The House Sparrow as Belarus Bird 2003.

On March 31, 2003 Belarus Post issued the stamp from the series "A bird of the year" dedicated to the house sparrow. The stamp is issued under the aegis of the International organization of birds protection "Bird Life International" and Belarus organization "Protection Homeland Birds ".

The quantity of house sparrows is diminishing in Europe. And it has become less in Belarus too. That is why Belarus organization "Protection Homeland Birds" declared the house sparrow as the bird of the year of 2003.

The House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a species of passerine bird of the sparrow family Passeridae. It occurs naturally in most of Europe, the Mediterranean region, and much of Asia. It has also been intentionally or accidentally introduced to many parts of the world, making it the most widely distributed wild bird. It is strongly associated with human habitations, but it is not the only sparrow species found near houses. It is a small bird, with feathers mostly different shades of brown and grey.

Tawny Owl (Strix Nebulosa) as Belarus Bird 2005

On March 31, 2005 Belarus Post issued the stamp “Tawny owl” from the series “A bird of the year”.The stamps are issued with the assistance of the organization “Protection of Belarus Birds”.

The Belarus public organization “Protection of Belarus Birds” declared the tawny owl a bird of the year 2005. It is listed in the Red Book of Belarus.The Tawny owl is rarely encountered in the European territory. In Belarus almost the whole population of the Tawny owl builds their aeries in Brest region. One can see this bird mostly in swamps and marshlands. The Tawny owl as stated and represented on the stamp is Strix nebulosa .

Strix nebulosa   is a very large owl, distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. They breed in North America from as far east as Quebec to the Pacific coast and Alaska, and from Finland and Estonia across northern Asia. They are permanent residents, but may move south and southeast when food is scarce. Strix nebulosa rely almost fully upon small rodents, with voles being their most important food source.

Their breeding habitat is the dense coniferous forests of the taiga, near open areas, such as meadows or bogs. Strix nebulosa do not build nests, so typically use nests previously used by a large bird, such as a raptor. They will also nest in broken-topped trees and cavities in large trees. Nesting may occur from March to May. Four eggs are the usual clutch size.

The House Martin as Belarus Bird 2004.

On March 31, 2004 Belarus Post issued the stamp from the series “A bird of the year” dedicated to the House Martin. The stamp is issued under the aegis of the International organization of birds protection “BirdLife International” and Belarus organization “Ahova ptushak Belarusi” (APB “Protection of Belarus Birds”).

The Common House Martin (Delichon urbicum), sometimes called the Northern House Martin or, particularly in Europe, just House Martin, is a migratory passerine bird of the swallow family which breeds in Europe, north Africa and temperate Asia; and winters in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Asia.

It feeds on insects which are caught in flight, and it migrates to climates where flying insects are plentiful. It has a blue head and upperparts, white rump and pure white underparts, and is found in both open country and near human habitation.

The preferred habitat of the Common House Martin is open country with low vegetation, such as pasture, meadows and farmland, and preferably near water, although it is also found in mountains up to at least 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) altitude.

The Common House Martin is a migrant which moves on a broad-front.While migrating they feed in the air on insects and they generally travel in daylight, although some birds may move at night.The Common House Martin is a noisy species, especially at its breeding colonies. The male's song, given throughout the year, is a soft twitter of melodious chirps. The contact call, also given on the wintering grounds, is a hard chirrrp, and the alarm is a shrill tseep.

It is hunted by the Eurasian Hobby (Falco subbuteo), and like other birds is affected by internal parasites and external fleas and mites, but its large range and population mean that it is not threatened globally.

The Lapwing (Vanellus Vanellus) as Belarus Bird 2006.

On April 18, 2006 Belarus Post issued the stamp “Lapwing” from the series “A bird of the year”.The stamps are issued with the assistance of the organization Protection of Homeland Birds.

The Lapwing is one of the most well known sandpipers in Belarus.The Protection of Homeland Birds fund  declared the lapwing as a bird of the year 2006.

The Lapwing or The Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), also known as the Peewit, Green Plover , is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia. It is highly migratory over most of its extensive range, wintering further south as far as north Africa, northern India, Pakistan, and parts of China. It migrates mainly by day, often in large flocks. Lowland breeders in westernmost areas of Europe are resident.

The Lapwing is a 28–31 cm long bird with a 67–72 cm wingspan. It has rounded wings and a crest. It is the shortest-legged of the lapwings. It is mainly black and white, but the back is tinted green. Females and young birds have narrower wings, and have less strongly-marked heads, but plumages are otherwise quite similar.

Lapwings hibernate in France. They usually come flying to Belarus at the end of February. The female lapwing looks like the male in colour; they are dutiful in the process of incubation and are very protective; vigilant and ready to tackle any predators. Lapwings are birds that nest in open dry countryside and in fallow lands. The clutch has always four eggs. 3–4 eggs are laid in a ground scrape. The nest and young are defended noisily and aggressively against all intruders. Lapwings begin to migrate for hibernation from the end of May until October. About 100.000 pairs usually build their nests in Belarus. The population of lapwings decreases almost in all countries of Europe.

This sheet-let comprised of seven stamps with background of the nature. The stamp has printed the logo of Birdlife International and logo of the Protection of Homeland Birds.

Another issued is FDC ( First day cover) depicted the eggs and young bird.

