LOG-BOOK:

News about the environment in blue

June 1^st:  all were still alive this morning. The baby Swift was 28 (+1), the Little Bittern 95 (+2), the juvenile Little Owl 170 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 289 (-14) gram. The Shearwater was 690 (+9) and the Long-legged Buzzard, which had been “in” yesterday the whole day and hardly had moved, was 1784 (+56) gram. Under a total anesthetic our he-dog “Humpy” (98-017) had his yearly 10.000km-service-turn: ticks were removed and dental scale as well (one loose back-tooth joined the removed scale), anal-glands and ears were cleaned, vaccination was done etc. etc. Further not in the statistics. At 11.30 a.m. a phone-call from Pétra about a Collie, which had been out for a whole night and which wasn’t so flourishing anymore, had vomited etc. One would pass by. We have taken a picture of our juvenile Swift:

The “Collie-like” doggie was here at 12.25 p.m. > see at SHE-DOG. At 1.02 p.m. a phone-call from Metóchia; one had discovered over there a juvenile owl > so we went and picked it up. See at LITTLE OWL. At last the air-conditionings-man arrived at 5.30 p.m. but he couldn’t do anything on the leakage > is still due to rat-bites in the past !! So this is asking for a “creative solution” from our side !!

June 2^nd:  at 4.50 a.m. there was already screaming for food in the Sick-Bay !! The little Swift was 31 (+3), the “red” Little Owl 173 (+3), the “blue” Little Owl, so the one from yesterday, was 133 (+21) and the Dark Barn Owl was 291 (+2) gram. The Little Bittern was 94 (-1), the Shearwater 693 (+3) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1745 (-39) gram. We were able to change dramatically the anatomy and physiology of dozens of ticks living on the body of the blue Little Owl !! The red Little Owl and the Darn Barn Owl both were transferred to the “nocturnal department” where both of them have more space. We received a phone-call from Pétra that the collie-like doggie isn’t doing well at all . . . . !! At 9.05 a phone-call from the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne, that she will send by coach of 11 o’clock a crow, not in such a good condition. In spite of a leak in the petrol tank of our car we went, after receiving a phone-call from Mólivos that one had over there a young owlet, in that direction to pick it up > see further at EURASIAN SCOP’S OWL. And meanwhile quite diligent meat was cut and measured: 13,395 kilo for 86,68 Euro. Total now this year 284,090 kilo for 1884,15 Euro. The little Tom-Cat “Niëllo” will leave us next week (the 9^th) for Belgium. We received again a phone-call from Pétra about the collie-like doggie: had died . . . . !! At 11.47 we picked-up from the coach a juvenile WESTERN JACKDAW > see over there. At 5.25 p.m. we have seen that the Shearwater (over here ever since March 20^th !!), which came in with two completely paralyzed and useless legs, first scratched the head with the right leg and later the same with the left leg !! And súch a result is the reason we’re waiting só long before we at last decide to . . . . (you can fill-in yourself !!). At the last feeding-round it showed to be there was no need anymore feeding the Scop’s Owl . . . . !! Has had problems with swallowing ever since the moment of intake. In the nest-tower from the Little Owls one still can hear a soft peeping.

June 3^rd:  no further victims last night. The Swift was 31 (=), the blue Little Owl 145 (+12) and the red 182 (+9) gram. The Dark Barn Owl was 290 (-1), the Little Bittern 94 (=) and the Jackdaw 107 (+2) gram. The Shearwater was 686 (-7) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1730 (-15) gram. We have removed from the body of the blue Little Owl 61 ticks and ticklets; herein are not measured the ones roaming free in the cage !! The juvenile Jackdaw can only be fed with the greatest troubles and besides he/she is vomiting afterwards almost everything !! Even on other food is the reaction the same: the first bite is entering well, but thereafter it stocks !! About the Tom-Cat “BroBa” till now on not really positive news. Just at the end of the siesta the Berner Sennendog “Joris” came with his two mistresses from Holland to visit us. The juvenile Jackdaw is slowly “fading away” and will probably not being alive anymore tomorrow morning. At 7.18 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a little “koráki” (member of the crow-family), which will be brought. Was here at 8.26 p.m. > see further at WESTERN JACKDAW. The first Jackdaw was discovered dead when the 2^nd arrived.

