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26.06.2015
Latvijas Pasts has released unique additions to Birds series of stamps featuring Latvian birds: the European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) and the Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus). The first-day cancellation of the new stamps is scheduled for June 26, 2015 in Riga post office No. 50 located in the shopping mall Origo, 2 Stacijas laukums, Riga, from 7:00 AM to 9 PM.
The new stamps have been designed by artist Ģirts Grīva and each has a print run of 500,000 copies. The denomination of the stamp featuring the golden plover is EUR 1.42, which corresponds to the cost of mailing a registered letter within Latvia, while the denomination of the stamp dedicated to the golden oriole is EUR 0.71, suitable for mailing a regular letter to any country of the European Union. The release of the stamps is accompanied by the issue of two special envelopes depicting both birds, with a print run of 1,500 copies each.
The European golden plover has been given the title of Latvia’s Bird of the Year 2015. The Bird of the Year is one of the annual symbols of Latvian nature, which has been designated by the Latvian Ornithological Society since 1996 in order to draw more public attention to a particular bird species, obtain more information for research thereof or ensure special measures for its protection. In previous years, the following birds were named the Bird of the Year: corncrake (1996), European nightjar (1997), European roller (1998), lesser spotted eagle (1999), northern lapwing (2000), Eurasian eagle-owl (2001), black-headed gull (2002), black grouse (2003), white stork (2004), whooper swan (2005), common kestrel (2006), black woodpecker (2007), black stork (2008), great cormorant (2009), western capercaillie (2010), brown owl (2011), white-tailed eagle (2012), long-tailed duck, (2013) and hoopoe (2014).
The golden plover nests in unenclosed raised bogs, and it is found in larger numbers in Latvia during the migration in the spring and fall. This year, it is planned to explore the golden plover nesting sites in Latvia. The Latin name of the golden plover – Pluvialis apricaria – is quite unambiguous: pluvialis means “bringing the rain (rainy)” and apricari stands for “to embrace the sun”, so the name of the bird means “a sun-embracing bringer of rain”. If the “sun-embracing” part of the name refers to the yellowish plumage, the part referring to the rain is associated with the popular observation that “the golden plover brings the rain”.
The golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus) belongs to the passerine order. It spends the winter season in the far south, and in the spring it returns to its nesting grounds in Europe and Asia. During the migration, these otherwise solitary birds form small flocks, with males and females traveling separately. The golden oriole is a timid type of bird, but the distinctive, flute-like, whistling song of the male with its bright plumage often reveals its location.
Latvijas Pasts has issued Birds series of stamps since 2010, releasing two new stamps per year.
The golden oriole stamp and cover with the first-day cancellation can be viewed here.
The golden plover stamp and cover with the first-day cancellation is available for viewing here.
The next new philatelic release of this year is scheduled for July 24.
Additional information:
Gita Valtenberga,
Head of External Communications Management Division
SJSC Latvijas Pasts
E-mail: gita.valtenberga@pasts.lv
Mobile phone: +371 29283386
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