GERMANY ~ Porpoise Whale - Wadden Sea National Park - UNESCO ~

... Wonderful view of Germany's only whale species and with beautiful matching whale postmark💙...  the most common whale in the North Sea and the only whale that occurs regularly in the Wadden Sea... but its population is decreasing... they are not so easy to spot... unlike other whales, porpoises rarely jump out of the water... from land or from a boat, the most likely time to spot them is in the winter... with two great different special First day postmarks... another little gem for my whale collection👍...Thanks so much Dustin!! ✿乂◕‿◕乂

Photo: Armin Maywald
"The Wadden Sea" the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world.(Germany, Netherlands and Denmark).

The total population of Porpoise whales in the North Sea is estimated at about 345.000 animals (2017). The density within the area changes seasonally. While densities increase along the coast of the Netherlands and Lower Saxony during late winter and early spring, high summer densities are observed in the eastern part of the German Bight along the coast of Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein.

Size:maximum 190 cm (at birth 70-80 cm)
Weight: up to 60 kg (at birth around 5 kg)
Color: Dark gray back, light grey sides with dark spots, white chin and bell
Age: 12 to 15 years
Food: fish, such as gobies, herring, sprat, mackerel, whiting and cod; cuttlefish, crabs, worms and snails
Movement: dive: 4-6 minutes down to 200 meters deep speed: maximum 23 kilometers per hour Enemies: man: tangled in nets, loss of habitat, pollution and acoustic noise. animals: grey seals, dolphins and killer whales
Reproduction: maturity: 3-6 years old frequency: once every 1-2 years 1 calf pregnancy: 10-11 months nursing: 7-8 months

Stamps

 Endangered Animals - Harbor Porpoise
(Issued 02-01-2019)

AUSTRALIA ~ Humpback Whales -

... .Spectacular sights of the "gentle giants of the ocean" and wonderful new whale card for my collection... the biggest animal on Earth... they are true “acrobats of the sea” with jumps out of the water (known as breaching) and tail and flipper slaps... to see one of the most majestic and extraordinary animals in the wild must be an unforgettable experienceヅ... whale and dolphin watching has become a popular Eco-tourism activity worldwide in recent years... Thanks a million Sioux!! (✿ ♥‿♥)

Photo: © Philip Rowley
"Humpback Whales playing on annual migration path past Gold Coast, North Stradbroke Island, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Island & Hervey Bay ."
The Gold Coast welcomes the first pods of whales into Queensland waters and is the best place to watch them with their new calves at the end of the season as they make the way back to Antarctica.

The most characteristic features of the humpback whale are its enormous flippers, which stretch to almost one third of the animal's body length. The humpback is one of the most acrobatic of the great whales and has been observed leaping from the water in nearly 40 consecutive bursts of "joy".Scientists have also recorded patterns of humpback vocalizations which they have likened to birdsong.

The humpback whale exposes its tail flukes in terminal dives. The tail of each humpback whale is visibly unique.

Stamp:

Australian Animals - Monotremes
(Issued 26-09-2016)

USA ~Glacier Bay National Park-Alaska-UNESCO

...A spectacular sight...and a wonderful new whale card for my collection... Many Thanks Edvard!!

Photos by Meldren Anderson and Trevor Kirschhoff Backside card: A humpback whale traverses the icy waters of Glacier Bay.
Glacier Bay is a Humpback Whale sanctuary. In the park's waters, Humpback Whales benefit from some of the strongest protections found anywhere on our planet.

The marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, freshwater rivers and lakes.

When Captain George Vancouver surveyed Southeast Alaska in 1794, the wall of ice that filled the bay was (at its greatest extent) 100 miles long, 20 miles wide, and 4,000 feet thick. Just 250 years later, this same ice has retreated 65 miles, the fastest glacial retreat on record...

Set of lovely stamps with special National Park's cancellation!

