Birds in Winter

The Isle of Man Post is pleased to present a set of six stamps feature the birds found in their islands during winter season on the 28th September 2011. The featured birds are depicts by artist Jeremy Paul, the Isle of Man artist. The issue stamps also encompassed the 2011 Europa theme forest (68p stamp) and the SEPAC theme of Scenery (58p stamp).

Robin

The Robin is a plump bird with bright orange-red breast, face, throat and cheeks edged with grey, a white belly and olive-brown upper parts. The sexes are very similar.They have a brown bill and legs.This bird is almost synonymous with winter appearing on countless Christmas cards.

The Robin's diet is principally insects and worms, which it will normally catch by swooping, that is to say, snatching its prey on the ground after watching for movement from a perch above. They will also often follow a gardener that is digging the soil over for any easy pickings

In the winter, resident birds are joined by immigrants from continental Europe, mostly from Scandinavia. The immigrants are also generally less tame because they skulk in woodlands, only British Robins are a tame garden bird.

Dogs At Work.

The domestic dog has been the most widely kept working, hunting and companion animal in human history. Dogs have lived and worked with humans in so many roles such as hunting, herding, protection, assisting police and military, companionship, and, more recently, aiding handicapped individuals. Therefore dogs have the unique nickname, "man's best friend”. Currently, there are estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.

Dogs of several breeds are considered as working dogs that include in human activities in terms of helping out humans. The working dogs are trained properly and accordingly to the activities they will perform. Yet, despite the size of some dogs they are sometimes used as pets as well. However, they generally require special training and owners might have to learn how to bind with their pet, in these cases.

Isle of man Post Offices issued the above stamp depicted the working dogs are Labrador, Border Collie, Dalmatian. Mongrel, English Setter and Alsatian.