Gura Humorului, Bucovina, Romania

Thank you MARIUS for the nice card this a nice shot  , sent 15.APR.2014 .

    Gura Humorului is a town in Suceava County, north-eastern Romania. It is situated in the historical region of Bukovina. Gura Humorului is the seventh largest urban settlement in the county, with a population of 12,729 inhabitants, according to the 2011 census. It was declared a town in 1904 and it became a resort in 2005. The town administers the former village of Voroneț (which became a neighborhood), site of Voroneț Monastery. 

 

 

 Stamp:

• Winged Tobacco (Nicotiana alata Link & Otto)

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Flowers’ Clock (II)
Themes:
    Clocks | Flowers | Plants (Flora)
Issued on:
    2013-06-21

 

Peregrine Falcon,Poland

 Thanks to asia for the nice card sent 11.04.2013

The Chronicle of the Peregrine Falcon in Poland 

(source http://www.peregrinus.pl/en/peregrine-falcon/157-peregrine-story-in-poland)

    At the beginning of the 20th century, the Peregrine Falcon was a common species on the entire territory of Poland, although not abundant. It could be found most frequently in the area of Warmia and Mazury (North-eastern Poland). The literature about the Peregrine Falcon’s presence in pre-war Poland is scarce and so is the information about the species after World War II. At that time, Poland was in the middle of the region of the tree-nesting population, which extended from the North-eastern Germany to the lowlands of Belarus and Russia.

    Rapid decline of the population was recorded in the 1950s. Nests of the Peregrine Falcon on the territory of Poland were last seen in 1964 in the vicinity of Krakow and also near Koszalin and Wroclaw.

    The first attempts at breeding the Peregrine Falcon in captivity were started by the Polish falconers in the late 1970s and the first positive results were achieved in mid-1980s.  In the beginning of 1970s, when the Polish falconry was revived, the Peregrine Falcon was already extinct on the territory of Poland.  Because of this, all birds involved in breeding at that time originated from the West-European breeding centres.  They represented nominative sub-species of the Peregrine Falcon with their ancestors coming from the German, Scottish and Scandinavian populations.

    Reintroduction in the wild began in the year 1990 and it was carried out mostly in the forested areas, mainly in the mountains (Pieniny) and in large cities (Warszawa, Krakow).  Currently the work is coordinated by the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus peregrinus) Reintroduction Council in Poland. In the breeding activities, 5 breeding centres and several associated institutions are engaged, under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.

    During the period 1990 – 2006, about 300 Peregrine Falcons have been reintroduced in the natural habitat and about 80 nestlings have hatched in the wild.  Since about mid-90’s, the Peregrine Falcon can be seen more often in its natural environment.

    In 1998, the first wild nest of the Peregrine Falcon was found in Warsaw and since then the number of known wild nests has increased. In the year 2005 we were aware of 10 breeding pairs and the majority of them came from our reintroduction. We also know about several birds, reintroduced or born in their natural habitat in Poland, establishing their nests in Germany.  We expect similar number of breeding pairs in forests, however we were not able to locate them so far.

 

    A total of 350 Peregrines were released in Polish forest in the period 1990 – 2009. The tree-nesting part of the project was not as successful, as the similar project conducted in Germany, what was discussed at the 2nd International Peregrine Conference Poland 2007. Since 1999 Peregrines breed in Polish cities and mountains only.

In 2010 Society for Wild Animals “Falcon” started Polish Peregrine Project on a new basis. The plan was to intensify reintroduction aimed at tree-nesting population on a small number of hacking stations. A total of 56 Peregrines were released in three hacking sites in 2010. The birds came from breeders form Poland, Denmark, Germany, Czech and Slovak Republics and Austria. In 2011 closer cooperation with German Falconers Club /DFO/was started and DFO members and the breeding station run by prof. Christian Saar in Hamburg will provide Peregrines for the release in Poland. A total of 66 young Peregrines were released in Poland in 2011. The birds came from falconers of DFO and breeders in Poland, Denmark, Czech and Slovak Republics.

