Issued on: 09 Jul, 2008
Description: 台灣蘭鵲(Táiwān lán què) / The Formosan Blue Magpie (Urocissa caerulea)
The Formosan Blue Magpie (Urocissa caerulea), also called the Taiwan Magpieor and the " 長尾山娘(Chángwěi shānniáng)/ long-tailed mountain lady ." It is an endemic species living in the mountains of Taiwan at elevations of 300 to 1200m. The Formosan Blue Magpie is voted as the national bird of the Republic of China, commonly known as "Taiwan." The voice is described as a high pitched cackling chatter, "kyak-kyak-kyak-kyak."
Taiwan blue magpie is a member of the Corvidae family and a protected species endemic to Taiwan. Its head and breast are black. The rest of its body is blue. Its tail feathers are exceptionally long. The bird’s gorgeous plumage makes it a frequent target of hunters. Overdevelopment and pollution pose an even more serious threat. To call attention to the importance of ecological conservation, this Post specially commissioned Professor Yuan Hsiao-wei at National Taiwan University to plan a set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet on the Taiwan blue magpie. The designs follow:
1. Foraging (NT$5.00): Taiwan blue magpie is an omnivorous bird. Its diverse diet, group living habit, large stature, and combative nature are all advantageous
traits in terms of survival. Its food storing behavior gives it another survival advantage in the face of natural change.
2. Rearing the young (NT$5.00): Taiwan blue magpies are cooperative breeders; individuals other than a chick’s parents, including both other adults and sub-adults, can help provide care and that ensure group survival.
3. Sub-adults (NT$12.00): In most bird species, the parents gradually drive their young away to find their own territory after they are grown, yet the sub-adults of Taiwan blue magpies stay to help rear their younger siblings.
4. Flying (NT$12.00): Also known as “long-tailed mountain ladies,” Taiwan blue magpies live in groups. When they fly in a line, it appears as if they are building beautiful “bird bridges” in the forests. The sight is magnificent.
臺灣藍鵲屬鴉科，為臺灣特有種保育鳥類，其形態特徵為頭至胸部黑色，嘴喙與雙腳紅色，其餘部分大致為藍色，尾羽甚長。由於羽色華麗，常受獵人覬覦，更因環 境過度開發與污染而面臨嚴重的生存壓力。為喚起人們對生態保育的重視，特委請臺灣大學袁孝維教授規劃「保育鳥類郵票－臺灣藍鵲」1組4枚及小全張1張。茲 將本組郵票圖案簡介如下：
一、覓食（面值5元）：臺灣藍鵲屬雜食性，多樣的食性、群聚、體型較大、個性兇猛等因素，使其在自然環境中取得較優勢的地位，而「儲食」的行為使牠們在多變的自然環境中更具生存優勢。
二、育雛（面值5元）：臺灣藍鵲採「合作生殖」方式延續後代，除親鳥外，同一族群的成鳥或亞成鳥也參與育雛，有助於保障族群的延續。
三、亞成鳥（面值12元）：多數鳥類在幼鳥羽翼漸豐後，親鳥會逐步驅離使其另覓棲息領域，而臺灣藍鵲的亞成鳥卻在親鳥後續繁殖育雛過程中，擔任幫手的角色。
四、飛行（面值12元）：有「長尾山娘」雅號的臺灣藍鵲，好群棲，當成群呈直線飛行時，猶如在秀麗的山林間搭起一座座美麗的鵲橋，令人讚嘆。
Source of the materials: Wikipedia
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