New Caledonia 2006–Birdlife Stamps

New Caledonia Post issued the stamp series of birdlife consist of three stamps on year 2006. The stamp set featured Charmosyna diadema,  Aegotheles savesi, Gallirallus lafresnayanus.

Charmosyna diadema

The New Caledonian Lorikeet is 18-19 cm long (the size of a large hand), 7-8 cm of which is the slim and pointed tail.Female birds are green overall, with deep violet blue crown and dark bluish thighs, a yellowish face and underside face, and a red anal region. The tail is green above and yellowish olive below, with the four lateral feathers with red basal markings followed by a black band, tipped yellow on the underside. The beak is orange-red, the iris probably dark orange like the feet.

This bird is hard to track because it is nomadic and is relatively inconspicuous. It is listed as Critically Endangered (D1) by BirdLife International, which means that the effective population size is likely to be less than fifty individuals.

 

Aegotheles savesi

The Enigmatic Owlet-nightjar or Aegotheles savesi, also known as the New Caledonian Owlet-nightjar, is a large owlet-nightjar (a kind of bird related to swifts and goatsuckers) with vermiculated grey-brown and black plumage.

It has a long, slightly rounded tail, short, rounded wings, and long, stout legs.The description of species are 28cm long and large with  dark owlet-nightjar. Plumage rather uniformly vermiculated grey-brown and black. Structurally distinct with short rounded wings, long, slightly rounded tail and relatively long, stout legs

This bird is endemic to New Caledonia’s Melaleuca savanna and humid forests. Other members of its genus are highly territorial and nest in holes in trees. These birds also forage by sitting on a branch and attacking small animals.

Gallirallus lafresnayanus

The New Caledonian Rail (Gallirallus lafresnayanus) is a large and drab flightless rail that is found on the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific. It is a dull brown above, with grey under parts, and has a yellowish, downward-curving bill.

The identification of this bird are  44 cm long and large, plain, flightless rail. Dull brown upper parts, greyer under parts, dull yellow, long decurved bill, and short, horn-coloured legs.

This cryptic rail is only known from seventeen specimens taken between 1860 and 1890 on New Caledonia. This bird is supposed to live in evergreen forests and seems to have moved higher up on the island to escape introduced predators. Its diet consists of invertebrates, including earthworms. This bird was host to a species of parasite, the phtilopterid louse Rallicola piageti

A survey in 1998 produced no firm evidence from hunters or fieldwork about their population. However, many still believe it persists in small numbers. It is likely to have declined owing to predation by introduced species such as cats, pigs and rats which now occur throughout the island

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