The Wildlife 1982 (Paradise Birds)

The date of issue of this "The Wildlife 1982" series is December 20, 1982. "The Wildlife 1982" series of stamps show three kinds of Paradise Birds, i.e : Cenderawasih Enam Panji (Lawe's Six-Wired Parotia or Parotia sefilata), Cenderawasih Duabelas Kawat (Twelve-Wired Bird of Paradise or Seleucides melanoleuca), and Cenderawasih Merah (Red Bird of Paradise or Paradisea rubra). This series is a continuation of "The Wildlife 1981" series.

1. Cenderawasih Enam Panji (Lawe's Six-Wired Parotia or Parotia sefilata)

This subspecies of Lawe's Six-Wired Bird of Paradise comes from the southern slope of the mountains of south-eastern New Guinea. One of the other two subspecies, helenae, from the northern mountain slopes of south-east New Guinea, lacks the white feathers on the forehead. They live mainly at altitudes between 3000 and 4000 feet. The nest is a shallow cup-shaped structure made out of the wiry stems of a creeper and lined with the same kind of material. The single egg is wine-red marked with grey, darkish-red and almost black patches. The hen is smaller then the cock and has very different plumage.

2. Cenderawasih Duabelas Kawat (Twelve-Wired Bird of Paradise or Seleucides melanoleuca)

This genus contains a single species with two subspecies, melanoleuca and auripennis which is found in the Salawati Island and everywhere in Irian Jaya. These birds live in swamp forests and are quite common in some places but rare in others. The hens live alone in the lower foliage, while the cocks are sometimes seen at the top of trees in parties. They feed mainly on fruit but also nectar and small insects. From observing birds in captivity, some of which lived for twenty years or more. The cock only develops his full plumage in the sixth or seventh year. The hen builds the nest by herself, placing a shallow cup of palm bark and creeper tendrils lined with fine plant fibre on a bed of branches and sticks. There is only one egg, cream-coloured and striped length wise with reddish-brown and grey. 

3.  Cenderawasih Merah (Red Bird of Paradise or Paradisea rubra)

These very beautiful Birds of Paradise live in the dense forests of Batanta and Waigeo Island, Irian Jaya. They utter their shrill call very frequently but it may be several days before they are seen. They keep more or less to the highest part of the forests and feed on fruit. The hens tend to live alone at a lower level than the cocks, where they may be seen moving along the branches looking for insects. The cocks gather into parties of about ten birds in some dead but lofty tree with bare boughs, where they give daily performances of their communal courtship dance. The hens and young cocks are often seen on the outskirts of these parties.