El Dios

Maradona meant so much to so many people. During 80s when Argentine people were going through ugliest economic crises and poverty, Diego brought joy ,smile and ray of hope for many Argentine by winning 1986 world cup .

My first encounter with Diego came in 1992, for the wrong reason—I saw a news article featuring his photo after he tested positive for banned substances. From that point on, I began following Maradona and the Argentine national team. He was the man who made me fall in love with Argentine football—a true magician, an icon, and an inspiration for countless young kids who dreamed of following in his footsteps. Despite battling his own personal demons in the public eye, he brought happiness to millions.

I just want to say—Maradona was not perfect. He was human, with many flaws and mistakes. But that’s exactly why we loved him—because he was human. Life gave Maradona many chances and opportunities to rise above his troubled, chaotic, and often unhealthy lifestyle. And yet, no one else in the world has ever received the kind of love, affection, and gratitude from people around the globe that Diego did—both in his triumphs and in his struggles.

The Maradona of the 1980s was an idol, a legend, an inspiration to so many. Even the Maradona of the 1990s seemed to be searching for that same phenomenal, charismatic version of himself. Sadly, he never quite found it again. 

Afganistan bird stamps

Afghanistan is a landlocked country that is located approximately in the center of Asia. It is variously designated as geographically located within Central Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East. It is bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the south and west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast. Afghanistan's wetlands and birdlife bear brunt of war and drought.

 The internationally significant Sistan wetlands - shared between Afghanistan and Iran - are almost completely dry, according to a new report presented to environmental leaders in Nairobi.  Considering that Afghanistan is landlocked and mostly quite arid, its avifauna is remarkably rich.

From vibrant pink flamingos to the critically endangered Siberian crane, Afghanistan hosts a surprising diversity of birds. Home to over 500 different species – seventeen of which are globally threatened – Afghanistan’s location at the crossroads of several biogeographic realms provides an incredible habitat for its bird population.

In Badakhshan in 2008 scientist discovered for the first time in history a likely breeding population of large-billed reed warbler, dubbed “the world’s least- known bird.”

 Number of species: 517
 Number of introduced species: 4
 Climate: arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest 

 Afagan postal department publishes 37 bird stamp till date .

25a

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Red-legged Partridge    Alectoris rufa

Angola Bird stamps

Angola is one of the most exciting and least visited birding countries in Africa. Angola has a multitude of habitats: deserts in the south-west; arid savannas in the south; mountains in the west, with associated Afromontane forests and grasslands; tropical lowland forest in the north and Cabinda; sub-montane forest along the escarpment, and vast areas of broadleaved Miombo woodlands over most of the east.

 It has a bird list of more than nine hundred and twenty species but there has been little ornithological activity for some thirty years. Sadly, a long running war and political instability have impacted habitat adversely as well as limiting opportunities for visiting birders. However, the war ended now with high opportunities for birding.

 Angola has a host of endemic and near-endemic species to attract ornithologists, birdwatchers and listers alike. Many of the near endemic species such as Ruppell’s Bustard Eupodotis rueppellii, Ruppell’s Parrot Poicephalus ruepellii, Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis, Bradfield’s Swift Apus bradfieldi, Violet Wood-hoopoe Phoeniculus damarensis, Monteiro’s Hornbill Tockus monteiri, Gray’s Lark Ammomanopsis grayi, Benguela Long-billed Lark Certhilauda benguelensis, Carp’s Tit Parus carpi,  Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides gymnogenys and White-tailed Shrike Lanioturdus torquatus are easier to see and simpler logistically in Namibia.

 Number of species: 1008 
 Number of endemics: 14
 Number of introduced species: 1   Location: Southern Africa Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season and hot, rainy season Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau .


There are total approx 250 stamps published by Angola .

 2.50a  African Skimmer  Rynchops flavirostris 

Argentina bird stamps

Wildlife on stamps are one of the well-loved themes in topical stamp collecting. Thematic stamp collectors who are nature lovers go for fauna-themed stamps.

I am not a professional Thematic philatelic collector .A thematic collection will generally consist of a wide range of philatelic material from a wide range of countries. My thematic stamp collection is about the birds with very less or no knowledge about  the minutiae of philately - proofs, handling , errors , unusual cancellations,and so forth. However, at the other end it gives me enourmous joy and happiness when I see birds on stamps, so I make sure my  collection should be organised in such a way that it tells an interesting story about the countries and its birds.

Bird Stamps and other wildlife related philate
lic items not only provide the means of effective communication but also serve the cause of conservation by generating funds , making everyone aware about wildlife and portraying biodiversity of particular country or region .

There are perhaps about 30,000 so-called bird stamps in existence from all over the world. Several bird stamps appeared before the turn of the 19th century and the oldest known bird stamp is the Basel Dove which was issued on 1 July, 1845 and produced by the Swiss canton of Basel. Approximately 41,000 copies of the stamp were printed, which were valid for around nine years. The very first bird that appeared on Indian stamps was a postal carrier pigeon, which appeared on the 2-annas and 14- annas stamps of 1 October 1954, celebrating the centenary of postage stamps in India. Since the image is symbolic, most bird stampwebsites do not display this stamp.

 I am starting my collection details with Argentina bird stamps.

Birds of Argentina- Argentina is home to an impressive number of species of birds that vary from residents, that stay all year around, to breeding birds, that spend a good part of the growing season in Argentina to raise their young, migrants who pass through Argentina with the seasons, to wintering birds who like to spend a good part of the winter in Argentina to escape colder conditions up north.  While many species of birds are relatively common as they are part of the ecosystems of the state, it is always a thrill to stumble upon a rare bird or vagrant, that does not really form part of any the Argentina ecosystems. Maybe it got lost during its travels between its summer and winter residence or it got displaced by bad weather.


Number of species: 1056
Number of endemics: 16
Number of breeding endemics: 5
Number of introduced species: 11 Climate: mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest
Terrain: rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border 

Most of these endemic species are facing constant threats to their populations especially as a result of habitat loss. Protected areas for some of these birds have been put up within the natural habitats especially in reserves.


Till date Argentina postal department published 171 bird related stamps out of it, I have 3 in my collection :) .

 7p 165 Plush-crested Jay (Cyanocorax chrysops)
 13p 107 Golden-collared (Macaw   Primolius auricollis)
 1p 79 Western Barn Owl (Tyto alba) 

North Bangal Birding Trip