[press release, from Google Translate]
Stamps portray endangered farmland birds
The Hague, 21 February 2020 – PostNL is today releasing a new stamp sheetlet in the “Experience Nature” series, with 10 different birds from farmland on 10 stamps. This also includes the black-tailed godwit, which was elected National Bird by the Dutch public a few years ago.
Landscape under pressure
Farmland birds live in the neighborhood of heirs, barns, ditches, fields and meadows. Due to changes in the landscape, the natural habitat of farmland birds is increasingly under pressure.
Bird protection in the Netherlands
The consequence of this for the farmland birds is far-reaching, says Resi Becker, director of Mail NL at PostNL. “In half a century, 60% of these birds have disappeared in our country. The Netherlands currently has around 70 species of farmland birds. We must handle this with care. That is why PostNL is supporting the efforts of Bird Protection Netherlands to protect all wild birds and their habitats as well as possible by issuing these stamps.”
Balance in positions and viewing directions
The design for Experience Nature – Farmland Birds is by graphic designer Frank Janse from Gouda. The following farmland birds are depicted on the stamps: yellow wagtail, shoveler, black-tailed godwit, curlew, summer mortar, 
partridge, lapwing, little owl, redshank and skylark. Of the 10 farmland birds on the stamps, only the 2 bellowing godwits and the skylark can be seen in the sky. The other birds are depicted standing, sitting or swimming. Janse: “That has to do with the fact that farmland birds are generally somewhat smaller and therefore more difficult to recognize when they fly. More importantly, I wanted to create a nice balance. With birds that takes different positions and look at different sides. ”
Fresh colors
All photos on the stamps are from Buiten-Beeld, the Dutch image bank for nature photography. Because of the spring, Janse has searched for images with fresh colors of green, yellow 
and orange. “The latter especially comes back nicely in the long legs of redshank, in the partridge’s part, the belly of the shoveler, and the necks of the two bald-tailed godwits. That was also a consideration to make the title orange this time. ”
Availability
The stamp sheet Experience nature – farmland birds has 10 different stamps with the value indication Netherlands 1, intended for mail up to and including 20 grams with a destination within the Netherlands. The stamps are available from 24 February 2020 at all points of sale of PostNL, the post office in the Bruna stores and via the website, in Dutch. The stamps can also be ordered by telephone from Collect Club customer service on telephone number 088 – 868 99 00. The period of validity is indefinite.