 At nearly all of the 401 American National Park units (and many of the National Park Service's affiliated areas), one or more National Park Passport Stamps (cancellation stamps) can be acquired at no cost at park visitor centers and ranger stations.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC ~ Samaná ~

...Two fantastic cards to start 2014...both with an abundance of gorgeous views...sun, sea, beach and one of my favorite subject, marine life especially whales...if only I could be there right now...Just looked out my window and its started to rain...again...*sigh*...It feels more like autumn here...Thanks sooo much Vicky and Bart for making time to send me these postcards during your "Honeymoon" :D


 With  Priority Air Mail Express stamp.

Photo: Francois de Zorzi This Caribbean nation is a major tourist destination.The Dominican Republic lies about 800 miles/1,280 kilometers southeast of Miami and is bordered in the Greater Antilles chain by Cuba to the West, and Puerto Rico to the East. The island of Hispaniola, which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti, is the second-largest island in the Caribbean.

The Dominican Republic has over 200 miles of spectacular beaches along the coastline of the island that stretches for over 800 miles.

 The Dominican Republic was explored by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492. He named it La Española, and his son, Diego, was its first viceroy. The capital, Santo Domingo, founded in 1496, is the oldest European settlement in the Western Hemisphere.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC~Samaná - Las Terrenas~

More views from "paradise island"...famous for diving with its magnificent underwater world... during  the winter season (January 15-March 15), visiting humpback whales can be seen and heard underwater as they migrate toward Silver Shoals...I can only dream about it... Thanks again Bart and Vicky!!


  With  Priority Air Mail Express stamp.

Photo: Francois De Zorzi Until the late 19th century, the Samaná Peninsula was once its own island, separated from the mainland by a very narrow channel. Over time, sediment filled the channel, joining it to the mainland to form a peninsula.

On of the  main tourist destinations in the Samana Peninsula is Las Terrenas. Terrenas is a town in the Samaná province and was a famous slave trade port for the British in the early 17th C. The name is derived from the French phrase "la terriene" (the landowner).

Samana features the best adventure diving of the north coast of the Dominican Republic.

CANADA ~Whales-Orca ~

...found this wonderful surprise when I emptied my mailbox today...beautiful new postcard for my whale collection...a pod of Orcas seen at sunset...thanks a million Laura!!


Love the stamps too:
Endangered Wildlife-Bowhead whale.
(Issued 10-04-1979) and  narwhal
(Issued10-04-1968)

The orca or killer whale is a toothed whale that is an efficient predator. Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet (8-10 m) long, weighing more than 8,000-12,000 pounds (3.600-5.400 kg). They are the largest member of the dolphin family. Pods usually consist of males, females, and calves of varying ages. Females and juveniles generally remain in the center of the pod, while adult males swim at the wings.

PALAU ~WWF Whales ~

WooW!! I'm smiling from ear to ear!!^__^ Amazing new set of whale cards for my collection...
Thanks so much Joey!!

Complete Set 4 maxicards Palau 1983 OCEANIA Marine Life Whale WWF Ocean Maximum.

The WWF stamp collection is the largest thematic collection in the world. Since 1983, some 1,750 different stamps — all produced by Groth AG of Unteraegeri (Switzerland) — have been issued in 211 countries. Proceeds from the sale of the stamps have helped fund a range of activities — from the conservation of endangered species to helping forest and coastal-dwelling communities improve their standards of living through sustainable use of their natural resources. Each year, up to 18 different countries have issued stamps featuring their own threatened animals.

FIN WHALE The fin whale is second in size to the blue whale measuring between 70 and 80 feet. For years fin whales outraced whalers at speeds of 40km per hour, or 20 knots.

GREAT SPERM WHALE The largest of the toothed whales, sperm whales grow to lengths of 60 feet or more. The profile of the great sperm whale is universally known because of the description of the "great white whale" in Moby Dick. Its enormous head and blunt snout with its low slung jaw have come to symbolise all of the great whales.

HUMPBACK WHALE The most characteristic features of the humpback whale are its enormous flippers, which stretch to almost one third of the animal's body length. The humpback is one of the most acrobatic of the great whales and has been observed leaping from the water in nearly 40 consecutive bursts of "joy". Scientists have also recorded patterens of humpback vocalisations which they have likened to birdsong.