Birdlife International–St. Helena 2007

On year 2007, Saint Helena Post has issued the birdlife stamp series that featured the species Black Noddy, Sooty Tern, Madeiran Storm Petrel, and Masked Booby with different face values.All stamps have logo of Birdlife International.

The Black Noddy or White-capped Noddy (Anous minutus) is a seabird from the tern family.It is smaller than the Common Noddy with darker plumage, a whiter cap, a longer, straighter beak and shorter tail.

The Black Noddy has a worldwide distribution in tropical and subtropical seas, with colonies widespread in the Pacific Ocean and more scattered across the Caribbean, central Atlantic and in the northeast Indian Ocean. 

The nests of these birds consist on a level platform, often created in the branches of trees by a series of dried leaves covered with bird droppings. It is usually seen close to its breeding colonies within 80 km of shore. Birds return to colonies, or other islands, in order to roost at night. 

The population trend appears to be stable, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion.For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

 

The Madeiran Storm-petrel, Oceanodroma castro, is of the storm-petrel family Hydrobatidae and has distinctive characteristic is mainly black with an extensive white rump with the forked tail, long wings, and flight behaviour.The measured size is 19-21 cm in length with a 43-46 cm wingspan, and weights 44-49g.

The Madeiran Storm-petrel Oceanodroma castro breeds in the eastern Atlantic from the Berlengas Islands and the Azores (Portugal), down to Ascension Island and Saint Helena (St Helena to UK), and in the Pacific off eastern Japan, on Kauai, Hawaii (USA) and on the Galapagos Islands.

Jamaica–Birdlife International 2003

Jamaica Post issued the stamp series of birdlife international one set of four single stamp and one souvenir sheet. The issuance of stamp set featured the species Jamaican Stripe-Headed Tanager, Crested Quail Dove, Jamaican Tody, Blue Mountain Vireo. All species were depicted are endemic in Jamaica.

Jamaican Stripe-Headed Tanager ($15)

Jamaican Stripe-Headed Tanager or Jamaican Spindalis is member  of the genus Spindalis. The scientific names is Spindalis nigricephala.It was the strikingly different plumages of the females, as well as vocalization differences, that led ornithologists to split Stripe-headed Tanager into Western Spindalis, the endemic Hispaniolan Spindalis (Spindalis dominicensis), the Puerto Rican Spindalis (Spindalis portoricensis) of Puerto Rico, and the Jamaican Spindalis (Spindalis nigricephala) from Jamaica. Stripe-headed Tanager was renamed in 2000, from the Forty-second Supplement to the American Ornithologists’ Union Check-list of North American Birds.

Petrel birds of New Caledonia - Birdlife International 2008

On the year 2008, New Caledonia Post issued the birdlife stamp series of Petrel bird  featured Nesofregetta fuliginosa (Polynesian Storm Petrel), Pterodroma leucoptera (Gould’s Petrel) ,Pseudobulweria rostrata ( Tahiti Petrel). The issuance only consist of 3 pieces of stamps.

Nesofregatta fuliginasa, 110 F

The Polynesian Storm-petrel (Nesofregetta fuliginosa) is a species of seabird in the Hydrobatidae family and  placed in the monotypic genus Nesofregetta.Their specific distinctive are 25 cm in length and polymorphic with broad rounded wings, lacking obvious bends along leading and trailing edges. Most common morph has brownish-black head, nape, mantle, upperwing and tail but white rump-band and greater-covert wing-bar. Moderately forked tail. White throat, brownish chest band, rest of underparts white. Extensive white on underwing-coverts, otherwise dark underwing. Intermediate morphs show dark flecking on white underparts. Dark morph is entirely sooty-brown.

Nesofregetta fuliginosa is found in Chile, French Polynesia, Kiribati, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, possibly American Samoa, possibly Fiji, and possibly Samoa.Its natural habitats are open seas, rocky shores, and sandy shores. This species has been uplisted to Endangered due to  threatened by introduced predators.Predation of eggs and small chicks by house mouse Mus musculus

Egretta alba in video - An adult in breeding plumage feeding the chicks on the nest.

Herewith the video link of Egretta alba  which i got from The Internet bird Collection for add more information of this species. This video featured an adult in breeding plumage feeding the chicks.

Great White Egret (Egretta alba) - An adult in breeding plumage feeding the chicks on the nest.

Egretta Alba of Belarus. Birdlife International 2008.

On March 13, 2008 the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of  Belarus issued the stamp “Great white heron” from  the  series  “A bird of the year” prepared by the Publishing Centre “Marka” of the EUR “Belpochta”.The “Ahova ptushak Batskaushchyny” fund (Protection of Homeland Birds) declared the great white heron a bird of the year 2008.

Egretta alba or The Great White Heron is the tallest, largest white egret that has extremely long legs and neck.Its neck is longer than its body, and is held in a distinctive kink.

Egretta alba feed on mostly fish, but will also take amphibians (frogs), aquatic invertebrates (insects, crayfish), and reptiles (snakes).Egretta alba are skilled hunters. They stalk the shallow waters or mud flats, walking slowly or quickly with their strong neck coiled at ready.Egretta alba hunt alone or in small, loose groups. Nevertheless, they usually vigorously defend a small feeding territory from other egrets.

Egretta alba  breeds in North America and winters in South America; another breeds in Europe and Russia and winters in Africa; and the eastern race that visits Singapore is found from the Indian subcontinent to Southeast Asia all the way to Australia and New Zealand.