December 2005

Total amount of visitors this month:  05                                  (total this year: 837)

GENERAL NEWS (from January 1^st 2006 LOG-BOOK):

December 1st:  the Hedge-hog (05-238; November 9^th) was this morning 534 gram. The Scop’s Owl (05-240; November 30^th) hadn’t eaten by herself and diminished only 2 gram > it might have been worse. Showed to fly quite well and has no injuries whatsoever !! So keeping till the end of hunting season.

December 2^nd:  the Hedge-hog had diminished a bit: this morning 528 gram. The Scop’s Owl was back again on the “intake-weight” > 94 gram. However, isn’t eating yet by herself. And for all people who are wondering if we’re taking enough care about animals which went from here to Holland (or somewhere else): we received a picture with “our” Fréderíki (03-064; went October 24^th to Holland) in her new home and on her favorite spot (the lap of her master) > we won’t keep it away from you.

December 3^rd:  the Hedge-hog had gained some weight: was 536 gram. The Scop’s Owl remained the same. At 12.45 p.m. a phone-call from Polichnítos about a Caucasian Squirrel  with rear-leg(s)-problems. Will be brought today or tomorrow. The special cage was prepared for this species.

December 4^th:  the Hedge-hog has grown 17 grams. The Scop’s Owl is still on her “intake weight” > now phasing out the forced feedings and have a look if she will start eating by her own. In the Pigeon-aviary in “The Keep” a broody pigeon had taken justice in her own “hands” when a thick, fat mouse had tried to steal and/or to eat her eggs: she did the mouse in. The mortal remains will for sure find their way to the Barn Owls. We stayed home the whole morning “expecting” and we didn’t go for a walk with the doggies (here for the weather was perfect). At 12 o’clock at last we could reach the “discoverer” of the Caucasian Squirrel: the poor creature had died already yesterday around 1 p.m. > of course one doesn’t call with this announcement !! In the afternoon there was a water-stop!!

December 5^th:  the Hedge-hog was 576 gram this morning. The Scop’s Owl still hadn’t eaten by herself and had diminished 4 gram with one force-feeding less. In the course of the morning again there was a water-stop and of course just after we started with the tiling of the floor of the sick-bay!! In spite of that, a good 30% is done. Only in the course of the afternoon water-pressure was restored.

December 6^th:  the Hedge-hog had diminished this morning: 554 gram. The Scop’s Owl remained the same with one force-feeding less. We had to take back one Barn Owl from “The Keep”: couldn’t use the legs properly. Continued with the tiling of the floor of the sick-bay: due to all kind of strange corners only a little bit was realized > we are about halfway.

December 7^th:  either the scales didn’t work properly yesterday (in spite of double measuring!) or the Hedge-hog is acting a bit “strange”: this morning he was 594 gram! Comparing with December 5^th a normal grow. The Scop’s Owl didn’t eat yet by herself, but remained the same. The re-taken-in Brown Barn Owl is still alive and is quite active; only those legs !! Due to the visit to the masseuse (for the spinal-problems) there was no tiling today.

December 8^th:  the Hedge-hog was 586 gram and the Scop’s Owl still 94 gram > however, isn’t eating yet by herself. The Brown Barn Owl has two ice-cold legs and both legs are hanging. We’ll wait another few days . . . .

(see as well at Brown Barn Owl). At 11.15 a.m. a phone-call from Mória about a (not severe) injured pigeon > we’ll pick-up that bird tomorrow. At 11.30 the floor of the sick-bay was ready for 66%.

December 9^th:  the Hedge-hog was 606 gram and the Scop’s Owl had diminished: 90 gram. At 10.30 a.m. we had to stop tiling: both there was not enough adhesive anymore and we had to leave free space to reach the patients. But from the remaining part half is tiled. The announced pigeon showed te be a Rock-dove with a wing-injury. At 5.45 p.m. a phone-call from Skála Eressoú about an injured pigeon (?) the discoverer had already 2 days in his “possession” (cat-bite??). Was brought today to the Vet Chrístos Gógos in Kallonís; we’ll pick him/her up tomorrow over there.

December 10^th:  the Hedge-hog was 600 gram and the Scop’s remained the same. Started with measuring and cutting of the tiles. Hereafter picked-up the bird > was a Collared Dove. At 11.15 a.m. the complete floor was tiled > now only cleaning. At 4.15 p.m. the floor looked like this.