June 4^th:  the Swift was 33 (+2), the new Jackdaw 106 (-2), the red Little Owl 186 (+4) and the blue Little Owl 151 (+6) gram. The Dark Barn Owl was 293 (+3), the Shearwater 703 (+17), the Little Bittern 95 (+1) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1734 (+4) gram. We discovered in the nest of the Little Owl 2 quite well-fed owlets, 1 well-fed but the 4^th was evidently a little straggler: the seize was only half of the other three. We’re considering if we should take over the care, or that nature should have her way. And the result was that we have taken-over the care: body-weight was only 23 gram, while the other three were 46, 46 and 51 gram. So see further at LITTLE OWL. We have removed and crushed again 35 ticks from the body of the blue Little Owl. At 10.03 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne that one wanted to send another “koráki” with the coach of 11 o’clock; knowing the sender this one is not a relative of the last two ones. And we had the bird in our hands at 11.48 > see again at JACKDAW. Changing the bandage from the wing of the White Stork it showed that and the fracture and the injury are healing well !! And if one thinks one will recover in a Greek hospital:

Hospital food

Prefectural inspectors said yesterday that they had seized a total of 345 kilos of food unfit for human consumption from two Athens hospitals. Specifically, inspectors confiscated 300 kilos of fish infected with the salmonella bacteria from the Sotiria Hospital. Another 45 kilos of feta cheese was removed from the premises of the Dromokaiteio Hospital.

The strange in the behavior of all three juvenile Jackdaws from the last days, is that they aren’t making any noise at all !! That the 1^st isn’t making noise (anymore) is understandable, but the screaming for food (which is so characteristic of this species) is failing to come totally !! After we had placed (due to “keeping-warm-problems” during the night) the baby Little Owl together with the juvenile Swift in one nest, we had at once to undo so, because the Swift started (with that soft bill) “gnawing” the Little Owl . . . . !! So the smaller was placed back for the night with mum, hoping that this will be warm enough with the three brothers/sisters.

June 5^th:  all were still alive this morning and all were “in the plus” !! The baby Little Owl was kept good warm and was 27 (+3) gram !!. The Swift was 35 (+2), the “Crossbill-Jackdaw” was 108 (+2) and the orange Jackdaw 125 (+2) gram. The blue Little Owl was 153 (+2) and the red one 195 (+9) gram. The Little Bittern was 97 (+2), the Shearwater 715 (+12), the Dark Barn Owl 294 (+1) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1760 (+26) gram. In an unsupervised moment the little Tom-Cat “Joris” used the opportunity fumbling the baby Little Owl out of the terrarium > we discovered that one cold and a bit damaged on te floor under a “playing-towel”. Injuries only sprayed with Negerol-spray, because there is not yet a place to inject . . . . !! So now it’s hope and wait !! We discovered “only” 14 ticks on the blue Little Owl, and we could remove 3 thick ones from around the eyes of the Dark Barn Owl. At 9.55 a phone-call from Mytiléne from Olga (from our “auxiliary-troops” over there) that she had found last night an injured owlet with blood in one eye and with a broken wing > will be sent by coach of 11 o’clock. We received an e-mail with lots of details from Vienna (Austria) about a mother-cat with a kitten in Mólivos, of which the mother should be quite bad injured. We have mobilized our “auxiliary-troops” over there (Karen) and she will go and have a look, and if necessary, send the animals to us.

Later we heard that everything should be alright now with mother and child, so we have informed the people in Austria. At 11.04 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Jackdaw; brother/sister of nrs 1 & 2 > will come with the coach of 1. 15 p.m. The owlet we had in our possession at 11.49 a.m. > see at LITTLE OWL.

Air in Thessaloniki contains DDT

A toxic cocktail that includes arsenic, nickel, cadmium and the pesticide DDT have all been detected in the air that is inhaled by the residents of Thessaloniki, according to research by the city’s Aristotle University.

Researchers found that the concentration of suspended particles in the air in some parts of the city, particularly in the center and eastern suburbs, was above the permissible limits on up to 80% of days each year.

The use of DDT has been banned in Europe after being deemed dangerous to public health amid suggestions that it could cause cancer. “The source has to be researched, as it is possible that it has been blown in from across the border or could come from illegal use in parks and gardens across the city,” said chemistry professor Constantina Samara-Constantinou.

A potent insecticide, DDT fell into disrepute after the publication of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” just over 40 years ago. The book showed that widespread, indiscriminate use of DDT and related compounds was killing wildlife over vast tracts of North America and Western Europe. No studies ever proved that it also damaged human health, but it was widely believed to do so and was banned.

Thessaloniki has a notorious pollution problem, which is largely attributed to the number of vehicles in the city.

Statistics suggest that 44% of the city’s residents use their cars on a daily basis; 7% use taxis, 6% use motorcycles and only 27% use buses – one of the lowest percentages in the European Union.

