Bird stamps from Christmas Island.

christmas islands mapThe Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It has a population of 2,072 residents who live in a number of "settlement areas" on the northern tip of the island: Flying Fish Cove (also known as Kampong), Silver City, Poon Saan, and Drumsite. The majority of the population is Chinese Australian. It is called Christmas Island because it was discovered on Christmas Day.

The island’s geographic isolation and history of minimal human disturbance has led to a high level of endemism among its flora and fauna, which is of significant interest to scientists and naturalists. 63% of its 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi) is an Australian national park. There exist large areas of primary monsoonal forest.

Phosphate, deposited originally as guano, has been mined on the island for many years.
Flora

The dense rainforest has evolved in the deep soils of the plateau and on the terraces. The forests are dominated by 25 tree species. Ferns, orchids and vines grow on the branches in the humid atmosphere beneath the canopy. The 135 plant species include at least eighteen which are found nowhere else.
Christmas Island’s endemic plants include the trees Arenga listeri, Pandanus elatus and Dendrocnide peltata var. murrayana; the shrubs Abutilon listeri, Colubrina pedunculata, Grewia insularis and Pandanus christmatensis; the vines Hoya aldrichii and Zehneria alba; the herbs Asystasia alba, Dicliptera maclearii and Peperomia rossii; the grass Ischaemum nativitatis; the fern Asplenium listeri; and the orchids Brachypeza archytas, Flickingeria nativitatis, Phreatia listeri and Zeuxine exilis.

Fauna
Christmas_Island.flagTwo species of native rats, the Maclear's and Bulldog Rat, have become extinct since the island was settled. The endemic shrew has not been seen since the mid 1980s and may be already extinct, and the Christmas Island Pipistrelle, a small bat, is critically endangered and possibly also extinct.

The annual red crab mass migration (around 100 million animals) to the sea to spawn has been called one of the wonders of the natural world and takes place each year around November; after the start of the wet season and in synchronisation with the cycle of the moon.

The land crabs and sea birds are the most noticeable animals on the island. Twenty terrestrial and intertidal species of crab (of which thirteen are regarded as true land crabs, only dependent on the ocean for larval development) have been described. Robber crabs, known elsewhere as coconut crabs, also exist in large numbers on the island.

Christmas Island is a focal point for sea birds of various species. Eight species or subspecies of sea birds nest on the island. The most numerous is the Red-footed Booby that nests in colonies, in trees, on many parts of the shore terrace. The widespread Brown Booby nests on the ground near the edge of the seacliff and inland cliffs. Abbott's Booby (listed as endangered) nests on tall emergent trees of the western, northern and southern plateau rainforest.

The Christmas Island forest is the only nesting habitat of the Abbott's Booby left in the world. The endemic Christmas Frigatebird (listed as endangered) has nesting areas on the north-eastern shore terraces and the more widespread Great Frigatebirds nest in semi-deciduous trees on the shore terrace with the greatest concentrations being in the North West and South Point areas. The Common Noddy and two species of bosuns or tropicbirds, with their brilliant gold or silver plumage and distinctive streamer tail feathers, also nest on the island.

Of the ten native land birds and shorebirds, seven are endemic species or subspecies. This includes the Christmas Thrush, and the Christmas Imperial Pigeon. Some 86 migrant bird species have been recorded as visitors to the Island.

Christmas Island has been identified by BirdLife International as both an Endemic Bird Area and Important Bird Area because it supports five endemic species and five subspecies as well as over 1% of the world populations of five other seabirds.

Flora.
The dense rainforest has evolved in the deep soils of the plateau and on the terraces. The forests are dominated by 25 tree species. Ferns, orchids and vines grow on the branches in the humid atmosphere beneath the canopy. The 135 plant species include at least eighteen which are found nowhere else.
Christmas Island’s endemic plants include the trees Arenga listeri, Pandanus elatus and Dendrocnide peltata var. murrayana; the shrubs Abutilon listeri, Colubrina pedunculata, Grewia insularis and Pandanus christmatensis; the vines Hoya aldrichii and Zehneria alba; the herbs Asystasia alba, Dicliptera maclearii and Peperomia rossii; the grass Ischaemum nativitatis; the fern Asplenium listeri; and the orchids Brachypeza archytas, Flickingeria nativitatis, Phreatia listeri and Zeuxine exilis.
 