December 11^th:  the Collared Dove from yesterday was this morning still alive > may be called quite a miracle. The Hedge-hog was 606 gram and the Scop’s still 90 gram. The Elections for the Board went as follows: Chairman of the Board and Director of the Hospital remained Ineke Peeters-Lenglet (with 46 of the 48 votes). Vice-Chairman became Eléni Galinoú (with 40 votes). Remained Secretary María Kallipolíti (32 votes). Remained Treasurer Joris Peeters (automatically member of the Board). Other members: Karen Kant (40 votes) and Micháil Kapiotás (35 votes). Reserve-member: Medie Meijer (23 votes). At 5.20 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos about a (probably) poisoned cat > as good as possible advices were given.

December 12^th:  the Hedge-hog was 600 gram and the Scop’s 92 gram. The Collared Dove seems to be a little bit better, but we don’t praise the day before it’s evening ! Re-organizing the Sick-bay, we had to find a place for the Meal-worm-nursery > is placed now under the preparing-table in the Food-hall > here it isn’t bothering no-one and we have more place in the Sick-bay.

December 13^th:  the Hedge-hog was this morning 630 gram; the Scop’s refused to be measured > was too restless. Continued with the “emptying” of some “cages-under-construction” where, in the course of the time, lots of (partly superfluous) materials & tools had heaped up. Doing so we had to destroy almost a complete mouse-village (the inhabitants were luckily [not any more] at home). The lowest two cages of the “Buzzard-cage-wall” are ready now to be finished. After that two Buzzard-cages, 2 Falcon-cages and 4 smaller cages must be emptied and finished.

December 14^th:  the Hedge-hog was this morning 622 gram and the Scop’s 90 gram. We made use from the opportunity (de-frosting as well the freezer as the fridge in de Food-hall) to remove both pieces of apparatus into the Intensive Care / place for Nocturnals. This creates the possibility to start tiling the Food-hall and as well re-organizing this place. Two visitors (from the Grammar-school in Kallonís): one from Dáfia and the other (half-English) from Parákoila. They were the only children who, on an school-excursion, had a more sane spending of the time than hanging around in a kafeníon.

December 15^th:  the Hedge-hog was 626 gram and the Scop’s 92; the latter isn’t yet eating on her own. In 3 hours of time we were able to tile the first 2 square meters of the first wall of the Food-hall. At 9 p.m. a phone-call from our former village Thermís about an injured pigeon > will be send or brought tomorrow.

December 16^th:  the Hedge-hog was 628 gram and the Scop’s unchanged 92 gram. We could continue with the tiling of the Food-hall > quite difficult with all those switches, plug-sockets and fuse-box. At 11.30 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about again an injured pigeon. Is picked-up after 2 p.m. at the Shell-station. The other pigeon arrived around 4.30 p.m. As well 2 visitors from Loutrópolis Thermís.

December 17^th:  we weren’t able to weigh the Scop’s > too restless, but the Hedge-hog was 690 gram (weighed twice !!). At 8.20 a.m. we received a phone-call from Váfios about an 18-month old cat with digestion-problems > will be brought around 1 p.m. It might have been worse > not in the statistics. Due to “social-duties” hardly any labour was done in the Feeding-hall.

December 18^th:  the Scop’s showed to have diminished: 86 gram, and the Hedge-hog too was quite a lot less: 650 gram. After 2.5 hours of working all electricity-cables were safely “packed-away” (and un-reachable for rats) and more than half of the sealing was on its place. We had to stop, because a certain back couldn’t have any further burden. One visitor from Athens.

December 19^th:  the Scop’s was 88 gram; she will go today to the huge (reserve-)aviary in the House-next-door for flying-practice and more activities. The Hedge-hog was 680 gram. With quite hard working the boarding was ready at midday, there was tiled (even behind the fuse-box, where the full power was still present !!) and the whole mess was cleaned. Now we can start re-organizing the cup-board. At the evening-feeding-round we took back from the Barn Owl-aviary in “The Keep” a (probably) female > was sitting already from the 18^th early in the morning on the floor and wasn’t hiding. Is missing all the tail-feathers. It is still un-known which bird exactly it is > she has a foot-ring, but we can’t find her back at this moment in the records.

