July 2009

LOG-BOOK:

News about Greece is in blue.

July 1^st: all five remnant outdoor-cats were again present this morning, only not without problems !! Hedgehogs: the male was 451 (-29) and the female was 278 (+11) gram. The Jackdaw was 169 (+3) and the Hooded Crow was 345 (-3) gram. The amputated Rock Dove was 248 (+1) and the scalped juvenile one 159 (-5) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 285 (=), the Kestrel 183 (+2), the green Little Owl 201 (-1) and the orange 214 (+3) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (-2), -0903 was 42 (=), -0904 was 50 (+2) and –0905 was 34 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 400 (+1), green 380 (-9), orange 410 (+3), red 396 (-4), purple 413 (-5), blue 418 (+2) and yellow 393 (+23 !!) gram. The purpleorange was 354 (-2), the purplered 323 (+21) and the purpleblue 350 (+19) gram. Little birdies everything OK. The release of 2 Swifts (the red one and the yesterday taken-in one) wasn’t successful unfortunately. On between 8.15 and 8.23 a.m. we could diminish the patient-amount again with five:

Releases:

we have released well one brown Pigeon, born in “The Keep” out of disabled parents and 4 ex-patients (which all had a colored foot-ring. Due to a lack of time we can’s say yet which ones they were).

Both juvenile House Sparrows: doublered (09-080; June 9^th) and doublesilver (09-091; June 13^th) are transferred to the Aviary for wildering.

One of the released Pigeons we could see later walking in the street and was catchable by hand > so transferred back to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. We received two Dutch visitors, one of them a Vet. During the showing of the patients one of the birds could escape:

Not-mentioned release:

at 11.52 a.m. the orange Little Owl (09-105; June 20^th) suddenly disappeared out of our hands and was flying away perfectly. When hereafter we tried to release the green one as well, wasn’t this successful.

At 2.30 p.m. the thermometer had reached almost 32° Celsius !!

July 2^nd: and again all five outdoor-cats were present early this morning and in the Sick-Bay all was OK as well. Hedgehogs: the male was 458 (+7) and the female was 283 (+5) gram. The Jackdaw was 164 (-5) and the Hooded Crow was 352 (+7) gram. The amputated Rock Dove was 249 (+1) and the scalped juvenile one 158 (-1) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 284 (-1), the Kestrel 184 (+1) and the green Little Owl 203 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 37 (-1), -0903 was 43 (+1), -0904 was 49 (-1) and –0905 was 36 (+2) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 393 (-7), green 383 (+3), orange 408 (-2), red 398 (+2), purple 408 (-5), blue 417 (-1) and yellow 379 (-14) gram. The purpleorange was 354 (=), the purplered 326 (+3) and the purpleblue 350 (=) gram. Little birdies nothing special. At 7.16 a.m. a phone-call from the police-station in our village that somewhere on the road to the military-base a cat was stuck in an iron fence. Via the police-station, from where we were guided by a police-man in civil on his motorbike (never showed direction at a road-turn !!)arrived at the cat. Now we know a cat in problems is able to make strange jumps, but this one must have been in severe problems > one rear-leg was twisted around the iron bars. The little one was sóó in panic, that he was penetrating thick leather gloves with his teeth and he was pissing like a fire-engine wide open !! With lots of problems and pain (for us and for the cat) the little Tom-cat could be turned and freed; this action was completely filmed by the police. Further not in the statistics.

Release: at 8.11 a.m. we were able to diminish the pigeon-account in “The Keep” again with one: seeing the feathers born over there out of disabled parents.

Bear injured

A female brown bear was in a critical condition yesterday after being hit by a car on the Egnatia Highway, just one week after Environment and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias heralded the construction of barriers along sections of the road and the use of electric fences to prevent road deaths among the dwindling protected species. The bear, which was around 15 years old and weighed 110 kilograms, was receiving treatment for serious injuries after being hit by a motorist who failed to stop to check on the animal's condition, according to experts at the Arcturos bear protection organization.

And again the thermometer rose above the 31° Celsius !! The coming days it will become a lot warmer !! At 7.25 p.m. some children at our door with a thrown-away kitten from about 4 weeks old > taken-in. See further at KITTEN. One of those children, who had joined the discoverer (not from our village) was so unwise to molest a sleeping cat in OUR court-yard > boy does certainly know now he has a right ear !!

July 3^rd: so it was a troubled night with a restless little kitten in between us . . . . !! All five outdoor-cats were again present early this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 439 (-19) and the female was 299 (+16) gram. As well the Jackdaw as the Hooded Crow couldn’t be measured anymore > too restless !! The amputated Rock Dove was 249 (=) and the scalped juvenile one 158 (=) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (+5), the Kestrel 182 (-2) and the green Little Owl 200 (-3) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (+1), -0903 was 43 (=), -0904 was 51 (+2) and –0905 was 34 (-2) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 402 (+9), green 375 (-8), orange 409 (+1), red 402 (+4), purple 411 (+3), blue 413 (-4) and yellow 363 (-16) gram. The purpleorange was 354 (=), the purplered 328 (+2) and the purpleblue 348 (-2) gram. Entering “The Keep” we could see all eight wildering Barn Owls sitting in top of the aviary on the roost > indeed a wonderful sight !!

Release:

we could diminish our patient-amount again with one by giving back to Nature a brown Pigeon from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” (father is dark-brown and had a hanging wing; mother is released already before) > was flying away really good.

We could remove all the dead tissue from the Rock-Dove with the amputated wing. We received 3 Dutch visitors and one Greek Vet from Mytiléne. The last one has had the idea bringing some structure and organization in our “toko”, because she had been a member of an eco-group during her study in Thessaloniki, and so she thought she was “the expert” !! Later it showed to be that because the Veterinary University has no taking-in-capacity, she had sometimes taken home some young birdies to feed them there. It won’t surprise anybody that her mouth was open from astonishment and that she had to change her whole idea-packet !! And so she has admitted and sighed that in Greece the coming 50 years it won’t be so well organized !! At 11.40 a.m. a call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí that she was planning sending an injured pigeon with the 1.15 p.m.-coach. And that one we had in our possession at 2.10 p.m. > see further at PIGEON. Meanwhile there had been a complete black-out in e.g. our village at 2.12 p.m., which was partially lifted at 2.23 p.m., but only at 2.42 p.m. we had back the complete use of all apparatus’. Because of the wildering of the juvenile Barn Owls, those which went to “The Keep” for the night, weren’t fed but food was placed in their cage.

July 4^th: due to the “Festival of the Bull” there was an immense heap of shit-hullabaloo last night and this will last for another three nights !! In spite of that, all outdoor-cats were present early this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 455 (+16) and the female was 310 (+11) gram. The amputated Rock Dove was 251 (+2), the scalped juvenile one 155 (-3) and the new juvenile one was 204 (+8) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 275 (-14), the Kestrel 183 (+1) and the green Little Owl 200 (=) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 37 (-1), -0903 was 45 (+2), -0904 was 47 (-4) and –0905 was 34 (=) gram. The juvenile Barn Owls hadn’t eaten at all last night and this could be seen in the measurements: doubleorange was 395 (-7), green 377 (+2), orange 401 (-8), red 393 (-9), purple 405 (-6), blue 401 (-12) and yellow 348 (-15) gram. The purpleorange was 350 (-4), the purplered 321 (-7) and the purpleblue 348 (=) gram. All little birdies are doing fine. The kitten “Elán” had slept the whole night quietly in the library. The doublesilver Sparrow (09-091; June 13^th) which was transferred to the Aviary July 1^st was discovered not alive anymore this morning at 7.55 a.m. Only now we have discovered that the juvenile scalped Pigeon from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” (09-114; June 27^th) has an immense dislocation of the keel on the sternum > this explains the difficult walking. Should “mothers” have had an hemorrhoid when she has produced the egg ?? We received four people from New York (USA), of whom the female part after the tour around asked where the Lesbian Wildlife Hospital was, because that they wanted to visit as well . . . . !! And meanwhile a thrown-away little kitten was brought-in > see at KITTEN. Before the siesta 3 Greek visitors from Rhodes-City. And again the thermometer rose above the 31° Celsius !! Starting from 8.54 p.m. all kind of phone-calls about a “Búfos” (Eagle Owl, but most probably it’s a Barn Owl), people had found in Mytiléne. We had to arrange transport-possibilities, but everything failed. At last at 9.33 p.m. a phone-call the bird had died.

