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February 2008 LOG-BOOK: News about the Bird-flu is in red and about the environment in blue February 1st: although the weather-report is telling us otherwise, here it’s still all covered with ice !! In the Sick-Bay no-one was minus this morning: the Silky Fowl reached the 500 gram (+11), the juvenile Pigeon was 242 (+12) and the Little Owl 206 (=) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 777 (+20) and Honey Buzzard II was 1049 (+5) gram. We have finished the re-organizing of the computer- & office-part of the Library; now only all books should have their new place, so we and as well the trainees should be able finding “our way” a bit here. At 4.30 p.m. there was a young woman with quite a large moustache & beard at our door with a young dog, of which one had told he should have scabies. She had a young son with a hydrocephalus and (again) one had told her this could “glue” (= be contagious) to the child. We don’t understand the connection between these two things, but that should be our “problem”. The dog was checked and the conclusion was that the fur was quite felted, so the dog needed a good trim (but not yet in the present cold circumstances). So we could reassure her. Further not in the statistics. Both quite hairy ones went home happily. February 2nd: the Silky Fowl was 508 (+8), the juvenile Pigeon 246 (+4) and the Little Owl 207 (+1) gram. The last one seems starting eating on it’s own. Honey Buzzard I was 755 (-22) and number II was 1050 (+1) gram. At 8.38 a.m. a phone call (from a terrified woman) from Papádos, that at her place in a card-board box there was an injured “geráki” (bird of prey). She was so terrified, she didn’t even dare to tough the box . . . !! So in that direction and after wrong information about where, at last we could meet each other. It was a shot Buzzard > see over there. And in spite of the fact that on several places in the mountains there had been sanding in the corners against slipperiness, we have seen the first blossoming Anemones !! Had the new Buzzard been laying on the belly the whole day, at 9.50 p.m. there was sleeping, sitting on the heels with the head in between the feathers. February 3rd: at 5 a.m. the new Buzzard was sitting straight with the head in the feathers !! The Silky Fowl was 519 (+11), the juvenile Pigeon 245 (-1) and the Little Owl 209 (+2) gram. The last one is fed now every feeding-round lesser. The new Buzzard was 640 (+35), Honey Buzzard I was 769 (+14) and the other 1050 (=) gram. The droppings of the new Buzzard are black; this means that there is quite a huge internal damage (bleeding). Just before the siesta 3 visitors from Mytiléne and while we were having (too late) our lunch another 3, but now from Kalloní: the orthopedic, who in the past had plastered the broken foot of one of us, with wife and daughter. And this all due to the newspaper-article. February 4th: the Silky Fowl was 523 (+4)m the juvenile Pigeon 251 (+6) and the Little Owl 203 (-6) gram. The new Buzzard was 638 (-2), Honey Buzzard I was 748 (-21) and the female 1044 (-6) gram. Release: because one can hear lots of Little Owls around the house in the evening and during the night and there is evidently enough te eat for them, we have brought the Little owl (07-221; November 30th ’07) to the deserted houslet > he probably wanted to leave, because had bitten meanwhile quite a huge hole in the netting of his cage. Around 12.30 p.m. a Greek family from Mytiléne was at our door-step so see everything. At 5.05 p.m. two men were in our court-yard with an injured bird-of-prey > they first had gone to Thermís . . . . !! And we live already more than 6,5 years here !! See further at BUZZARD. Meanwhile we received news from Ben Steinfort in Holland about our Buzzards from this month: Buzzard I could be as well male as female according to the measurements > just in between, Buzzard II however is evidently a girl, and than she is with an intake-weight of 575 gram quite a lot under what it should be: 700 – 1200 gram !! February 5th: all were still alive this morning !! The Silky Fowl was 528 (+5) and the juvenile Pigeon 256 (+5) gram. Buzzard I was 671 (+33) and Buzzard II was 590 (+21) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 745 (-3) and Honey Buzzard II was 1053 (+9) gram. The yesterday released Little owl wasn’t present anymore at 7.40 a.m. The leg-injury of Buzzard I we were able to close with 3 stitches. If there is enough function left in this leg we’ll have to wait a bit longer. Today again the weekly “meat-cutting-day” and together with Douglas there was processed 13.440 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (89,24 Euro). Total this year now 70,400 kilo for 464,63 Euro. There first was a phone-call from our village, and later they came to pick us up, for a knocked-down dog: a dark Collie, which was laying in the streets. No fractures could be diagnosed. Reflexes were OK. Because the owners were in Athens (and no-one knew when they should return) the dog was placed on a quiet spot > the neighborhood should further take care of her. Not in the statistics. Again we could continue with the re-organizing of the Library and as well with the re-organizing of our Photo-archive on CD. February 6th: all were still alive this and as well all were “in the plus” this morning: the Silky Fowl was 539 (+11) and the juvenile Pigeon 257 (+1) gram. Buzzard I was 701 (+30) and number II was 610 (+14) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 757 (+12) and the other was 1061 (+8) gram. The wing of Buzzard II (of this month) is definitively “gone” > on the fracture-spot the tendons are visible as dry strings. And the blood-circulation seems indeed to have