Thessaloniki does not yet have a metro system but the network is currently under construction and is due to be completed by late 2012.

Samara-Constantinou said that the type of air pollution in Thessaloniki is similar to that found in Barcelona.

She said that by 2012, every EU city will have to be able to measure each pollutant in the air individually, but many cities, including Thessaloniki, are not in any position to do that at present.

The Jackdaw we had in our hands at 1.53 p.m. > see over there. At 3.52 p.m. a juvenile BARN SWALLOW was brought all the way from Mytiléne by a couple of Greeks > see over there. We received 2 Dutch visitors.

June 6^th:  no victims last night !! The right wing from the Barn Swallow (painted together) seems to be shorter than the left wing . . . . !! The new Little Owl with the wing fracture seems to have a stiff right foot > so we’re starting with physiotherapies. The Swift was 36 (+1), the baby Little Owl 31 (+4), the red Little Owl 197 (+2), the blue 154 (+1) and the adult 151 (=) gram. The Little Bittern was 98 (+1) and the Shearwater 710 (-5) gram. The Dark Barn Owl was 309 (+15), the orange Jackdaw 126 (+1), the red one 162 (=) and the blue 108 (=) gram. The Long-legged Buzzard was 1730 (-30) gram. After tests it showed that the paint on the feathers of the Barn Swallow couldn’t be removed; se we had to remove all “contaminated” feathers, in the hope new ones will grow in time for the migration to Africa. For the difference in length of both wings see at BARN SWALLOW. After the siesta we discovered that the Barn Swallow for the first time since the intake was standing  !! And now we’re writing about these small birds: this one, but as well the baby Little Owl and the baby Swift are fed 9 times a day !! The juvenile Jackdaws a bit lesser !! The first feedings are starting at ± 6 a.m. and the last ones ± 7.30 p.m.. We have discovered that the right eye of the Long-legged Buzzard isn’t functioning anymore: from that side she doesn’t see anything anymore, the pupil is light-stiff and she is biting dangerously when something suddenly appears before the bill. By the way, we have our question-marks as well at the left eye . . . . !! At 8.10 p.m. a phone-call from our “auxiliary-people” in Mytiléne about . . . . again a “koráki”; only this one seems to be injured. Will be brought even this evening. And was here at 9.10 p.m. > see further (not at Jackdaw !!) at HOODED CROW.

June 7^th:  at the moment we have 18 birds which must be fed early in the morning > takes a lot of time !! Both the red Little Owl and the Dark Barn Owl hadn’t been fed last night in a try to let them eat on their own. The baby Swift was 39 (+3), the juvenile Barn Swallow 18 (+1) and the baby Little Owl 38 (+7) gram. The red Little Owl was 195 (-2), the blue 154 (=) and the adult 157 (+6) gram. The Dark Barn Owl was 301 (-8), the Little Bittern 98 (=) and the new Hooded Crow 349 (-5) gram. The orange Jackdaw was 702 (-8), the blue 113 (+5) and the red 159 (-3) gram. The Shearwater was 702 (-8) end the Long-legged Buzzard 1757 (+27) gram. We have discovered that the yesterday-evening taken-in Hooded Crow not only is missing almost the complete tail, but as well that from the wings almost all big feathers are broken and/or damaged. Besides the left thumb-feathers were clued together with a kind of dirt > is cleaned and freed. The smell of the wing-injury of the White Stork isn’t optimal, but could be worse > now only Coban-tape was given. The position could be named reasonable. We have vaccinated all little Tom-Cats (four) and “Joris” & “Niëllo” were micro-chipped as well. For the latter the departure-papers are made as well. And again it started burning:

PARNITHA ALERT

Fire service puts out blaze near homes in Afidnes

Firefighters were called to put out several fires near Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, yesterday. The most serious fire was near Afidnes, just some 500 meters from homes in the area. Water-dropping planes were also enlisted in the effort to put out the blaze, which was reported to be under control last night. The forest on Mount Parnitha was devastated by fire last summer.

The new Hooded Crow is eating soo well, that he/she can be transferred tomorrow to the crow-aviary in the court-yard of the House-next-door, to work there quietly getting new feathers (but this can take quite a long time !!). So the loss of weight can be written on the account of bad feathers and due to this the incapacity to fly; but by what that has happened . . . ??