July 5^th: in the Sick-Bay all were still alive. Hedgehogs: the male was 446 (-9) and the female was 302 (-8) gram. The amputated Rock Dove was 251 (=), the scalped juvenile one 155 (=) and the new juvenile one was 206 (+2) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 277 (+2), the Kestrel 184 (+1) and the green Little Owl 199 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (+2), -0903 was 44 (-1), -0904 was 51 (+4) and –0905 was 38 (+4) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 389 (-6), orange 409 (+8), red 398 (+5), purple 408 (+3), blue 415 (+14) and yellow 341 (-7). The last is worrying us, but we hope this will improve. The purpleorange was 353 (+3), the purplered 332 (+11) and the purpleblue 357 (+9) gram. The green was 348 (-29), doesn’t believe in it anymore, because we couldn’t get or keep one bite of food in him yesterday !! Bringing the food-bowls to the cages the amputated Eleonora’s Falcon was discovered laying on her back in the peregrine-aviary. Was bone-and bone-thin > so had evidently not eaten since June 16^th. Taken back and started with Ringers per os. However, the prognosis is . . . . ?? It showed she had diminished from 370 gram to 186 gram . . . . !! We have tried to release the brother/sister of Pigeon 09-114 (pecked with the sternum-dislocation): although this bird was enlisted at the Air Force, he was more fitting for the Infantry > hardly there was flying, but walking the more. So taken back again. At 9.30 a.m. the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí from Mytiléne phoned about a little Collared Dove, which she will bring herself at the end or the morning. Because we have now so many Barn owls in the bedroom-cage in the IC, this cage needs to be cleaned at least once a week; a job which isn’t fitting so well for someone with a damaged back-bone . . . . !! Luckily there is someone like Tjarda !! We received 2 Dutch visitors. The announced Collared Dove was here at 12.33 p.m.; however was no Collared Dove, but a juvenile Pigeon which this time was injured (and good visible as well), something which wasn’t announced. So see further at PIGEON. We received as well lots of dog-biscuits which were out of date and which weren’t allowed to sell anymore > only a pity that it all were biscuits for big dogs, we cant’ do anything with them. So we have contacted the Shelter in Skála Eressoú to give them the biscuits. Around 1 p.m. the Eleonora was still alive and was fighting to stay doing so. The thermometer didn’t rise today above the 30° Celsius. After 1.30 p.m. a Greek family at our doorstep who had rescued in the Taxiárchis-Monastery in Mandamádos a ± 6 week old Puppy and came to us for a check-up and feeding-advices. The little daughter (she still was shedding teeth) straight stroked our cub and was very proud with a Little Owl on her hands !! The whole family got a short tour around. So definitively things are changing in the mentality here !! At the evening-feeding-round at last we could feed the green Barn Owl 8 bites, which stayed “on board” !! The Eleonora was still alive at 9.45 p.m.

July 6^th: at 4.25 a.m. the Eleonora’s Falcon (09-037; March 3^rd) was discovered not alive anymore. So to see how the pose was, had gone out like a candle. Hedgehogs: the male was 466 (+20) and the female was 308 (+6) gram. The amputated Rock Dove couldn’t be measured anymore, the scalped juvenile one 153 (-2), the new juvenile one was 211 (+5) and the new bitten juvenile Pigeon was 141 gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 283 (+6), the Kestrel 183 (-1) and the green Little Owl 201 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (-1), -0903 was 43 (-1), -0904 was 49 (-2) and –0905 was 37 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 386 (-3), green 341 (-7), orange 402 (-7), red 402 (+4), purple 403 (-5), blue 410 (-5) and yellow 350 (+9). The purpleorange was 347 (-6), the purplered 335 (+3) and the purpleblue 358 (+1) gram. Little birdies all OK. At 8.36 a.m. a phone-call from the state-vet-practice in Kallonís, that they had over there a “Búfos” (Eagle Owl) > because our car was in that village for a.o. buying meat, we had the bird in our possession at 8.45 a.m. > see further at PALE BARN OWL. And that meat was 20,600 kilo (for 135,81 Euro; total now this year 423,415 kilo for 2654,59 Euro), which after arrival over here was processed by Ineke, Tjarda & Janice. At 11.02 a.m. suddenly a black-out for a huge part of the island (and such a thing with almost 30° Celsius !!). At 11.03 a phone-call from Mytiléne about a (probably) juvenile Jackdaw, bitten by a cat > will be brought in the afternoon. Electricity was restored at 11.26 p.m. In the siesta the thermometer reached easily the 32° Celsius !! The announced (probably) Jackdaw was here at 4.53 p.m. (after first in our street the bottom was fallen out of the bench and the bird on the concrete !!) > however see further at BLACKBIRD !! The two bearers were showed around as well.

July 7^th: all patients were still alive this morning and all five outdoor-cats were present again. Hedgehogs: the male was 475 (+9) and the female was 298 (-10) gram. The scalped juvenile Pigeon was 152 (-1), the juvenile one was 214 (+3) and the bitten juvenile one was 151 (+10) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (+3), the Kestrel 183 (=) and the green Little Owl 200 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (+1), -0903 was 47 (+4), -0904 was 51 (+2) and –0905 was 36 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 389 (+3), green 329 (-12), orange 406 (+4), red 406 (+4), purple 404 (+1), blue 409 (-5) and yellow 346 (-4). The purpleorange was 357 (+10), the purplered 341 (+6) and the purpleblue 362 (+4) gram. The new snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 267 (+29) gram. With the remnant little birdies the doubleblue Sparrow (09-099; June 17^th) wasn’t doing well this morning. And our observation had been correct, because was discovered at 7.55 a.m. laying on the back and very dead, We’re still busy with every feeding removing seeds from the feathering of the snow-white Pale Barn Owl. The little kitten “Elán” has eaten her first kitten-biscuits. Under surveillance she is walking bravely in the living, but for “Máo” it’s like a little rat (with all consequences) and about the behavior of “Mítsi” we aren’t quite sure . . . . !! She has demolished in the past as well such a little one !! At 9.29 a.m. a phone-call from someone who had knocked-down a little cat and he wanted to pass-by for an examination. Owner was here at 10.20 a.m.: white, deaf little Tom-Cat, which he had knocked-down himself late yesterday evening, because the deaf one hadn’t heard the noise of a starting cat. After several tests we could assure the good fellow that there were no fractures, only contusions. At 11.40 a.m. they came from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú to pick-up 60 kilo dog-biscuits (for huge dogs) which we had received from a vet (see as well July 5^th). We have discovered that the Blackbird has as well hemorrhages in the belly-part . . . . !! And again the thermometer rose till above 32° Celsius, and this was combined with a huge fire in the direction of Kallonís !! The whole sky in that part is one dirty-yellow mass, but we can’t see anything because there is a hill-top in between. Via the village-loudspeaker-system there was something announced, but we couldn’t understand that, because the wind was in the wrong direction. In any case it was about fire . . . . !! So we went for a ride in that direction to know if we were in danger as well, because the fire-brigade-planes continued flying low over our houses . . . . .