Face value | Family number | English name | Scientific name
1963.01
  28.08.1963
  Definitives
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
50c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1$
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
1977.01
  20.10.1977
  Christmas
  12v sheet, no wmk
Rock Partridge Alectoris graeca European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae Black Swan Cygnus atratus
10c
    11
    Rock Partridge    Alectoris graeca
10c
    70
    European Turtle Dove    Streptopelia turtur
10c
    17
    Black-browed Albatross    Thalassarche melanophris
10c
    14
    Cape Barren Goose    Cereopsis novaehollandiae
10c
    14
    Black Swan    Cygnus atratus
1978.01
  27.01.1978
  Christmas
  12v sheet, with wmk
  1977.01
10c
    11
    Rock Partridge    Alectoris graeca
10c
    70
    European Turtle Dove    Streptopelia turtur
10c
    17
    Black-browed Albatross    Thalassarche melanophris
10c
    14
    Cape Barren Goose    Cereopsis novaehollandiae
10c
    14
    Black Swan    Cygnus atratus
1978.02
  31.05.1978
  Famous visitors, Charles William Andrews and Richard Hanitsch
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Imperial Pigeon Ducula whartoni
45c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
50c
    70
    Christmas Imperial Pigeon    Ducula whartoni
1982.01
  08.03.1982
  Birds definitives
Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra Brown Noddy Anous stolidus Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti
1c
    26
    Pacific Reef Heron    Egretta sacra
2c
    66
    Brown Noddy    Anous stolidus
25c
    23
    Red-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon rubricauda
4$
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
1982.02
  14.06.1982
  Birds definitives
Glossy Swiftlet Collocalia esculenta Christmas Imperial Pigeon Ducula whartoni Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus
3c
    85
    Glossy Swiftlet    Collocalia esculenta
4c
    70
    Christmas Imperial Pigeon    Ducula whartoni
10c
    215
    Island Thrush    Turdus poliocephalus
2$
    37
    Brown Goshawk    Accipiter fasciatus
1982.03
  23.08.1982
  Birds definitives
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Red-footed Booby Sula sula Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
40c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
50c
    31
    Red-footed Booby    Sula sula
65c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
75c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
1983.01
  21.02.1983
  Birds definitives
Christmas White-eye Zosterops natalis Common Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis
5c
    201
    Christmas White-eye    Zosterops natalis
30c
    70
    Common Emerald Dove    Chalcophaps indica
80c
    38
    Nankeen Kestrel    Falco cenchroides
1$
    78
    Christmas Boobook    Ninox natalis
1983.02
  01.10.1983
  Australian territory
  3v set
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
24c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
1987.01
  24.06.1987
  Definitives
Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis
36c
    78
    Christmas Boobook    Ninox natalis
1988.01
  26.01.1988
  Arrival of first fleet
  5v strip
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita Great Egret Ardea alba
37c
    72
    Sulphur-crested Cockatoo    Cacatua galerita
37c
    26
    Great Egret    Ardea alba
1988.02
  01.03.1988
  Imprint 1988 on 1987.01
  16v sheet
Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis
36c
    78
    Christmas Boobook    Ninox natalis
1990.01
  06.06.1990
  WWF
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti
10c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
20c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
29c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
1990.02
  06.06.1990
  Abbott's Booby
  Sheet
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
1990.03
  24.08.1990
  NEW ZEALAND '90
  Sheet
  1990.02
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
1990.04
  06.12.1990
  BIRDPEX '90
  Sheet
  1990.02
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
41c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
1992.01
  07.10.1992
  Christmas
  5v strip
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
40c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
40c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
and
    23
    Red-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon rubricauda
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
1.05$
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
and
    23
    Red-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon rubricauda
1993.01
  04.03.1993
  Seabirds
  Strip
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Brown Noddy Anous stolidus White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
45c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
45c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
45c
    66
    Brown Noddy    Anous stolidus
45c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
1993.02
  04.03.1993
  Seabirds
  Sheet
  1993.01
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Brown Noddy Anous stolidus White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
45c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
45c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
45c
    66
