Papua New Guinea Bowerbirds on Stamps

On the 4th of August the Papua New Guinea Post will release a series of stamps dedicated to very exciting species of birds inhabiting the country, called Bowerbirds.

The bird life of New Guinea is almost unparalleled in its beauty and diversity. It represents a source of constant interest, whether to the first-time visitor to the island, the scientist or the national citizen.

With more than 650 species, New Guinea supports nearly one tenth of the world's bird.

Also New Guinea is best known for the Birds of Paradise where 39 of the 43 species inhabit the Island and its satellite islands.

Among them is the most distinctive group of birds known as the Bowerbirds. They vary from others in genus, feathers and wing shape. Bowerbirds are famous for their behavior of building and decoration display sites, called bowers on the ground. Bowers are structures of interwoven sticks with side walls up with 25cm to 3m high. They vary in architecture among species, from a broad mat of twigs to huge stick domes embellished with landscape gardens. Decorations include purple and white flowers, blue and brown berries, red nuts and black mushrooms, charcoal and snail shells, pebbles and bones including colored plastic lids.