COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE

Striated Caracara
(Phalcoboenus australis)

Issue Date: 20 December 2006









The Striated Caracara or Johnny Rook as it is popularly known is considered to be one of the rarest raptors in the world. Its distribution is limited to the Falkland Islands and some islands off southern Tierra del Fuego only, yet Darwin noted it in 1834 as being a common species. During the late 1990's, the species was estimated at only 500 breeding pairs on the Falklands. There are no population estimates on Striated Caracaras on the other islands.

It is this bird's cheeky and fearless attitude to man that cost the whole Falklands population dearly. The Caracaras were ruthlessly persecuted over the years because flocks of some fifty birds were seen raiding the newborn lambs on sheep farms. Equipped with powerful legs and claws it is relatively easy for a group of Caracaras to make short work of a lamb. Their tendency to now and then steal objects lying around the scattered homesteads on the islands only made matters worse. But today the species is protected and severe punishments dealt out to anyone believing they are allowed to shoot a Caracara.

Their natural choices of prey are the carcasses of fully grown birds as well as live chicks and eggs snatched in a seabird colony. As it is such a sly opportunist, it will not hesitate to go after any other tasty morsel, some of its feeding habits nauseating from a human observer's point of view.

The nest is built on a rocky ledge with branches and grass in the protection of clumps of tussock grass or under an overhanging boulder. Caracaras are social birds and sometimes form small rookeries with the nests some six to seven metres apart. Juveniles soon leave their parents after fledging and gather in flocks of different sizes, moving around like bands of marauding thieves in their never-ending search for food and will not hesitate to attack fully grown Upland Geese.

On Steeple Jason Island the Striated Caracara is particularly numerous and there the Rockhopper Penguin chicks are an important source of food.

The Falklands Conservation organization plays a significant role in the protection of sensitive natural areas on the Falkland Islands. And through its worldwide network, BirdLife International monitors the status of birds all around the globe, and supports conservation campaigns wherever these are necessary.

The liner detail is taken from Dag Peterson's (Swedish) book "Distant Islands, Svalbard and the Falkland Islands"

About the artist, Dag Peterson

Dag Peterson was born 1939 in Varberg and is now living in the Swedish village Kinnahult close to the town Gothenburg.

All his life, Dag Peterson has been deeply involved in the work of preserving threatened species. His book "Birds of Prey and Owls in Scandinavia", WWF´s Panda book 2002, was honoured by the Swedish King Carl Gustav XVI as the best written and illustrated natural history book.

He has been commissioned by the Aland Post department and by the Falkland Islands Philatelic Bureau, to produce several images for postage stamps.

His lithograph "Dancing Cranes" was awarded a First Prize at an art exhibition in 2004, organized by Wildlife Art Society International in Bristol Zoo.

Today, Dag Peterson is one of Sweden's most popular and appreciated wildlife artists. Over the years, his work has been shown in numerous exhibitions, both in Sweden and abroad. His paintings have been bought by museums abroad, municipalities, county councils, banks and companies, but particularly by thousands of private collectors. Pencil, water-colour, gouache, acrylic and oils, he has used every medium.

Visiting the Falkland Islands in February 2006, the third visit in a short period of time is strong evidence that these islands are a heaven for a wildlife artist.

Dag Peterson is a member of Wildlife Art Society International and Worldwide Nature Artists Group.

Home Pages: www.wildlifeart.se www.natureartists.com/dag_peterson.asp
For details of the entire WWF stamp collection visit www.groth.ch

Technical details:

Artist Dag Peterson
Printer BDT International Security Printing
Process Lithography
Perforation 14 per 2cms
Stamp size 30.56 x 38mm
Values 25p, 50p, 60p, 85p
Sheet Layout 50 (2 x 25)
Sheetlet 16 (4 x 4)
Release date 20th December 2006
Production Co-ordination Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd

For further information, please contact John Smith, Pobjoy Mint Ltd, Tel: (44) 1737 818181 Fax: (44) 1737 818199 e-mail: john@pobjoy.com



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