    Brown Noddy    Anous stolidus
45c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
1993.03
  29.05.1993
  INDOPEX '93
  Sheet
  1993.02
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Brown Noddy Anous stolidus White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
45c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
45c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
45c
    66
    Brown Noddy    Anous stolidus
45c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
1993.04
  14.08.1993
  TAIPEI '93
  Sheet
  1993.02
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Brown Noddy Anous stolidus White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
45c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
45c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
45c
    66
    Brown Noddy    Anous stolidus
45c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
1993.05
  02.09.1993
  Christmas
  3v set
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
1$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1996.01
  11.07.1996
  Land birds
Christmas White-eye Zosterops natalis Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis
45c
    201
    Christmas White-eye    Zosterops natalis
85c
    78
    Christmas Boobook    Ninox natalis
1997.01
  11.09.1997
  Christmas
  3v set
Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora
45c
    78
    Christmas Boobook    Ninox natalis
and
    223
    Java Sparrow    Lonchura oryzivora
and
    31
    Red-footed Booby    Sula sula
80c
    223
    Java Sparrow    Lonchura oryzivora
1998.01
  12.03.1998
  Marine life
  20v sheet
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Pacific Reef Heron Egretta sacra Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
5c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
10c
    26
    Pacific Reef Heron    Egretta sacra
25c
    66
    Sooty Tern    Onychoprion fuscatus
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
1999.01
  09.09.1999
  Christmas
  3v set
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti
45c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
and
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
and
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
95c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
2000.01
  05.09.2000
  Christmas
Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Brown Booby Sula leucogaster Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
40c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
and
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
and
    23
    Red-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon rubricauda
40c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
and
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
and
    23
    Red-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon rubricauda
45c
    31
    Brown Booby    Sula leucogaster
and
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
and
    23
    Red-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon rubricauda
2002.01
  01.05.2002
  WWF
Christmas Imperial Pigeon Ducula whartoni Christmas Boobook Ninox natalis Brown Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus
45c
    70
    Christmas Imperial Pigeon    Ducula whartoni
45c
    78
    Christmas Boobook    Ninox natalis
1$
    37
    Brown Goshawk    Accipiter fasciatus
1.50$
    215
    Island Thrush    Turdus poliocephalus
2008.01
  10.06.2008
  50 years as an Australian Territory
  5v set
Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti
50c
    31
    Abbott's Booby    Papasula abbotti
2010.01
  17.08.2010
  WWF
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
60c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
60c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1.80$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1.80$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
2010.02
  17.08.2010
  WWF
  Sheet
  2010.01
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
60c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
60c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1.80$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1.80$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
2010.03
  01.11.2010
  Christmas
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
60c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
1.30$
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
2010.04
  01.11.2010
  Christmas
  5x1.30$ booklet, sa
  2010.03
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
1.30$
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
2010.05
  01.11.2010
  Christmas
  10x60c booklet, sa
  2010.03
White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus
60c
    23
    White-tailed Tropicbird    Phaethon lepturus
2012.01
  01.11.2012
  Christmas
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
55c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1.60$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
2012.02
  01.11.2012
  Christmas
  Sheet
  2012.01
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
55c
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
1.60$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
2012.03
  01.11.2012
  Christmas
  5x1.60$ booklet, sa
  2012.01
Christmas Frigatebird Fregata andrewsi
1.60$
    30
    Christmas Frigatebird    Fregata andrewsi
 
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