 

A long expected in Poland nest of Peregrines on tree was found in spring 2012 in the old nest of White-tailed See-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in north-east part of country. For the first time since 1964 Peregrine chicks on tree were ringed in Poland. That was a very symbolic moment. Two chicks were male and female. They were ringed by Slawomir Sielicki from Society for Wild Animals “Falcon” in presence of Adam Mrugasiewicz - who ringed last known Polish tree-nesting Peregrines 48 years ago, Piotr Adamiok , who found this nest, our friends from German Falconers Order (DFO), Polish falconers and local hosts, foresters and ornithologists. In previous years only single birds from Poland nested on trees in Germany, there is also one confirmed case of nesting on tree in Poland in 2010, but after the fledging.

    In 2012 further reintroductions were conducted, with a total of 71 Peregrine released by Falcon Society in our 4 reintroduction sites and additional 4 chicks (2 provided by Falcon Society) in Krynki Forestry, making a total of 75 Peregrines relesed in Polish forests. With 2 chics born wild 77 young Pregrines soared this year in Polish forests.

Stamps for left to right

• 2007 - The Stanislaw Wyspianski's Year.

Country:
    Poland
Themes:
    Painters
Issued on:
    2007-05-18

• Vienna

Country:
    Poland
Series:
    Capital Cities of EU States
Themes:
    European Union | Townscapes / City Views
Issued on:
    2008-10-24

Winter Wood, Arkhangelsk, Russia

 

Thanks to Svetlana  for the nice  Winter Wood Card sent 05.02.2013.

    Arkhangelsk (population 390 000) is a regional center in Northwestern Russia, located on both banks of Northern Dvina river near its inflow into the White Sea, about 1100 km to the north of Moscow and about 1500 km northeast of Saint Petersburg. 

(source: https://wikitravel.org/en/Arkhangelsk)

• Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bears | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Zaraysk Kremlin

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    6th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Architecture | City Walls | Coats of Arms | Fortresses / Strongholds
Issued on:
    2009-10-01

TSAKSKOY SELO.THE CATHERINE PALACE INTERIORS

     Former summer residence of the imperial family, Tsarskoe Selo is a museum-reserve located 25 km south of St. Petersburg. It includes two large English-style parks, two vast palaces and several decorative pavilions. Its name translates from Russian as "Tsar's Village". Founded by Peter the Great in the early 18th century, the residence first became the property of his wife Catherine. Later, Peter's daughter Elisabeth enlarged the Catherine Palace and built a "golden enfilade", a succession of salons decorated with paintings and gilding for luxurious receptions, games and balls. At the end of the 18th century, Empress Catherine II invited the Scottish architect Charles Cameron to redesign the parks and decorate some of the salons in classical style. At the same time, she started the construction of the second palace for her grandson, the future emperor Alexander I. The last Russian emperor Nicholas II signed his abdication from the throne at the Alexander Palace in February 1917. After the revolution, the parks and palaces were opened to the public. Nazi troops occupied the territory during the Second World War and almost completely destroyed the palaces. The restoration work begun after the end of the war continues to this day, but the "Golden enfilade" and the salons of Catherine II once again offer visitors their original brilliance. The Amber Room of the Catherine Palace, a unique room in the world with its decoration of mosaic panels of amber and minerals of coniferous resin was once considered the "eighth wonder of the world". Disappeared during the period of Nazi occupation, it was fully restored and opened to the public in 2003. To do: Visit To see: The Golden enfilade of the Catherine Palace, the Amber Room This location is in the St. Petersburg travel guide .

Stamps from left to right:

• Guards Patrol Ship "Metel"
  

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    Weapons of Victory - Warships
Themes:
    Anniversaries and Jubilees | Navies | Second World War | Ships | Warships
Issued on:
    2013-05-08   

• Moose (Alces alces)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
    Animals (Fauna) | Deer | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

• Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

Country:
    Russia
Series:
    5th Definitive Issue of Russian Federation
Themes:
    Animals (Fauna) | Bears | Mammals
Issued on:
    2008-08-29

Braslau Lakes National Park

 Thank you Julia for the nice card , sent 14.04.2013.