disappeared. So this is going to be an amputation, if the wing isn’t falling off automatically. There seems to be some movement in the toes of the injured leg of Buzzard I > the injury however (in spite of the stitches) hasn’t closed yet. We have continued again with the photo-archive; now only the dogs & cats must be done. February 7th: the Silky Fowl was 545 (+10) and the juvenile Pigeon 259 (+2) gram. Buzzard I was 735 (+34) and Buzzard II was 661 (+51) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 745 (-12) and number II was 1059 (-2) gram. We could continue with the photo-archive. Migrating bugs are on the rise Warmer global temperatures are likely to create conditions for an increase in pests able to carry diseases and destroy Greek crops (only GREEK ?? > note L.W.H.), according to agriculture experts. Mosquitoes and leeches are seen as moving northward and appearing for greater time periods if predictions of an increase in temperatures of between 1.5 to 5.5 degrees over the next 50 to 100 years come true. Anastassios Siomos, an associate professor of Agriculture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, said yesterday that climate changes have already had a negative impact on crops such as asparagus, onions, beans and tomatoes. Another consequence of the warmer temperatures is that plants mature faster than usual but reproduce at slower rates. A recent study by the Aristotle University showed that 60 different types of insects have appeared in Greece over the last 20 years, moving from nearby areas, and threaten the country’s crops. Experts blame the larger number of bugs partly on a one-degree rise in temperatures. And after having used water normally at 2 p.m., we were at 3.30 p.m. (without any warning) at once completely without . . . . !! And after three hours of calling everyone and everybody (because no-one could be reached !!) we at last could hear that somewhere during activities a pipe was damaged and that due of that the main part of the village was without water !! And the worst will come yet: they are not until tomorrow trying to repair this !! And the village-loudspeaker-system remained as dead as a doornail, so no-one knew exactly what was wrong. What a country and what a mentality . . . . !! February 8th: the wind is blowing like hell and we have a yellow weather-alert !! All were still alive this morning and as well all were “in the plus”: the Silky Fowl was 557 (+12) and the juvenile Pigeon 262 (+3) gram. Buzzard I was 737 (+2) and Buzzard II was 712 (+51) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 737 (+2) and the other 1064 (+5) gram. At 12.05 p.m. there was (in any case “for the time being”) water again . . . . We have finished the re-organizing of the photo-archive on CD > now only the photo’s from the “pré-computer-era” must be scanned and processed . . . . !! And meanwhile we started with that. At 4.30 p.m. a phone-call from our village, that there was a woman with a dog, having problems > “we should come down-wards” . . . !! So no, and we told them to come over here. And really they did so: a Lithuanian women (with a Greek escort) with a puppy, which had tried from the balcony to imitate birds > was discovered in a J.C.-pose on the ground. Showed to have an injury in the left rear-leg (collum-fracture ??). We have assured her this could cure with rest. Further not in the statistics. Both people were showed-around. The Lithuanian woman by the way was overjoyed finding some-one who could speak English . . . . !! February 9th: it’s still blowing like an idiot and we still have a yellow weather-alert. But that’s always better than the rest of Greece, where there is an orange weather-alert !! No victims this morning and the weights sufficed as well: the Silky Fowl 569 (+12) and the Pigeon 267 (+5). Buzzard I was 760 (+23) and Buzzard II was 757 (+45) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 745 (-4) and Honey Buzzard II was 1071 (+15) gram. The latter by the way has again some injury in the bill, which we’re treating with Pyralvex. Because the wind is soo strong, the fishermen from Skála Kallonís don’t sail, and so we had to buy fish for “Pelli”. In any case we have now a stock for 14 days, because the weather isn’t improving. WEATHER WARNING Thunderstorms and high winds due to hit many parts of country today The weather is set to deteriorate across most of the country today, with heavy showers and thunderstorms on the mainland, the Peloponnese, Cyclades and Crete. Winds will reach up to 10 on the Beaufort scale in the Aegean. Temperatures will fall in Attica with snow forecast for hilly parts of the suburbs. Those intending to travel by sea should contact port authorities to check schedules as some itineraries will be canceled due to high winds. We could continue with as well the re-organizing of the Library as with the scanning of photo’s from the “pré-computer-era”. At 3.10 p.m. the dogs suddenly started barking and there was a man from our village at the door (in the ice-cold rain), who had found in the fields around Kalloní an injured bird of prey > see further at BUZZARD. We received a message from Holland that the mentioned Buzzard most probably is a male. February 10th: over here it’s still a yellow weather-alert (the rest of Greece is orange !), but the wind seems to have decreased a bit. All patients were still alive this morning and no-one was “in the minus”: the Silky Fowl was 576 (+7) and the Pigeon 267 (=). The latter was fed yesterday less. Buzzard I was 793 (+33), Buzzard II was 793 (+35) and Buzzard III was 560 (+33) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 759 (+14) and the other 1084 (+13) gram. We have transferred the juvenile Pigeon (08-009; January 19th ’08) at 