July 2005

Total amount of visitors this month:  82                    (total this year: 654)

GENERAL NEWS:

July 1^st:  while we were sending last night the monthly-report of JUNE, 2 Swiss visitors came (after 7 p.m. !!) and again a juvenile SPARROW was brought-in. Afterwards we could read in the “Guest-Book” what the Veterinarian from Belgium had written: “ Very well equipped and professional ! “  (and so we know [again] that a Veterinarian has MORE knowledge and understanding than a veterinarian nurse, who left here angry, because for her it wasn’t professional enough !!). We’re preparing us for the arrival of two trainees from Holland. The SCOP’S OWLS are preparing for release in a few days.

While we were taking 2 new Dutch trainees from the Airport, there arrived 2 Dutch visitors. The SPARROW ?? (05-141; June 28^th ’05) of which we weren’t sure if it was indeed a Sparrow, deprived us from the chance to find it out exactly, by dieing. The owners of the BITCH, we had to put down June 20^th, came to visit us and with them two other English people (from London).

July 2^nd:  after a partly sleepless night (the 1^st of the 4 “full-sounding” nights, belonging to the “Festival of the Bull” !!) we are all busy to instruct the new trainees. In the afternoon 2 Dutch visitors. Hereafter lots of phone-calls about an injured PIGEON from Mória (was brought-in later that evening) and about a, probably, juvenile SCOP’S OWL from Mólivos > we’re going to pick this one up tomorrow morning. Due to the Festival of the Bull we can’t leave the village to pick-up this one.

July 3^rd: the juvenile SPARROW (05-144; June 29^th ’05) discovered dead this morning. The other SPARROWS are temporarily lodged in the Aviary for flying-practice. A juvenile SCOP’S OWL picked-up in Mólivos. We could release well the BUZZARD (05-111; June ’05) we tried te release before June 19^th > this time with success. In the morning two Dutch visitors. The release of the 3 SCOP’S OWLS wasn’t successful > their flying-capacities were “lousy” > taken-in back.

July 4^th:  the SCOP’S OWLS are transferred to the temporary aviary in the House-next-door for flying-practice. At the beginning of the siesta an almost full-grown SWIFT was brought-in. After the siesta again a juvenile SPARROW was brought-in. In the evening we received a phone-call from the Island of Samos (and that’s about 8 hours of sailing from here) about a sick Parrot. They had consulted already some Vets, but . . . .   Although the chance of improvement is quite small without a surgery, we were able to advice a more adequate therapy. At 9.45 p.m. a COLLARED DOVE was brought in by people from Pámfila (was discovered in Mytiléne) > intake-reason ?? Is bone- & bone-thin.

July 5^th:  the VIXEN-CUB is transferred to the Fox-cage in “The Keep”. Around midday a phone-call about an OWL, that was discovered hung on the legs > will be send by coach. After the siesta two Dutch visitors. In the evening an AFRICAN GREY PARROT came for her “yearly service” > clipping of the talons and clipping of the wings > not in the statistics. Later we received a phone-call from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú about an injured cat > will come next Thursday.

July 6^th:  the juvenile SPARROW (05-145; June 30^th ’05) became worse yesterday and we discovered him/her this morning very early dead in the cage. We could stop the further registration of the juvenile  HOODED CROW (05-107; June ’05) > can be released soon. As well we could do the same with the juvenile JACKDAW (05-104; June ’05) > only this bird can be released maybe next year > there is something wrong with the feathering (so it was a “nest-misfit” ), but maybe this will improve in a year. With all of us we could load (better: overload) a truck with all the materials from the Wildpark (netting, iron & laminated roof-parts) ! All went to the Shelter under construction in Skála Eressoú. Six visitors this morning: 4 from Holland and 2 from Sweden. In the evening first some children came with a CHICKEN > should lump > nothing was discovered > so we advised to separate the Chicken from the others for some days and give her some rest. Hereafter a small PUPPY (about 5 weeks old; thrown away and covered with flees & ticks) > treated against parasites and (with pain in the heart) sent back again!! Luckily for the Puppy a Greek woman is going to feed him. Both animals not in the statistics. 5 Italians came to visit us > we had to perform the excursion in a mixture of English, Italian and Latin !! Hereafter a Greek came; he has a “stable” with hundreds of Chickens, Pheasants and Turkeys > they are one after the other dieing from Rhinotrachitis !! He had visited already a Vet, but that man had prescribed both the wrong antibiotics (and only in the drinking-water > one will never know how much every animal has swollen ) and a too low dosage ! We could tell the owner what should be done, but that seems to be impossible. So a pity!!