In any case the road from Kallonís to Mólivos seems to be impracticable at this moment !! At 3.35 p.m. we heard and saw a water-dropping helicopter coming over to gather again water in the Gulf of Kallonís at the “deserted beach” (cross-road to Achladerí). At 3.40 it was joined by a water-dropping plane and five minutes later by a second one !! There was a constantly flying and dropping of water to get the situation under control; luckily the wind had changed in the direction of Kallonís, so we stayed out of the “line of fire” . . . . !! However, at 4.30 p.m. the wind had turned again into our direction and there were at least (seeing the colors of the planes) three water-dropping airplanes, which dangerously low flying over the rooftops of the houses disappeared behind the hill with the chapel on top opposite our house !! At 5.15 p.m. all people with fields in between our village and Kallonís were called-up to go with lots of water to their fields. Because the two of us went for a quick look (after all Ineke hadn’t yet seen anything), we got stuck in a traffic-jam of all kinds of pick-up trucks loaded with barrels of water. And it doesn’t look fine . . . . !! Two minutes later a phone-call from Mólivos (from Karen) that she had a Swift, which she’ll send tomorrow-morning at the first opportunity by someone to the Shell-station. And such will happen at 5.30 a.m. !! At 8.30 p.m. a water-dropping plane came over quite low flying for taking-in water. And 20 minutes later there was announced that all land-owners had to stay tonight on their fields (with the water close to them) in case the wind is turning again and the fire is fanned again !!

July 8^th: a very restless and nerving night, with the smell of burned pine everywhere around us. From the courier, who brought the Swift, we heard it had been quite blackish on his trip !! The SWIFT we had in our hands at 5.33 a.m. > see over there. At 5.55 a.m. we already heard the first reconnaissance-planes, followed around seven a.m. by a water-dropping helicopter !! Hedgehogs: the male was 492 (+17) and the female was 303 (+5) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 153 (+1), the juvenile one was 217 (+3) and the bitten juvenile one was 152 (+1) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (=), the Kestrel 182 (-1) and the green Little Owl 198 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (-1), -0903 was 47 (=), -0904 was 52 (+1) and –0905 was 39 (+3) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 393 (+5), green 329 (=), orange 401 (-5), red 404 (-2), purple 403 (-1), blue 405 (-4) and yellow 367 (+21). The purpleorange was 353 (-4), the purplered 341 (=) and the purpleblue 361 (-1) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 263 (-4) gram. We received 2 Dutch visitors from Bocholt (D). We have read on the Internet (“Embros”) that it has been a huge fire with two offshoots, of which one went into the direction of Klapádos and the other went into the direction of Ágia Paraskeví. Because at the same moment there was a wildfire on the island of Chíos, the launch of flying material was a bit problematic: at last 4 water-dropping planes were launched (two from Thessaloniki and 2 from the island of Sámos) while the water-dropping helicopter came from the island of Chíos. After 11 a.m. no planes were heard or seen anymore. Via the Greek Internet we could read that(for the time being; exact figures will be published later) 200 stremmata (ca 20 hectares) is burned > that is more that 66 times the seize of the Wildpark we had in the past !! In the siesta the thermometer reached almost the 33° Celsius !!

July 9^th: all 5 outdoor-cats were present again this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 494 (+17) and the female was 311 (+8) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 154 (+1), the juvenile one was 221 (+4) and the bitten juvenile one was 162 (+10) gram. The latter is starting to develop lots of tumors on the head > we have had such things more in the past over here > still a result of Tsernóbyl. The old Dark Barn Owl was 288 (+2), the Kestrel 181 (-1) and the green Little Owl 197 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 37 (-1), -0903 was 43 (-4), -0904 was 51 (-1) and –0905 was 38 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 392 (-1), green 329 (=), orange 398 (-3), red 405 (+1), purple 408 (+5), blue 404 (-1) and yellow 365 (-2). The purpleorange was 354 (+1), the purplered 339 (-2) and the purpleblue 360 (-1) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 251 (-12) gram. The early yesterday-morning picked-up Swift was discovered not alive anymore at 6.20 a.m. From the head of the scalped Pigeon we could remove a huge scab and the head was sprayed with Hansaplast-Spray. We made a picture of the tumors on the head of the “Tsernóbyl-pigeon”; when we repeat this in a week, the speedy grow of those things can be seen well.

There came a well-known to us, who was sent by the vet in Mytiléne, because one of his Canary-birds had the foot-ring grown into the leg. Because the foot was already dead, this part was amputated and cauterized. A second bird, he had taken with him for safety-reasons, was delivered from a ring before it could cause problems. Further not in the statistics. We received visitors from Athens who had seen a program about us on “SKAI-TV” last year, and 2 Dutch visitors. In the siesta the thermometer rose till above 35° Celsius !!

July 10^th: and the minimum-temperature last night was 27° Celsius > isn’t sleeping quite well !! Last night the Blackbird took the decision out of our hands by passing-over to another existence. All five outdoor-cats came for breakfast again early this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 523 (+29) and the female was 331 (+20) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 150 (-4), the juvenile one was 227 (+6) and the Tsernóbyl-pigeon was 165 (+3) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (+1), the Kestrel 180 (-1) and the green Little Owl 199 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (+3), -0903 was 48 (+5), -0904 was 52 (+1) and –0905 was 39 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 390 (-2), green 329 (=), orange 392 (-6), red 410 (+5), purple 409 (+1), blue 398 (-6) and yellow 364 (-1). The purpleorange was 357 (+3), the purplered 345 (+6) and the purpleblue 357 (-3) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 246 (-5) gram. At 8.23 a.m. the juvenile Pigeon, which should be injured but which wasn’t, was transferred to the Aviary for wildering. We received 2 Dutch and 4 Friesian visitors. In the siesta the thermometer rose till 34° Celsius !! After the siesta we have discovered that the left wing from the snow-white Pale barn owl isn’t functioning like it should do > however there are no fractures or other disorders noticeable. Meanwhile the damage from the wildfire is complete clear now: it isn’t 200 stremmata which was burnt, but 600 stremmata (60 hectares; of this is half forest and half farmland) and one wants to have permanently stationed on this island a water-dropping plane !! At 6.04 p.m. Karen from Mólivos phoned that she had a (probably juvenile) Little Owl > due to the really bad bus-connections in the week-end, this one will be brought again by Courier to the Shell-Station, and that will be in between 5.50 and 6 a.m. . . . . !! At 6.51 p.m. some people from Polichnítos at our doorstep (they had come by taxi) with a young little Tom-Cat > see further at TOM CAT. We were waken-up at 11.45 p.m. out of our first sleep by Karen with the message that there was no need anymore going to the Shell-station tomorrow-morning because the owlet had passed away meanwhile. By the way, we have a yellow weather-alert because of expected extreme high temperatures.