7.42 a.m. to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”; one minute later followed by the Silky Fowl (07-219; November 29th ’07). We had to amputate the wing of Buzzard II > see over there. By this she lost 38 gram. February 11th: there is still a strong wind, but our islands are “in the green” > the rest of Greece is still “in the yellow”. Buzzard I was 809 (+16) and Buzzard III was 604 (+44) gram. Buzzard II was before the surgery 792, lost 38 gram (= 754) and was this morning 773 (+19) gram. We stopped the measuring of the Honey Buzzards > meanwhile we think we know. The birds, yesterday transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”, are doing very well; only the for Silky Fowl it’s “strange”: no humans anymore to sit on their lap and steal the food . . . . !! We had to close the injury under the wing of Buzzard III again; this time with 2 agrafes. The amputation-injury from Buzzard II was looking well and as well smelled good. We received a phone-call from Tríkala (in Thessalia) from the Gymnasium over there, that they want to visit us around Greek Easter (end of April). And just hereafter a phone-call from Véria (neighborhood of Thessalonica) that as well they wanted to visit us. The weather-conditions are meanwhile “upgraded” for today and tomorrow into yellow !! With the most important photo’s from the “pre-computer-era” we are now ready up to and including 1998. Buzzard I was discovered for the first time standing on two legs at 6.10 p.m. !! February 12th: there is an ice-cold hard wind and the North-Aegean-islands (so as well Lesvos) have an orange weather-alert, while the rest of Greece is yellow !! Buzzard I was 809 (=), Buzzard II was 787 (+14) and Buzzard III was 621 (+17) gram. We started carefully with mixing the given soft food for the Buzzards with normal food. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and together with Douglas & Janice there was processed 15.2 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (92,83 Euro). Total now this year 85,6 kilo for 557,46 Euro. His morning again 2 phone-calls from schools from the main-land who wanted to visit us: 1 from Kalavrítsa (Peleponnesos) and the other from Náousa (Central-Macedonia). And just before the siesta another phone-call; this time from Chalkidíki from another school who want to visit us in April . . . . !! And in the siesta there was a woman at the door with a 4 weeks old puppy she had been feeding already for a long time with only pasteurized milk > the poor creature was stiff from the stomach-spasms and to make things even worse she had given him a mixture of vinegar and olive-oil . . . . !! The last was done to make him vomit !! Now, she had a very bad time listening to what her was told (and even our neighbors should have had red ears !!) . . . !! Further advices were given how to handle now (if the poor soul will make it), but she was even more stupid than the good Lord had made her !! Further not in the statistics. After the siesta again a phone-call, this time from a school in Pátras, who as well wants to visit us. Due to this all only a little bit could be done in the re-organizing of the Library. February 13th: there is still blowing an ice-cold wind and our islands still have a yellow weather-alert. Buzzard I was 821 (+12), Buzzard II was 929 (+42) and Buzzard III was 659 (+38) gram. We started cautiously with physiotherapies for the toes of Buzzard I. Because they all three are gaining weight so well, we have diminished the feeding-rounds of the Buzzards from 5 till 3. On we weather-forecast we could read that snow is expected from Saturday-night . . . . !! Those guys are wrong several times, but for all that . . . . !! We’re already quite far with the re-organizing of the Library. February 14th: it’s ice-cold outside and below zero !! Buzzard I was 821 (=), Buzzard II was 842 (+13) and Buzzard III was 855 (-4) gram. So the last one should be fed extra again. The injury on the leg of Buzzard I is still open and still leaking. The amputations-limb of Buzzard II is dry and smelling good. The injury under the wing of Buzzard III we had to stitch again > is still leaking !! There seems to be a problem (due to new legislation) with the delivery of fuel-oil > the whole island is “dry” and it can take a long time before a solution is in sight !! We have only ± 150 liter in the tank, so . . . . !! And again we were phoned by a school: this time from Makriniá (in the neighborhood of Pátras), who wants to visit is as well next April. At 11.47 a.m. a phone-call from the Agrotikí Stégi in Kalloní, that they had there an injured bird > we went for a ride and picked it up. See further at LONG-EARED OWL. And while we were busy with the bird, the following happened: Strong Earth-quake hits Greece
Till now on there are no reports about casualties. According to the Greek press lots of scared people ran into the streets. The epic-center of the quake was in the south of the Peleponnesos-peninsula. In the capital Athens the quake was felt for at least 15 seconds. February 15th: we have closed-down last night the central heating and left the taps running in an effort to save fuel-oil . . . . !! The snow-forecast for next weekend is altered meanwhile into black-ice . . . . !! Buzzard I was 828 (+7), Buzzard II was 861 (+21) and Buzzard III was 690 (+35) gram > what a difference one extra feeding can make !! Our car was again covered with thick ice and the same was the case with the water-bowls in the aviaries. And after one day of strikes, the Greek press at last came with news about the earth-quakes: Powerful quakes hit Peloponnese Two powerful quakes, measuring 6.5 and 6.4 on the Richter scale, shook the region of Messinia, in the Peloponnese, yesterday