December 20^th:  the Hedge-hog was 685 gram and the Barn Owl from yesterday had eaten well and had put on 10 gram > let’s hope now we are able to get her over the “dead point”. We were able to “lop” some Cypress-branches close to the Chapel in Achladerí; we had taken with us on this trip our Gímli (we thought we could pleasure her with this trip), but she grew car-sick on the way back and spewed throughout the whole car !! In between “collecting” those braches and removing Gímli ‘s breakfast, we were able to re-organize the cup-board in the feeding-hall > we are now able to store the double amount of konserva (tinned cat-food). And when we see the picture, we must level as well the table-flap over there.

December 21^st – Midwinter: the Hedge-hog was this morning 710 gram and the Barn Owl (who is eating like a lion !) was at least 356 gram. The Scop’s isn’t yet eating by herself > so is forced-fed twice a day. We were able to wainscot the inner-side of the food-cup-board and as well tiling the top-shelf. The right wall on the out-side was already half-way with tiling, but at once we noticed that (probably) the fridge shouldn’t fit anymore > so removing all the tiles ! Today we received a message about the cat we examined the 17^th and for which we gave advices: “Hi, just a quick note to let you know that Whisky is much better now. Thank you. Jeff” And so it is certificated.

December 22^nd:  the Hedge-hog was 700 gram and the Barn Owl 382 gram; the Scop’s hadn’t eaten by herself, so we had to feed her. Around midday we had almost finished the tiling of the inside of the food-cup-board (only 3 tiles weren’t done) > only we were (for the first time ??) wise and left those last three for tomorrow.

December 23^rd:  the Hedge-hog was back on 710 gram and the Barn Owl had “lost” 4 gram > 378 gram. The white cup-board under the tins with cat-food was removed completely from the wall, stripped of all kinds of nests and corridors of mice and is now back again leveled against the wall. No mouse can anymore hide behind. The Eastern Hedge-hog is around midday transferred to the huge cage in the place for the nocturnals > here he has more space and, even better, bigger sleeping-quarters.

December 24^th:  having more space did well to the Hedge-hog > was 725 gram. The Barn Owl had eaten well and was 380 gram. The Scop’s had eaten last night for the first time by herself. In the food-hall we could remove the old tiles above the table-flap. The lower part is already tiled, although it was quite difficult to link well with the tiles coming from the other side.

December 25^th:  the Hedge-hog had gained in weight till 750 gram, but the Barn Owl had diminished: 366 gram. The Scop’s had eaten even better than yesterday > about this animal there is no need to inform you further (except by special circumstances of course) > should wait till we can release the beginning of March 2006. At 11.30 a.m. we had to stop tiling ( no prepared adhesive anymore > we used till now 1 of the two bags of 25 kilo we bought December 9^th , and the back of one of us didn’t allow further capers) > but at one spot we had reached the ceiling.

December 26^th: the Hedge-hog had produced lots of droppings and was now only 715 gram. The Barn Owl did better and she was this morning 396 gram. At 10.45 a.m. we were so far, that the telephone-cable was cut into the wall and that wall was closed till the ceiling. As well all the base-board-tiles were glued against the wall. The next thing is now the floor under the freezer & the fridge. At almost 4.30 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about an injured pigeon > was brought to the Town-hall and picked-up by us over there.

December 27^th:  the Barn Owl was 402 gram and the Eastern Hedge-hog 740 gram. At 10.15 a.m. we were ready with tiling of the part that could be done today. Hereafter continued with the special tile which should be placed above the door of the surgery > engraving wasn’t possible, because the special accessory for the diamond-drills had “breathed its last” > so continued with paint. This was ready at 5.50 p.m. and will be placed tomorrow.

December 28^th:  the Hedge-hog was 710 gram and the Barn Owl 400. The first-mentioned must evidently have more hay and leaves in his “bedroom”, because he is too cold now in the morning. At 12 o’clock we had tiled that part of the floor that could be done ( we should leave free a place to work, but as well a gangway) and the tile above the surgery was placed as well.

