Taiwan has an abundant variety of birds. To draw citizens’ attention to bird species, so that increased appreciation of them will lead to heightened consciousness about the need for wildlife conservation, Chunghwa Post is releasing a souvenir sheet that contains four stamps on two species that are favorites of bird watchers: Chlidonias hybrida and Recurvirostra avosetta. The stamps are etchings and focus on the birds, which are set against a background of bold, simple colors and lines representing waves. Their designs follow:

1. Chlidonias hybrida (two stamps, each NT$7): In Taiwan, Chlidonias hybrida mostly lives near ponds, fish farms and wetlands. In the winter, on mornings and at dusk, the sight of their flocks flying at Tainan’s Beimen Lagoon is magnificent. The two stamps separately show their breeding and non-breeding plumage. The non-breeding plumage is largely white and gray, whereas the breeding plumage features deep reds at the feet and the beak. The striking contrast of colors in the breeding plumage is designed to earn the favor of the opposite sex.
2. Recurvirostra avosetta (two stamps, each NT$8): The white and black plumage of Recurvirostra avosetta makes for an eye-catching contrast. Its black upturned bill is its salient feature. Its long and slender legs make it well suited to foraging in shallow water. In Taiwan, these birds are mainly found on plains and in coastal wetlands of Chiayi and Tainan. They overwinter in Taiwan in stable flocks, which often have more than 100 members. The sight of them in flight is spectacular.

To purchase the relative philatelic products, please go directly to the post office branches, Postal Museum or order on line at https://stamp.post.gov.tw.