June 8^th:  did we want at 6.50 a.m. writing down the data on this computer, there appeared the message on the screen that “no mouse was connected” !! After a long while of looking for, it showed that the kittens had destroyed a cable . . . . !! And even that took some time before we had repaired this. At once the kittens were transferred to the living in the House-next-door. Last night we have heard from the Vets in Mytiléne that the Tom-Cat “BroBa” is allowed returning home. And the data from early this morning are: the baby Little Owl was 48 (+10), the baby Swift 40 (+1) and the juvenile Barn swallow 19 (+1) gram. The red Little Owl was 194 (-1), the blue 157 (+3) and the adult 160 (+3) gram. The Hooded Crow was 355 (+6), the orange Jackdaw 129 (+3), the blue 115 (+2) and the red one 167 (+8) gram. The Little Bittern was 99 (+1) and the dark Barn owl 301 =) gram. The other two weren’t measured anymore. The Hooded Crow was ringed and transferred at 7.38 a.m. to the crow-aviary. And as well the Dark Barn owl was ringed and went at 7.45 a.m. to the barn owl-cage in “The Keep” in the hope “seeing eating means eating”. At 9.34 a.m. a phone-call from Hotel “Alma” in Pétra that already for days a Greater Flamingo was roaming along the street from Pétra to Ánaxos, which wasn’t flying (so injured ??) and evidently was a threat for the traffic and himself. So we went over there to look for ourselves, but (the Parkinson-principle) of course not discovered, Told in the Hotel how to act when the bird was seen again and afterwards to call us again. At 5.10 p.m. a phone-call from our village about a dog, one had measured “a bit too wide” (or too narrow) during trimming with a pair of scissors > needed to be stitched. But most probably we’re living in Athens, because after half an hour still no doggie !! After 35 minutes one was here (walking !!) with the dog, which had two sizable injuries at the legs. But what was the case: this had happened already yesterday, but the woman hadn’t seen the opportunity passing-by earlier, because . . . . she had to bee in the church !! So nothing could be done anymore to the injuries and the lady was told what was our opinion about such a mentality . . . . !! And at 7.47 p.m. one was at the door with the bird we had been looking for in vain this morning > see further at GREATER FLAMINGO.

June 9^th:  all patients were still alive this morning !! The baby Little Owl was 57 (+9), the baby Swift 41 (+1) and the juvenile Barn Swallow 17 (-2) gram. The orange Jackdaw was 32 (+3), the blue 120 (+5) and the red 174 (+7) gram. The blue Little Owl was 158 (+1), the red 195 (+1) and the adult 160 (=) gram. The Little Bittern was 100 (+1) so can be released at the first opportunity. Today we have measured the other three baby Little Owls as well: 90, 90 and 94 gram. June 4^th this was 46, 46 and 51 gram. So our baby is following perfectly with at that date 23 and this morning 57 gram !! We have discovered that the Greater Flamingo indeed has a wing-fracture: an older one at the left humerus, which has penetrated the skin. Hole closed with 3 agrafes. For the time being a splint isn’t necessary, because it seems to be not a complete fracture and the position is OK. Today meat had to be processed again: 14,280 kilo for 91,84 Euro. Total now this year 308,370 kilo for 1975,99 Euro. At 10.20 a.m. a phone-call from Asómatos out of the Center for Environmental Education about an injured Collared Dove > will be brought today. Hereafter at 10.41 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about (probably) a Swift > can’t yet be brought or sent today, so feeding-advices were given for the time being. Thereafter at 11.05 a.m. a phone-call from Eressós about (probably) a Middle Spotted Woodpecker > will be brought this evening. We have removed the hanging cast from the wing of the adult Little Owl.       

Quake kills two, destroys tens of homes

6.5 Richter tremor hits the Peloponnese

A car was flattened in the village of Kato Achaia in the northwestern Peloponnese yesterday when an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale hit the area and caused a building to collapse. Nobody was injured in this incident.

At least two people were killed and more than 100 injured yesterday when the worst earthquake to hit Greece in almost 10 years struck in the northwestern Peloponnese, destroying a number of houses and spreading panic across much of the country.

The tremor, measuring 6.5 Richter, struck at 3.25 p.m. and was felt in most parts of Greece, as well as southern Italy. Its epicenter was near the town of Andravida in western Achaia, some 60 kilometers from the city of Patras.

The quake caused damage to dozens of older properties in the area. A 55-year-old man was killed in the village of Kato Achaia when the roof of his house collapsed on top of him.

An 80-year-old woman was slightly injured during the quake but died from a heart attack while on the way to the hospital.

According to information that had been collected by authorities as of last night, 108 people had suffered injuries but none was life threatening. Many of the injured were reported to have suffered broken limbs as some people jumped from balconies or windows when the quake struck.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos said that dozens of buildings had collapsed. Television pictures showed a nine-year-old girl being pulled from the rubble of her home in the village of Fostaina. She suffered minor injuries. It was reported that her parents, brother and grandmother managed to flee the property before it collapsed.