December 29^th:  with some extra “blankets” the Hedge-hog had felt more comfortable: had eaten only half his bowl, but had gained in weight till 745 gram. The Barn Owl had diminished: 396 gram, but such kinds of “fluctuations” are quite normal. At 10.40 a.m. the whole floor was tiled (with an exception for a small part of 200 square cm, because a rotten wooden wall should first be replaced by a brick one). While the adhesive was drying, it was very difficult to reach the still present patients over there . . . . ! We used the “time-to-dry” to clean-up the lodging for our baby-tortoises > it showed there were lots of “delivery-rooms-for-flies” in between the double glass of the heating-element. So now we knew where all those heaps of flies were coming from. So that’s (temporarily) fixed.

December 30^th:  the Hedge-hog was again 710 gram (starts to bite !!) and the Barn Owl was 400 gram. In the lodging for the Tortoises a fly-catcher (glue) is placed now (quite difficult, because it should hang horizontally against the sealing). The outside-wall of the surgery is complete tiled now. We used this opportunity to place & connect over there 2 new telephones (as well in the food-hall as in the surgery) > both lines can be used from there too now. The last bit of adhesive was used to tile (partially) the doorsteps from as well the surgery as the sick-bay.

December 31^st:  the Barn Owl is growing well and was 414 gram; the Hedge-hog had gained till 730 gram. At 10.45 a.m. we stopped for this year with working: the outside-wall of the sick-bay is ready for 99%. Only the tile with the name, some strange corners in the ridge and an even stranger piece around a rafter. But that’s all for next year. And to give an impression of the work that was done.

Kinds of animals who are mentioned like this were for the first time in treatment in the L.W.H.   

Amount of kilometers (Animal-Ambulance) for bringing-in/releasing animals this month 102 (total this year 3626 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 7 [wild ones: 7; others 0], (total this year 290 > : wild ones 168, others 122; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3244),  of which:

BROWN BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata): 1 adult female out of the Barn Owl-cage in “The Keep”: seems to be lamed on both legs > so observation. Further tests showed that the left lag completely is lamed, but also that in the right leg still some reflexes are present. Reason ?? Is going to have physiotherapies 3 times a day. Had the day after re-intake ad midday no reflexes at all any more in both legs. The prognosis is now quite bad ! She started from December 8^th giving back the given food > so she evidently has lost faith. So we’ll let her go quietly. Was discovered dead that same day at 4.20 p.m. > no P.M. was done.

ROCK DOVE (Columba livia): 2; the first an adult from/via Mória > injury left wing (thumb-part). Was transferred to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” December 22^nd. The 2^nd came from Mytiléne; an adult with quite a lot of injuries: almost the whole tail was missing, huge part of the feathers on the back were gone, all big feathers from the left wing (under-arm) had disappeared and the left leg is lamed (no fractures or something like it). Observation and Physiotherapies. Started to use the lamed leg December 31^st.

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 1 adult from Skála Eressoú > shot-hole above right eye and fracture left wing (humerus) > here probably a shot-hole as well close to the shoulder. CAF-ointment in the right eye and hanging cast left wing was given. As well put under the antibiotics. However: the condition of the bird isn’t so well > was three days without medical care > even the already mentioned Vet hadn’t done anything !! At a further inspection (the 13^th) it was clear that, almost 100% sure, the bird was shot flying: the shot-hole on the shoulder shows the way the shot-pellet went > via the shoulder through the upper-arm till into the under-arm. So “tissue-technical” spoken that wing inside is a “mess” ! We noticed the 22^nd that the wing can be used well. Is only still missing the tail-feathers.

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 2 ; the first an adult from Mytiléne > was announced as “injured” > is only missing from the left wing (under-arm) all huge feathers. Was transferred to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” December 22^nd. The 2^nd came from Loutrópolis Thermís > a juvenile with quite a huge hole (already some days old) in the left upper-side of the thorax > (temporarily) closed with 2 agrafes.  Are removed the 22^nd. Went the 31^st to the pigeon-aviary in “The Keep” waiting for re-homing or release.

WHITE BARN OWL (Tyto a. alba): 1 (probably) female from the Barn Owl-aviary in “The Keep” > observation due to not normal behavior. Body-weight was 314 gram and for a female that’s not enough ( for a male it’s more than enough).,

Happy New Year to everyone

Ineke & Joris