July 11^th: so the last written part of yesterday was correct: the thermometer fell till 28° Celsius and we were dripping wet the moment we came in the street with the doggies at 4.25 a.m. !! All outdoor-cats were present again at that moment and in the Sick-Bay all were still alive. Hedgehogs: the male was 539 (+16) and the female was 338 (+7) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 148 (-2) and the Tsernóbyl-pigeon was 176 (+11) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 292 (+3), the Kestrel 182 (+2) and the green Little Owl 201 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (-1), -0903 was 49 (+1), -0904 was 51 (-1) and –0905 was 39 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 393 (+3), green 329 (=), orange 395 (+3), red 409 (-1), purple 411 (+2), blue 402 (+4) and yellow 374 (+10). The purpleorange was 362 (+5), the purplered 344 (-1) and the purpleblue 361 (+4) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 259 (+12) gram. We have transferred the Rock Dove with the amputated wing (09-094; June 16^th) to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” > maybe he’ll eat over there on his own, because he had to be force-fed completely in the Sick-Bay from the beginning. If he succeeds, the better for him because we can’t continue till eternity with force-feeding. In vain we have tried (2^nd time) to release the green Little Owl in the deserted Houslet: there was a try to fly but hardly mentionable. So at last indeed a “nest-misfit” ?? At 10.36 a.m. a phone-call from Skópelos about a “Stachtára” (Swift) > they have only tomorrow the chance to bring the bird. Food-advices were given till so long. We first received a German visitor from Unna (NRWF) and thereafter a three-headed “delegation” from Edinburgh (Scotland). The green Little Owl was after the 12-o’clock feeding-round transferred to the little owl-aviary in “The Keep” > so in a day or so catching again and measuring. In the siesta the thermometer reached almost the 35° Celsius !! Was the “Tsernóbyl-pigeon” at 1.55 p.m. suddenly not well anymore, at 3.35 he was discovered dead > so the tumors had grown even quicker than we had thought !!

At 7.14 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos about a juvenile Jackdaw > they will try placing him back into the nest. We have told this is most probably useless.

July 12^th: it was last night “only” 26° Celsius and such a difference we could notice. All outdoor-cats were present again early this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 548 (+9) and the female was 353 (+15) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 154 (+6) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 293 (+1) and the Kestrel was 184 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (+1), -0903 was 48 (-1), -0904 was 52 (+1) and –0905 was 39 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 396 (+3), green 326 (-3), orange 390 (-5), red 414 (+5), purple 410 (-1), blue 405 (+3) and yellow 377 (+3). The purpleorange was 363 (+1), the purplered 349 (+5) and the purpleblue 367 (+6) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 253 (-6) gram. The two yesterday transferred birds are doing well till now on. We received 2 Greek visitors from Iraklion (Crete). Towards 12 o’clock a whole Greek family (4 people) from Athens. At 12.33 p.m. arrived the announced SWIFT > see over there. Luckily the thermometer, thanks to threatening thunderstorm-clouds, didn’t rise above 29° Celsius !! But due to the warm weather of the past days several birds-of-prey aren’t eating so well !! At 5.49 p.m. some children were at our doorstep with a huge cardboard-box, in which a just-born puppy > was the only living survivor of a complete nest of six which were dropped alive in the midst of the road !! See further at PUPPY. We hope by tomorrow having translated the whole June-report in English > due to a lack of assistance we’re only now so far !!

June 13^th: the only remnant juvenile Sparrow (09-113; June 27^th) was discovered not alive anymore at 6.10 a.m. Had started already yesterday-afternoon with ailing !! All outdoor-cats were present again early this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 578 (+30) and the female was 340 (-13) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 153 (-1) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 282 (-11) and the Kestrel was 183 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (-1), -0903 was 48 (=), -0904 was 50 (-2) and –0905 was 39 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 399 (+3), green 322 (-4), orange 385 (-5), red 408 (-6), purple 409 (-1), blue 397 (-8) and yellow 373 (-4). The purpleorange was 365 (+2), the purplered 350 (+1) and the purpleblue 369 (+2) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 263 (+10) gram. We have made the door to the 1^st floor of the deserted houslet closing again and a padlock connected: beginning tonight we’re starting releasing Barn Owls from there. Today our three female “butchers” had to let pass under their hands and knives quite a lot of meat: 20,185 kilo (for 133,59 Euro; total now this year 443,600 kilo for 2792,18 Euro). We received 2 Greek visitors from Serres (Northern Greece), and thereafter 2 people from Lanaken (Belgium) we advised how to take a doggy home, followed by 4 Dutch people.

Release:

after being fed well two hours earlier, the whole delegation from Sikamínia (09-107; June 21^st & 09-115AB; June 29^th) was brought in a huge cardboard box to the deserted houslet.

Tomorrow we’ll have a look which one is still present or not. At 9.54 p.m. still a phone-call from Mólivos about the juvenile Jackdaw (see July 11^th) > as expected and told the placing-back didn’t succeed and now they will bring the bird tomorrow.

July 14^th: in the deserted houslet the purpleorange Pale Barn Owl wasn’t present anymore; the other two still were. Hedgehogs: the male was 585 (+7) and the female was 340 (=) gram. The scalped Pigeon was 156 (+3) gram, but had quite swollen belly. The old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (+4) and the Kestrel was 184 (+1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (=), -0903 was 48 (=), -0904 was 51 (+1) and –0905 was 40 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 393 (-6), green 320 (-2), orange 390 (+5), red 417 (+9), purple 406 (-3), blue 408 (+11) and yellow 391 (+18). The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 260 (-3) gram. The shortly transferred to the little owl-aviary in “The Keep” green Little Owl had diminished since 13 gram, so we have fed him a bit extra. Because the scalped Pigeon (09-114; June 17^th), except the this morning already mentioned symptoms, now as well was unable standing anymore on the legs and the belly indeed was “one mess”, we have decided stopping the suffering. The announced juvenile Jackdaw was here at 7.55 a.m. > however was no Jackdaw, but a juvenile HOODED CROW > so see further over there. We received Dutch visitors. Around 8.30 p.m. two Canadians still wanted to visit the L.W.H. > because of the time we had to refuse politely. At 10.51 p.m. some children at our door with the information that there was a poisoned dog in the village > they were told that they had to bring the dog, because otherwise we couldn’t do anything. Till 11.30 p.m. we waited . . . . in vain !!

July 15^th: no victims this morning. In the deserted houslet no Barn Owls at all were present anymore and equally no dead bodies. So case closed !! Hedgehogs: the male was 615 (+30) and the female was 342 (+2) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 290 (+4) and the Kestrel was 180 (-4) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (=), -0903 was 48 (=), -0904 was 48 (-3) and –0905 was 41 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 387 (-6), green 322 (+2), orange 390 (=), red 424 (+7), purple 398 (-8), blue 406 (-2) and yellow 373 (-18). The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 266 (+6) gram. At 6.05 a.m. we have taken-back from the little owl-cage in “The Keep” the green Little Owl. We received 1 Dutch visitor this morning. At 12.42 p.m. a phone-call from Kallonís, that one had over there a very special African bird > so we picked it up. Quite a street crowd around a canary-cage in which was fumbled a . . . . DARK BARN OWL. So see over there. The crowd we had to convince about the origin from the bird > they didn’t believe us !! Such a special color had to come from Africa > poor stupid people !! There was one person who noticed that the bird in our logo was the same bird !! We have a yellow weather-alert due to expected high temperatures. At 7.45 p.m. still 4 Dutch visitors.