lunchtime, and were felt as far away as Italy and Egypt, but there were no reports of injuries or serious damage. The first undersea quake occurred some 60 kilometers south of Methoni, in the southern Peloponnese, at 12.09 p.m., and lasted around 15 seconds. It was followed, almost exactly two hours later, by an aftershock at the same epicenter, which was almost as strong as the original quake. The strength, and duration, of the quakes sent hundreds of panicked local residents out into the streets and led to schools and offices being evacuated. The quakes were felt in part of Athens and even in parts of Italy as well as Cairo. But the great depth of the quakes – 30 kilometers below sea level – averted any widespread damage at the surface level, experts said. Local authorities reported only minor damage, such as cracks in walls and plaster falling off the facades of buildings. Schools in the prefectures of Messinia and Arcadia are to remain closed tomorrow as a precaution. Seismologists struck a reassuring tone yesterday but said it would be another 24 hours before they could rule out the possibility of further strong aftershocks. The head of Athens’s Geodynamic Institute, Gerasimos Papadopoulos, said that more strong aftershocks were likely but inhabited areas near the epicenter were unlikely to be affected. Most experts agreed that much of the seismic energy issued by the first quake was absorbed by the large aftershock that occurred shortly after 2 p.m. As media speculation mounted about the possibility of another quake and residents appeared on television expressing their fears, Environment and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias asked citizens to pay attention only to announcements by official state-backed organizations. Earlier this month another quake, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, hit the same peninsula near the port of Patras. The weather-alert for this weekend is now upgraded till orange, and with as well snow as black-ice !! February 16th: it’s ice-cold and it’s raining; when will it freeze up and won’t we be able to go in the streets . . ? Buzzard I was 836 (+8), Buzzard II was 877 (+16) and Buzzard III was 714 (+24) gram. In any case we were able going shopping without gliding from the roads !! We have removed the limb-bandage from the wing of Buzzard II; the spot is only covered now with Hansaplast-spray. All three Buzzards had for the first time food in the cage > now wait and see. At 9.30 a.m. the first snow was falling ! Country braces for cold snap Most of the country is expected to be affected by extremely cold conditions this weekend with snow expected tomorrow in many parts of Greece, including Athens, as temperatures could drop to a 100-year low. The National Meteorological Service said there will also be winds reaching 10 Beaufort, particularly in eastern Greece (and that’s where we live !), and below-zero temperatures. Government officials said that state emergency services will be on standby through the spell of bad weather, which is likely to last until Monday. People should limit their travel plans over the weekend, while those that still need to make short journeys should take extra care, officials added. And we know now, why there is no fuel-oil available: Fuel vendors split over taxFuel distributors are scheduled to meet tomorrow to decide on their action plan against recently introduced government measures aimed at catching tax dodgers as a split between them has emerged. On Thursday, the government upped the tax applicable on heating oil, which will later be refunded, in a procedure which is aimed at helping to stamp out tax evasion that currently reaches millions of euros. Questioned on the issue by Kathimerini, the head of the Federation of Petrol Vendors in Greece (OBE), Michalis Kiousis, said he did not want to comment as he had been receiving death threats. A number of heating oil distributors were closed yesterday, in protest at the move, but later opened for business as three large companies in the sector decided to conform to the new tax regulations and operate as normal. Industry sources said Athens operators largely adopted the change, while distributors mostly in Thessaloniki, Crete, Corfu and Grevena had shut down petrol pumps. And the whole day little snow-flakes were falling, but against nightfall the flakes became thicker and Table-mount was more and more invisible. In any case we have removed our car to the parking below for precautionary reasons > so tomorrow no chance of gliding in the reverse downwards !! February 17th: with ice-cold fingers behind the computer > it’s storming (ice-cold) like hell and all water-bowls outside are covered with thick ice > it’s –4 degrees Centigrade ! We had all the water-taps open last night > and there is still water at our place !! Further snow and black-ice have (till now on) stayed-away. We have still orange weather-alert, but in Athens and surroundings (Attica) there is RED and the inhabitants must listen to the radio/TV for receiving messages from the authorities (but Greeks are doing so already the whole day after all !). This was later extended for other parts of the country as well ! Buzzard I was 842 (+6), Buzzard II was 887 (+10) and Buzzard III was 733 (+19) gram. At 7.30 a.m. it showed to be that, in spite of running taps, the waterworks in the House-next-door were stiff frozen !! When we wanted to bring back the car from the parking (neighbor Yiánnis couldn’t enter his car > lock was frozen !), we could enter the car and drive away without problems, but at arrival at base, we couldn’t leave the car > door-lock was working, but the car-doors were frozen meanwhile !! The pump in the Aviary is frozen as well !! It started snowing