July 7^th:  still before breakfast we could take-in a juvenile PIPISTRELLE. The bearer, an acquaintance of us, used the opportunity to see all what is changed in the last months. In the afternoon two children came and brought a POISONED PUPPY > they had been talking about him already this morning (see further by DOG).

July 8^th:  our BABY-GULL (sic!!) has been flying today for the first time > the roof of our neighbors was the destination, so we had to climb to catch hem/her again. Hereby one of our trainees was the unmistaken target for a wild wasp . . . . !! Today we ordered the air-condition  for both the Sick-bay and “The Keep” > will be installed next Monday. We had to take back from the Fox-cage in “The Keep” our VIXEN-CUB > evidently she was sinking into poverty due to a lack of attention. So was too young to live as a solitaire already.

July 9^th:  we started the day celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Ineke. Hereafter (for the 3^rd time !) we tried to release the PALLID SWIFT and this time we (and he/she) were successful. One Dutch visitor from this Island. The chicken we had seen already July 6^th, came back this morning “ a bit damaged” > see further by CHICKEN. In the evening 2 Dutch visitors.

July 10^th:  against midday 2 KITTENS were brought-in > were injured by the house-dog.

July 11^th:  at 8.15 a.m. a phone-call from Mólivos about an injured big Tortoise > will come by coach in the morning or will be brought in the afternoon. A thrown-away KITTEN was brought-in. At 10 a.m. they started with fixing the air-condition in “The Keep” and in the “Sick-Bay”; it was ready at 3.45 p.m. ! Somewhat after 10 a.m. a phone-call from Stípsi > a BARN OWL was discovered; not injured > so we went to the North and picked-up the bird. At 3.30 p.m. our BABY-GULL risked his first huge jump into freedom > was visible some hundred yards from the Hospital on a roof-top. At 5.30 p.m. the bird wasn’t there anymore > case closed. The TORTOISE didn’t arrive anymore > they had put the injured animal in the garden (in stead of in a cardboard box, like advised!) and he/she went for a walk and wasn’t seen anymore !!

July 12^th:  in “The Keep” the temperature is now even below 30 degrees Centigrade (and before yesterday it could be above 40 degrees!) and in the “Sickbay” it is now 21 degrees Centigrade (and over there it could rise till almost 40 degrees !). Did we think yesterday evening  the case of the GULL was closed, this morning we thought we had seen him in the neighborhood flying above the houses, and at 8.35 he was brought-back by a far neighbor (under his arm) > screaming from hunger. Further phone-calls from Mytiléne (about a PIGEON and about an OWL) and from Eressoú (about a GUL with a broken wing). The OWL will come by coach and the GULL will be delivered. Against 8 p.m. a de-hydrated TOM-CAT was brought-in. Later a phone-call from  Mistegná about some SWALLOWS / MARTINS > will be brought tomorrow.

July 13^th:  we started with the castration of the Tom-Cat RICKY. Later this day 6 Dutch visitors. At 4.30 p.m. a very small SWALLOW was brought-in. Hereafter again Dutch visitors: three this time.

July 14^th: Because the Swallows from Mistegná couldn’t be brought, we combined a “cultural excursion” with the three trainees  and picked-up those 2 birds > were no Swallows but HOUSE MARTINS. Hereafter two Dutch visitors. A phone-call from Chíos about a bird that shall be send by ferry tomorrow. In the siesta again 2 Dutch visitors. As well a phone-call from Polichnítos about a small OWL (they had already for 3 days)  with eye-injuries and probably leg-problems as well > will probably we brought today. Was brought and the bringers got an excursion as well.

July 15^th: at 6.15 a.m. some of us left already to pick-up the bird from the ferry in Mytiléne > showed to be a ROCK DOVE. One visitor from Holland. In the evening a SPARROW was brought-in.

