South African Birds

South Africa, Pietermaritzburg · 1990-08-02

Official

Click any photo to see it enlarged, and step through the rest.

front

info card

Cachet: Loerie

Info card

Here's the extracted text from the two insert cards, followed by an overview paragraph about the FDC. ## Image 1 — Afrikaans **SUID-AFRIKAANSE VOËLS** **21c en gedenkkoevert** — *Tauraco corythaix* — **Knysnaloerie** Die Suid-Afrikaanse Knysnaloerie met sy kenmerkende roep en betreklike kort kuif word nou as 'n inheemse spesie beskou wat beperk is tot die woude aan die Transvaalse platorand en die ooskus tot so ver suid as Knysna. Hy smelt goed saam met die groen blaredak van die bos maar verraai sy teenwoordigheid met sy diep, krassende roep of die rooi flits van sy vlerke in vlug. Hy spring tussen die takke rond op soek na vrugte en insekte. Die nes is 'n stokkieplatform soos dié van 'n duif. Gewoonlik word twee wit eiers gelê en albei geslagte neem deel aan die broei- en neskuikentydperk wat van drie tot vier weke duur. **35c** — *Cossypha natalensis* — **Nataljanfrederik** Die Nataljanfrederik is 'n bewoner van die immergroen kus- en rivierbosse in die ooste van Suid-Afrika. Hy vreet insekte en vrugte op die woudvloer. Hy word meer gehoor as gesien want hy is 'n uitmuntende sanger en 'n bekwame nabootser van ander voëls se sang. Pare bewoon 'n gebied in die bos waarbinne hulle in di voorsomer broei. Die nes is 'n kommetjie van blare en takkies wat tussen wortels, rankplante of in splete weggesteek word. Gewoonlik lê hulle drie eiers waarvan die kleur wissel van effekleurige sjokoladebruin tot turkoois met donker vlekke. Die wyfie broei alleen terwyl die mannetjie vir haar kos bring. Albei ouers help om die kuikens groot te maak. **40c** — *Mirafra africana* — **Rooineklewerik** Lewerikkies is grondbewoners. Die rooineklewerik verkies die oop veldstreke in die ooste van die land. In die somer is hy een van die opsigtelikste lede van dié familie omdat hy gewoonlik op 'n lae bossie of 'n heiningpaal sit en sing. 'n Frase wat uit vier helder fluitklanke bestaan, word vir lang tye herhaal terwyl hy nou en dan sy rooi nekvere lig en sy vlerkvere klapper. Pare bewoon dieselfde gebied en gebruik dieselfde roepplekke jare lank. Hulle bou elke somer 'n kommetjienes met 'n koepeldakkie onder 'n graspol in hul gebied. Die wyfie lê van twee tot vier eiers en die paar deel die pligte gedurende die broeityd. **50c** — *Telophorus zeylonus* — **Bokmakierie** Die bokmakierie is 'n bosfiskaal wat algemeen in Suid-Afrika voorkom. Hy verkies 'n oop habitat wat van dor halfwoestyn tot vogtige grasveld wissel. Die pare baken hulle gebiede af met luide, wisselende sang waarvan die naam *bokmakierie* 'n klank-nabootsing is. Hulle roep met die snawel regop in die lug en sing dikwels 'n ingewikkelde tweesang. 'n Broeisel van tot ses blou eiers met bruin spikkels word in die lente in 'n sterk kommetjienes laag in 'n bos gelê. Die geslagte deel die broeiery en die versorging van die kuikens, wat van 'n verskeidenheid insekte en ander klein diertjies leef. *Teks: Dr Alan Kemp, Hoofkurator, Afdeling Voëls, Transvaal-museum.* ## Image 2 — English **SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS** **21c and commemorative envelope** — *Tauraco corythaix* — **Knysna Lourie** The South African Knysna Lourie, now considered an endemic species with its distinctive call and relatively short crest, inhabits the forests along the Transvaal escarpment and the east coast as far south as Knysna. It blends well with the green foliage of the forest canopy but makes itself conspicuous with its deep croaking call or flash of red wings in flight. It bounds through the branches to feed on fruit and insects. The nest is a platform of fine sticks like that of a dove. Usually two white eggs are laid and both sexes take part in the three to four weeks of the incubation and nestling periods. **35c** — *Cossypha natalensis* — **Natal Robin** The Natal Robin is a denizen of the coastal and riverine evergreen forests in eastern South Africa, feeding on insects and fruit on the forest floor. It is more often heard than seen as it is an excellent songster and an accomplished mimic of the song of other bird species. Pairs inhabit territories within the forest, within which they breed in early summer. The nest is a cup of leaves and twigs hidden among roots, creepers or crevices. Usually three eggs are laid, varying in colour from plain dark chocolate to turquoise with dark blotches. Only the female incubates, fed at the nest by her mate, but both parents share in raising the young. **40c** — *Mirafra africana* — **Rufous-naped Lark** Larks are ground-living birds. The Rufous-naped Lark favours areas of open grassland in the eastern part of South Africa. In summer it is one of the most conspicuous members of its family through its habit of singing from a low bush or fence post. A phrase of four clear whistling notes is repeated for long periods, while the rufous nape feathers are raised and the wing feathers rattled at intervals. Pairs occupy the same territory and use the same call sites for many years. Each summer they build a cup-shaped nest with a domed roof under a grass tuft in the area. The hen lays two to four eggs and the pair share duties during the breeding cycle. **50c** — *Telophorus zeylonus* — **Bokmakierie** The bokmakierie is a bushshrike widespread in South Africa. It favours open habitats from arid semi-desert to moist grasslands. Pairs proclaim their occupation of territories in loud and varied song, of which the name *bokmakierie* is an onomatopoeic rendering. The calls are uttered with the bill pointing skywards and are often rendered as complex duets. The clutch of up to six blue eggs, spotted with brown, is laid in spring in a robust cup-shaped nest placed low in a bush. The sexes share incubation and care of the young, feeding them on their varied diet of insects and other small animals. *Text: Dr Alan Kemp, Head Curator, Department of Birds, Transvaal Museum.*

Additional information

This First Day Cover (FDC 5.10), titled **"Suid-Afrikaanse Voëls / South African Birds,"** was issued by the South African Post Office on **2 August 1990** and cancelled at **Pietermaritzburg**. It carries a set of four stamps, illustrated by C.G. Davies, depicting South African birds: the 21c Knysna Lourie (*Tauraco corythaix*), the 35c Natal Robin (*Cossypha natalensis*), the 40c Rufous-naped Lark (*Mirafra africana*), and the 50c Bokmakierie (*Telophorus zeylonus*) — each species also described in detail on the accompanying bilingual insert cards, with text credited to Dr Alan Kemp, Head Curator of the Department of Birds at the Transvaal Museum. The cover's left-hand side features a fine, painterly illustration of the Knysna Lourie in flight, its distinctive crimson wing feathers spread wide, set within an ornate red-bordered frame — a more artistically elaborate presentation than the FDCs seen in the other South African issues from this period. Bearing the "PT 5.10" catalogue mark, this cover forms part of the Post Office's long-running series of nature-themed commemorative issues.

Theme: Wildlife

Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.

Addressed: No

Signed: No

SAPO serial number: 5.10

Estimated value: ~US$0.1

This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.