Guernsey Post’s philatelic bureau has released a set of stamps celebrating the work of the Alderney Bird Observatory (ABO), the Channel Islands’ only bird observatory and an important centre for monitoring migration along the East Atlantic Flyway (stamp issue date: 11 February 2026).

Established in 2016, the Observatory is the twentieth to join the network of British Bird Observatories and the southernmost within the British Isles. Its location on Alderney places it directly on a major migratory route between Europe and Africa, where the island’s cliffs, grasslands and wetlands provide vital stopping points for countless species moving through the region each year.

The ABO carries out year-round monitoring. Daily censuses, bird ringing, acoustic monitoring and tracking technologies such as the Motus radio tag network enable the ABO to gather detailed insights into both diurnal and nocturnal migration. When the Observatory was founded, Alderney’s Bird List stood at 287 species; by the end of 2025, this figure had risen to 317, reflecting nearly a decade of intensive fieldwork.

Education and community involvement form an important part of the ABO’s mission. Guided walks, talks, school visits and volunteer opportunities help residents and visitors engage with Alderney’s natural heritage, while the Observatory’s data contributes to national and international conservation research.

The stamps This special issue depicts some of the rarer species recorded by the Observatory: 69p – Blue-headed Wagtail 92p – Rosy Starling £1.37 – Hoopoe £1.47 – Purple Heron £1.81 – Great Bustard £1.90 – Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)

Bridget Yabsley, head of philatelic at Guernsey Post, said: – “The Alderney Bird Observatory plays a vital role in understanding migration along one of Europe’s busiest flyways. We are delighted to celebrate its work through this new stamp issue, which highlights some of the extraordinary species recorded on the island.”