again around 8 a.m. And that remained the whole day (lightly) > on some spots it isn’t blown away anymore. In “The Keep” the thermometer stopped at the zero-point . . . . !! We could continue with the (arrear) binding of specialist literature. The problems with the car we were able to fix (for the time being). In the Sick-Bay we’re reaching just the 8 degrees, while in the living with difficulties the 18 degrees Centigrade is reached !! At 6.23 p.m. a phone-call from Papádos, that one had over there a Blackbird, injured on a wing > one will try to send the bird by coach tomorrow. February 18th: it’s still ice-cold, but the wind seems to have subsides a bit. By the way, we still have an orange weather-alert ! In the House-next-door there still is no water ! With running taps and the Central Heating burning we have prevented the freezing of our waterworks. The car could be opened normally at 5 a.m. Buzzard I was 843 (+1), Buzzard II was 906 (+19) and Buzzard III was 756 (+23) gram. For these three birds the food from now on is normal Buzzard-food. We have changed the bandage around the leg of Buzzard I > is closing slowly-slowly and as well there is some movement in the toes. We removed the stitches and the hanging cast from the wing of Buzzard III. We just received a phone-call that the first coach from Mytiléne is leaving only at 1.15 p.m. and the condition of the Blackbird doesn’t seem well enough one will wait for the coach > so they’ll come and bring the bird. Today again “meat-cutting-day”, and 16,975 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (103,28 Euro) had to be processed. Till now on this year 102,575 kilo for 660,74 Euro. The announced Blackbird arrived at 11.07 a.m.; only it wasn’t a Blackbird, but a Starling: in Western Europe a quite normal appearance, but here only a winter visitor, which isn’t even appearing every year. So see further at COMMON STARLING. Greece reported the following about the “weather-mess”: Snow blankets Greece
A cold snap that hit Greece yesterday blanketed the country in snow, cutting off dozens of villages and grounding flights at Athens International Airport. Temperatures fell to as low as -11 degrees in parts of northern Greece while in the capital snow fell steadily throughout the day. Officials said that about 70 villages were snowed in late yesterday, mostly in Evia, central Greece and on the Aegean islands. Athens International Airport closed down at about 5 p.m., cancelling domestic and international flights, and was not expected to re-open until 3 a.m. this morning. The snowstorm, the result of two cold fronts moving south from Russia and Scandinavia, struck Athens on Saturday night. Authorities had issued appeals for people to remain indoors but said some drivers ignored calls to take extra care on the country’s road network and this had contributed to traffic problems. “Drivers that decided to circulate without using anti-skid chains created additional problems,” said a local government official. “They slowed down traffic on some main roads by double parking in order to put on snow chains,” he added. The snowfall in the capital kept many Athenians indoors over the weekend, with normally busy central streets far quieter than usual. Other villages across the country, including on the southern island of Crete, reported a number of problems with power and water supplies. According to television reports, mountain villages near Iraklion on Crete and other small towns on the islands of Andros and Tinos had their power cut off since midday yesterday. The snow is becoming more dangerous for drivers as it is turning to ice, authorities warned. Schools in Athens will remain closed, but government officials said public services will operate as normal. However, today’s driving examinations will be cancelled. The National Meteorological Service said it expects conditions to begin improving today. In the evening the weather-alert for the whole of Greece was lifted !! February 19th: it still has frozen a lot last night, but no (storm-)winds anymore ! All patients in the Sick-Bay were still alive this morning. Buzzard I was 853 (+10), Buzzard II was 920 (+14) and Buzzard III was 763 (+7) gram. The Starling is quite lively and is eating fairly. The mountains in the north of the island are covered with a white cap !! We had to dress again the wing-limb of Buzzard II > she was damaging the new fragile skin herself. Buzzard III seems to be shot > pellet-holes were discovered in the left wing and in the left foot (rear-too). At 10.55 a.m. some German friends of us from Skála Polichnítos were at our doorstep with a poisoned he/dog, which they had discovered in the streets in Polichnítos > at the discovery he had vomited, but at arrival over here we only could pronounce him dead. Further not in the statistics. Greece thaws out as weather crisis starts to recede Rising temperatures yesterday melted the thick snow that had blanketed much of the country over the weekend, opening up roads, though several villages remained cut off. A third day of snowfall hampered transport in many areas, including Athens. Athens International Airport managed to stay open but dozens of international and domestic flights were cancelled due to poor visibility and an icy runway. Ferries, which had remained moored in ports over the weekend, started serving the Aegean yesterday afternoon. Dozens of villages remained cut off, particularly in the Peloponnese, in the Aegean and on Crete and Evia, with many suffering power cuts. Their situation is expected to improve today as rising temperatures melt residual snow. Still, schools in those areas, and in Attica, will remain closed again today. Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said the response by state services to the problems caused by the snowfall had been “satisfactory.” Some public transport services were suspended for safety reasons, Pavlopoulos said. Meanwhile, scientists put a positive spin on the weather problems, saying that the snowfall had boosted the country’s dwindling water reserves. “The snowfall of the past few days will boost Athens reserves by around 5 percent... and will make a big difference in the Cyclades which have a drought problem,” said Nikos Mamassis, a civil engineer at the National Technical University of Athens. Did we appear in the “green zone” today for the weather-alert, for tomorrow one is forecasting yellow with extreme cold weather !! And just about after we had saved the information mentioned before, the whole ADSL in Greece went “flat” > no E-mails could be received anymore and as well no connection with the Internet. February 20th: still frozen waterworks in the House-next-door. At our place all is still working (as long as the Central Heating is able to burn > heating-oil is almost finished !!) Buzzard I was 852 (-1), Buzzard II was 940 (+20) and Buzzard III was 769 (+7) gram. With lots of tricks we got the pump in the Aviary working again > will continue working tonight to prevent freezing. There still is no solution for the fuel-oil-conflict; the parties are 180 degrees opposite. Tomorrow there seems to arrive normal diesel oil on the island > we have agreed that a.s.a.p. 200 liter of that stuff will be brought over here, although it’s 40 – 45 eurocents a liter more expensive than fuel-oil . . . . !! But neither we, nor the animals are availed by cold rooms, by frozen (and bursted) waterworks and so on !! At ± 9.30 a.m. we were connected again to the Internet. One of the mails that came-in at last, had the message that our Starling is most probably a male. At 10.21 a.m. a phone-call from the Vet-practice of Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne, that they had over there a little sparrow (??), which they intended to send by the coach of 1.15 p.m. Today we have spotted the Little Owl (07-221; November 30th ’07) we released February 4th, sitting in a tree opposite our house and eating a prey > was recognizable due to the two silver foot-rings. With permission of our neighbor Yiánnis we are allowed to “park” our “Pelli” during the day on the field behind our house > so she can take a real sunbath. At 1.50 p.m. we noticed that there was water again in the House-next-door. The announced “little sparrow” we had in our hands at 1.52 p.m., and it took quite a lot of time before we knew exactly what kind of bird it was > see at WILLOW WARBLER. February 21st: what a joy rising without weather-problems . . . !! Buzzard I was 853 (+11), Buzzard II was 961 (+21) and Buzzard III was 780 (+11) gram. We could remove the hanging cast from the wing of the Starling. At 9.07 a.m. a phone-call from Myrsíni Tourvalí that she had 2 birds, she wanted to send by coach of 11 a.m. We received a “visit” from 2 students (accompanied by their mothers, because alone wasn’t allowed !!) from the secondary school in Pétra, who had the intention helping us for one morning. But they had only “seven colors in their pants” and when abruptly we had to leave for picking-up an injured bird (see hereafter), they didn’t even want to join us > they preferred to go back to their mummy !! And so that is the “spes patriae” . . . . already frightened for a Starling ! The Army here on the island is decorating itself with the fine name “Lions of Lesvos”; they will be happy in half a year . . . . After a phone-call at 10.20 a.m. from Pámfila that they had over there an Eagle Owl, we went alone and picked-up the bird and indeed: a real one !! WE had him in our hands at 10.55 a.m. See further at EAGLE OWL. At arrival at base quickly the Eagle Owl was done and hereafter to the petrol-station to pick-up the two other birds. Those we hand in hands at 11.43. See further at SPARROWHAWK and COMMON SNIPE. At 6.08 p.m. another phone-call from Mytiléne from a woman who was talking about a gull with a broken wing > one is trying to send the bird tomorrow, because we were too tired turning out again !! February 22nd: no other victims last night. Buzzard I was 872 (+9), Buzzard II was 965 (+4) and Buzzard III was 790 (+10) gram. The Sparrowhawk was 112 (+4) and the Eagle Owl was 1456 (+50 !!) gram. At 8.45 a.m. we received a phone-call that the gull should be brought. And the bird was here at 9.27 a.m. > see further at YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. The Eagle Owl himself has removed the bandage around the injury; the injury is closed and due to the hanging cast the position is good as well. The Sparrowhawk is eating meanwhile on his own (and how !! That indeed has been different with this species in the past most of the times !!). We have heard from Holland that our Eagle Owl is a female, and in that case she is much and much too light: should be in between 2300 and 3000 gram !! February 23rd: Buzzard I was 879 (+7), Buzzard II was 969 (+4) and Buzzard III was 792 (+2) gram. The Sparrowhawk was 124 (+12) and the Eagle Owl 1504 (+48) gram. The Common Starling is starting to fly better and better and the Yellow-legged Gull isn’t vomiting anymore all the given food !! Buzzard III (08-015; February 9th ’08) was transferred at 7.40 a.m. to the buzzard-aviary in preparation for a release. The Common Starling (08-017; February 18th ’08) was transferred at 8.15 a.m. to the Aviary for flying-practice. The wing-injury of the Sparrowhawk point for almost 100% to a shot-injury. We have performed a P.M. on the Common Snipe > see over there. We received visitors from Mólivos: a teacher from the Secondary School in Pétra with a female companion. During