Animal Kingdom - Jersey

 Animal Kingdom - Jersey

2001 Birds of Prey

20th May: World Bee Day

World Bee Day

Bees are an indicator species, meaning that their presence, absence, or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition.  Bees, as pollinators, play an important role for humankind in terms of providing nutritional food, medicines and sustainable agriculture.  Honey and Bee wax are widely used as medicines.  Unfortunately, in recent years bees have been facing increasing threats. Increase in population, climate change and technology very much disturbing their habitat.

Recently, I learnt how the mobile rays are affecting their communication and navigation.  Entertaining movies like Bee Movie effectively created awareness about the importance of Bees.   Raising public awareness of the importance of bees is need of the hour. Having realized this, Slovenia took initiative to declare May 20 as World Bee Day and it was acknowledged by UN nations in 2017 and the world celebrated its first World Bee Day in 20th May 2018.

Slovenia, one of the smallest countries in Europe,  is emotionally attached to bees.  Around four people out every thousand citizens of Slovenia are beekeepers, which is unique in the world.  Their beekeeper's association is more than 140 years old.  

Slovenia born Anton Janša is known as a pioneer of modern apiculture.  He was employed as a teacher of apiculture at the Habsburg court in Vienna.  His exact birth date is not known, however, he was baptised on 20 May 1734.  His birthday is celebrated as World Bee Day.

The below Bee Miniature sheet was issued by Jersey Post.

Odd World - Jersey

My Jersey collection of Odd and Unusual Stamps/MSs

3D Motion stamp 

Odd shaped Stamp

Silk MS 

 Wood MS

World's first Queen Elizabeth black and white hologram stamp

Island of Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is predominantly loyal to the British monarchy.  Even though Jersey has its own currency British pounds are also very much in circulation.  Jersey has its own  financial, legal and judicial systems but United Kingdom is responsible for the defense of Jersey.  

On 1st June, 2012 Jersey post issued the very first official Achromatic Holographic portrait of  Her Majesty, The Queen as part of Diamond jubilee celebrations.  Achromatic means free of colour, which means black and white only.

In this portrait she is wearing a black colour dress with white pearl necklace. The diadem she is wearing in this portrait has 1333 diamonds and 169 pearls. This diadem is the one she is wearing in almost all the British stamps and she worn this for her coronation procession.  The same portrait is appearing on the 100 pound Jersey notes.