2011 United Nations Endangered Species

Endangered Species

In 2011, the United Nations added the 19th set of 12 stamps to its long-running Endangered Species Series.  The stamps, issued to raise awareness of the need to protect endangered species around the world, picture 12 different species of birds.

The Vienna stamps picture the Red-front parakeet, White-tailed eagle, Black palm cockatoo, and Nicobar pigeon.  The red-fronted parakeet, also known as the red-crowned parakeet, was once abundant in mainland New Zealand.  Today it is all but extinct there, with small populations inhabiting the offshore Kermadec Islands as well as Three Kings, Hauraki Gulf, and Stewart Island.