Pygmy Cormorant

Pygmy Cormorant (侏鸕鶿)
Serbia (2011)
24th May, 2011. Kanjiža

It is the third set of WWF series in 2011 I collected. Not much special but seem nice enough, it features Pygmy Cormorant. This species breeds in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, and it partially migrate to further south for winter. Due to the drainage, inhabit lose, pollution and illegal hunting, the population of Pygmy Cormorant is decreasing and now be listed as near threatened in IUCN list.

Christmas Frigatebird

Christmas Frigatebird (白腹軍艦鳥)
Christmas Island (2010)
17th August, 2010. Christmas Island, West Australia
4th January, 2011. Christmas Island, West Australia

Christmas Frigatebird, as known as Christmas Island Frigatebird, is one frigatebird only breeding in Christmas Island, however it also widely visible in South China Sea, most of coast of south-east Asian countries, eastern Indian Ocean and west of South Pacific. As it mainly breeds in Christmas Islands, it can say the frigatebird is endemic to this small island in north-west of Australia. During 1988, the frigatebird listed as threatened in IUCN list while became vulnerable species in 1994. Since 2000, the frigatebird listed as critically endangered species due to the inhabit area colonised by huge of Crazy Ants (細足捷蟻), and also damaged by wildfires or cyclones.

As well as other frigatebirds, their diet mostly rob other birds caught, but they also catch fish near water surface or shallows. Male bird is in black colour except small part in white on the belly, and brownish areas on the wings. As they are frigatebird, male also has a large red and inflateable throat sac during courtship.

Same as before, mail from Christmas Island will be postmarked by attractive pictorial postmark illustrates Christmas Red Crab (聖誕島紅蟹).

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)

Grand Cayman Parrot

Grand Cayman Amazon (開曼島亞馬遜鸚鵡)
Cayman Islands (1993, 1997)
5th October, 2010. North Side (Registered Dept.)

In the last post related to Ukraine, it shown a first day cover of Cuban Amazon (古巴亞馬遜鸚鵡) which commemorated 150th anniversary of foundation of Kiev Zoo. However, stamps illustrated wildlife is the first choice to collect and now I show one came from Cayman Islands, is one of World Wild Fund series in 1993 illustrates Grand Cayman Amazon, former was a sub-species of Cuban Amazon. The parrot is the national bird of Cayman Islands, the far-left stamp with description.

Grand Cayman Amazon is endemic to Cayman Islands, to be found in Grand Cayman only as it is restricted. Now the population about 3.400 birds and also recorded about 600 birds in Cayman Brac. On the Grand Cayman, the parrot easy to find in the trail of middle area according to the place is Central Mangrove Wetland and undeveloped.

Above cover sent from North Side post office, is one nearby post office of Central Mangrove Wetland. The postmark NS is the short-form of North Side. While other similar example H means Hell post office.

Birds of Macedonia

From left to right :
Eastern Imperial Eagle (白肩鵰) ; Eurasian Hoopoe (戴勝)
Little Egret (小白鷺) ; Glossy Ibis (白頭䴉鸛) ; Purple Heron (紫鷺)
Grey Heron (蒼鷺)
Macedonia (2001, 2008, 2000)
25th December, 2010. Gjorche Petrov

After couple of days, I got a mail from former Yugoslavia country again ; it is the forth after Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. Thanks Ana of this cover and selected variety issues from different period, included two WWF issues : Eastern Imperial Eagle originally to be found in south-east of Europe, west and middle Asian countries. As the inhabit loss, population was decreasing and now it is rarely to find them in Hungary and Pannonian Basin. Hoopoe originally is a common bird, however also the inhabit loss, population in south-east Europe is decreasing and endanger in Macedonia and nearby countries.

Herons and Egrets are common birds in the Europe and Asia, they are popular and famous to bird-watchers.

Marine life of Indonesia

From left to right bottom :
Olive Ridley Turtle (麗龜) ; Green Sea Turtle (綠蠵龜)
Leatherback Turtle (棱皮龜) ; Indo-Pacific Hawksbill Turtle (太平洋玳瑁)
Indonesia (2010)
24th October, 2010. Jakarta
19th November, 2010. Semarang, Tanah Mas
30th November, 2010. Hongkong

Unfortunately, in the time of writing, the WWF International and Groth AG, the agency approves philatelic products with WWF Panda logo. Did not authorize post office of Indonesia issue above stamp set with their logo. It was sadly to see this situation as the beautiful stamps couldn't be a part of WWF series. 4 stamps illustrate variety turtle species with description as above. Those four turtles, now facing over-hunting, egg stolen or population of ocean etc. different poor situations, the population decrease quickly in recent years.

Siberian Crane

Siberian Crane (西伯利亞白鶴)

Iran (2007)

1st August, 2010. Tehran (Philatelic Bureau)

Siberian Crane, as known as Snow Crane mostly to be found in Far East region of Russia, breeds in Sakha Republic and Siberia while migrates to Fereidoonkenar and Isfahan of Iran ; Keoladeo National Park of India and south of Yangtze River of China for winter. It almost in white and brown but with blackish long bill, about 140cm tall and can be near 10kg weight. The population decreased quickly with unknown reasons in recent years, but scientist thought that construction of Three Gorges Dam in China is one reason caused they lost habitat.

This year is 50th anniversary of World Wide Fund of Natural. To celebrate this event, many countries and areas planned to issue stamps feature related foundation people and endangered species, until now confirmed Swiss, Great Britain and Macao issue the theme during 2011.