July 16^th: all was still alive early this morning !! Hedgehogs: the male was 627 (+12) and the female was 350 (+8) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 288 (-2), the green Little Owl 185 and the Kestrel was 179 (-1) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow was 255 (+10) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (-1), -0903 was 51 (+3), -0904 was 48 (=) and –0905 was 41 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: doubleorange was 390 (+3), green 311 (-11), orange 386 (-4), red 424 (=), purple 401 (+3), blue 412 (+6) and yellow 381 (+8) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 274 (+6) and the new orangered was 294 (-9) gram. The latter had produced some tiny pellets, so we could see that there was hardly eaten the days before !! After the umpteenth try to release the Swifts, we had to decide to stop. None of the four could fly > the eldest three (09-078; June 9^th & 09-083; June 10^th & 09-117; June 30^th) had all the same feather-deformation due to which the flight-feathers weren’t big enough to carry the bird > flying was impossible. The last one (09-127; July 12^th) showed having a deformation in the shoulders due to which the wings couldn’t be stretched. At 11.40 a.m. a phone-call from the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís that there was there a (probably ill) White Stork > so we went in that direction. The vet over there could tell that last evening there had been several on top of the new building (probably the nest from Kallonís) and he wondered how we should catch the bird. After the answer “quite normal, with our hands” he looked staggered !! At arrival at the new building there was a juvenile White Stork which was trying to fly difficultly. Together with the “pants-wetting” vet we could catch the bird. Was absolutely not ill, but had some blood-drops on the feathers and at the end of the bill. The transport-bag was taken from the car and the bird was wriggled in the bag; doing so the terrified vet was more a pain in the . . . than assistance > “he is BITING . . . . !!” So see further at WHITE STORK. In the siesta the thermometer reached easily 30° Celsius !! At 5.40 p.m. we have caught two Dark Barn Owls, which are planned for release tonight: doubleorange (09-063A) and red (09-063C); both here from May 25^th. After being fed they have been separated from the other ones till the moment was there:

Releases:

at 7.35 p.m. both mentioned above Dark Barn Owls were set free in the deserted houslet > tomorrow-morning we’ll see further.

At 7.42 p.m. a phone-call from Skópelos about two “karderinákia” (Goldfinches), which are almost ready to hatch. Will be brought tomorrow-afternoon.

July 17^th: the thermometer fell last night only till 27° Celsius !! In the Sick-Bay all were still alive, only our disabled Long-legged Buzzard “Granny” didn’t like her new sleeping-cage so much ! After all, she had te give her own cage to the White Stork !! Hedgehogs: the male was 620 (-7) and the female was 357 (+7) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 287 (-1), the green Little Owl 188 (+3) and the Kestrel was 179 (=) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow was 257 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (=), -0903 was 52 (+1), -0904 was 49 (+1) and –0905 was 41 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green 310 (-1), orange 387 (+1), purple 397 (-4), blue 413 (+1) and yellow 378 (-3) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 274 (=) and the orangered was 315 (+21) gram. It seems that the bleeding in the bill of the White Stork has definitively stopped. In the deserted houslet no Dark Barn Owls could be discovered at 6.35 a.m. We first had visitors from Athens and just hereafter three people from Amsterdam. At 11.30 a.m. we had contact about the two little Goldfinches, but they won’t be brought anymore because they are already dead. At 11.32 a.m. a family from Athens, now on holiday in Pétra, was at our doorstep with a quite small, juvenile Swift in a box > so we’re going to give it a try. So see further at SWIFT. They received a tour around as well.

Heat wave

Temperatures to hit 40° Celsius with high humidity

Meteorologists yesterday warned of a heat wave this weekend, noting that temperatures on Saturday were set to rise to 39° Celsius in Attica and 40° Celsius in central Greece. Northerly winds are set to intensify on Sunday, reaching 7 on the Beaufort scale, but high humidity levels are expected to counteract their cooling effect. Temperatures are expected to ease off early next week but then to rise again, probably bringing another heat wave.

In the siesta the thermometer reached easily the 32° Celsius !! At 5.40 p.m. we have prepared for transport to the deserted houslet two hours later the juvenile Dark Barn Owls orange (09-063D) and blue (09-063F; both May 35^th). The purple should have be released as well, but if so the smallest (yellow) has no nest-partner anymore to sleep and lean against > they will go together in the future. Green (although older) will stay here, if he survives.

Releases:

at 7.35 p.m. it was so far for both mentioned above birds that they saw freedom > first there was looked around with astonishment in that huge space, but later the heights were visited.

July 18^th: and again the thermometer didn’t fall below the 27° Celsius last night !! All five outdoor-cats were present again at 4.30 this morning and in the Sick-Bay all were still living as well. Hedgehogs: the male was 665 (+45) and the female was 364 (+7) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 285 (-2), the green Little Owl 185 (-3) and the Kestrel was 178 (-1) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow was 267 (+10) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 38 (=), -0903 was 52 (+1), -0904 was 48 (-1) and –0905 was 42 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 308 (-2), purple 398 (+1) and yellow 380 (+2) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 287 (+13) and the orangered was 348 (+33) gram. In the deserted houslet both yesterday-evening released over there Dark Barn Owls were still present. The juvenile Swift had the whole mouth full of food (came back from the last feeding from yesterday-evening) > food was removed and only some Ringers was given. Was discovered not alive anymore at 8.10 a.m. So after all indeed a “nest-misfit”. At 10 a.m. the thermometer had already exceeded the 30° Celsius in the shade !! We have prepared the fox-cage in “The Keep” for the present inhabitant; now the little Dog-fox is still quite tame, but he must be wildered if we ever want to release him. Qua walking this should be possible now already, but he is still too playful to manage on his own. And around the time he will be able, the hunting-season has started again (so in a good month time) and we didn’t rescued him te be shot down by the first asshole with a shotgun !! At 10.50 a.m. the air-temperature in the shade had passed already the 31°-mark and at 11.40 it was 32° !! Fifty minutes later it was 33°. . . . !! And at last it became almost 34° Celsius . . . . !! We had to water the tortoises several times today to avoid having boiled ones !! At the end of the siesta 4 Dutch visitors. At 7.15 p.m. a phone-call from the Dutch tourists who were here yesterday > they had found a Sparrow which, if still alive, will bring tomorrow-morning. At 8 p.m. it still was 30° Celsius !!

July 19^th: and again a hot night with 27° Celsius as the minimum, so it was dripping again going out with the doggies at 4.25 a.m. !! Hedgehogs: the male was 676 (+13) and the female was 382 (+18) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 285 (=), the green Little Owl 186 (+1) and the Kestrel was 178 (=) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow was 270 (+3) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 41 (+3), -0903 was 51 (-1), -0904 was 52 (+4) and –0905 was 42 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 303 (-5), purple 387 (-11) and yellow 382 (+2) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 290 (+3) and the orangered was 347 (-1) gram. At 6.25 a.m. in the deserted houslet one Dark Barn Owl was still present > however we couldn’t see the foot-ring so we don’t know who it is. The small female Hedgehog is keeping her balance better and better and isn’t tumbling all the time anymore. A biathlon-athlete she’ll never become and even a release is very unlikely, but maybe an adapted (and livable) life in the hedgehog-cage !! At 9.25 a.m. the 30° was reached already !! We received 3 Dutch visitors. Meanwhile the announced Sparrow was brought-in > see further at HOUSE-SPARROW. At 12.30 p.m. it was already above the 35° !! At 12.45 p.m. a phone-call from the owner of our “Mother-the-Goose” (09-065) that he had discovered the poor one dead this morning. He told us that she since her arrival (June 27^th) over there had been eating very badly (while she here had been gorging). Maybe the case the owner had meanwhile bought another female could have been a reason as well !! At 1.28 p.m. we were phoned from Mytiléne about a pigeon without a tail > will be sent tomorrow-morning by coach (time ??). At last in the siesta the thermometer reached 37° Celsius !! During the last feeding-round we discovered a scab on the back of our White Stork > this was removed. What became to surface was a . . . . inshot-hole of a pellet !! Hunting-season starts only August 20^th and even then Storks are “forbidden” !!

