Category Archives: Conservation

Klamath Bird Observatory: Fund Raising Stamps

(This article was written by a former member of the BSS)

Introduction

The Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) is a not for profit bird conservation organisation located in the North West of the United States of America, with its base in Oregon.  The KBO is concerned with bird conservation in the Pacific North West and throughout the ranges of the birds that migrate in that geographical area.   The scope and extent of the KBO’s interests cover the Klamath-Siskiyou Bio-region located across Northern California and Southern Oregon. 

The KBO has both managed and participated in a number of conservation projects, some of which have been centred on monitoring specific birds, including: the Oregon Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus affinis); the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger); and Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias).  KBO’s science projects also include habitat restoration and conservation, as well long-term monitoring of bird populations.

The KBO has issued its own Conservation Science Stamps for a number of years, since 2014. It became an agent for the Federal Duck Stamps in 2017 and since then, has sold the KBO Conservation Science Stamp (priced at $15) alongside the Federal Duck Stamp ($25.00).  

Bearded Vultures and Their Conservation

Written by a former BSS member

About Bearded Vultures

Background

The Bearded Vulture is essentially a scavenger which feeds on the remains of dead mammals, birds and reptiles.  Their preference is for bone marrow (and to get at this, they are adept at smashing bones from height, by dropping the larger ones on rocks); but during the mating season, they mainly feed on carrion.  The Bearded Vulture is one of the most endangered species in Europe.

Within Europe, the Bearded Vulture can be found in limited numbers in the mountainous areas of Spain and France (Pyrennes), the Alpine regions of Italy, Switzerland and Austria; and in the Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Romania and Bulgaria); and in Greece.   Just beyond Europe, it is also native in Turkey and Armenia.

New Zealand Game Bird Habitat Stamps 

This article looks at the Game Bird Habitat Stamps available from New Zealand, from 1994 through to the present day, as issued under the authority of the New Zealand Fish and Game Council.

The NZ Fish and Game Council first issued a Game Bird Habitat Stamp in 1994, under authority of the Game Bird Habitat Regulations 1993.  Those Regulations allowed the NZ Fish and Game Council to create the Game Bird Habitat Stamp Programme, with the aim of raising funds through the sale of the Game Bird Habitat stamp and related products to help protect and enhance game bird habitats. 

UK Habitat Wildlife Conservation Stamps

Introduction

The Wildlife Habitat Trust (WHT) is an organisation that dates from 1986, when members of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) got together to create an entity that has as its aim to raise and distribute funds to acquire land for shooting and conservation.  Today, the WHT provides grants to help manage sites for wildlife and more recently, has been involved in providing support for local and national biodiversity plans.

The Wildlife Habitat Conservation Trust (WHCT) is the charitable organisation (registered charity 1013816) that manages the UK Habitat Conservation Stamp Programme.   A major part of the UK Habitat Stamp income is used to assist habitat conservation across the UK.  Working with government agencies, the income from UK Habitat Stamps has helped contribute to acquisition and management of some important wetlands, some of which are Ramsar sites.

The UK Habitat Stamps

The WHT has issued a UK Habitat Stamp annually since 1991, based on specially commissioned wildlife artwork, which generally features a waterfowl as the central image. The WHT has always priced the stamp at £5.  In creating the UK Habitat Stamp, the trustees of the WHT were inspired by the success of the US Federal Duck Stamp programme, which has been raising funds for wetlands conservation since 1934, the date of the first stamp issue.

Norfolk Island Morepork – Back from the Brink

On 21 June 2022, Australian Post issued a set of two stamps that celebrate the Norfolk Island Morepork (Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata).  The Norfolk Island Morepork, a small, brown-mottled Owl, is an exclusive resident to the island; and is considered a distinctive sub species of the New Zealand Morepork (Ninox nouvaeseelandiae). It is one of the world’s rarest owls. Locally, the Norfolk Island Morepork owl was also known as the Boobook.

But first, before looking at the current status of the Morepork, we must begin with the stamps.

The Stamps

The stamp set consists of two individual stamps and a sheetlet, all of which are issued by Australia Post under the “Norfolk Island” country designation.