July 16^th:  the juvenile SPARROW (05-137; June ’05), which went to the Aviary for flying-practice after a lot of problems June 14^th, was discovered dead this morning > so didn’t make it after all. After another escape (and return over here) we have released our BABY-GULL this morning in the Chomateríe of Kallonís. On our way back we discovered in a small stream a dog, busy devouring a still alive TURKEY > the dog was chased away and by the resolute (and at the risk of their own lives) action of as well one of the trainees, Raluca,  and of our daughter (both girls on slippers) the half-eaten Turkey and another , as well injured, of the same kind were rescued out of the water and taken back to the Hospital. The pictures one can see by TURKEY. Performing the after-care for those birds, the traumatologist of the L.W.H. needed properly speaking the help of a colleague > he broke his head and probably a mild commotio cerebri. In the evening at 10.15 p.m. a phone-call from a military-base outside Kallonís, about a “bird, bigger than a gull; black & white, with a strange bill and legs like a duck”. Was discovered over there. An appointment was made to pick-up the bird early next morning.

July 17^th:  departed at 6.30 a.m. to pick-up the “strange bird” > after a long time of (needless) waiting a card-board box was brought, out of which plaintive came the head of the (made purple by us to recognize him) BABY-GULL. So taken-in again and back to base. During the morning-hours two tourists from Stockholm (Sweden). In the afternoon an agreement was made with the ship-builder in Skála Kallonís (“our” invalid White Pelican is staying over there) for re-homing the Gull over there > will leave tomorrow. After 5 p.m. a phone-call from the Island of Sámos  about the treatment  of a young bird and another phone-call from Skála Mistegná  about (again) some House Martins > will be brought tonight. Around 6.30 p.m. some Dutch tourists with a (mark you, before their eyes) thrown over a fence PUPPY. The “ladies” who brought the HOUSE MARTINS (the same as from 3 days ago) had given more priority to their make-up than to hurry a little bit more bringing the birds > so they came more than one hour later than was agreed and by that time one was already so far gone, that it died a quarter of an hour later in our hands. With more hurry and less make-up it probably had made it.

July 18^th :  at 10 a.m. we transferred our BABY-GULL to the Ship-builder in Skála Kallonís > let’s hope he isn’t coming back again. In the siesta a phone-call from a Vet in Mytiléne > she is sending a SWIFT by coach; (probably ??) bitten by a cat. Wasn’t the case > see by the 2^nd SWIFT. The whole day phone-calls from Skála Kallonís > “there is walking around an injured GULL over here” !! During the buying of meat in Kallonís the ambulance was stopped by “Australian Harry” > he had discovered this morning a LITTLE OWL, stuck in the barbed wire. The man has turned his car and has driven like a fool to deliver this injured bird by our ambulance > see further by LITTLE OWL. In the siesta a juvenile HOUSE MARTIN was brought-in from our village. At the same moment the only survivor from the “2^nd delivery” from  Skála Mistegná  went the same way as his/her brother/sister. Three Dutch visitors today. Our Rumanian trainee Raluca left this evening; lots of experiences richer.

July 20^th: we could stop the further registration of the following birds: 2 PIGEONS (05-083; May ’05 > severe injured by Helmeted Guinea fowl > back to the owner, and 05-133; June ’05; injured on the leg, and from Mesótopos > still in “The Keep”) and the SPARROW (05-140; June ’05, juvenile from the village here. Is temporarily lodged in the Aviary). Four Dutch visitors (they had brought the PUPPY of July 17^th). At the evening-feeding-round in “The Keep” some just-born PIGEONS were discovered.

July 21^st: the juvenile CHUKAR (5-139; June ’05) went this morning as a complete disabled to the Aviary. In the morning 5 Dutch visitors. The juvenile COLLARED DOVE (05-121; June ’05) was transferred to the Aviary for flying-practice. Two juvenile COLLARED DOVES were taken-in; discovered in the “Platía” of our village. Early in the evening 3 Dutch tourists, who brought with them an injured PUPPY (tourists had phoned us already several times during a whole week about this creature) > we contacted the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís for micro-chipping, rabies-vaccination etc. The leg-injury (the leg should be smashed up, they said !) wasn’t treated by is > only a skin-injury ! > is for the Vet in Holland to decide. In the evening we could release (and this time in a good order!) the 4 juvenile SCOP’S OWLS (05-114, June ’05 from Pétra; 05-115A+B, June ’05 from Chíos and 05-147 from this month).

