The Bustards the Bustards

EndangeredEndangered BirdsBirds ofof BOTSWANA:BOTSWANA: TheThe BustardsBustards Commemorative Stamp Issue: August 2017 BOTSWANA BOTSWANA P5.00 P7.00 KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO Red-crested Korhaan & Black-Bellied Bustard Northern Black Korhaan BOTSWANA BOTSWANA P9.00 P10.00 O R O B N E A G KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO 0 7 BALOI KATLEGO 1 . 0 8 . 1 Denham’s Bustard Ludwig’s Bustard Endangered Birds of Botswana THE BUSTARDS ORDER: Otidiformes FAMILY: Otididae Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with “fingered” wingtips and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays. (source: Wikipedia) DID YOU KNOW? The national bird of Botswana is the Kori Bustard KGORI /KORI BUSTARD/ Ardeotis kori and Chick Kori Bustard B 50t Botswana’s national bird. These bustards are the O largest and heaviest of the worlds’ flying birds. T S Found in open treeless areas throughout Botswana, W A they unfortunately have become scarce outside N protected areas, largely because people still kill A KATLEGO BALOI them to eat, despite it being illegal to hunt Kori Bustards in Botswana. They walk over the ground with long strides rather than to fly; indeed, results of satellite tracking in Central Kalahari Game Reserve showed most birds hardly moved beyond a 20 km radius in 2 years! (NO SPECIFIC SETSWANA NAME)/BLACK-BELLIED BOTSWANA KOORHAN/ Lissotis melanogaster P5.00 This bustard is found only in northern Botswana. Both sexes have brownish upper-parts with black spots and bars, but whereas the female is white underneath, the male has the black breast and belly that gives this distinctive bird its name. Not the best of singers, but a stunningly beautiful bird, whose population numbers are declining largely as a result of habitat BALOI KATLEGO degradation. Black-Bellied Bustard DENHAM’S BUSTARD/ Neotis denhami BOTSWANA Little is known about the sub-population in Botswana of this P9.00 rare species. Its geographic range is largely restricted to northern Botswana, notably the Linyanti concession. This species is estimated to be undergoing a moderately rapid population decline owing to hunting pressure and conversion of grassland habitat for agriculture. For the tourist, this is beauty is must-see if it can be spotted! KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO Denham’s Bustard MOKGWEBA/ RED-CRESTED KOORHAN/ Eopodotis ruficrista This is a common bird throughout most of the grasslands of the country, but is more often heard than seen; its whistling call is a common evening sound across most rural Botswana.The males have red crests BOTSWANA which are most visible during the breeding season, when they P7.00 are raised for display purposes MOTLATLAWE /NORTHERN BLACK KOORHAN/ Afrotis afraoides The male birds, with black on the head, neck and belly, are more boldly marked than the females, which are plainer with black BALOI KATLEGO Red-crested Korhaan & only on the belly. In the Spring, male Northern Black Korhaans Northern Black Korhaan fly noisily over the ground and then land with their wings held high and their yellow legs dangling, making a loud call “krracker krracker”. They are found over much of Botswana in open areas with few trees or bushes. Their population is declining presumably as a result of livestock overgrazing their habitats. LUDWIG’S BUSTARD/ Neotis ludwigii Another scarce large-bodied bustard in Botswana, where the BOTSWANA distribution is largely restricted to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier P10.00 Park and its environs. This ‘hard core’ desert-dwelling species is nomadic and a partial migrant, in response to rain. Regrettably, it is during these movements that it collides with powerlines, which seemingly are the greatest threat to this bustard. KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO Ludwig’s Bustard SPECIAL RECOGNITION BotswanaPost would like to thank BirdLife Botswana for their assistance with the distribution maps and text on the bustard species used in this issue, as well as their continued efforts to conserve Botswana’s endangered birdlife. THE BUSTARDS Distribution Maps, Botswana NO C O E W ST RED CRESTED BUSTARD KORI BUSTARD CHOBE CHOBE H NORTH NORTH T WEST WEST NORTH NORTH EAST EAST CENTRAL CENTRAL GHANZI GHANZI G I KWENENG KWENENG KGATLENG C OKGATLENEG KGALAGADI KGALAGADI SOUTH SOUTHERN SOUTHERN SOUTH EAST EAST NO NORTHERN DENHAM’S BUSTARD W ST BLACK KORHAAN K CHOBEH B NORTRTH NORTH WESTE WEST K I NORTH NORTH EAST EAST CENTRAL CENTRAENTRAL SO GHANZI GHANZIHANZ KWENENG KWWENEENENNG KGATLENG KGATLENG KGALAGADI KGALAGADIGAD SOUTH SOUTH SOUTHERN SOUTHERNUTHER EAST EAST LUDWIG’S BUSTARD BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD CHOBE CHOBEH B NORTH NORTRTH WEST WESTE NORTH NORTH EAST EAST CENTRAL CENTRAL GHANZI GHANZI KWENENG KWENENG KGATLENG KGATLENG KGALAGADI KGALAGADI SOUTH SOUTH SOUTHERN EAST SOUTHERN EAST Source: BirdLife Botswana (2017). A Guide to 570 birds of Botswana. DVD Guide to 570 birds A Botswana (2017). BirdLife Source: STAMP ISSUING POLICY Botswana maintains a conservative issuing policy. A definitive set is released every 5 years, illustrating a theme of international interest. Commemorative sets are issued 4 or 5 times a year, illustrating themes that reveal the environmental, cultural and historical heritage of Botswana. Endangered Birds of B and Chick Kori Bustard BOTSWANA BOTSWANA O T S W BOTSWANA: A N A KATLEGO BALOI O R O The Bustards B N A E G KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO O R O BALOI KATLEGO B N Red-crested Korhaan & 0 A E 1 7 Black-Bellied Bustard Northern Black Korhaan . 0 8 . 1 G BOTSWANA0 BOTSWANA 1 7 . 0 8 . 1 KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO Denham’s Bustard Ludwig’s Bustard BOTSWANA P7.00 Endangered Birds of BOTSWANA BOTSWANA: Official First Day Cover P5.00 The Bustards KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO Red-crested Korhaan & Northern Black Korhaan KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO BOTSWANA Black-Bellied Bustard P10.00 ABOUT THE ARTIST BOTSWANA Kori Bustard and Chick P9.00 B 50t O Katlego Ellias Baloi was born T S BALOI KATLEGO W Ludwig’s Bustard and resides in Rasesa, Botswana. A KATLEGO BALOI KATLEGO N He uses art not only as a means A KATLEGO BALOI Denham’s Bustard of self-expression to reach and communicate with others, but also as a tool for introspection. His preferred medium is photography, TECHNICAL INFORMATION but has recently included different Denominations: 50t, P 5.00, P7.00, P9.00, P10.00 graphic design approaches to his Stamp size: 30mm x 50mm repertoire. Print Process: Full Colour Process First Day Cover: 210mm x 148mm He enjoys challenging himself in Miniature sheet: 150mm x 120mm contemporary stylized methods of Artist: Katlego E Baloi visual expression and is inspired by Graphic Design: Southern Colour Print nature and the traditional Setswana Printer: Southern Colour Print way of life. This is Katlego’s first set of stamps Date of issue: 01 August 2017 .

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