in stands of royal palm and agricultural fields.

The West Indian whistling duck lives year round in wooded swamps and  endemic to the Caribbean, still locally common in Cuba and uncommon in the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and the Cayman Islands.The West Indian whistling duck population is estimated to have less than 10,000 to 25,000 individuals and is on the decline due to hunting, habitat destruction and predation by the introduced mongoose.


 

The Seabirds Return – Ascension Island . 2005

Ascention Island Post collaborated with Birdlife International issued the seabird stamps like Fairy Tern actually  White Tern(Gygis Alba), White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus), Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), Brown Noody (Anous stolidus), and Red-billed Tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus).

The White Tern (Gygis alba) is a small seabird found across the tropical oceans of the world. Sometimes known as the Fairy Tern although this name is potentially confusing as it is the common name of the Fairy Tern Sternula nereis.The White Tern is a small, all white tern with a long black bill, related to the noddies. It ranges widely across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and also nests in some Atlantic islands. It nests on coral islands, usually on trees with thin branches but also on rocky ledges and on man-made structures. The White Tern feeds on small fish which it catches by plunge diving.This small tern is famous for laying its egg on bare thin branches in a small fork or depression without a nest.