Sp.447 Conservation of Birds Postage Stamps-Blue-tailed Bee-eaters

To promote a better understanding about ecological conservation and to raise the image of R.O.C. internationally for its conservation efforts, the Chunghwa Post is taking the bluetailed bee-eater, a protected summer migratory bird species in Kinmen National Park, as the topic for a set of four stamps as well as a souvenir sheet.

The blue-tailed bee-eater (Merops philippinus) belongs to the order Coraciiformes, family Meropidae. The family Meropidae consists of 25 species. More than 30 countries in the world have taken some ten of these species as subjects of bird stamps. Including their tail feathers, blue-tailed bee-eaters are about 30 centimeters long. They look very beautiful with their black eye stripes, sharp and pointy bills, red throats, green backs and blue feathers. They are very nimble and often catch their prey in flight-behavior that has earned them the nickname "hunters on the wing." They come to Kinmen to breed during April and May every year. Their colorful plumage adds many beautiful colors to the summer sky of Kinmen, and the sight of them in flight is enjoyed very much by bird watchers.

(1) First Day Cover in small size to be sold at NT$2.00 apiece. First Day Cover in large size to be sold at NT$3.00 apiece.
(2) Folder especially prepared for the stamps to be sold at NT$5.00 apiece.
(3) Folder with crystal mount for better protection of the stamps to be sold at NT$5.00 apiece. Folder with crystal mount for better protection of souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$8.00 apiece.
(4) Loose-leaf stamp album page with plastic cover to be sold at NT$16.00 apiece.
(5) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a low-valued stamp to be sold at NT$7.00 apiece.
(6) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a complete set of stamps to be sold at NT$42.00 apiece.
(7) Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with a souvenir sheet to be sold at NT$43.00 apiece.
(8) Conservation of Birds Postage Stamps Pictorial-Blue-tailed Bee-eaters to be sold at NT$330 apiece. (Provisional)

11. Additional Print of Domestic Postal Card

First day of issue: April 10, 2003
Price: NT$2.50
Stamp indicium: The Auspicious Postage Stamps (Issue of 1992)- Good Fortune and Satisfaction
Paper used: 180 lbs. Woodfree printing paper
Printer: Cardon Enterprise Co., Ltd.
Size of postal card: 105 X 148 (mm) (Vertical)
Color: Red
Process: Deep etch offset
Quantity to be issued: 30,000,000

Description:
To meet operating needs, domestic postal cards are being 1 printed additionally. This issue of postal. cards will be printed! with postcode publicity and with a phosphorescent bar just above 1 the stamp paper.

III. A Commemorative Envelope in Commemoration of 2003 Hakka Tung Festival

First day of issue: April 17, 2003
Price: NT$2
Paper used: 110 g/M2 Woodfree paper
Designer: Ben Wang
Printer: Bing Yi Color Printing Co., Ltd.
Size of envelope: 162 X 114 (mm)
Color: colorful
Process: Deep etch offset
Quantity to be issued: 20,000
Description :
Over half of the Hakka population in Taiwan lives in the tablelands of Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli. Concentrated in one area, they have developed their own character and style of life. To convey the importance with which the government regards the Hakka people, the Council for Hakka Affairs of the Executive Yuan has scheduled the 2003 Hakka Tung Festival from April 19 to May 3, 2003, which it is co-sponsoring with the Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli county governments. The festival is meant to: celebrate the Hakka people and their culture and to show: reverence and gratitude to Mother Nature. The Chunghwa Post plans to issue a color commemorative envelope on April 17, 2003 to commemorate this occasion.
This commemorative envelope will go on sale April 15,2003.
Cachet:
A commemorative cachet will be available on April 17 2003 at Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taichung Post Offices and all the philatelic centers throughout the country.