THE BEAUTIFUL AVIFAUNA OF THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS ON STAMPS

BY GIORGIO MIGLIAVACCA

Christopher Columbus discovered the Virgin Islands during his second voyage to the New World in 1493. In his diary we find notes about hearingbirds in the high and lofty hills of some Caribbean island singing beautiful songs in the night. The British Virgin Islands, with the exception of Anegada,are hilly and therefore constitute a good habitat for birds. Reforestation projects during the last twenty years have helped and enhanced this habitat.Sage Mountain in Tortola with its remnants of a rain forest is a perfect bird sanctuary and so is Guana Island. Protected areas for sea birds are:Fat Hog's Bay (Tortola), West Dog (Northeast of Virgin Gorda), Flamingo Pond on Anegada, The Dogs (a group of small islands lying to the Northeast of Virgin Gorda), and the Tobagos. Birds, with their beauty, diversity of form, plumage and behaviour have fascinated mankind since time immemorial.Virgin Islanders and tourists alike are fascinated when they catch sight of some of the exotic species living in the islands. It is no surprise then,that birds have become a favourite theme on BVI postage stamps. From 1951 to 1997 the BVI has issued at least 80 stamps depicting birds of the islands.A source of constant entertainment is the indigenous brown pelican; watching a pelican gliding above the water looking for fish and witness the amazing preciseness with which the bird catches its prey is an unforgettable experience.This is probably one of the reasons why the brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) is the most popular bird on BVI stamps. As a matter of fact, a brown pelican, majestically standing over the coat of arms of the University College ofthe West Indies, was the first bird to appear on a local stamp in 1951.A pelican was also depicted on five other BVI stamps issued in 1953; 1962; 1964; 1973; 1980 and 1988: thus making this bird "number one" in the philatelic hit parade of the islands. A strong rival of the pelican, philatelically speaking, is the "man-o-war" otherwise known asthe magnificent frigate bird (Fregata magnificens). The "man-o-war"has been featured on BVI stamps issued in 1953, 1973, and 1980. This last stamp shows the most striking feature of the male which consists of the red gular pouch in its beauty during the breeding season. Although the turtledove (Zenaida aurita) living on the hills is believed to be responsible for giving the name to the main island in the archipelago, Tortola, she did not appear on local stamps until recently. The sweet bird can be tame,coming close to take scraps. She calls very often a leisurely soft "coo-a-coo-coo", heard at any time but especially in the early morning.The turtle dove was portrayed on a 5 cent stamp issued in 1973. Her popularity was further enhanced in 1985 when she was chosen for the top value of the new definitive set. The Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) which is a common oceanic species of the West Indies was shown on a 20 cent stamp issued for the world stamp exhibition "London 1980". The White Booby, or Masked booby, scientifically known as Sula dactylatra is a rare bird in the BVI. It is usually seen to the North of its breeding grounds which are located near the North Western limits of the archipelago. If you are notable to catch sight of this uncommon bird you may see it depicted on the $2 stamp issued in 1985. The American Kestrel (Falcus sparverius), locall yknown as "Killy-Killy", became more prominent recently when a 25 cent stamp depicting the bird in one of its raids was issued in 1985. Shortly after a new $1.00 stamp - part of a set commemorating the world'sforemost ornithologist and nature artist, John James Audubon - depicted three Killy-Killys. The mangrove cuckoo, better known as "rain bird", owes its names to its habitat and its breeding season (in fact, April and May are rainy months). In St.Thomas and in the U.S. Virgin Islands it is called "Dumb bird" and this is probably why it was depicted on the definitive 5 cent stamp of 1985 with its beak wide open - probably -squabbling with the neighbours living on the sister islands. The rain bird previously appeared on a local stamp issued in 1973. Green-throated humming-birds are a common sight in the BVI; they are most abundant around shrubs and flowers at lower elevations but are also seen at 1,700 feet on the highest hills. You will find this humming-bird around flowering plants. If you are a patient photographer you may take home a breathtaking picture of one of these birds while feeding on a gorgeous hibiscus. It is pugnacious, chasingother birds from near its nest. This is a small neat cup of plant fibres attached to a branch. The Antillean crested hummingbird is not difficult to encounter, but despite its miniscule size (3 inches) this hummingbird is even more aggressive than its larger cousin. The male's brilliant green crest immediately sets it apart from its uncrested green and pale grey mate.It is found throughout Tortola wherever there are flowering shrubs and plants,especially in gardens. Both hummingbirds can be admired on a set of four superbly produced stamps issued by the BVI in 1982 and on a 1 cent stamp of 1973. Pigeons are quite prolific and though forgotten on stamps they made quite an impact in 1985 when the wild pigeon (Columba squamosa) appearedon a 12 cent stamp. They are huge birds - 15 inches - and their plumage is magnificently iridescent when they are not in the shade of dense foliage. A close relative, the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) non- indigenous,was reproduced on a 30 cent stamp depicting one of Audubon's masterpieces.Once you have spotted a cow you will see the cowbird. This is the smallestof the white herons which spend daylight hours foraging on pastures and cut-over cane fields, habitually feeding very close to cattle on grasshoppers and other insects they disturb. This is an Old World species which was first reported from the Caribbean region in 1952. The cowbird or cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) is featured on a $ 3 stamp issued in 1985. Another sweetbird is the ground dove (Columbina passerina) shown on a 50 cent stamp of the 1985 Birds definitive. This dove is common and widely distributed in gardens, waste places, coastal pastures, sand dunes, and woods. Almost always in pairs, they nest close to or even on the ground in nooks protected by spiny cactus or thorn bushes. This protects the site against the predatory mongoose. All the following birds were depicted on the Birds definitiveset issued by the BVI Postal Authorities in 1985. The green heron featuredon the 40 cent stamp is locally known as