2009Birds from the Danube Delta - First Day Cover

Every time a postage stamp issue with the “birds” theme is released, it represents a philatelic feast for the collectors all over the world. Coming to meet the wish of philatelists from our country and from abroad, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the postage stamps issue “Birds from the Danube Delta”, having four stamps and a perforated souvenir sheet. By editing this philatelic issue, Romfilatelia joins the UNESCO project for the Danube

Delta protection, project also sustained by other nongovernmental organizations from our country and from Europe, which fight to protect and to save this invaluable natural habitat. The Danube Delta lodges over 3,400 species of vertebrate and invertebrate animals, many national, European but also world unique species.

The ornitho-fauna from the Danube Delta totals more than 300 species, from which around 70 species are extra European.

Birds (the Aves Class) represent a group of four-footed vertebrates, which developed from reptiles, nevertheless preserving certain features of these ones. They are the first vertebrates which can maintain a constant body temperature. The most obvious feature of

the birds is the adaptability to flight. Due to this fact, the birds are the world’s most wide-spread species, passing over geographical obstacles, travelling long distances, conquering even the regions with severe climate. Many species of birds migrate during winter and summer.

The Aves Class includes approximately 8,650 species grouped in 28 orders. The postage stamps of the philatelic issue illustrate the following (legally protected) birds from the Danube Delta: Common Kingfisher, Black-winged Stilt, Great Egret, Danubian Falcon and White-tailed Eagle.

The Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis athis) - illustrated on the stamp with the face value of Lei 0.50. The Common Kingfisher is just 16-18 cm long and it has a vivid color, so that it looks like a jewel, blue-green on the upperparts, red-orange on the underbelly

and white on the gizzard and the scruff side parts. It nestles on sweet water banks. Twice a year (in April and in June) it lays 6-7 eggs which it hatches for around 20 days. It feeds on small fishes and his flight is as fast as an arrow. It can be seen on the flowing waters’ banks and it’s very widespread in the Danube Delta.

The Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) - illustrated on the stamp with the face value of Lei 1.60 . The Black-winged Stilt can be easily recognized by its very long dark red or pink legs. Its general plumage is white and only the wings are seen as black

when it flies. Its beak is long, black, flat and thin. It is a summer guest in the Danube Delta, where it nestles in small colonies, formed in salting areas.

The Great Egret (Egretta alba) - illustrated on the stamp with the face value of Lei 2.10. It is also called the Great White Heron. It is the rarest heron from the Romanian fauna and it was declared a monument of nature. It is a member of the Ciconiiformes order, Ardeidae (herons) family. It is 90 cm long and can be seen in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. In Romania, the bird is a summer guest and can be seen mostly in the Danube Delta.

The Danubian Falcon (Falco cherrug) - illustrated on the stamp with the face value of Lei 3.10. The Danubian Falcon is around 50 cm long and his wingspan is over 120 cm. It is lightish brown on upperparts and white on the head. It lives in the steppe areas. It nestles in trees on water banks. In the Danube Delta, it uses the White-tailed Eagle’s nests. It usually feeds on ground squirrels and birds.