2021Bird of the Year (III) - The Bearded Vulture - Set CTO

On March 31, 2021 the State Service of Digital Development under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic puts into circulation a Kyrgyz Express Post postage stamp: “Bird of the Year (III). The Bearded Vulture”.

The Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is a large bird of prey with a distinctive appearance: it has a bunch of black feathers under its beak, which forms a kind of “beard”. This bird belongs to the family Accipitridae.

In Kyrgyzstan, the Bearded vulture is found mainly in open, rocky, mountainous areas, at altitudes of 2,000 to 4,500 m above sea level. This bird lives at one of the highest altitudes of any bird of prey.

Bearded vultures play an important role in the ecological balance of nature. As they mainly feed on remains of dead animals, Bearded vultures serve as a natural sanitation service.

The Bearded vulture is listed in the Kyrgyz Republic Red Data Book, as well as in the IUCN Red List, where it is classified as an “NT” (near threatened) species. There are no accurate data on the number of Bearded vultures left in Kyrgyzstan.

For this stamp, KEP also issues a postcard, which is used to realize a maximum card.