    

    The Braslav Lake Area is famous for unusual landscapes and terrain left by the ancient glacier.

    The major asset and pride of the region are its lakes. Here you can find about 300 lakes of various sizes, forms, depth, composition, water transparency, flora and fauna. For their unusual beauty they are called “the blue necklace” of Belarus.

    The deepest lakes include South Voloso (40.4 meters deep), North Voloso (29.2 meters), Uklya (25 meters) and Strusto (23 meters).

    The biggest ones are Drivyaty (36 square kilometers, the 5th largest in Belarus) and Snudy (22 square kilometers, the 8th largest in Belarus).

        Here you can find relict invertebrates that live only in clean water as well as over 30 species of fish. The Braslav Lakes are home to about 35% of all birds nesting in Belarus. 

(Source:  https://www.belarus.by/en/about-belarus/natural-history/braslavskiye-ozera)

In the card you can The catholic Church of the Heart of Jesus.

 

Stamp:

• Khatyn

Country:
    Belarus
Themes:
    Second World War
Issued on:
    2013-03-22

The village of Khatyn and its sad history     

      Khatyn was once a village, located 50 km from Minsk. Today, at this place, there is a memorial dedicated to those who died during the Great Patriotic War. The place has great importance for Belarusians. I will tell you a sad story about the massacre of a population by a battalion of Nazis. In addition, I will tell you about the memorial complex itself, which you can visit during your trip to Belarus.

    Before 1942, Khatyn was an ordinary village. In 1943, Belarusian partisans killed a German officer, a fact that marked the beginning of the siege of the village by the enemy. All the inhabitants of the village were locked up in a shed and burned, including the elderly, women and children. One hundred and forty-nine people died in the shed that day, including 75 innocent children. Only one man, 56 years old, saved himself: Joseph Kaminski. He had also tried to save his child, but he could do nothing. The story of Khatyn is not an isolated case, because during the Second World War, 628 other villages were burned; however, Khatyn has become exactly a symbol of the tragedy of the Belarusian people.

UKRAINIAN CARPATHIANS

 

Thanks to NATALI from lviv .

    The Ukrainian Carpathians (Ukrainian: Українські Карпати) are a section of the Eastern Carpathians, within the borders of modern Ukraine. They are located in the southwestern corner of Western Ukraine, within administrative territories of four Ukrainian regions (oblasts), covering northeastern part of Zakarpattia Oblast, southwestern part of Lviv Oblast, southern half of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast and western half of Chernivtsi Oblast.^[1] 

^{(SOURCE :Wikipedia)}

Stamp:

• English Oak (Quercus robur)

Country:
    Ukraine
Series:
    Eighth Definitive Issue - Trees
Themes:
    Plants (Flora)
Issued on:
    2012   

Maramures tanjeaua de la hoteni

 Sent from Romania , Thank you DIANA 22.03.2013

    Maramures, home of culture and civilization, which has carved its history in wood, is the place where traditions, costumes and folk art are present like nowhere else in Romania.
Maramures is a huge museum outside, and the daily life of the village represents a real return in time.

    Maramures is a region that has preserved, throughout its history, an authentic relationship between customs and work, daily life and festivals. The wooden objects, decorated with great artistic sense, accompany all the important moments in life, but the most fascinating are the crosses, real elements of communication between the world of the living and the world of the dead. The Joyful Cemetery of Sapanta, created by the popular artist Ion Patras, gathers hundreds of "talking crosses". Through a text in which self-irony is intertwined with drama, the life of the deceased person is summarized in a few sentences.
    Traditional crafts, such as weaving, wood carving, painting on wood or glass, are still practiced, and are transmitted from father to son.

Stamps from left to right :

• Live healthy

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Live Healthy!
Themes:
    Fruits
Issued on:
    2012-05-03

• Pressing Irons II - Italy, 18th century

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Pressing Irons   
Themes:
    Home Appliances
Issued on:
    2012-02-17

• Christmas 2012

Country:
    Romania
Series:
    Christmas 2012
Themes:
    Christmas
Issued on:
    2012-11-15