An emission that will delight every nature lover
This Friday, Poczta Polska will introduce four new stamps from the "Birds of Polish Parks" issue. The publications showcase bird species that can be seen in Polish landscape, national, and urban parks.
The stamps, designed by Paweł Myszka, feature color photographs of the great spotted woodpecker, the wren, the greenfinch, and the primrose. The sales sheet includes two of each stamp type. The issue also includes two First Day Covers (FDC). The issue is accompanied by a commemorative date stamp in the form of a rowan berry, which includes information about the date and place of issue.
The aim of this issue, which features birds inhabiting Polish parks, is primarily to showcase the beauty of Polish nature. The publication also serves an educational purpose – thanks to the stunning photographs of birds featured on the stamps, we can learn to recognize them and correctly name them.
birdwatching , or amateur bird watching, is becoming increasingly popular in Poland , birdwatching is particularly popular in the Americas and the British Isles. In North and South America, as many as 20 percent of residents declare birdwatching a form of relaxation, and in the British Isles, bird enthusiasts number an estimated 4 million. Furthermore, in many countries, ornithological tourism is already considered a commercial enterprise, and bird enthusiasts are willing to travel long distances to see rare species. Poland, with its unique nature, national parks, and pristine forests, is an excellent location for the development of ecotourism in the form of birdwatching .
Unusual birds on Polish stamps
The great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) fascinates not only with its beautiful plumage, but also with unusual adaptations, such as special structures in the brain and intercranial bones that protect it during intense beating on wood.
The wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) is a tiny bird that enlivens the winter landscapes of our parks. It feeds primarily on insects, but during the winter it supplements its diet with seeds and berries, demonstrating its remarkable adaptation to diverse environmental conditions.
The European greenfinch (Chloris chloris) is one of the smallest European bird species. Despite its small size, it is very vocal. It is renowned for its melodious sounds, creating a rich vocal repertoire.
The Cowslip (Phylloscopus collybita) – despite its pleasant appearance, it can be extremely brave, fiercely defending its territory against intruders.
The Polish Post Office promotes Polish fauna
In 2022, Poczta Polska introduced the first stamps from the "Birds of Polish Parks" issue, depicting the nuthatch, sparrow, great tit, and blue tit. That same year, the company also issued stamps in a joint issue with the Argentine Post. These stamps depict birds found only in two regions: the Polish crested warbler in Europe and the Argentine red-rumped potter in South America. The following year, the "Birds of Polish Parks" issue featured the starling, hawfinch, robin, and yellowhammer.
The first two issues of the "Polish Birds" issue included stamps in block form, depicting the common kingfisher in 2014, and the white stork, black stork, great egret, and grey heron in 2019. In 2015 and 2017, stamps featuring eight species of native owls entered circulation, including the eagle owl, barn owl, great grey owl, and long-eared owl. In 2019, a stamp from the "Europa" issue, depicting the common chaffinch, entered circulation. That same year, stamps created in collaboration with Singapore Post were also released. The stamps depict birds native to both countries: the white-bellied hornbill and the peregrine falcon.
The content consultant for the issue of "Birds of Polish Parks" is Mr. Andrzej Kruszewicz – an outstanding Polish ornithologist, director of the Warsaw Zoo.
The originator of the issue and the author of all the bird photos included in the stamp graphics is Mr. Maciej Zdziarski.
About the stamp:
Designer: Paweł Myszka,
Author of photos: Maciej Zdziarski,
Number of stamps: 4,
Value: PLN 3.90 each,
Mintage: 112,000 pieces of each stamp,
Printing technique: Offset + Stochastic raster,
Stamp format: 51 x 39.5 mm
, Paper: Fluorescent,
Sales sheet: 8 stamps (4×2),
Date of circulation: 16.02.2024.