U.S. stamps are going batty.

A new 23-cent U.S. stamped card honors Carlsbad Caverns National Park located in the southeast corner of New Mexico. The stamp is scheduled for issuance June 7.

One the major attractions at Carlsbad Caverns is the colony of migratory Mexican free-tailed bats that make their summer home in a passageway near the natural entrances to Carlsbad Caverns.

From spring until autumn, hundreds of thousands of bats swarm out of the cave at night to feed on insects nearby. Visitors gather to marvel at the dramatic exodus and frenzy that can last up to two hours.

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has more than 100 known caves and covers 33,125 acres. The Caverns contain a large underground chamber. According to the U.S. Postal Service, nearly 500,000 visitors enjoy the sights each year. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Dec. 6, 1995.

Catalog changes

There are about 14,000 value changes in Volume I of the 2003 Scott Postage Stamp Catalogue. Volume I covers the United States, U.S. Possessions, the United Nations and countries of the world listed alphabetically, A through B.

Most U.S. values are upward. For example, the U.S. 1869 1-cent buff (Scott 112b) jumps from $4,250 to $6,000. The double-impression variety of the 1873 3-cent green (Scott 158j) doubles to $2,500 (used) from $1,250.