New Stamps Featuring Bird and Fish of the Year Released in the “Estonian fauna” stamp series
On 10 March, Omniva issued two new postage stamps featuring Estonia’s Bird of the Year, the Great Cormorant, and Fish of the Year, the European Eel. These stamps are part of the renewed “Estonian fauna” stamp series.
Both stamps were designed by Riho Luuse. The Bird of the Year stamp is a photo stamp, with the cormorant photograph taken by Mati Kose.
The Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a masterful diver and an essential part of the ecosystem, often mistakenly considered an invasive species. However, it has inhabited our waters since the Stone Age. In its recognisable pose – wings spread wide – it dries its feathers after underwater fishing.
Kaarel Võhandu, head of the Estonian Ornithological Society, welcomes the inclusion of Birds of the Year on postage stamps, as it helps showcase Estonia’s rich and diverse nature. “At first glance, the cormorant’s plumage may not seem particularly striking, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a metallic blue-green sheen and a scale-like pattern. The same applies to its role in the ecosystem: if we judge it solely by the fish caught in its beak, we overlook its positive impact, such as controlling the population of the invasive round goby,” Võhandu explains.
The European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) is an extraordinary migratory species, born in the Sargasso Sea and travelling thousands of kilometres to European waters. Historically a valued fish in Estonia, it now faces the threat of extinction. With its serpentine body and nocturnal habits, the eel is a mysterious inhabitant of our waters.
The cormorant stamp is priced at €1.30 and is suitable for domestic postage within Estonia, while the European eel stamp costs €2.60 and is intended for international mailing worldwide. Both stamps have a print run of 20,000 copies. The stamps and First Day Covers are available for purchase in Omniva’s online store and post offices across Estonia. The official First Day Postmark is locoated at the Tallinn Kaubamaja post office.
In 2025, Omniva will issue 30 stamps celebrating significant national and societal events. Omniva’s stamps are printed at Vaba Maa printing house, using FSC-certified paper to ensure responsible forestry practices.