By Jorjanna Price
Central Texas’ very own Golden-cheeked Warbler has been the face of endangered species in America for the past year.
Our native songbird, known for distinctive black-and-gold plumage, was chosen as one of 20 endangered species featured in a series of stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service. Moreover the Golden-cheeked Warbler was singled out to adorn the cover of the Endangered Species book, issued as a limited edition collector’s set in conjunction with the stamps.
This warbler is exceptionally important because it is a Texas specialty—the only bird species whose population nests entirely within this state and nowhere else. The breeding range is primarily Central Texas.
The species requires a mix of juniper-oak woodlands for making its home. Because so much of this habitat has been lost, the Golden-cheeked Warbler was listed as “endangered” by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1990.
Travis Audubon has advocated for the Golden-cheeked Warbler for decades and oversees a 715-acre preserve as a permanent home for the songbirds. They arrive in early spring, raise their young and migrate in late summer to warmer climes.
Of almost 500 endangered animal species in the U.S., just 20 were chosen for the Endangered Species Forever stamps.
“The Golden-Cheeked Warbler was selected as one of the 20 stamps because we felt customers would respond best to its delicate yet striking features,” said Sue Brennan, a USPS spokesperson based in Washington, D.C. “It was selected to be featured on the cover of the Endangered Species book because we found it to be the most appealing of the 20 stamps,” she said.
The stamps were issued in 2023 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. The photos were taken by award-winning photographer Joel Sartore as part of his National Geographic Photo Ark project. The species highlighted in the stamp pane include eight birds, seven mammals, three fish and two reptiles.
The Endangered Species stamps and collector’s set can be purchased at: https://store.usps.com/store/results?Ntt=endangered+species&_requestid=509927
Featured image from usps.com
