Saturday, March 26, 2011

Endangered Birds from Iceland…

World Wide Fund for Nature will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year. On this occasion Iceland Post issued 4 stamps with endangered birds as motifs on 27 January 2011.

EB 1

Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) migrates mainly from northern regions. These birds stop over in Iceland for some weeks every year. The breeding population has increased somewhat in the last few decades.

EB2

White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) is a migratory bird in Iceland. The population numbers around 25.000 birds and has been decreasing during the last decade.

EB 3

Common scoter (Melanitta nigra) is one of the rarer species of ducks breeding in Iceland. It is a migratory bird and is wholly protected in Iceland.

EB4

Gadwall (Anas strepera) was probably first seen in Iceland in the 19th century. It is estimated that the breeding population numbers 200–300 pairs, mainly around Mývatn. It is a migratory bird with its main winter quarters in Ireland. It is wholly protected in Iceland.