Pets–Parrot

Macedonia Post has issued the stamp series depicted the pet animal, Parrot on year 2010. The issued stamps consist of 2 stamps with nominal value 20, and 40.

Parrots are popular as pets due to their sociable and affectionate nature, intelligence, bright colours, and ability to imitate human voices.The domesticated Budgerigar, a small parrot, is the most popular of all pet bird species.

Pet parrots may be kept in a cage or aviary; though generally, tame parrots should be allowed out regularly on a stand or gym. Depending on locality, parrots may be either wild caught or be captive bred, though in most areas without native parrots, pet parrots are captive bred.

Parrot species that are commonly kept as pets include conures, macaws, Amazons, cockatoos, African Greys, lovebirds, cockatiels, Budgerigars, Eclectus, Caiques, parakeets, Pionus and Poicephalus. Species vary in their temperament, noise level, talking ability, cuddliness with people, and care needs, although how a parrot has been raised usually greatly affects its personality.

Some large parrot species, including large cockatoos, amazons, and macaws, have very long lifespans, with 80 years being reported and record ages of over one hundred. Small parrots, such as lovebirds, hanging parrots, and budgies have shorter life spans of up to 15–20 years.

Some parrot species can be quite loud, and many of the larger parrots can be destructive and require a very large cage, and a regular supply of new toys, branches, or other items to chew up. The intelligence of parrots means they are quick to learn tricks and other behaviours — both good and bad — that will get them what they want, such as attention or treats.

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Endangered Fishes of Macedonia

On Febraury 28, 2007, Macedonia Post issued the stamp series depicts the endangered fishes of Macedonia, Cobitis vardarensis, Chondrostoma vardarense, Barbus macedonicus, Zingel balcanicus, and Leuciscus cephalus-Chub .

Cobitis vardarensis is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cobitidae family.The range of distribution is Aegean Sea basin, from Pinios to Gallikos drainages(Greece, Macedonia).

Their habitat are still waters of lakes, oxbows and backwaters, rarely in flowing water. On mud to silt bottom.The population is very abundant.

Chondrostoma vardarense is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found in Bulgaria,FYROM, Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

It is restricted to eastern Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey. It inhabits the following river basins: Aoos, Pinios, Aliakmon, Axios (Vardar), Strymon, Nestos and Evros.

It lives in all sized rivers in fast to strong currents. It is, however, declining and it is suspected that the future impact of dams and sedimentation may result in close to a 30% decline in the next 10 years. On this basis of suspected future population decline the species is assessed as Near Threatened.

Barbus macedonicus is a species of ray-finned fish in the Cyprinidae family. It is found only in rivers in northern Greece and the Republic of Macedonia.

Its status is insufficiently known.Although this species has a small range living in rivers where there is habitat destruction, water extraction and pollution there are currently insufficient data to determine the impacts of the known threat to the species.

Range of distribution are restricted to the Axios and Pinios river basins in Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and the Loudias and Aliakmon river basins in Greece.

Zingel balcanicus is a species of fish in the Percidae family. It is found in Greece and Macedonia. Its natural habitat is rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Leuciscus cephalus-Chub

The European chub (Squalius cephalus), sometimes called the round chub, fat chub, chevin, pollard or simply "the" chub, is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. It frequents both slow and moderate rivers as well as canals and still waters of various kinds in Europe.This species synonym with Leuciscus cephalus-Chub

European chub are popular with anglers due to their readiness to feed, and thus to be caught, in almost any conditions.Small chub are freely-biting fish which even inexperienced anglers find easy to catch.

Technorati Tags: Macedonia. Fishes,Endangered fishes,Cobitis vardarensis,Chondrostoma vardarense,Barbus macedonicus,Zingel balcanicus,Leuciscus cephalus-Chub .

Domestic Animal–Horses

On April 15, 2009 Macedonia Post issued the stamp set features domestic animal – Horses. The issuance only consisted of two stamps.

The horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a hooved (ungulate) mammal, a subspecies of the family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC.

Although most horses today are domesticated, there are still endangered populations of the Przewalski's Horse, the only remaining true wild horse, as well as more common populations of feral horses which live in the wild but are descended from domesticated ancestors.

Horses' anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators and they have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct.

Depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years.

Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are over 300 breeds of horses in the world today, developed for many different uses.

Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control.

Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers.

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