A Belgian issue dated 26 October
bpost gives 26 October 2026 as the issue date of its “Les Picinés dans notre nature” sheet. The five stamps depict woodpeckers; their QR codes provide access to calls and drumming, according to the official presentation.
The drawings and layout are by Joris De Raedt. A collector’s information sheet accompanies the issue with its specifications.
bpost — stamp presentation · bpost — collector’s information sheet
The QR code extends the printed item
Our takeaway from this use: an image presents a subject, then the QR code provides another way to discover it. The idea could serve an exhibition, an educational sheet or an association’s trail, provided the sound adds useful information.
The QR code is not the audio file. A QR code containing a link needs a destination that stays available and a way to start playback there. That page, its content and its maintenance determine the experience after scanning.
A stamp’s postal role and its link to a sound are separate things. Creating an ordinary QR code creates neither a stamp nor proof of postage.
Prepare a page that invites people to listen
Before designing the printed item, prepare the destination:
- A title confirming what the person has just scanned and a short introduction to the sound.
- A clearly visible control to start playback deliberately, with pause and volume adjustment.
- Useful information for understanding the content without playing it: subject, context and, for spoken audio, a transcript.
- The credits and permissions needed for the recording you share.
For a bird sound, a speech transcript alone is not enough: also describe what the listener is meant to discover. W3C provides guidance on preparing alternatives for audio and video content.
Example: a nature activity sheet for an association
Fictional example: an association prepares a sheet for a nature activity. It has a recording it is allowed to share and a stable page presenting it. The QR code is accompanied by “Listen to the sound and read the sheet”, with the readable address.
On the page, a button starts the clip and text explains what to listen for. The printed sheet retains the essential information, so it remains useful without a phone or connection.
Before reproducing the sheets, the association checks the journey using the final printed item and a visitor unfamiliar with the project. The instruction, link and content should promise the same thing.
The sound can change; the link needs ongoing care
A page at an address you control lets you replace a clip, add a language or correct a description without changing its URL. With a static QR code, the address encoded in the image remains fixed.
If the page moves, arrange a redirect from the old address before removing the content. Record who keeps the files, who administers the site and who checks the link after an update.
Avoid a sharing link restricted to your account or a temporary file. Try the destination in a signed-out profile to see the access conditions a visitor will encounter.
Create a QR code for an audio page with Qurl
If your page already exists, you can encode its address in the Qurl generator and download the QR code as PNG, SVG or PDF. A link can lead to audio content just as it can to a text page.
Qurl does not host recordings or add an audio player to your site. It does not provide a postal service either: the resulting file is a QR code for the address you choose.
Keep a precise instruction, an alternative address and the code’s clear margin in your layout. For a card or leaflet, the existing templates can provide a starting point, with wording adapted to your content.
Create a QR code for your page · Prepare a business card or flyer