BLUE WHALE The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived. This long and streamlined whale, measuring between 80 and 100 feet, and weighing up to 170 tonnes, used to be found worldwide. Having been hunted to near extinction, it is now universally protected.

NETHERLANDS

Wonderful whale card... mother and calf swimming towards the sunset... gorgeous!!
This card was bought by IFAW  " International Fund for Animal Welfare" so  the money will go to a good cause...Great idea...I never heard of this organisation... Heel erg bedankt  Kirsten! (NL-1767780)


From a serie of 36 Dutch mammals on stamps,
a really lovely squirl stamp! (Issued 08-01-2013)

CANADA ~Blue Whale~

...It's always a pleasure to get a new whale card for my collection.. This is a different kind one...Amazing illustrations with great scientific detail...Look at the size of the  whale compared to the elephant and man. Thanks so much Laura  for this lovely surprise!!


I do like the stamps:
Vancouver Aquarium 1956-2006 (Issued: 15-06-2006)
"The marvels of marine life"
..But for me those wonderful creatures don't belong in an aquarium.:(
And New Brunswick stamp 200th Issue.

In 1891, the trio of Jung, Koch and Quentell  made their name in the world of education with beautifully designed biology diagrams.
Reprinted Mid-centery  by a collection German  firms, these charts have become a classic fixture in many science classroom. (Date of publicing 1968)

AUSTRALIA ~Victor Harbor~

...Just love this amazing postcard showing the "gentle giant of the ocean" ... My whale card Nr 33!!
Thanks a lot Heather!:D:D

Also with 3 great stamp:
Bosisto’s Eucalyptus Oil stamp is one in a set of four showcasing Australia’s most iconic native plant industries: (Issued 17-05-2012)
The Australian Zoos stamps, features seven remarkable animals currently housed in seven of Australia's larger zoos.(Issued 28-09-2012)
Australian Medical Doctors honoured by Australia Post:Dr Jane (Jean) Stocks Greig (1872-1939) was one of five extraordinary sisters and a public health specialist. (Issued 10-04-2012)

View over Encounter Bay from the Bluff Lookout
Southern Right Whales.
The Steam Harbor, Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia.

NEW ZEALAND ~Sperm Whale~

WOW!!! And as last one...A breathtaking view...A gorgeous new WHALE CARD for my collection....
Thanks a million Adrienne!!
It is probably a cliche dream of me, hoping to see this creatures in the wild..
^__^ At a card like this I can look alday long, I'm smiling from ear to ear! ^__^

With so nice stamp, but it shows not so good on my blog:
The Round Kiwi (introduced 23 years ago) stamp is returning due to popular demand in 2011.The $1.90 Round Kiwi stamp has been printed in silver – reflecting New Zealand’s iconic silver fern.(Issued 16 July 2011)

''For the animal shall not be measured by man.In a world older and more complete than ours, they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not bretheren; they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the Eart''

Henry Beston Quote From ------- The Outermost House (From the back of the card)
In terms of survival, this species is one of the more successful: it has survived for millions of years and remains one of the most numerous of the large whales, despite centuries of hunting. It is the largest of the toothed whales and one of the more unique features is its unusual box like head that contains the largest brain in the world.Weight Male: 36000kg-Female: 20000kg~~ Lenght Male: average 10-15m Female average 8-11m.

The Sperm Whale was made famous by Herman Melville in his novel Moby Dick.

CANADA ~Real Wood Whale Postcard~

WOW!!! Today I got an awsome... amazing... magnificent...beautiful... postcard of my favorite subject "Whales"...
But not only that... It is also a REAL WOOD card with a plesant cedar fregrance.
YES!! the fresh sent of real wood...(I wish you all could smell it too)...each card is unique, no two cards or grains will be exactly the same...
I can't thank you enough Laura for thinking of me when you saw this postcard!!'
...This card will be having a "special" place on my magnetboard in my study...:D:D

It is really true what I wrote on top of my blog: Thanks to my hobby I meet soooo nice people.... Thanks again!!