July 20^th: and it remained hot last night: the thermometer didn’t come below the 29° Celsius . . . . !! All five outdoor/cats were present again at 4.25 a.m. and their breakfast happened without problems. In the Sick/Bay all patients were still alive. Hedgehogs: the male was 684 (+6) and the female was 383 (+1) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 285 (=), the green Little Owl 184 (-2) and the Kestrel was 178 (=) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow was 278 (+8) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (-1), -0903 was 54 (+3), -0904 was 49 (-3) and –0905 was 44 (+2) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 310 (+7), purple 381 (-6) and yellow 378 (-4) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 292 (+2) and the orangered was 357 (+10) gram. At 6.35 a.m. in the deserted houslet no Dark Barn Owl was present anymore !! The announced Pigeon we had in our hands at 9.50 a.m. > see further at PIGEON. Today meat had to be processed again (18,160 kilo for 118,08 Euro; total now this year 461,760 kilo for 2910,26 Euro) and this was done by Tjarda, Janice & Ineke. Meanwhile quite a lot of visitors: 2 Dutch people, thereafter two Greek (one from Athens and the other from Skála Kallonís) and thereafter 4 Dutch people. At 12.55 p.m. a phone-call from the Agrotikí Stégi that people came in our direction with an injured “Koukouvágia” (Little Owl). We should pick it up at the Town Hall. And so we did at 1.10 p.m. > see further at LITTLE OWL. Luckily it wasn’t warmer today than 32° Celsius !!

Release:

because he really wanted to go, we have brought the purple juvenile Dark Barn Owl (09-063^E; May 25^th) at 5.49 p.m. to the deserted houslet. Via the wall higher regions were visited.

July 21^st: all outdoor-cats were present again at 4.45 a.m. In the Sick-Bay all were still alive as well. Hedgehogs: the male was 699 (+15) and the female was 385 (+2) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 291 (+6), the green Little Owl 184 (=), the redsilver Little Owl 143 (+7) and the Kestrel was 178 (=) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow was 283 (+5) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (=), -0903 was 54 (-2), -0904 was 51 (+2) and –0905 was 43 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 315 (+5) and yellow 375 (-3) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 307 (+15) and the orangered was 360 (+3) gram. At 6.40 a.m. in the deserted houslet no purple Dark Barn Owl was present anymore !! The bitten juvenile House Sparrow (09-133; July 19^th) was after the last injection with Lincospectin transferred to the Aviary at 7.53 a.m. for flying[practices and wildering. We have discovered that the bitten juvenile Pigeon had an older (already healed) fracture of the right leg > due to building-up of new bone-tissue the tendons were stuck. Should be able to heal with physiotherapies. The orangered Dark Barn Owl has a fracture of the left tibia; luckily closed but splinting isn’t possible !! Should heal with rest. We received 3 Dutch and 3 Athenian visitors. At 3.28 p.m. some (Cuban ??) children at our door with a thrown-away kitten. Has severe Cat-flew (Rhinotrachitis) > we’re going to give it a try !! After the siesta still 5 Dutch visitors. We received the unexpected message that two volunteers, who should arrive the 27^th till the end of August, suddenly shouldn’t come anymore due to a worsened health of one of them. The whole evening we have been busy reaching people, who had opted for the same period (but who we had cancelled because the first two people looked very serious), but without results. So we’re without any help till September 1^st !!

July 22^nd: all patients were still alive this morning; even the smallest kitten !! Hedgehogs: the male was 695 (-4) and the female was 380 (-5) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (-2), the green Little Owl 182 (-2), the redsilver Little Owl 146 (+3) and the Kestrel was 179 (+1) gram. The new juvenile Hooded Crow couldn’t be measured anymore > too lively !! Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (-1), -0903 was 52 (=), -0904 was 55 (+4) and –0905 was 45 (+2) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 322 (+7) and yellow 372 (-3) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 307 (=) and the orangered was 364 (+4) gram. There is some improvement (after physiotherapies) in the right leg of the bitten Pigeon. Only he/she is keeping an overfull crop . . . . ?? Except from old friends, who are coming to assist us from next Monday, as well 2 Dutch visitors. After the arrears we had last month with the translation from Dutch into English for this site, we’re from this afternoon at last completely “on scheme” for as well the Dutch as the English site !!

July 23^rd: wonder of wonders the smallest kitten is still alive !! Hedgehogs: the male was 720 (+25) and the female was 385 (+5) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 293 (+4), the green Little Owl 179 (-3), the redsilver Little Owl 152 (+6) and the Kestrel was 177 (-2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (+1), -0903 was 55 (+3), -0904 was 54 (-1) and –0905 was 45 (=) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 328 (+6) and yellow 370 (-2) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 319 (+12) and the orangered was 369 (+5) gram. The smallest kitten is fighting and fighting to stay alive and it looks a little like there is a chance maybe it will be successful !! (we don’t believe we could have made more reserves . . . . !!). First we received two Dutch visitors; thereafter a whole Greek family from the island of Syros. Prejudging on the heat-wave we’re expecting next weekend, the thermometer reached today a good 30° Celsius !! Around 7.30 p.m. still three visitors from Lienz (Ost Tirol – Austria).

July 24^th: the smallest kitten is doing better > is even trying to sit now and then !! Hedgehogs: the male was 709 (-11) and the female was 397 (+12) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 303 (+10), the green Little Owl 180 (+1), the redsilver Little Owl 156 (+4) and the Kestrel was 179 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (=), -0903 was 54 (-1), -0904 was 54 (=) and –0905 was 44 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 319 (-9) and yellow 364 (-6) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 333 (+14) and the orangered was 369 (=) gram. We were warned by Douglas that opposite his office one of the stray cats, over there fed by him, was “laying badly” > so we turned out. See further at CAT. We received some Frisian colleagues. Taking back the juvenile Hooded Crows from the crow-aviary for the midday-feeding, it showed that the younger of the two (the one from Mólivos from 10 days ago) had quite a huge injury on the right side of the throat > the whole larynx could bee seen. Closed with 3 big agrafes. We have removed the hanging cast from the wing of the redsilver Little Owl. The whole of Greece has at least a yellow weather-alert due to high temperatures; some parts even have orange !! And that orange was later extended till the whole mainland (so we not yet), but tomorrow the whole country has an orange weather-alert !! In the siesta the thermometer had risen already above 32° Celsius !!

July 25^th: and it remained 27° Celsius last night !! All outdoor-cats were present again early this morning and the knocked-down cat was still alive as well . . . . !! The respiration however is very quick and superficially !! Strictly speaking we had the intention to try to repair the broken jaw-bone, but because there is a malfunction of the sight (she doesn’t see anything at all (anymore)), we’ll first discuss this case first profoundly. Hedgehogs: the male was 741 (+32) and the female was 399 (+2) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 302 (-1), the green Little Owl 177 (-3), the redsilver Little Owl 159 (+3) and the Kestrel was 180 (+1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (-1), -0903 was 54 (=), -0904 was 57 (+3) and –0905 was 46 (+2) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 320 (+1) and yellow 365 (+1) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 335 (+2) and the orangered was 361 (-8) gram. The condition of the smallest kitten is fluctuating. Together we came to the conclusion that continuing the treatment of the knocked-down cat doesn’t make sense anymore. At 7.30 a.m. she had the introductions-injection and at 7.50 a.m. she had very quietly gone to another World where no cars exist . . . . !! Post-mortal it showed that the mandible had several fractures and as well a luxation of the left joint. The tongue was completely bitten into pieces and as well there was damage in the palate. The bitten Pigeon has at this moment almost a normal use of the lamed leg. At 10.15 a.m. a phone-call from English tourists about a doggie which should be injured and in a bad condition > they should pass-by with the dog. After midday we received 3 Dutch visitors. The smallest kitten has given-up hope and isn’t fighting anymore; is slowly fading away . . . .!! In the siesta the thermometer rose till almost 36° Celsius !! At 5.45 p.m. the battle of the smallest kitten, strictly speaking from the beginning already lost, was over . . . . !! And at the same moment Médie from Kallonís phoned about the just-born puppies of a chained dog in a barrel, which are starving due to neglect. As soon she can reach them she’ll come and bring the little ones here for putting down . . . . Sometimes it’s beginning to be a little bit too much for one day !!

