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Saturday, 18 November 2023

3084) Roseate spoonbill ("Platalea ajaja"), Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Postal Service (ABPS) has issued a postage stamp featuring this gregarious wading bird: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 14.11.2023:

3084) Roseate spoonbill ("Platalea ajaja"), Antigua and Barbuda: Antigua and Barbuda Postal Service (ABPS) has issued a postage stamp featuring this gregarious wading bird: Date/Year of Stamp issue: 14.11.2023:

About the Roseate Spoonbill ("Platalea ajaja"):

The Roseate Spoonbill ("Platalea ajaja") is a gregarious wading bird of the Ibis and Spoonbill family, Threskiornithidae

It is a striking wading bird known for its distinctive pink plumage and unique spoon-shaped bill.

It is a resident breeder in both South and North America. The Roseate Spoonbill's pink colour is diet-derived, consisting of the carotenoid pigment canthaxanthin.

The Roseate Spoonbill is not only known for its beauty but also for its ecological importance in maintaining the balance of wetland ecosystems

Conservation efforts are important to ensure the protection of their habitats and populations.

Little is known about the roseate spoonbill's behavior outside of their foraging habits

This species feeds in shallow fresh or coastal waters by swinging its bill from side to side as it steadily walks through the water, often in groups. Moreover, the spoon-shaped bill allows it to sift easily through mud.

The bird feeds on crustaceans, bits of plant material, aquatic insects, mollusks, frogs, newts and very small fish (such as minnows) ignored by larger waders and seeds, all foraged from limnetic/freshwater habitats.

This habitat specialisation, combined with the relative plasticity of Great Egret foraging behavior, allows the two species to minimize competition during the breeding season.

Roseate spoonbills must compete for food with other freshwater birds, such as snowy egrets, great egrets, tricolored herons and American white pelicans. Roseate spoonbills are often trailed by egrets when foraging in a commensal "beater-follower" relationship, as the spoonbill's disturbance of the sediment makes prey more available to the Egret (follower).

The Roseate Spoonbill nests in shrubs or trees, often mangroves, laying two to five eggs, which are whitish with brown markings. 

Immature birds have white, feathered heads, and the pink of the plumage is paler. The bill is yellowish or pinkish. Nestlings are sometimes killed by turkey vultures, bald eagles, raccoons and invasive fire ants.

Conservation and threats:

Plume hunting in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries almost drove the roseate spoonbill to extinction

However, it is currently considered not threatened

In 2022, an 18-year-old banded bird was discovered, making it the oldest known wild individual.

The Stamp:

A Miniature Sheet (MS) consisting of five stamps of 4.50 Dollars each depicting the Roseate Spoonbill in its natural habitat. 

This Miniature Sheet (MS) contains a postage stamp of $14 (Fourteen Dollars) and bears the inscription -

"Roseate Spoonbills sweep their open bills through the water, and when a prey item like a fish or insect comes between the mandibles, the bill snaps shut."



Links to Posts on Turks and Caicos Islands:

1) A Quarter Crown (1/4) Coin, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), A British Overseas Territory (BOT): The Coin was only issued in 1981 and was since demonetised in 1986

2) A Half Crown (1/2) Coin, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), A British Overseas Territory (BOT): The Coin was issued only in 1981 and was since demonetised in 1982

Links to Posts on Curacao on this Blog:

1) Festival di Tumba (Carnival of Curacao), Curacao: "50th Edition of the Curacao Carnival/Festival" held from 27-31.01.2020: A set of six Commemorative Postage Stamps brought out by Cpost (Curacao Post) on 20.02.2020

2) Trains of South America, Curacao: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of stamps featuring Trains of South America: Date of Stamp set issue: 21.06.2021

3) Willemstad, Curacao: 25 Years of UNESCO World Heritage Site: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of 16 postage stamps celebrating the milestone: Date of Stamps set issue: 18.08.2022

4) Willemstad, (Dutch, Caribbean Island, Curacao), Netherlands: "Dutch World Heritage Coin Series": Tenth Coin in the Series of 10 Euro (Gold) and 5 Euro (Silver) Collector Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) feature this historic city: Date/Year of Coins issue: 02.02.2023

For some other interesting posts on Currencies of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, please visit the following links:








Links to some other interesting posts from South American countries & Mexico:

1) The Evolution of Mexican Coinage


24) Bolivar Soberano (or "Sovereign Bolivar"), Venezuela: (2018 Series of Banknotes) introduced by Banco de National, the Central Bank of Venezuela on 20.08.2018 


1) Trains of South America, Curacao: Cpost International (Curacao Post) has issued a set of stamps featuring Trains of South America: Date of Stamp set issue: 21.06.2021