And also with such wonderful stamps and stamp cancellation! RED BAY NL-Home of the Basque Whales-15 may 2012

In comparison to the paper making process, it requires less wood and other resources to make wood cards than it does to make traditional paper cards. Logs are hand selected and only sourced from companies that employ sustainable yield harvesting procedures.

The cards are composed of 100% authentic, unaltered, natural wood material. They continuously strives to minimize the environmental impact of all stages of the card manufacture. The production of our cards requires minimal amounts of energy, gas and water. In comparison to the paper making process, it requires less wood and other resources to make a wood (micro-veneer) cards than it does to make traditional paper cards. One tree will produce thousands of cards!
More information:Curio Cards

USA-Oregon Coast~

Thanks a lot John for chosing a whale card for me... They are always special to me and I just love them !! Its such a great new addition to my whale collection!

And with a great set of wonderful stamps

From the back of the card:
Killer whales spend their whole loves in close social groups of relaties callde podds.Faster than any other sea mammal, killer whales have been clocked at speeds of up 34 mph.

CANADA ~Whales~

...Two lovely cards from Canada arrived today...Thanks a lot Laura for chosing a whale card for me... They are always special to me and I just love them !! To see this amazing animals in the wild must be such an awesome experience!:D

Wonderful stamp of the Chinese lunar new year, the Year of the Dragon. An 1.8Canadian dollar international stamp.

Orca, or killer whales, are the largest members of the dolphin family. Male Orca can reach up to 30 feet in length, and their large, distinctive dorsal fins can be nearly 6 feet (two meters) tall. A large male can weigh up to 9 tons.
Orcas stravel in pods which range in size from two to about fifty whales. The average pod has between five and fiften individuals.

AUSTRALIA ~Minke Whale~

Received an awesome whale card with a lovely First day Issue stamp on the front! It is a great new addition for my whale collection... Thanks a lot Xue!!:D

Australia considers the AAT (Australian Antarctic Territory) to be a distinct Australian territory, and release of AAT stamps helps to emphasise this claim since 1957.

The Antarctic minke whale is one of the smallest baleen whales. It has a slender, streamlined body with an elongated head. Minke whales grow to be about 7.8-9m long, weighing about 5,400-6,800kg.

USA ~Humpback Whale~

The humpback whale exposes its tail flukes in terminal dives. The tail of each humpback whale is visibly unique.

USA

The gray (or grey) whale is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about 16 meters (52 ft) a weight of 36 tonnes and lives 50–60 years.

USA ~San Juan Islands~

Whale watching is one of the popular pastitimes in the San Juans. There are three families (pods) that can be found in the islands each summer, ranging in size from 17 whales in K-pod to more than 50 in L-pod.

USA ~Washington~

"Spyhopping" is the term used to describe the behaviour that Orcas display when they position themselves vertically in the water with their heads bobbing on the surface. Orcas are the largest members of the cetacean family and are easely identified by their bold black and white markings and large dorsal fins.

USA ~Orca Whales~

Cards nr. 24 and 25 for my whale collection arrived today! And they are both so beautiful.... The sender wrote that she last summer was sitting on the beach and when she looked up about 50 yards off the shore where two pod of Orcas... They just looked like this photo....And it was amazing.... For me such nice stories making the cards even more special... And I must admit I'm also a bit jealous! ^-^
And from Holland a lovely multiview with really old stamps, dating from "the Gulden" or Guilder (That was the currency of the Netherlands from the 17th century until 2002 when it was replaced by the euro.) They can still be used...


Orca whales traveling in a pod along the Pacific coaThe orca or killer whale is a toothed whale that is an efficient predator.Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet (8-10 m) long, weighing more than 8,000-12,000 pounds (3.600-5.400 kg). They are the largest member of the dolphin family. st.Pods usually consist of males, females, and calves of varying ages. Females and juveniles generally remain in the center of the pod, while adult males swim at the wings.