Massena’s Lorikeets on new Vanuatu stamps

Date of Issue : 25 May 2011

Vanuatu Post issued a set of 4 beautiful stamps and a Miniature sheet on 25 May 2011 featuring Massena’s Lorikeets. All the stamps also bear the logo of WWF. The first day cancellation also shows a Lorikeet. It is a wonderful set for bird lovers.

Massena’s Lorikeets

Listed as a sub-species of the Rainbow Lorikeet, Massena’s Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus massena is also known as the Coconut Lory and in Bislama – Nasiviru. While the Rainbow Lorikeet, through 21 different races is found throughout Indonesia, New Guinea, the Solomons and parts of Australia, Massena is found only in the Bismarck Archipelago (near New Guinea), the Solomons and throughout Vanuatu except Futuna and Lopevi. Growing to around 250mm including a 100mm tail, these striking coloured lories are mainly bright green with a red breast, bluish-mauve head and red-orange beak. They frequent flowering trees but their movements are usually erratic as they travel, even between islands, in search of food.

Growing to around 250mm including a 100mm tail, these striking coloured lories are mainly bright green with a red breast, bluish-mauve head and red-orange beak. They frequent flowering trees but their movements are usually erratic as they travel, even between islands, in search of food.

Living primarily in wooded habitat in lowland areas, they are sometimes found in steep terrain where favourite trees or shrubs are flowering. They prefer habitat other than true forest or mangroves however and are found in trees.bordering watercourses surrounding paddocks, in suburban gardens and in nearly every coconut plantation. The nectar and pollen from these coconut palm flowers form their staple diet and in return the lories are important pollinators of these trees. Other sources of food include the Indian Coral tree, the African Tulip tree and the Sago palm. They also enjoy the soft fruit of the Panama Cherry tree and ripening fruit from domestic orchards. Maize and sorghum crops are also targeted.

: Vanuatu Post

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Limited edition khadi stamps now available

AHMEDABAD: The world's first 'khadi' stamp is available in Ahmedabad from Saturday.The stamp, with the image of Gandhiji and the charkha on a piece of khadi cloth, will be a collector's delight.
The stamp is a premium limited edition printed on a miniature sheet format. The khadi theme pertains to Mahatma Gandhi and his idea of 'self-reliance' and national pride.
It was in Ahmedabad that the idea of khadi was born with Gandhiji experimenting with the charkha in 1918.
"The postal department had never issued a stamp on any material other than paper. Our department thought it apt to introduce the khadi stamp as Gandhiji advocated the use of handspun khadi. Gandhiji called it the 'thread of life'.
"Politically, khadi was part of Gandhiji's movement to defy the economic exploitation by the British. The khadi cloth and the charkha became the symbol of India's liberation and patriotism. It is for this reason that the khadi stamp was introduced," says chief postmaster general Gujarat Humera Ahmed.
The stamp was introduced earlier this year during the World Philatelic Exhibition - Indipex 2011. But this is the first time the limited edition stamp is being sent to a few select centres across the country, including Ahmedabad, where Gandhiji set up his Satyagraha Ashram in 1915 soon after returning from South Africa.
There are only 10,000 khadi stamps printed by the India Security Press in Nasik. "Most of these stamps were sold during the exhibition in Delhi. Only a few are left and are available at a special counter at the Ahmedabad GPO," according to a senior India Post official.
The Ahmedabad GPO has also brought out a special collection of post cards to commemorate 600 years of Ahmedabad.
"We have covered the historical assets of Ahmedabad in our post cards. We wanted to come out with a souvenir for the city and a collection of post cards is an apt choice," says Ahmed.

Times of India 28 may 2011