Bird of the year. Western capercaillie

On March 3, 2020 the Ministry of Communications and Informatization of the Republic of Belarus will issue the stamp “Western capercaillie” of the series “Bird of the year”.

 

 

The 22^ndCongress of the public organization “Ahova ptushak Batskaushchyny” (Protection of Homeland Birds) declared the Western capercaillie the bird of the year 2020 in Belarus.

The Western capercaillie mainly inhabits little visited by man old coniferous and mixed (with a significant proportion of pine) upland forests, less often — raised bogs; rarely it is found in young pine forests.

Western capercaillie is considered a hunting species in Belarus, despite the small population — about 9 thousand birds.

These birds have an unusual feature, which is observed during the mating season — worsening of hearing and loss of vigilance. The song of males during mating consists of two parts: during the first part the bird hears everything, and during the second — the male does not hear anything around! This makes the bird defenseless in front of hunters.

The project was prepared with the assistance of the public organization “Ahova ptushak Batskaushchyny”.

The stamp contains the logos of the global partnership of conservation organizations "BirdLife International" and the Belarus public organization "Ahova ptushak Batskaushchyny" (APB).