July 22^nd:  the PUPPY from last night went today, perfectly treated (even the injured leg!) in the Agrotikí Stégi, to Holland. The new owners had been able to remove some ticks !! Two Dutch visitors in the morning. A phone-call from Mytiléne about a very, very small COLLARED DOVE > will be brought [see by BIRDIE N.N.]. After 6 p.m. another two Dutch visitors.

July 23^rd:   were we able to keep it “quiet” the whole day, after 7 p.m. it started to be “real” again: first a juvenile SPARROW from our village, thereafter a whole family from Mytiléne (3 visitors; the others stayed in the car > frightened !!) who had discovered in Skála Kallonís an injured GULL: resembled like two drops of water “our” juvenile YELLOW-LEGGED GULL, but without the purple spray. The whole evening phone-calls about an injured dog in Skála Kallonís > all tourists are worrying, but no one is doing something!! And as a final accord against midnight people were standing before our door with a panic-story about a “very huge bird in the court-yard” > because only our Director had heard the door-bell, she went with those people (in her night-things) and plucked-away out of the court-yard a BARN OWL.

July 24^th:  early in the morning we could release well the two remaining HOUSE MARTINS. During the whole day (but as well yesterday > see over there) phone-calls from all nationalities about that injured PUPPY in Skála Kallonís. At 6.30 p.m. a phone-call from Pigí > two (juvenile ?) small brown OWLS > will be brought today. At 7.20 p.m. at last two English tourists, who brought the PUPPY > see further over there. And after finishing that reading, one can understand the rest of the evening wasn’t so nice for us any more . . . .

July 25^th:  the yesterday announced little brown OWLS showed to be 2 (almost full-grown) LITTLE OWLS. In the afternoon 3 visitors from Sheffield (England). After 7 p.m. a kind of juvenile GREBE was delivered > we’re waiting for a message from Holland what exactly is the birds name. And that we could read late in the evening: an adult LITTLE GREBE. Thank you Mr. Ben Steinfort for this quick service !

July 26^th:  the weakest of the two LITTLE OWLS from yesterday didn’t even survive the night. The LITTLE GREBE is released well.

July 27^th:  two visitors (police-constables) from York (England). A phone-call from Papádos about a SWIFT (already 2 weeks in possession and still alive) > will probably be brought.

July 28^th:  we discovered dead in the Aviary the COLLARED DOVE (02-251; October 2002 from Mytiléne > wing-amputation). The 3 BABY-BARN OWLS (05-119A-C) are transferred to the Barn OWL-cage  in “The Keep” for flying-practices. The announced SWIFT was picked-up at the Shell-Petrol-Station. In the morning two Dutch visitors.

July 29^th:  we removed the last useful “things” from the “Little House” in the Wildpark and brought those to the House-next-door; we noticed over there that unauthorized persons already had tried to break into the “Little House”. Four Dutch visitors today > they are going to re-home the two remaining kittens from the nest of five (05-063; April ’05). Since the beginning of this evening we’re without water > not so nice with this weather-conditions.

July 30^th:   we discovered in the cage of the Eagle Owl in his water-basin a drowned snake > the back-bone was broken on several places (by the Eagle Owl?). We’re waiting for a message from Holland to know exactly what kind of snake it is. For the time being we still have the opinion that it can be a young Coluber jagularis caspicus (the grown-ups of this species can reach a length of 200 – 250 cm !!). We received the message from our expert in Holland that it’s (very probably) a Coluber gemonensis, and those species “only” reach a length of about 1 meter. Because the “water-problem” will last for the times to come, we have given our old “water-deposit” some “legs” to stand on and placed the whole in the “Apothíki” > when there was again some water we filled the deposit, so we have now a reserve of about 300 liter to flush the toilet, water the plants etc. etc. The tap-water is for the time to come rationed.

