Definitive series • Issue date March 5, 2019

The Coraciiformes series includes some of the most colorful bird species found in Israel. These species are known not only for their striking appearance, but also for their sound. While they don’t actually sing, their unique whistles and sounds can be heard from far and wide.

Coraciiformes live throughout the world. Seven species are found in Israel: the European Roller, three Kingfisher species (White-throated, Common and Pied) and three Bee-eaters (European, Little Green and Blue-cheeked).

The birds in this series all have long beaks and eat live prey. Bee-eaters expertly catch flying insects, Kingfishers dive from mid-air into the water to catch fish, while Rollers and some Kingfishers (White-throated) hunt arthropods and small mammals on the ground. These birds typically locate their prey from high exposed vantage points, which makes them perfect “models” for birdwatchers.

The manner in which they seek out their food requires exceptional flying skills as well as unique physiological characteristics. Bee-eaters utilize their wonderful aerobatic abilities to pursue dragonflies and wasps. Kingfishers can locate their prey underwater, dive sharply into the depths and take off again with wet feathers and a fish in their beaks.

All of these species nest in Israel, except for the Common Kingfisher. The nests are made in long horizontal burrows which the Coraciiformes dig in vertical dirt walls. Some of these burrows can be up to two meters long.

The future of the Coraciiformes depends on expansive open habitats with bodies of clean water. Accelerated development processes, expanding urban communities and agricultural areas as well as road-building reduce these habitats and threaten these birds’ continued existence. In addition, the wide-scale use of agricultural pesticides causes a buildup of toxins in their bodies and decreases their food sources. We must preserve their natural habitats in order to continue to enjoy the beauty of these special birds.

European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
The Bee-eater is one of the most vibrant birds in Israel. With its long, narrow curved beak it is able to trap bees and wasps in flight. In order to avoid being stung the Bee-eater brings its prey back to its perch and flings it against the surface until the unlucky insect dies.

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)
This gentle and elegant looking species is almost completely green. It used to nest in Israel’s northern but today nests only rarely in the Jordan Valley and is considered to be on the brink of extinction.

The discovery of a few new nesting sites in recent years has led to slight optimism regarding the future of this beautiful and special bird.

Little Green Bee-eater (Merops orientalis)
The Little Green is the smallest of the Bee-eater species in Israel, and is the most suited to the desert. It can mostly be seen in southern Israel and along the Dead Sea rift northward to the Sea of Galilee region.

The Little Green is the only one of the three Bee-eater species that remains in Israel year-round and does not migrate.

European Roller (Coracias garrulus)
The European Roller is uniquely colored in shades of blue. When it spreads its wings it reveals bold opposing hues of turquoise, blue and black that are thrilling to behold.

The Rollers’ name stems from its mating flight, which includes aerobatic maneuvers, dives and in-flight rolls.

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
The Common Kingfisher is an expert diver that catches its prey by diving steeply into the water from its vantage point high above. Its transparent eyelids and short triangular tongue allow this species to open its beak and keep its eyes open while in the water in order to catch its prey.

—Dotan Yosha

Issue Date: March 5, 2019

[press release]
In the Book of Psalms the poet wrote: “I turn my eyes to the mountains”, asking in times of trouble and distress, “from where will my help come?” High mountains that ascend toward the heavens have been perceived throughout history as sacred sites, places where the gods dwell or as worthy places of prayer to God in heaven.

This was not the only reason that people climbed to the mountaintops. The spectacular scenery visible from the summit, the unique plants that could be found there and the animals that lived solely at great heights all lured the people residing at the foot of the mountain to gather their strength and ascend to the summit. In order to preserve this special environment, some of the most noteworthy mountains in Eretz Israel, such as Mount Meron and Mount Karkom, have been designated as Nature Reserves.

Mount Meron
The Mount Meron range towers above the Upper Galilee region. Soaring to the height of 1204 meters above sea level, Mount Meron is the tallest mountain in Eretz Israel west of the Jordan River and is one of the rainiest areas in Israel, and even has occasional snowfall during the winter months. These conditions allow plants such as the Wild Peony featured on the stamp, which are typical of the mountains in Turkey and Lebanon, to grow on Mount Meron, the southernmost point of their dispersion. Hiking trails are marked around the summit and along the slopes, leading visitors among the mountain’s many delightful natural and archeological treasures. Important prayer sites lie at the foot of the Mount Meron range, the most significant of which are the grave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai which is sacred to the Jews and the grave of Nabi Sablan, a sacred prophet of the Druze people.

Mount Karkom
In the southwestern Negev Desert, along the banks of the Paran River, the flat summit of Mount Karkom is located 847 meters above sea level. The broad flat upper portion of the mountain sits atop steep slopes that soar 200 meters above the surrounding area. The view from the top of Mount Karkom is breathtaking, allowing visitors to see large parts of the arid southern Negev Desert as well as the Sinai Desert. More than 40,000 rock drawings have been discovered on Mount Karkom and in the immediate area. These were carved by humans and include figures such as the Long Horned Deer that appears on the stamp. Many of the rock drawings show humans with their arms outstretched toward the heavens as if in prayer. The aridness of the area surrounding the mountain (which does not allow permanent inhabitance) along with the existence of the many rock drawings have led researchers to conclude that Mount Karkom served as a sacred place of worship and prayer, visited by caravans of merchants passing through the area and groups of believers who travelled there from distant lands. Prof. Emmanuel Anati, who devoted many years to researching the site, identified Mount Karkom as the Mount Sinai noted in the Bible, however this opinion is not accepted by most researchers in the field.

Description of the Stamps:
Mount Meron Stamp
Photo – Mount Meron Range – Eyal Bartov
Photo – Wild Peony – Lior Almagor
Photo – Hiker – Shutterstock

Mount Karkom Stamp
Photos – Mount Karkom and Rock Drawing – Moshe Rimer
Photos – Hikers and Desert Rhubarb – Eyal Bartov