The fire service said that part of the Corinth-Patras national road was cut off because of a landslide. Some train services around Patras were cancelled.

The quake brought thousands of residents in the Peloponnese and parts of central Greece out of their homes as they gathered in town and village squares, awaiting news of the tremor’s magnitude.

A number of strong aftershocks, including one measuring 4.7 Richter were felt soon afterward. Seismologists said that the 6.5 quake was likely to have been the main one but advised people whose homes had been damaged to sleep elsewhere overnight.

Teams of civil engineers were dispatched to check the safety of buildings, particularly schools, in the area.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, who was on an official trip to Austria, instructed authorities to immediately disburse aid of 3,000 euros to people who had lost their homes.

Yesterday’s quake appears to have been the most destructive to hit Greece since 1999, when a 5.9-magnitude tremor near Athens killed 143 people and left thousands homeless.

While the Flamingo according to the stories had been walking around, here he only was laying shivering on his side and wasn’t trying, not even during feedings, standing on his legs. We already started with antibiotics because of the wing-fracture, but at 5.25 p.m. during the last feeding of the day, he suddenly collapsed and 5 minutes later we only could proclaim him dead.

Re-homing:

At 7.09 p.m. the little Tom-Cat “Niëllo” (08-037c; April 8^th ’08) was handed over to the new owners from Belgium on their way to the airport.

At 7.28 p.m. we received the phone-call that the announced Woodpecker wasn’t alive anymore. The as well announced Collared Dove didn’t arrive at all (yea, yea . . . . Center for Environmental Education; what kind of education is this . . . .!!), and we have agreed that tomorrow the Swift will be picked-up by us in Mytiléne, because we are there to pick-up the Tom-Cat “BroBa”.

June 10^th:  the baby Little Owl was 67 (+10), the baby Swift 41 (=) and the juvenile Swallow 15 (-2) gram. The blue Little Owl was 161 (+3), the red 195 (=) and the adult 167 (+7) gram. The Little Bittern couldn’t be measured anymore: is too lively !! The orange Jackdaw was 138 (+6), the red 177 (+3) and the blue 124 (+4) gram. At 9.34 a.m. the announced Swift was in our hands (we have given on the same moment the first one a red ring), and what showed to be the case: in spite of our feeding-advices, one had consciously fed this morning . . . . bread !! Such people should (in spite of their good meanings) be brought in court for “consciously maltreatment of animals, causing probably the death” !! But see further at COMMON SWIFT. The Tom-Cat “BroBa” came back from his time in the clinic: must have each day Dulcolax to activate the intestine-peristaltic. For almost a fortnight in the clinic with two Vets, z-rays, medicines etc. there should be a “price-label” of about 500 – 600 Euro, but we had “special praise” and paid at last 170 Euro !! Before he left it was a huge Tom-Cat, but now he is quite thin !! We had to put a new bandage with Dermisol-cream on the injury of the wing of the Stork and re-splint it; the prognosis is worsening however. We received 2 Dutch visitors. At 12.20 p.m. a phone-call from Tavári (close to Mesótopos) about quite a wild gull > one will bring him.  

Quake cleanup begins amid aftershock fears

Prefabricated homes set up for victims

A man stands in front of a huge crack in the facade of his quake-damaged home in the village of Valmi, Ileia prefecture, yesterday. His was one of dozens of homes and stores wrecked after a 6.5-Richter quake shook the area on Sunday. Seismologists warned residents not to stay in houses that have suffered serious damage.

As villagers in the Peloponnese salvaged what they could yesterday from homes and businesses that collapsed in Sunday’s 6.5-magnitude earthquake, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos chaired an emergency meeting with local authority officials to distribute compensation and assess damage.

Pavlopoulos, who met officials at the airport in Andravida, the epicenter of Sunday’s quake, said the prefectures of Ileia and Achaia would receive immediate relief. Families who lost their chief residence in the quake would receive 3.000 euros each, he said. Local authorities will also get emergency funding to rebuild damaged infrastructure.

As for accommodation for those left homeless by the quake, Pavlopoulos said the first prefabricated houses had been set up in the area already, adding that all emergency housing would be in place by Friday. Seismologists warned citizens whose homes have sustained damage not to stay in them. “Local residents should avoid remaining in buildings that have been characterized as requiring repair,” said Vassilis Papazachos, geophysics professor at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University.