July 31^st:  except of lots of work done by a volunteer from Holland (work we didn’t do because of a lack of time), we had two German visitors from Hamm. After 9 p.m. a DOG came in with a fish-hook in his leg.

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 393 (total this year 2394 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 44 [wild ones: 32; others 12], (total this year 216 > : wild ones 123, others 93; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3170),  of which:

PIGEON Columba livia dom.): 1 from  Mória > was a bit “in pieces” and was covered with maggots in a huge injury in/close to the belly. Besides this he/she was “blown-up”  like the logo of the Michelin-tires > punctuated. The prognosis isn’t all too well. Next morning discovered dead. P.M.: the whole tail was missing (and not only the feathers!) and the injury went up almost till the shoulder-blades.

SCOP’S OWL (Otus scop’s): 1 juvenile from Mólivos; maybe somewhat injured on the left eye.

Wasn’t injured and July 11^th transferred to the special “Scop’s Cage” in the “House-next-Door”. Was released well July 21^st.

SWIFT (Apus apus): 3; the first an almost full-grown one from our village > made a crash-landing on its maiden-trip ?? Could be released well June 6^th in the morning. The second was send-in by a Vet from Mytiléne > should be bitten by a cat. Condition wasn’t so well after all > died within the hour > P.M. showed a huge hole just below the thorax with liver-damages > no bite-marks were discovered ! The third came from Papádos and is almost full-grown.

SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 3; the first a juvenile from  Ágia Paraskeví > no visible injuries, so only feeding & training. The second was brought-in in the evening > seems to be O.K., but . . . . ? However, was discovered several times laying on its back and was discovered dead July 12^th  early in the morning. The second was brought-in in the evening > seems to be OK, but . . . . ? Went July 20^th to the Aviary to become more independent. The third was again a juvenile and came from our village.

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 3; the first an adult from Mytiléne > is bone & bone-thin. Reason ?? Came in late in the evening. Died around midday of July 17^th. The next two were juveniles and discovered in our village. (see for those July 21^st)

LITTLE OWL (Athena noctua): 6; the first a juvenile from Pírgi  > severe maltreatment > they had fastened a rope around one leg and hung the poor soul !! Probably the foot will die off, but we’re going to try to save at least something. Will remain disabled in any case !!

Was transferred July 25^th in the morning to “The Keep” .

The second was an adult and came from Mytiléne > severe eye-injury left (is blind on one side) and lost its tail.

Discovered dead the next morning. No P.M. was done. Number 3 came from Polichnítos and was already in the possession of the finders for 3 days. Left eye is severe damaged and (probably) there is a brain-damage as well (Spinal cord isn’t straight, but curved).

Number 4 was stuck in the barbed wire in Skála Kallonís. Is an adult. (see as well July 19^th).

Was transferred July 25^th in the morning to “The Keep” . The next two came from Pigí > had entered an unoccupied house (chimney !!) and were unable to leave again. Are very malnourished. Probably almost full-grown juveniles. The weakest has a body-weight that should be at least 40 gram more !! This one didn’t even survive the first night.

PIPISTRELLE (Pipistrellus pipistrellus): 1 almost full-grown juvenile from Skála Polichnítos > had entered a living and was discovered in the morning.

This one has a better chance than the one from last month (we thought: became worse in the afternoon of July 9^th and was dead before 7 p.m.)

DOG (Canis familiaris): 2; the first was a quite young one from our village. Was already announced this morning, but was brought-in in the afternoon > poisoned and already quite far gone (they had used rat-poison that’s causing internal bleedings!) and pitch black manure was visible > due to “prognosis infaust” put down. The second came from Mólivos and had a fish-hook in his leg > under local anesthetic the hook removed.

CHICKEN (Gallus gallus dom.): 1 adult from Ágia Paraskeví > was severe bitten by other chickens > we had to stitch provisional one huge injury. July 18^th the stitches were removed and as well dead tissue. The (now) clean injury could be closed with 3 agrafes. July 25^th we got the message the chicken had removed the agrafes by herself. The injury was well closed > case closed.