Little Gaulin (Butorides virescens). It is quite common on many of the islands, showing some preference for water but also found in open country, woods and even gardens. The Little Gaulin shows a very intense blue on the back when flying away. The Red-billed Tropicbird locally called "Boatswain" (Phaeton aethereus) depicted on the1 cent stamp can be seen near the isolated cays where it nests. The Night Gaulin, Yellow- crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea), depicted on the2 cent stamp is a large bird - from 22 to 28 inches easily identified by its black and white head markings and grey underbody. The longtailed Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) featured on the 8 cent stamp can be seen in winter,spring, and early summer. It feeds on seeds and berries and is a pleasant songster. The Grey Kingbird, familiarly known as Chinchary (Tyrannus dominicensis), depicted on the 10 cent stamp of the Birds definitive is a very common nesting resident with a large black bill and square gray tail. The Chinchary is a very active fly catcher. The Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) is quiterare in the BVI where is better known by its nickname "Bittlin"(15 cent). When Black Witches perch on a tree in your garden it is traditionally taken as a sign of bad luck. In fact most people in the islands detest them and chase them away. They live in small flocks and follow a leader. The scientific name for this bird is Crotophaga ani, or more commonly Smooth-billed Ani (18 cent.). The Black Witch is a relative of the cuckoo; the females, in fact, lay their eggs in the same nest. The clapper rail, locally knownas "Pond Shakey" (Rallus longirostris) appears on a 20 cent stamp. It is a relatively rare bird. Certainly it is much easier to catch sight of a "Thrushie", a cheeky intruder that enters open windows to attack food left on a table or any kind of leftover. Its more common name is Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus). This nosy bird is depicted on a 30 cent stamp. Marmi doves are quite jealous of their privacy and they are not easy to spot. The bird is quite attractive with white stripe below eye, dark red-brownback with lighter red-brown undersides; it is commonly known as Bridled Quail Dove (Geotrygon mystacea). This rare species is portrayed on a 35cent stamp. The Little Blue Heron, locally known as "Blue Gaulin"(Florida caerulea), which appears on a 60 cent stamp is a pure white andblack patterns before emerging as a dark slate grey adult. Audubon's Shearwater, Pimleco for the natives (Puffinus Iherminieri), is shown on a $ 1 stamp. A spring and summer resident, the Pimleconests in colonies in rock cavities.The avifauna of the BVI is divided between 80 species of land birds, waders and North American winter migrants and comparably fewer sea bird species. Manyof the latter are members of wide- ranging oceanic populations which nest on the outer cays. 1992 was an historical year for BVI birds; in fact it was in March of that year that a flock of eighteen flamingos (PhoenicopterusRuber) was re-introduced on Anegada, the northernmost isle in the group. In 1831 a scientist observed that Flamingos usually arrived in the island during the rainy season, when the Orinoco river inundated its shores and deprived them of the means of procuring food. He remarked that "they usually arrive with the first southerly wind and approach Anegada in flocks of hundreds, and choose Flamingo Pond for their favourite abode; whence they proceed every morning at sunrise to the reefs, where they feed till the sun draws near the horizon, when they return. It is a splendid sight to see several hundred drawn up in a regular form, resembling the figure of a cross, approaching from the west, flapping their mighty wings, and the sun reflecting its rays upon their rose-coloured breasts, the air resounding with their cry, which, consisting of several cadences, has been compared by the inhabitants to singing. It appears they decrease annually; they even do not breed in Anegada, as they did formerly. On the Spanish main these birds are held sacred, and are in no way molested by the superstitious inhabitants." The reason for their abandoning Anegada is to be found in ecological changes in their area of origin: the Orinoco. As late as 1917 another scientist concluded his report on Anegada with the following words: "But, though race succeeds race, and generation follows generation, still the beautiful flamingo, with its scarlet feathers and high slender body, comes and goes to Drowned Island(Anegada), even as it did before the Caribs and the buccaneers, the wrecker,and the settler had ever been." To mark the historic re-introduction and successful breeding of flamingos, a colorful set of four stamps and one miniature sheet were issued by the BVI Postal Authorities on 15 November 1995. Two weeks later, a special postmark depicting a flamingo and the unique Anegada Rock Iguana was utilised for the two-day Fifth BVI Annual Stamp Exhibition. The four stamps feature young flamingos (15c); adult flamingos (20c); an adult feeding at the salt pond (60c) and an adult feeding a chick ($1.45). Inspiration for the design of the top denomination came from a picture taken a few months earlier in the vicinity of Flamingo Pond, Anegada. The miniature sheet features the five chicks which have now brought the flamingo population on Anegada to twenty-three. A set of four stamps issued in 1980 includes a 50 cent stamp depicting the White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon Lepturus)which is widespread throughout the islands. The same set was also printed on a special souvenir sheet whose margins shows a map of the BVI pointingout the breeding sites of the brown pelican and of the magnificent frigate bird. In 1986, all the values of the 1985 Birds definitive were overprinted with the word "OFFICIAL". A 10 cent stamp issued in 1973, depicting local new coinage, reproduces a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon), a common fall and spring migrant and a winter resident. Its plumage is bluegray with a raised tuft on top of the head. Non resident birds depicted on BVI stamps include: the Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) shown onthe 50 cent, 1985 Audubon set; the Seaside Sparrow (Ammospiza maritima; 5 cent, 1985); a red robin and another unidentifiable bird are also shown on the margins of two elaborate souvenir sheets issued December 1985 to commemorate the 85th birthday of the Queen Mother. In recent years more pelicans were featured on the 1988 "Wildlife" set of four stamps.And in 1990 asset of 8 stamps and two miniature sheets depicted birds andtheir eggs.

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