As teams of state engineers checked damaged homes and schools for stability, archaeologists inspected ancient sites and museums in the region. Meanwhile, authorities sought to reassure worried residents of the region, many of whom suffered in last summer’s catastrophic fires. “The state will do everything necessary to ease the unfortunate consequences of the exceptionally powerful quake,” government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said.

Antonaros confirmed that the earthquake had resulted in the deaths of two people. He added that more than 230 had been admitted to local hospitals since Sunday afternoon but noted that none were believed to have sustained serious injuries.

Speculation of strong aftershocks abounded yesterday. Dozens of weak aftershocks – no stronger than 4.7 on the Richter scale – rattled the area but were hardly felt.

Most experts said that an aftershock of 5 or 5.5 on the Richter scale was likely in the next few days, or possibly weeks. Speaking yesterday, the director of the Athens Geodynamic Institute, Giorgos Stavrakakis, did not rule out the possibility of an aftershock as strong as 6 on the Richter scale. Experts said Sunday’s quake was provoked by a 50-kilometer fault line at Kyllini.

The gull was here at 1.40 p.m. > see at YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. We received the message that “Niëllo’s” transport has had absolutely no problems. At 4.46 p.m. a phone-call from our visitors from this morning, that they had rescued a small kitten from the sick fantasy of Greek children (they had thrown the little one as a playing-ball at a huge dog . . . . !!); kitten will be brought tomorrow over here and will leave for Holland Friday next week.

June 11^th:  all patients were still alive this morning, but . . . . !! The yellow Swift was 26 (-1) and still hardly any food can be fed !! The red Swift was 43 (+2) and this one is even younger that the yellow !! The juvenile Barn Swallow was 16 )+1) gram. The baby Little Owl was 75 (+8) gram, the red Little Owl 195 (=), the blue 163 (+2) and the adult 165 (-2) gram. The orange Jackdaw was 137 (-1), the blue 130 (+6) and the red 178 (+1) gram. The Yellow-legged Gull is a real “lousy biter” and is still vomiting the given food; this is most of the time changing after some days. We received the message from Holland that our Flamingo was a male.

Release:

At 9.55 a.m. was released in the Mylopótamos-river the Little Bittern (08-071; May 29^th ’08): climbed at once into the bushes !!

At 10.08 a.m. arrived the little Tom-Cat, which was rescued from being a “playing-ball” > see further at Kitten. At 11.33 a.m. a phone-call from the chairman of the Animal-Lovers Society of Lesvos, that he had received a message that in our village there should be a horse in a terrible condition. The police was already informed and in vain was tried to reach the owner. “If we could go and size up the situation ?” And so happened and the situation was indeed very catastrophically: id the horse was still alive couldn’t be detected from a distance, because no-one could come close. As good as possible some pictures were taken and sent by mail to the Animal-Lovers Society. After a check of the remaining three baby Little Owls it showed to be that, in spite of the whole nest was cleaned-up yesterday (the babies as well), they now already were very, very dirty. So mum is feeding well, but isn’t cleaning. Babies were taken from the nest, taken-in and re-united with their nest-companion. See further at LITTLE OWL.

Quake-hit buildings scrutinized

State engineers yesterday continued inspections on hundreds of buildings in the prefectures of Ileia and Achaia that were damaged in Sunday’s 6.5-magnitude earthquake.

Of some 621 buildings checked by late yesterday, 264 have been deemed unsafe to enter. Another 80 are due for demolition. Separate inspections on dozens of schools in the region found 24 to be of questionable stability.

The Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization (EPPO), which operates under the Environment and Public Works Ministry, criticized local authorities for failing to conduct primary inspections on public buildings to determine which had been damaged. “We are unaware of the state of 95 percent of these buildings as the prefectures have ignored their duty to conduct inspections,” EPPO president Costas Makropoulos said.

Inspections were also being conducted on damaged infrastructure including roads and irrigation networks.

Each municipality is to receive between 150.000 and 200.000 euros in state funding for repairs to infrastructure and public buildings.

Post-quake funding is to be boosted by a 500.000-euro donation by the Orthodox Church, the Holy Synod said after convening yesterday. The Church’s charity group Allilegii (Solidarity) already has donated clothes, food and bedding to quake victims, Thessaloniki’s Bishop Anthimos said.

Meanwhile, as speculation of strong aftershocks began to die down, an Athens University geology professor rebuffed media claims that he had predicted a 7.2-Richter quake on the Ionian island of Cephalonia on July 30. Evangelos Layios said he had never referred to the date and location of a future earthquake during a recent interview with a television journalist, noting that his research was still under way.