July 26^th: the thermometer stopped last night at 28° Celsius !! Hedgehogs: the male was 761 (+20) and the female was 410 (+11) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 312 (+10), the green Little Owl 178 (+1), the redsilver Little Owl 159 (=) and the Kestrel was 181 (+1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (+1), -0903 was 55 (+1), -0904 was 58 (+1) and –0905 was 45 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 333 (+13) and yellow 356 (-9) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 342 (+7) and the orangered was 374 (+13) gram. We have removed a huge dirty scab from the left elbow of the redsilver Little Owl. Hereunder was a clean injury, which is now covered only with a dry dressing. At 10 o’clock a whole Dutch delegation, who came for information about taking a stray dog with them to Holland. That they received and a tour around as well. And while we were busy doing so, the English people who had phoned yesterday about a doggy, came with that doggie. Showed to be the brother of the doggy which will go to Holland. Ticks were removed and food-advices were given, because indeed he was a bit thin. Further not in the statistics. Meanwhile there was phoned about a Barn Owl with a broken wing in Pámfila > we picked it up. Was in our hands at 11.40 a.m. See further at PALE BARN OWL. And while in the heat (36° Celsius) the Barn Owl was rescued, Médie came with the puppies she had phoned us about yesterday > see at PUPPY. In the evening we have discovered what’s wrong with the green juvenile Dark Barn Owl: so to say it’s a kind of a “nest-misfit”, because the elbow-joints left and right aren’t equal. Left is quite a lot thicker and larger than right !! We have the intention releasing the White Stork tomorrow.

July 27^th: at 5.25 a.m. the yesterday taken-in Barn Owl was discovered not alive anymore. Hedgehogs: the male was 786 (+25) and the female was 422 (+12) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 314 (+2), the green Little Owl 176 (-2), the redsilver Little Owl 164 (+5) and the Kestrel was 181 (=) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (=), -0903 was 56 (+1), -0904 was 59 (+1) and –0905 was 46 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 322 (-11) and yellow 354 (-2) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 366 (+24) and the orangered was 380 (+6) gram. We started treating the elbow of the redsilver Little Owl with Dermisol-cream. The bitten Pigeon is, with a double red ring, transferred to the Aviary for wildering and flying-practice !! Checking the passed-away Barn Owl we have discovered the cause of death: the little bit of food that was given yesterday, was vomited last night and came stuck in the pharynx. There was no force anymore to get it out. So is suffocated !! Meat was bought today (18,620 kilo for 121,06 Euro; total now this year 480,380 kilo for 3031,32 Euro) and this was all processed by Tjarda & Ineke, assisted by Ellen and Tiny (who in their holiday made time free to help us. Their husbands Maarten and Ger were busy in the House-next-door with giving the windows, placed May 11^th & 12^th, again a closing stucco.

Release:

meanwhile the White Stork was released in the Salines > used the wings very well but hadn’t (yet) the intention flying away.

In the morning as well 3 Dutch visitors. The whole day the bitten Pigeon, which was transferred to the Aviary this morning, could be seen pecking for seeds.

July 28^th: luckily it wasn’t so warm anymore last night !! Hedgehogs: the male was 758 (-28) and the female was 435 (+13) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 307 (-7), the green Little Owl 179 (+2), the redsilver Little Owl 166 (+2) and the Kestrel was 181 (=) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (-1), -0903 was 56 (=), -0904 was 60 (+1) and –0905 was 47 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 331 (+9) and yellow 355 (+1) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 361 (-5) and the orangered was 380 (=) gram. The bitten Pigeon is spotted quite healthy on the bottom of the Aviary, but is begging for food at every bigger Pigeon which is walking in front of her !! At 8.52 a.m. a phone-call from vet Myrsíni Tourvali in Mytiléne that she is sending with the 11-o’clock coach a little pigeon. We received quite a lot of visitors this morning: first 6 Dutch people and thereafter the pigeon should be “plucked” from the coach. On our way downwards we saw a couple on bicycles drudging to reach our village > visitors for us ?? The bird we had in our possession at 11.49 a.m. > see further at PIGEON. On our way back we saw the cyclists again and indeed, they came to visit us: two Duchies.

July 29^th: for the first time since days all five outdoor-cats were present again early this morning: “Pappa” wasn’t seen already for some days and so we started worrying !! In the Sick-Bay all patients were still alive. Hedgehogs: the male was 812 (+54) and the female was 438 (+3) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 291 (-16), the green Little Owl 175 (-3), the redsilver Little Owl 163 (-3) and the Kestrel was 179 (-2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (=), -0903 was 56 (=), -0904 was 60 (=) and –0905 was 46 (-1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 329 (-2) and yellow 349 (-6) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 359 (-2) and the orangered was 379 (-1) gram. Since yesterday-evening the little Dog-Fox has been playing nicely with the mortal remains of the Barn Owl, which died the day before yesterday, but eating he didn’t do. It was quite comical when every time he had his mouth full of fluffy feathers and tried to remove them with his paw. We could remove the agrafes from the throat of the younger juvenile Hooded Crow (for the reason see July 24^th). At 10.54 a.m. we were phoned about a terrapin the people had already for 2 years. Was growing a bit too large now > they will come and bring the creature and we’ll have to see if a release is possible. A whole Dutch family came to visit us: 4 people. For the first time since her arrival here (June 23^rd !!) the female Hedgehog has eaten (a bit) by herself !!

July 30^th: and again all five outdoor-cats were present at 4.25 a.m. !! Hedgehogs: the male was 822 (+10) and the female was 448 (+10) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 299 (+8), the green Little Owl 173 (-2), the redsilver Little Owl 164 (+1) and the Kestrel was 178 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 40 (+1), -0903 was 56 (=), -0904 was 61 (+1) and –0905 was 48 (+2) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 331 (+2) and yellow 353 (+4) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 356 (-3) and the orangered was 388 (+9) gram. The juvenile Pigeon is starting eating by himself. Via the Shelter in Skála Eressoú we received two visitors: one was the Austrian Vet (from Vienna) who is working there now and the other a lady from Hannover. Our neighbor Charálambos came with a young cock, which was suffering from Bumble-foot in the right foot > opened, emptied and cauterized. Should come back the day after tomorrow with the creature. Further not in the statistics. The Vet agreed completely with the followed therapy. At 7.30 p.m. the yellow juvenile Dark Barn Owl (which by the way had lost the foot-ring !!) was fed extensively as a preparation for the

Release:

at 7.20 p.m. this bird (09-063G; May 25^th) was transferred to the deserted houslet; flying wasn’t yet spectacular.

At 6.07 p.m. there had been a phone-call from Pétra about a yesterday discovered, thrown away injured kitten > one will pass by.