KITTENS (Felis catus): 2 (1-1), about 5 weeks old from Pétra; were July 9^th attacked by the “House-dog”. The Tom-cat has probably severe brain-damage. Reflexes are OK. The Tom-cat passed away gently in the afternoon of July 21^st. His sister is a social-intake-reason > doesn’t seem to be injured, but the two of them is better as alone. Further another, but smaller one from our village. Is very vivid.

WHITE BARN OWL (Tyto a. alba): 1 (probably) male from Stípsi > was discovered already July 9^th. Isn’t  injured. So observation & feeding.

From Holland we received the message that it probably isn’t a male, but a female. In that case she is very malnourished.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus cachinnans michael.): 2; the first a juvenile (2005) from Eressoú > old fracture (radius) left wing > wrongly glued together in nature ?? The bird is in a bad condition and refuses to eat. Wasn’t alive anymore the same evening. The second > see July 16^th/17^th/18^th . 

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 1 adult from Ágia Paraskeví > discovered de-hydrated in the streets ( had “screwed” himself almost dead ) > taken-in for treatment of the de-hydration. His “crown-jewels” were removed the day after intake, to spare him in the future further de-hydration . . . . . The owner (our friend Násja) told us July 19^th the cat had died > was covered with maggots (had been injured ??)

SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica): 1 very small juvenile from Ágia Paraskeví > try to keep alive. Was discovered dead the 19^th.

HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbica): 2  + 2 juveniles from Skála Mistegná > hand-feeding. (for the last two see July 17^th & 19^th) . The 5^th came from our village and was a juvenile as well. The first two we were able to release well July 24^th early in the morning.

ROCK DOVE (Columba livia): 1 adult from Chíos > fracture left wing (humerus) > splinted. Had lost as well lots of big feathers. Discovered dead the morning of July 19^th.

TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo): 2 quite young ones, discovered in a small stream close to the Chomateríe of Kallonís > bitten by a dog. The pictures are showing the situation by the first rescued Turkey, and after First Aid was given. 

By the second bird the situation was ditto with a *  The first one had Rhinotrachitis as well.

PUPPY (Canis familiaris): 3; the first an about 8 weeks old  “dwarf-bitch”, was thrown over a fence before the eyes of just-passing Dutch tourists. Is named temporarily “Mávri”  and came from somewhere between Filiá and Kallonís. After a discussion about the possibilities (and above all the impossibilities) of a re-homing in Holland is decided that the PUP will stay under our care for the time being. The name is changed into “ Gímli  III^e “.

The second came from  Skála Kallonís  > as well a bitch. Should have a smashed-up leg > wasn’t so serious; was only a skin-injury. Lots of ticks were removed (204 !!). Send to the Agrotikí Stégi for preparing for transport to Holland. The third was in a real terrible condition: both ears were breeding-places for hundreds and hundreds of ticks and the leg was in such a terrible condition that an amputation should have been the only solution (there was the beginning of gangrene as well !) > only: the puppy was so anemic, that probably she shouldn’t have survived the surgery. There was a fracture of the jaw-bone as well ! Because we are so full at this moment (all bigger cages are occupied), we had, with lots of pain in our hearts, to put her down. (we’ll spare you the pictures !!)

Birdie N.N. : 1 super-small specimen; indeed announced as “as big as a Walnut” , but certainly no Collared Dove. The only thing we are certain about, is that’s a seed-eater and that the belly will be yellow later.

So about the only possibility is the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) > the juveniles of this bird have already a bright yellow color. But we only can be certain about this, when (and if) the bird is surviving and grows bigger. But that certainty we’ll never have, because the next morning he/she was very cold, very stiff and very dead in its nest.

BROWN BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata): 1 (apparently) adult one from our village > was discovered late in the evening in a court-yard with lots of cats around and a huge mash of vegetables and fruit around him/her. So to see no injuries > observation and a release as soon as possible.

Was released well in the late evening of July 25^th and was seen in the neighborhood still several times that evening.

LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis): 1 adult in transitional feathering from summer to winter; discovered in a house in Ágia Paraskeví > nothing seems wrong, so . . . ..

Released well July 16^th in the morning in the East River, close to Skála Kallonís