What:

The U.S. Postal Service and National Park Service will host a special stamp dedication ceremony at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in honor of this year’s Endangered Species Forever stamp sheet.

The stamps, which showcase photographs of endangered animals found within the 50 states, will be officially released on May 19 at the National Grasslands Visitor Center in South Dakota. 

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge stamp ceremony aims to bring awareness to the local hero of the stamp sheet: the piping plover.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge is home to the piping plover (featured on the bottom row of the stamp sheet). With less than 8,000 piping plovers left globally, this federally threatened shorebird is an integral part of what makes Jamaica Bay special.

The ceremony will include Postal Service leaders and National Park Service representatives and an unveiling of the new stamp.

Who:

U.S. Postal Service New York 2 District Manager Frank Calabrese.
National Park Service Ranger Flor Blum.

When:

Friday, May 26, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET

Where:

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Cross Bay Blvd, Far Rockaway, NY 11693

RSVP:

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at amy.n.gibbs@usps.gov

Background:

The stamps, which will be available on usps.com after May 19, showcase photographs of endangered animals found within the 50 states and U.S. territories, as well as two North American species living near U.S. borders.

The 20 images are from thousands in National Geographic Explorer and photographer Joel Sartore’s “National Geographic Photo Ark,” a project to document every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries, inspire action through education, and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts.

The Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge includes over 12,600 acres of water, saltmarshes, freshwater and brackish water ponds, upland fields and woods, and open bay and islands.

It is one of the largest bird habitats in the northeastern United States and is a great place to observe the seasonal bird migration as well as resident species.

The piping plovers build their nests on the open sands of the ocean beaches at Jamaica Bay.

During the spring and summer, the park closes designated nesting beaches to all visitor use, including fishing, surfing, and beach bathing once nests begin to hatch and chicks are on the beach.

The Wildlife Refuge was created in the 1950s by NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Robert Moses.

This site became part of the National Park Service in 1972 when Gateway was established.

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide.

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