July 31^st: and again all outdoor-cats were present early this morning. Hedgehogs: the male was 836 (+14) and the female was 467 (+19) gram. The old Dark Barn Owl was 300 (+1), the green Little Owl 170 (-3), the redsilver Little Owl 164 (=) and the Kestrel was 179 (-1) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 39 (-1), -0903 was 56 (=), -0904 was 59 (-2) and –0905 was 49 (+1) gram. Juvenile Barn Owls: green was 332 (+1) gram. The snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 341 (-15) and the orangered was 397 (+9) gram. At 6.05 a.m. the yellow juvenile Dark Barn Owl was still present in the deserted houslet. Flying was indeed a lot better than yesterday evening. We received 5 Dutch visitors from The Hague and while they were guided around an elderly gentleman from Pétra came with his cat about which we had been phoned yesterday evening. Indeed the cat had a fracture of the right wrist with a small dislocation. He was told that this must (and can !!) heal with only rest. We were almost crushed in a huge embrace by the overgrateful man !! Further not in the statistics. After this interruption we continued with the visitors. Just before the siesta still two Dutch visitors. At 8.06 p.m. a phone-call from someone in Kallonís about a knocked-down stray dog > “if we could come and pick up the injured one . . . . !!” The caller was told that they could come and bring the dog for First Aid, but that we couldn’t take it in. Further nothing was heard anymore.

Total amount of visitors this month: 144 (total this year: 873)

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 0813 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 24 [wild ones: 15; others 09], (total this year 164: wild ones 121, others 043; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4211) of which:

KITTEN (Felis catus): 3; the first was an ± 4 weeks old Tortoise-shell. Was thrown-away in our village or “lost the way home” (what’s the same). Was covered with weed-seeds. Isn’t yet weaned, so must be fed with special milk. Received the name “Elán”.

The 2^nd was discovered in between the rubbish (so thrown-away alive) and was a still breathing skeleton covered with skin; eyes already open > was already too far away even thinking about “giving it a try”, so . . . .!!

Number 3 was about three weeks old, and discovered in our village by some quite dark (Cuban ??) children. Both eyes and nostrils completely closed. Eyes were opened carefully and treated with Cavasan-cream. Nostrils cleaned from clogged hard mucus. Very carefully started with some fluid to drink > has probably been already for days without food. First trying to pep him up a bit before we can start with antibiotics. Is mostly white with some ginger spots and tail.

(see as well July 25^th)

PIGEON (Columba livia dom): 4; all from Mytiléne > the 1^st was by the vet over there announced as “injured” > showed te be only juvenile . . . . !! Diagnosing well a patient is something what’s most probably not taught in the Veterinary University in Thessaloniki !! Overseeing an injury we can imagine, but certifying an injury which isn’t there, we can’t imagine !! (see as well July 10^th). The 2^nd came via the same vet and was announced as a Collared Dove. So wasn’t, but this one as well a juvenile, with some immense (biting- ??) injuries on the left & right side of the back, which even could have been seen by a blind horse !! Lincospectin was injected and the injuries sprayed with Negerol (see as well July 9^th and following days). Number 3 was announced as “having no tail” and that was correct. Was a juvenile, most probably bitten by a cat > from the right wing some feathers are missing, while the right leg seems to be a bit lamed. Was already treated by someone with (green) antibiotic-spray. Over here in any case 3 days 15 I.U. Lincospectin and physio for the leg. (see as well July 21^st & 27^th). The 4^th was as well a juvenile and was covered with horse-flies > Pinex-spray was used. Further no injuries could be detected.

PALE BARN OWL (Tyto a. alba): 2; the first was an adult from Dáfia. Such a white one we have never had before. Lots and lots of feathers were glued together with weed-seeds > so the bird hadn’t been able to fly and due to this not to hunt/eat !! Body-weight at intake was 238 gram (and should be for a male 290 – 340 gram). Bits by bits the seeds were removed (bird doesn’t like this, strictly speaking) and trying to get him back on weight again.

(see as well July 10^th). Number 2 came from Pámfila and to be exact from quite a country-house in Ágios Loukas. The land-lord had been wetting his pants and didn’t dare to catch the bird. Was sitting under a crate with so many materials placed on top (was a good sun-protection afterwards), that it looked like if a flying elephant had te be grounded !! Quite a high fracture of the right humerus. Humerus was placed on it’s place again and the wing was splinted. Bird was only 177 gram and this should be (for a male) 290 – 340 gram. Females are even heavier . . . . !!

To be exact: the bird is a cross-breed between a Dark- and a Pale Barn Owl. (see as well July 27^th).

BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula): 1 female or juvenile (isn’t quite clear, and even the species isn’t for a 100% sure). Is bitten by a cat in the legs, but has a transverse myelitis. Licospectin was injected. Further observation.

(see as well July 10^th).

SWIFT (Apus apus): 3; the first was a juvenile from Mólivos > so trying to rear. (see as well July 9^th). Number 2 came from Skópelos and was almost “full-grown”. Probably a crash-landing was made and due to this some skin-injuries, although a cat-bite can’t be excluded. So 3 days 5 IU Lincospectin. Received orange ring right foot (see as well July 16^th). The 3^rd was quite small indeed and discovered in Pétra. But we’re giving it a try (see as well July 18^th).

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 1 ± 4 months old little one. Was rescued by the bearers a time ago and taken to their house. Had been a day or so not like it should be. Today in vain the had tried to reach a vet. At last they had been “doctoring” their selves and the little one was given Depón-syrup (=Paracetamol. Is poison for cats !!). Came-in in a very bad condition. We started with injecting 50 I.U. Atropine > maybe this will work a bit. Pupils of the eyes are wide open and the little one is simmering like a coffee-machine. A bit later in the evening 6 cc Ringers s.c. was given (per os). However the prognosis is almost sure “infaust” !! When we wanted to give a bit more Ringers at 9.30 p.m. this wasn’t necessary anymore . . . . !!

PUPPY (Canis familiaris): 1 girl; born July 12^th. Was together with 5 brothers and sisters dumped alive in the streets, so the traffic would make an end to their lives. This was the only one still alive > in spite of that put down.

HOODED CROW (Corvus cornix sharpii): 1 juvenile from Mólivos; found in the Agorá over there July 11^th. Received silver ring right foot. (see as well July 24^th & 29^th).

DARK BARN OWL (Tyto a. guttata): 1 almost full-grown juvenile, discovered in Kallonís. Was at intake 303 gram.

Received orange ring right foot and red ring left foot. (see as well July 21^st).

WHITE STORK (Ciconia ciconia): 1 juvenile, probably out of the nest in Kallonís. Has stayed-behind (was left-behind) after a visit of the whole family to the roof of the new building of the Agrotikí Stégi over there. Tip of the upper-bill was shortened a bit (due to ??) and was bleeding. Cauterized. Further trying to rear.

Showed to be shot > see as well July 19^th !! (see for the release July 27^th).

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 1 big juvenile from Eftaloú. Probably (seeing the wing-injuries) bitten by a cat > 3 days 5 IU Lincospectin i.m. Received silver/right and black/left. (see as well July 21^st).

LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua indigena): 1 juvenile, somewhere from . . . . ?? Was already some days in the possession of the bearers. Left wing is one immense hemorrhage. Hanging cast was given. Was at intake only 136 gram, and that’s much to light. Received silver/right and red/left.

(see as well July 24^th, 26^th and following days)

CAT (Felis catus): 1 highly pregnant one from Skála Kallonís. Is one of the stray cats fed by Douglas opposite his office. At arrival the cat was laying on the street in a strange, twisted position. Was still breathing. Left eye was goggling and light-stiff. The total picture was that from a knocked-down one. Taken with us and taken-in. At arrival on the L.W.H. (and after she was a bit more quiet) we could see that there is a fracture of the mandible at the symphysis. Tongue was quite damaged. With lots of difficulties a bit Ringers could be given to drink. Goggling eye treated with eye-cream to keep the eye supple. Further observation. Later that day the pupil of the left eye was completely closed, while the pupil of the right eye was complete open; however in both cases the pupils remained light-stiff. (see further July 25^th).