the tour-around we discovered in the barn owl-cage in “The Keep” a dead Brown Barn Owl. February 24th: Buzzard I was 888 (+9) and Buzzard II was 975 (+6) gram. The Sparrowhawk (which is eating completely on himself now) was 134 (+10) and the Eagle Owl was 1574 (+71) gram. The Yellow-legged Gull is mostly eating by him-/herself now. The wing of this latter isn’t smelling well at all, and we have discovered quite huge hemorrhages on both legs . . . . !! In the evening we received a phone-call from Holland that our daughter Runa, who had tried over here for half a year taking-over our jobs in the future, had been admitted in very critical condition in the Intensive Care unit of a hospital . . . . February 25th: after a very bad night, in which we luckily not (yet) were woken-up by bad news, tried to start with the normal daily works. Buzzard I was 896 (+8), Buzzard II was 993 (+18), the Sparrowhawk was 158 (+24) and the Eagle Owl was 1615 (+31) gram. We were able to remove quite a big part of dead tissue from the leg of Buzzard I > injury is clean now. The hanging cast on the wing of the Eagle Owl is removed > last night she was stuck in the wing with her leg and than the remedy is worse than the disease. The position is, even without a hanging cast, fine but the thumb-wing remains a bit “strange”. And in spite of all troubles meat had to be processed today: together with Douglas & Janice there was processed 16,745 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (102,68 Euro). Total now this year 119,320 kilo for 763,42 Euro. At 5.20 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos that one will pass-by tomorrow with a Peacock with leg-problems. There is hardly any progress in the news we’re hearing from the hospital in Holland . . . . February 26th: Buzzard I had lost 8 gram (888 gram) and Buzzard II was the same (993 gram). The Sparrowhawk had gained 2 gram (160) and the Eagle Owl had gained 37 gram (1652 gram). We have removed the bandage and as well the hanging cast from the wing of the Sparrowhawk > so now observation of the use of the wing. The announced Peacock was here at 10.45 a.m. > showed to have no leg-problems (although he was standing somewhat uncertain), but a too long upper-bill; due to this eating was almost impossible. That there was nothing wrong with the legs and/or wings he showed when he freed himself out of our hands and “rebuilt a bit” the Surgery . . . . !! The bill was trimmed and the owner was given feeding-advices > he didn’t know that a fowl needs as well animal-food . . . . !! Greeks . . . . !! Further not in the statistics. At 3.46 p.m. with crackling moped-exhausting-pipes a gull was brought-in > see at MEW GULL. One of the bearers will take the Silky Fowl tomorrow. February 27th: all patients were still alive this morning. Buzzard I was 891 (+3) and Buzzard II was 999 (+6) gram. The Sparrowhawk was 156 (-4) and the Eagle Owl 1693 (+41) gram. The Mew Gull had diminished last night with 12 gram and was 314 gram. Is eating well by the way and isn’t vomiting. The left leg of the Yellow-legged Gull is thickening and the wing has a terrible gangrene-smell > so will probably be “end-of-practice”. And so it was: one piece of gangrene !! And of course just at the moment 2 students of the Secondary School in Pétra arrived > not such a pretty “welcome” of course !! Those two were evidently more motivated, not afraid of birds (only of cat-hairs !!) and even wanted to help with cleaning !! From the hospital in Holland we didn’t receive good messages at all . . . . !! Just before 5 p.m. we received the message that in the hospital they had decided to disconnect the equipment, because the blood-pressure didn’t even reach the 60/30 anymore. And because indeed this was a lost battle, we had lost a daughter 2 minutes later . . . . February 28th: and we must continue “as normal” . . . . Buzzard I was 895 (+4) and Buzzard II was 998 (-1) gram. The Sparrowhawk was 156 (=), The Mew Gull was 319 (+5) and the Eagle Owl was 1728 (+76) gram. Buzzard II had herself removed the bandage from the wing-limb (that’s why the –1) > had to be dressed again and she didn’t like that at all . . . . !! (only 5 holes in our hands !!). We were “enjoyed” by 2 students from the Secondary School in Pétra > arrived much too late and made at entrance quite a lot of noise !! Afterwards the reason for the delay, one of the mothers, was showed around as well. In the afternoon we discovered that the Mew Gull was looking more brightly. February 29th: and again an unreal 24-hours behind us, in which we still don’t realize it complete . . . . The cremation seems to be next Monday, but we can’t be present . . . . Buzzard I was 898 (+3), Buzzard II was 1016 (+18), the Sparrowhawk was 158 (+2), the Mew Gull was 310 (-9) and the Eagle Owl 1814 (+86 !!) gram. We have heard her for the first time this morning. Buzzard I is standing on two legs more and more !! At 12.30 p.m. one of the mentally retired of the village was at the door in a heavy rain with his doggie, that just was knocked-down > we only could tell him his pet had died . . . !! Total amount of visitors this month: 023 (total this year: 027) 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 188 (total this year 0634 kilometers) Total amount of intakes this month: 11 [wild ones: 11; others 00], (total this year 023: wild ones 021, others 002; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3834) of which: BUZZARD (Buteo buteo): 3; the first was an adult from somewhere around Papádos; was shot. Open fracture left leg (tibiotarso) and closed fracture left wing (radius & ulna) with two shot-holes. Leg was splinted, hanging cast was given and antibiotics were injected. Body-weight at intake was 605 gram.