Hail damage

A heavy hailstone shower in Nemea, Peloponnese, caused extensive damage to farmland, totally destroying some vineyards and olive groves.

At last we received a message about the Collared Dove, we were phoned about the 9^th in the morning > isn’t alive anymore !! Not so strange, after such a long time . . . . !!

June 12^th:  the yellow Swift was 27 (+1 !!), the red (which is a bit on diet) 42 (-1) and the Barn Swallow 17 (+1) gram. At the baby Little Owls the smallest (the green) was 81 (+6), the orange 111 (-7), the silver 109 (=) and the blue 111 (-3) gram. Juvenile Littler Owls: blue 165 (+2) and red 196 (+1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 165 (=) gram. Jackdaws: red 179 (+1), blue 133 (+3) and orange 139 (+2) gram. The Yellow-legged Gull is starting a bit eating by himself. Did we already succeed after the release of the Little Bittern yesterday to take from the rubbish-dump a huge military camouflage-net, this morning two of us went again over there to pick-up another one, only larger: the back-part of the car was completely filled. This as a replacement for the rush-mats which have had their best time, but as well as a more “nature-like” screen for the aviaries which haven’t (yet) plants growing.    

QUAKE CLEANUP

Mild aftershocks jar villages; ruined Patras hospital emptied

As the post-quake cleanup of damaged homes and infrastructure got under way in the prefectures of Ileia and Achaia yesterday, a series of mild aftershocks, measuring between 3.7 and 4.1 on the Richter scale, rattled the area. Seismologists said the tremors were no cause for concern, noting that they were an outlet for residual seismic activity. Meanwhile, authorities in Patras evacuated the local Aghios Andreas Hospital after experts found cracks in the walls provoked by Sunday’s 6.5-magnitude quake. Patients were relocated to other hospitals in nearby Rio and in Ioannina, northwestern Greece.

On the Greek radio was heard that Crete has had an earth-quake as well: 5.5 on the scale of Richter. At 4.48 p.m. a phone-call from the airport on the Island of Límnos (indeed our Nomarchía, but still half an hour by plane), that some-one had over there a “geráki” (bird of prey) which wasn’t flying or not able to fly. Had the seize of a chicken, so in any case no Swift. Sending the bird was most probably a strange idea, so we have given the phone-number of a Vet on the island. As well tried to reach this man, in which we didn’t succeed till now on. And at last we were successful, but the man wasn’t able to do anything, didn’t know anything and didn’t want to do anything !! At 8.30 p.m. we received the phone-call that they should try to get the bird tomorrow to Athens and hereafter to Páros, because . . . . tomorrow there is no plane from Límnos to Lesvos !! At 8.45 p.m. this was eventually turned back and maybe the bird will come Saturday over here > we’ll wait and see. At 8.50 p.m. a phone-call from some-one in Achladerí, who had two kittens which maybe had eaten “something wrong” > was here at 9.20 p.m. Showed the little ones had been fed only with human food (under which cow-milk) > so feedings-advices were given. Further not in the statistics.

June 13^th:  the yellow Swift was 27 (=) and is eating well now. The red was 43 (+1) and the Barn Swallow 16 (-1) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 87 (+6), silver 114 (+5) and as well orange as blue 116 (+5) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 165 (=) and red 194 (-2) gram. The adult Little Owl was 162 (-3) gram. Jackdaws: blue 137 (+4), orange 141 (+2) and red 183 (+4) gram. The adult Little Owl is transferred to a bigger cage in the nocturnal-room for practicing the wing. Is together with the red juvenile Little Owl. We received the message from Límnos that the “geráki” will go to Páros (via Athens) today. At 10.13 a.m. a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvali from Mytiléne that she should send by coach of 11 o’clock a Swift. And that one we had in our possession at 11.47 a.m. > see at COMMON SWIFT.       

Crete quake

5.5-level tremor jars Crete but causes no problems

A strong earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, shook eastern Crete early yesterday morning (3.20 a.m. > note L.W.H.) but there were no injuries or damage reported. The quake’s epicenter was located at the ancient site of Zakros, seismologists said. (so now it’s clear why there is an ancient site over there !!)

At 12.30 p.m. we received the message from Límnos that the airline had refused to transport the bird > will be placed tomorrow morning beasty early on the ferry and so we have to go to the harbor in mytilene to pick up the bird. Only at the moment the time of arrival of that barge is varying in between 9.40 and 11 a.m. . . . !! We have discovered that the Barn Swallow is getting new feathers in the right wing !!

