BIRDS A special set of 8 stamps depicting 8 different birds in their natural habitat in full colour was issued on 5-8-69. The stamps were produced in 3-D printing. The Birds depicted are: 1. Ural Owl (Strix Uralensis) - (15 CH) This large Owl affects dense mixed forests, high coniferous forests and mountain beach woods. It fees on a great variety of small mammals, small birds, frogs, crab, large insects, etc. It nests in holes and cavities of old large trees. 2. Red Birds - (50 CH) These are popular cage-birds. They have long been domesticated and a number of coloured varieties have been produced. They feed on small seeds and grains specially of various grasses. 3. Hawk - (1.25 NU) This bird affects open woodlands, edges of forests and river valleys, etc. Its bill is hooked and the feet are strong with long sharp talons. It sees as well as a man aided by binoculars. It feeds on small mammals, birds, and insects, etc. it usually makes no nests and lays its eggs in deserted nests of other birds, in hollow trunks of trees, in ruins, etc. 4. Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) - (2 NU) The dumpy, tuxedo-clad penguin with its clownishly human demeanor charms everybody. It is a flightless bird, but can walk on land and is an expert diver and swimmer. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, etc. One of the most amusing habits of the penguin is its tobogganing on snow banks. 5. Macaws - (3 NU) The green bird is the red-sided eclectus lorry. The red bird represents the scarlet lorry (Domicella-garrula). Both these birds are very wary, frequenting treetops in the jungles. They congregate in small flocks and feed mainly on fruits. 6. Birds of Paradise (Paradisea atoda) - (4 NU) The plumes of these birds are so strikingly beautiful that the birds are said to be wanderers from paradise and this accounts for the vernacular name of these birds. They affect forests and are arboreal. They feed generally on fruits. The elongated tail wires and expandable flank plumes are the key character of these famous birds. 7. Mandarin Duck (Aix Galericulata) - (5 NU) Ducks associate in small flocks of a dozen or so, frequenting and feeding in forest streams and pond. They perch freely in tall trees. They are strong fliers, good swimmers but poor divers. They feed on seeds, berries and animal matter. The mandarin ducks occupy an important place in folklore and art as symbols of marital fidelity. 8. Pheasants - (6 NU) They frequent reed beds, scrub with scattered trees on slopes and plateaus of the vicinity of paddy fields surrounded by tall grass, bushes and bamboos. They feed generally on insects and vegetable matter. The Cocks are polygamous sometimes as many as 6 to 8 hens may be found in a harem. They nest in a tuft of grass, sometimes under a bush and the clutch is 8 to 14 eggs.
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BIRDS
