 Source of image: www.nbrb.by
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| GREAT WHITE EGRET
The non-governmental organization (NCO) "APB-BirdLife Belarus", a Belarusian partner of the world-wide environmental association "BirdLife International", has been running the "Bird of the Year" national campaign since 2000. The main aim of the campaign is to draw public attention to the problems of wild birds. In the past, the White Stork, White Wagtail, Golden Oriole, House Sparrow, House Martin, Great Grey Owl, Lapwing, and Thrush Nightingale were voted bird of the year. During the campaign various contests are held, actions are undertaken, and environmental measures are implemented.
The Great White Egret (Ardea alba), a beautiful and rare bird listed in the Red Data Book, was made a symbol of the year 2008.
The Great White Egret (order Ciconiiforims) is a closely related species of the Grey Heron. The bird is very similar to the Grey Heron in the shape of its body, size, and habits, but greatly differs in color, i.e. it has pure white plumage (as its name implies). Black legs and feet as well as a black-and-yellow bill are in contrast to its color. Mail birds bear long delicate plumes, the so-called aigrettes which have been used in olden days to decorate ladies' hats, on their back during the breeding season.
in the past decades, the bird's visitations were regularly recorded in the southern regions of our country but, quite recently, it has begun nesting in Belarusian Palesse. The first nesting of the Great White Egret in our country was officially registered in 1997 within the confines of State Biological Zakaznik Syaredniaya Prypyat. In the following decade the bird inhabited all southern regions of Belarus, making nests, basically, in the thickets of the Prypyat flood plain and reedy ponds of the neighboring fish farms.
However, some problems still exist despite a gradual increase in the population of the Great White Egret and its new habitats. The major one is that the bird feeds in the fish ponds of the farms together with the Great Cormorant and Grey Heron which, at present, are considered to be "unwel¬come species" and therefore their population is deliberately controlled. Despite the fact that the Great White Egret feeds mostly on water inverte¬brates, it also falls victim to the hunters. Another problem is that during the nesting period this species is very cautious, e.g. even a mere visit to the colony of these birds may cause them to leave their nests.
Thus, the Great White Egret, which has already become a true symbol of Belarusian Palesse, needs a lot of human care and attention. It is only then that we would be able to conserve this rare bird species which is new to our wildlife.
S.V. Zuyonak
Expert in Nature Protection Issues,
Non-governmental organization "APB-BirdLife Belarus"
Text from the official flyer “GREAT WHITE EGRET” of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus
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| Date : 20.08.2008 |
| Metal : Ag 925 |
| Diameter, mm : 32.00 |
| Weight, g : 15.50 |
| Mintage, St. : 5000 |
Minted by :
RSE "The Kazakhstan mint of NB RK", Ust–Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan |
Design :
S.Nekrasova |
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Ebay-Statistic
(Prices in Euro):
| Year |
Count |
Ave
rage |
Min. |
Max. |
| 2006 |
0 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
| 2007 |
0 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
| 2008 |
16 |
27,54 |
16,62 |
34,55 |
| 2009 |
15 |
25,15 |
18,00 |
34,00 |
| 2010 |
8 |
28,02 |
20,00 |
40,00 |
| 2011 |
0 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
0,00 |
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