Prehistoric Animals Stamp Series, Netherlands (PostNL):

Dutch Castles Coin Series:









10) Poptaslot Castle, The Netherlands: The Tenth and second last Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles Coin Series": A Silver Ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM): Year of Coin issue: 2023 

11) Kuinderburcht Bridge, The Netherlands: The Eleventh and last Coin to be released in the "Dutch Castles Coin Series": A Silver Ducat Trade Coin with a history spanning over 350 years, minted by the Royal Dutch Mint: Year of Coin issue: 2023

For other interesting posts on issues from the Royal Dutch Mint, Netherlands and PostNL, please visit the following links:



10) First Atlases, Netherlands: Commemorating 450 Years of the first Atlas (1570-2020) & others: A Stamp Sheet of six stamps depicting the Atlases which were compiled in the Netherlands in the 16th & 17th Centuries AD: Stamp Set issued by POstNL: Date of Stamp Set issue: 23.03.2020






















34) "UN Crypto Stamps", United Nations: "New Technologies for the United Nations Stamp Series": Series II of United Nations Crypto Stamps issued by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) which run on Blockchain Technolgy: Date of Stamps issue:18.11.2022

35) 2022 NL Crypto Stamp - Duo Set Crypto The Netherlands (NL) + Oostenrijk (Austria) - Collectibles: Date of Joint Crypto Stamp issue: 22.09.2022

36) Tarzan of the Apes, Netherlands: A Medal/Coin issued by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) depicting the popular fictional legend of Tarzan of the Apes: Date/Year of Coin/Medal issued: 2022

37) "EpilepsieNL" (Epilepsy), Netherlands: 130th Annversary milestone (1893-2023): Two Coins/Medals in Coincard issued by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM): Year of Coins issue: 2023

38) Sesame Street, Netherlands: 45 Years of Sesame Street Milestone (1968-2023): The Royal Dutch MInt has released the complete collection of Sesame Street Muppets: Date/Year of Coins issue: 2023

39) Holland America Lines, Netherlands: 150th Anniversary milestone (1873-2023): PostNL (Netherlands Post) has issued a 24-carat Gold Stamp with the denomination of "1" (for items weighing upto 20g for domestic/inland post): Date of Stamp issue: 18.04.2023

40) "The Compliment", Netherlands: "Dutch Design Stamp Series": PostNL (Netherlands Post) has issued the Fifth Stamp Sheet, all stamps marked "International 1": Date of Stamp Sheet issued: 23.10.2023


Links to Posts on Pieter Mondriaan (or "Piet Mondrian"):



Experience Nature Stamp Series:








9) Experience Nature - Skrok and Skrins Nature Reserves located n the province of Friesland: "Experience Nature 2021-2023 Perennial Series": A set of Stamps issued by PostNL (Netherlands Post) featurng the Flora and Fauna of the Nature Reserves: Date of Stamp Set issue: 13.02.2023

10) Experience Nature - De Weiden Nature Reserves located in the province of Overijssel: "Experience Nature 2021-2023 Perennial Series": A set of stamps issued by PostNL (Netherlands Post) featurng the Flora and Fauna of the Nature Reserves: Date of Stamp Set issue: 12.06.2023

11) Experience Nature - Oisterwijk Woods and Fens located in the province of Noord-Brabant: "Experience Nature 2021-2023 Perennial Series": A set of ten stamps issued by PostNL (Netherlands Post) featuring the Flora & Fauna of the Nature Reserves: Date of Stamp Set issue: 14.08.2023

For interesting posts from the Caribbean Netherlands on this blog:


Typically Dutch Postage Stamp Series "House Types & facades":





Typically Dutch Coin Series -2023:






Dutch World Heritage Series:



For other interesting posts on Belgium & Luxembourg Coins and Stamps:


5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020

6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020

7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020













23) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations), Belgium: Bpost (Belgian Post) has issued a Stamp Sheetlet which showcases a fingerprint in which a face is hidden as a symbolic representation of the theme - "identity": Date of Stamps issue: 20.03.2023

24) Asteroid Day (or "International Asteroid Day), Luxembourg: POST Luxembourg (formerly known as Entreprise des Postes et Telecommunications) has issued a postage stamp of L50g (the rate for a standard letter domestic postage): Date of Stamp issue: 16.05.2023

25) SABENA (National Airline Carries), Belgium: Centenary Celebrations - 1923-2023): The Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) in association with the Royal Belgian Mint (RBM) has minted a 20 Euro Silver Crown Coin which marks the centenary of the founding of the country's first airline carrier: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023

