Photo: Grahame Madge (rspb-images.com)
Black browed albatrosses (like those above) are stunning birds. A pure white head with a black eye line that any 60's model would have been proud of, and an impressive wingspan of up to 2.5m (around 8 feet in old money). Like other albatrosses they mature slowly, lay only one egg a year, and live to about 60 years. If they are lucky.
Thousands of albatrosses drown every year, accidentally caught by long line and trawler fisheries. So many die that 17 of the world's 22 albatross species are being pushed to extinction. But you can help stamp that out by sending your stamps to us. Our stamp appeal has raised over £100,000, helping to buy essential equipment for the Albatross Task Force. This dedicated bunch of people work with fishermen 'on the ground' - or rather 'on the water' - to advise them of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid accidentally catching and killing these iconic birds.
So simple, so effective, and still so many more fishing fleets to work with.... So every Christmas card that drops through your letterbox could do more than bring a seasonal smile to your face.
Please send your stamps to: RSPB Stamps, PO Box 6198, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9XT, or you could drop them off at one of our many reserves and combine it with a winter walk! And even better.... if you sort the UK from foreign stamps it really helps us as we can get more money for them.
Find out more about albatrosses and our work to save them by visiting our website - Save the Albatross .
Thank you