SWITZERLAND – Postcard from Zurich, Switzerland to Braga, Portugal

Postcard with Zurich airport cancellation over stamp of CHF 1,90 from the last definitive series ‘Domestic Birds’, posted on September, 26 2011

(A very special thanks to my wife Cristina)

Definitive stamps - Domestic Birds

Rock partridge  (CHF1,40 stamp)

Alectoris graeca

Size

33 cm

Diet

Rock partridges are mainly vegetarian, preferring to eat various parts of plants, seeds, shoots and berries.

Habitat

This species lives in the Alps, choosing warm, rocky south-facing slopes with dwarf shrubs, isolated trees, alpine meadows and boulder fields, generally above the tree line.

Migratory behaviour

Rock partridges are sedentary birds and spend the winter in Switzerland too, though deep snow cover compels them to move down to valley bottoms or up to high altitudes with patches that are clear of snow.

Reproduction

These birds nest on the ground, usually at the base of trees or rocks. The female hatches the eggs alone. The chicks can fly after 10 to 20 days and are fully grown at 50 to 60 days.

Nesting population

3,000 to 4,000 breed­ ing pairs. Rock partridge numbers can be expected to fall as more and more farming land in mountain regions is abandoned.

Red kite (CHF1,90 stamp)

Milvus milvus

Size

61 cm

Diet

These birds scour the ground from the air for small mammals or carrion. They will also snatch freshly caught mice from carrion crows.

Habitat

In the mid-20th century, red kites were mainly found in northern Switzerland, but now they also inhabit the fringes of the Alps, some alpine valleys and the area round Lake Geneva.  Migratory behaviour nowadays, red kites tend to stay in their territory all year round, whereas previously almost all of them migrated to the Iberian Peninsula for the winter.  Reproduction These birds build their eyries in trees and line them with wool, moss, hair, paper and rags. Clutches comprise two to three eggs. The young take 30 days to hatch and leave the nest after a further

50 to 55 days.

Nesting population

At present, there are 1,200 to 1,500 breeding pairs in Switzerland. Species numbers have made a strong recovery, thanks to their protection throughout most of Europe and an abundant supply of food.

Technical Details

Date of Issue: 1 April 2009

Values: stamps of CHF 1,40 and CHF 1,90

Designer: Eva Ch. Weber, Basel; Martine Chatagny Praz/Vylly

Printer: Joh. Enschedé

Process: 5-colour offset lithography

Size: stamps 33.0 mm x 38.0 mm (including label)

Perforation: Serpentine cut

Paper: White stamp paper, self-adhesive on backing paper 220g/m2

Watermark:

Sheet: sheets of 50 stamps