The rest of the intake-day the bird was, strictly speaking, too apathetically > was only laying on the bottom of the cage . . . . !! At the last feeding-round at 6.10 p.m. another shot-hole was discovered: left side of the thorax. Most probably the pellet that first had penetrated the leg. The 2nd was discovered in the neighborhood of Íppio; open fracture of the left wing (radius & ulna), already quite old. Wing will probably fall-off, because the blood-circulation seems to be completely gone. Splint with Dermisol-solvens and antibiotics. There was hardly any muscle present on the breast to inject; so diminished was the bird (575 gram).
The 10th we had to amputate the wing: it showed to be that the muscle-tissue was still alive, but that the bone- & tendon-tissue were complete dead. Without an amputation and if the injury should heal well this should have become a use-less, hanging wing, which absolutely couldn’t be used. The 3rd was as well very diminished (527 gram), was discovered in the fields around Kalloní and had an (already older) open fracture of the left humerus (close to the shoulder). Injury was stitched and topical antibiotics were used. Hanging cast was given and antibiotics injected.
LONG-EARED OWL (Asio otus): 1 adult male, discovered in the neighborhood of Keramiá. Had an open fracture (on both sides of the right wing) of the humerus; already some days old. Bird had quite diminished: 189 gram in stead of 210-270 gram. While we were busy bringing the wing in the good position again, the breathing suddenly stopped. Resuscitation remained without result.
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris): 1 adult, discovered the 17th around Papádos. Is injured an the left wing > cat-bite ?? Lincospectin was injected, injury sprayed with Hansaplast-spray and hanging cast was given.
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus): 1 adult, via the Vet-practice of Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne. Was breathing quite difficult and kept the left eye closed > hit by traffic ?? Was at 1.50 p.m. (just after we had discovered what kind of bird it exactly was), already almost gone.
EAGLE OWL (Bubo bubo): 1 adult male (we thought; later he heard from Holland it was a female), discovered around Pámfila (probably in the neighborhood of Afálonas). Not such a fresh fracture left hand (metacarpalia). Was quite (read after readjusting the sex: súper) under weighted: 1406 in stead of 1500 – 2000 gram (and for a female this should be in between 2300 and 3000 gram !!) Splint was given.
SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus): 1 sub-adult male from/via Mytiléne. Fracture left wing (open). Splint with Dermisol-cream & antibiotics. Body-weight was only 108 gram in stead of 150 gram !!
Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago): 1 from/via Mytiléne. Open fracture right wing (hand-part), by a Vet in Mytiléne further worsened by a complete wrong splint with as an extra injury-causing tape !! Body-weight was only 66 gram in stead of 80 – 120 !! Dermisol-cream, splint & antibiotics.
Was discovered dead already the day of intake at 3.40 p.m. The 23rd a P.M. was performed: bird was emaciated till the bones. No shot-injuries could be discovered; no ovaries could be found > so was a male. Cause of death: exhaustion, huge emaciation and loss of blood. YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus michaellis): 1 adult from Mytiléne > open, already older fracture left wing close to the pulse; the bone is penetrating as well above as under. Splint with Dermisol-cream and antibiotics. We had to put the bird down, due to a far progressed gangrene (see February 27th). MEW GULL (Larus canus): 1 in 1st-winter-dress; discovered in the Agorá in our village > was chased over there by dogs. Is quite emaciated (326 gram) and there is something wrong with the eyes as well.
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