26) 130th Anniversary of the Art Nouveau Movement, Belgium: 130th Anniversary Celebrations (1893-2023): Commemorative 2 Euro Coins minted by the Royal Dutch Mint (RDM) at their facilities in Houten, Netherlands, in association with the Royal Belgian Mint (RBM) celebrating the milestone: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2023

27) Hanseatic Cities in Belgium: The Royal Dutch Mint (Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt), Utrecht, Netherlands has issued a 10 Euro Silver Coin on behalf of Belgium depicting Hanseatic Cities and Trading activities in the country: Date/Year of Coi issue: 2023)

Links:

For other interesting posts from the Faroe Islands:





8) "Organic Art", Faroe Islands: Posta/Postverk Foroya (Postal Works of the Faroes Islands) has issued a set of six stamps of 29.00 DKK (x 3 Stamps) and 19.00 DKK (x 3 Stamps) depicting Organic art by three artists in the Faroes: Date of Stamp set issue: 16.05.2022

9) Faroese Minerals, Faroe Islands: Posta (Faroe Islands Post) has issued a Miniature Sheet (MS) of stamps depicting Calcite and Copper: Date of Stamps issue: 24.10.2022

10) Faroe Islands Banknotes New Series - 2012: An updated version of Faroese Banknote Series with new security features was introduced into circulation: Banknotes were printed by Danmarks Nationalbank

11) Cairn, Faroe Islands: Posta (Faroese Post) has issued a postage stamp of 100.00 DKK (Danish Kroners) celebrating the significance of Cairns all over the Foroe Islands: Date of Stamp issue: 10.08.2023

Posts on Aruba on this blog:

 1) A New 2019 Fourth Series of Banknotes, Aruba, issued by the Central Bank of Aruba (Centrale Bank van Aruba) on 04.06.2019 comprising five denominations with the theme of "Endangered Flora and Fauna of Aruba" and historic monuments and landmarks










For other interesting posts from the Faroe Islands:





8) "Organic Art", Faroe Islands: Posta/Postverk Foroya (Postal Works of the Faroes Islands) has issued a set of six stamps of 29.00 DKK (x 3 Stamps) and 19.00 DKK (x 3 Stamps) depicting Organic art by three artists in the Faroes: Date of Stamp set issue: 16.05.2022

9) Faroese Minerals, Faroe Islands: Posta (Faroe Islands Post) has issued a Miniature Sheet (MS) of stamps depicting Calcite and Copper: Date of Stamps issue: 24.10.2022

10) Faroe Islands Banknotes New Series - 2012: An updated version of Faroese Banknote Series with new security features was introduced into circulation: Banknotes were printed by Danmarks Nationalbank

Posts on SEPAC issues on this blog:





Posts on Finland on this Blog:













Links to other Posts on Aland issues:


2) Wildflowers, Aland Islands: A new Series of Franking Labels issued by Aland Post: Date of issue: 03.02.2020






Links to some other posts on shipwrecks:



Links:

i) "The Rooswijk", an ill-fated Dutch East Indiaman, Netherlands which sank during her second trip on 09.01.1740: Mexican Silver Cobs, Silver reales, Klippes and Pillar Dollars etc were recovered from the ship-wreck

The undernoted two links will take you to our blog "Footloose" for two interesting posts written by me on the Dutch presence in Sadras in the 17th Century AD:

i) Reconnecting with India's historical heritage: A visit to Sadras Fort built by the Dutch in 1648: (Part 1): a) Commentary of the Dutch presence in India & b) The Dutch Cemetery

ii) Reconnecting with India's historical heritage: (Part ii): A visit to Sadras Fort built by the Dutch in 1648: The ruins tell the story of a flourishing Sea-trade

Links to Posts on Pieter Mondriaan (or "Piet Mondrian"):


For other interesting posts on Belgium & Luxembourg Coins and Stamps:


5) City of Bruges (or Brugge), Belgium: 20 Years as UNENCO World Heritage Site: A 20 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Royakl Dutch Mint under licencing of the Royal Belgian Mint, on behalf of the National Bank of Belgium: Coin issue date: 26.02.2020

6) 100 Years of Nature & Environment Protection, Luxembourg: Commemorating the Centenary Anniversary of the "Letzebuerger Natur a Vulleschutsliga a.s.b.l. (Luxembourg Nature and Bird Protection Society):A 0.80 Euro Stamp issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Date of stamp issue: 10.03.2020

7) Celebrating 25 Years of listing on UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Luxembourg: A Commemorative Stamp of 0.80 Euro issued by Luxembourg Postes (Post): Stamp issue date: 10.03.2020

















Posts on SEPAC issues on this blog:



























Posts on SEPAC issues on this blog:





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