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Cobb's Wren
Falkland Islands - Commemorative
Release Date: 10 November 2009
Cobb's Wren
Cobb’s Wren is unique to the Falkland Islands, though it has close relatives in southern South America. 2009 marks the 100th anniversary of Cobb’s Wren being described as a separate species. It is named after Arthur Cobb, a local farmer and amateur ornithologist who collected the type specimen on Carcass Island, off the coast of West Falkland.
Cobb’s Wren is a small brown bird with closely barred wings and tail, which is often held erect. Adults fade to dull brown above during the summer, when newly fledged juveniles have a dark head and bright chestnut back. Colour-ringed birds have been known to live for at least six years and adult males probably remain in their breeding territories all year round.
It differs from other wrens as it has learnt to forage along coastlines with large boulder beaches and
accumulated seaweed, where there are rich pickings of small invertebrates including insects and sea lice. Cobb’s Wren is also partial to camel crickets and moth larvae in tussac grass. Nests are made in the tussac or in cavities among rocks bordering boulder beaches. Today it is totally restricted to outer islands that have remained free from introduced predators (cats, rats, mice and foxes). It is present and probably breeding on 70 islands. Individuals are usually very tame, and are numerous in suitable habitats on Lively, Sea Lion, George, Speedwell, Bird, Carcass and all of the Jason Islands, except Steeple Jason, which has mice.
accumulated seaweed, where there are rich pickings of small invertebrates including insects and sea lice. Cobb’s Wren is also partial to camel crickets and moth larvae in tussac grass. Nests are made in the tussac or in cavities among rocks bordering boulder beaches. Today it is totally restricted to outer islands that have remained free from introduced predators (cats, rats, mice and foxes). It is present and probably breeding on 70 islands. Individuals are usually very tame, and are numerous in suitable habitats on Lively, Sea Lion, George, Speedwell, Bird, Carcass and all of the Jason Islands, except Steeple Jason, which has mice.
BirdLife International rates this bird as a globally threatened species with Vulnerable conservation status primarily because of the destruction of its tussac grass habitat, the introduction of predators and the restricted geographic range of its scattered population. More than half the islands on which Cobb’s Wren is found are less than 50ha in size. Cobb’s Wren was probably widespread two centuries ago, occupying all suitable shorelines with tussac grass, but there are no records of breeding on mainland East or West Falkland.In September 2008 a workshop was held in the Falkland Islands to formulate a Cobb’s Wren Species
Action Plan. This Plan has now been adopted by the Falkland Islands Government and is being actioned with the support of Falklands Conservation, the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project, and the Cobb’s Wren Conservation Project. The aim is to secure and increase the current small population and the distribution of Cobb’s Wren within the Falkland archipelago. The most important priorities are to survey more of the 750 offshore islands for Cobb’s Wren and to continue a programme of eradicating predators to increase the number of suitable islands where this special Falkland bird can thrive.
Action Plan. This Plan has now been adopted by the Falkland Islands Government and is being actioned with the support of Falklands Conservation, the South Atlantic Invasive Species Project, and the Cobb’s Wren Conservation Project. The aim is to secure and increase the current small population and the distribution of Cobb’s Wren within the Falkland archipelago. The most important priorities are to survey more of the 750 offshore islands for Cobb’s Wren and to continue a programme of eradicating predators to increase the number of suitable islands where this special Falkland bird can thrive. Falklands Conservation is a non-governmental organisation working to protect the environment and wildlife of the Falkland Islands for future generations. It undertakes practical conservation projects, surveys and scientific studies, conducts annual monitoring of seabird populations, rescues wildlife in trouble, publishes guides and information on many aspects of the Falkland Islands environment, and involves islanders of all ages in its activities, including running a WATCH Group for children. It relies upon donations and public support to carry out this work.
Common Name: Cobb’s Wren
Local Name: Rock Wren
Scientific Name: Troglodytes cobbi
Length: 13-14cm
Population: About 15,000 individuals
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Lifespan: Possibly 6 years or more
Information about Cobb's Wren kindly provided by Robin Woods MBE
For more information, or to make a donation, please visit the website at www.falklandsconservation.com or come and see us in Stanley at Jubilee Villa, 40 Ross Road. Tel: (500) 22247.
UK Office & registered company/charity address: 1 Princes Avenue, London N3 2DA, UK.
THE STAMPS - PRODUCED WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE
WORLD WIDE FUND FOR NATURE
As with the 2006 Caracara release, the set consists of four stamps depicting different aspects of the Cobb’s Wren with values of 27p, 65p, 90p and £1.10p.
These stamps are produced individually in sheets of 50 (2 x25) and as complete sets in sheetlets of 16 (4 x 4) in staggered se-tenant format with the Panda logo in the border.
The WWF Panda logo also appears on each of these stamps.
The WWF initials and Panda device © 1986 WWF, with the authorisation of WWF, registered Trademark owner.
THE STAMPS - PRODUCED WITH THE APPROVAL OF
FALKLANDS CONSERVATION
The stamps are also issued as a souvenir sheet containing the same values, but rather than the WWF Panda logo, each carries the Falklands Conservation logo which also appears in the border of the souvenir sheet.
Technical Details:
Artist: Dag Peterson
Printer: BDT International
Process: Stochastic Lithography
Perforation: 14 per 2cms
Stamp size: 30.56 x 38mm
Sheet layout: 50 (2 x 25)
Sheetlet layout: 16 (4 x 4)
Sheetlet size: 185 x 190mm
Souvenir Sheet size: 113 x 100mm
Release date: 10 November 2009
Production Co-ordination: Creative Direction (Worldwide) Ltd