Bird of the Year (V). The Bar-headed goose
Newsletter no. 96.pdf
On April 30, 2024 the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz
Republic puts into circulation a 2023 Kyrgyz Express Post postage stamp: "Bird of the Year (V). The
Bar-headed Goose".
The Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) is a migratory
bird from the duck family. The Bar-headed Goose has a grayish body color, with white head and neck sides. A
characteristic feature of the appearance of these geese is the presence of two black bars on the crown and
nape. The weight of an adult bird ranges from 2 to 3 kg. Bar-headed geese are among the highest-flying
birds. There is a recorded case of Bar-headed Geese flying at an altitude of 10,175 meters.
The Bar-headed Goose winters mainly in India. It flies to
Kyrgyzstan during March and April, and flies to wintering grounds in November. Bar-headed geese prefer to
settle near high-mountain lakes and the swampy areas of alpine meadows. In Kyrgyzstan, they nest exclusively
on the high-mountain lake Chatyr-Kul.
Unfortunately, the number of these beautiful birds is decreasing.
The main reason for the decline in the Bar-headed Goose population is the excessive anthropogenic
development of the territory in nesting areas. Currently, the Bar-headed Goose is a very rare species of
fauna, listed in the Kyrgyz Republic Red Data Book.
The Kyrgyz Wildlife Conservation Society (KWCS) has chosen the
Bar-headed Goose as The Bird of the Year in Kyrgyzstan for 2023.
KEP expresses gratitude to KWCS and especially to Sergey Kulagin
for providing valuable advice in the preparation of this issue of postage stamps. The charitable proceeds
from the sale of this KEP stamp will be transferred to the fund of KWCS.
For this stamp, KEP also issues a postcard, which is used to
realize a maximum card.
Stamp description
No. 217. 150 + 25 KGS. Bar-headed Goose
Technical specifications
Paper: coated, gummed, 105 g/m².Printing method: full-color offset lithography.
Stamp perforation: comb 14:14½.
Stamp size: 46 × 27.5 mm.
Stamp is issued in minisheets of 5 stamps with one label. The minisheet coupon features a pair of Bar-headed geese.
Minisheet size: 113 × 108 mm.
Quantity issued: 7 000 stamps.
Designer: Daria Maier.
Printer House: "Nova Imprim" (Chișinău, Moldova).
A special cancellation on FDC will be carried out at the Bishkek KEP Office (729001) on the stamp issuing day.
The first day cover, postcard and special postmark
are designed by Daria Maier.
Cover size: С6 (162 × 114 mm).
Quantity of covers issued: 400 pieces.
Quantity of postcards issued: 400 pieces.
Endorsing ink color: black.
Stamps, maximum cards and FDCs can be purchased here.