May 14^th:  we have 20 birds which need to be fed (and of those 14 which should be measured as well) early in the morning !! Swifts: yellow 26 (-1), red 43 (=) and green 39 (+2) gram. Barn Swallow 14 (-2) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 96 (+9), silver 122 (+8), orange 123 (+7) and blue 125 (+9) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 167 (+2) and red 196 (+2) gram. The adult Little Owl was 158 (-4) gram, but had after the transfer vomited and eaten difficultly. Juvenile Jackdaws: orange 147 (+6), blue 148 (+11) and red 186 (+3) gram. And while one of us went to the ferry (which by the way arrived just past twelve o’clock !!), the other had to take over all feedings (!!!!), and meanwhile an injured bird arrived as well > see at GREENFINCH. From the Chief-Purser on board the MV “SAMOTHRAKI” the bird was taken over > he even reported about the behavior during the trip !! Only it seems to be that on the island of Límnos the chickens are a lot smaller than over here (or we have such a huge ones ??), because it was an ELEONORA’S FALCON > so see over there. At 3.07 p.m. a vet  phoned that she had found a very small birdie and she wanted to bring it. Only that could only be after 7.30 p.m. > let’s hope this isn’t too late . . . . !! And this “great” vet (is refusing in any case to euthanize, isn’t neutering, and so on. Animals aren’t coming in the first place) arrived slowly-slowly (after we had urged her on several times) at . . . . 8.50 p.m. !! It showed to be a very malnourished (only 18 gram !!) COMMON SWIFT > see for that bird at that name.

June 15^th:  all was still alive this morning, only this could hardly be meant for the newest Swift !! Swifts: the new orange 20 (+2), yellow 27 (+1), red 41 (-2) and green 39 (=) gram. The barn Swallow was 14 (=) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 102 (+6), silver 130 (+8), orange 133 (+10) and blue 134 (+9) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 170 (+3) and red 192 (-4) gram. The adult one was 157 (-1) gram. Jackdaws: orange 152 (+5), blue as well 152 (+4) and red 187 (+1) gram. The Eleonora was 338 (+26 !!) gram.

Release:

The green Common Swift (08-089; June 13^th ’08) was released well at 7.43 a.m.

The blue juvenile Little Owl is as well transferred to the bigger cage in the nocturnal-room for practicing the wings a bit more. At 12.32 p.m. we were called by a German bride and groom (from Bonn), who had with them an injured bird; they were here two minutes later. The groom was named Klein (small) and the bride Lang (long) (qua length the opposite was the case) and they had with them a MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER; so see further at that name. The fresh-married had an guided tour as well. Doing so, in the Aviary was discovered a dead Collared Dove > we’re looking (ring-colors) which bird this had been. And it showed to have been 06-118, which had come-in June 26^th ’06 from Mória with a wing-fracture and July 17^th as an invalid was transferred to the Aviary. At 5.54 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos about a Swift with (probably) a broken leg. But tomorrow it’s Whit Monday and so the coaches are just as on Sunday (so not or hardly) > we’re trying to get the bird in any case tomorrow here; the arrangements are made already and now we hope everything is going well . . . . !! We now know our Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a female, and as well that the Swift is already in the possession of friends of us (are coming here early tomorrow). At the last feeding-round the orange Swift was almost “gone”.

June 16^th:  as well the orange Swift (was expected) as the juvenile Barn Swallow (unexpected) were discovered dead this morning at 5.30 a.m. Swifts: red 37 (-4) and yellow 27 (=) gram. Middle Spotted Woodpecker 47 (-1) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 111 (+9), silver 138 (+8), orange 140 (+7) and blue 142 (+8) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 169 (-1) and red 191 (-1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 160 (+3) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: orange 152 (=), blue 153 (+1) and red 189 (+2) gram. The Eleonora was 337 (-1) gram. The announced Swift was here at 8.30 a.m. > see further at that name. Today again meat-cutting-day and with the help of “Mellanie” and “Michael” (who had taken the Swift from Mólivos to us and wanted to spend a part of their holiday helping us and the animals) 14,230 kilo (91,70 Euro) was processed. Total now this year 322,600 kilo for 2067,69 Euro. We’re placing question-marks at the existence of our disabled Long-eared Owl (08-028; May 18^th ’08) > already for days the given food is vomited again. We received first two official visitors from Holland, who asked us lots of difficult questions but had a guided tour as well, and hereafter two “normal” Dutch visitors. At 12.20 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a black birdie with white spots, the seize of a hand-palm, which should have a wing-problem > will be sent by the coach of 1.15 p.m. And at that time we received a phone-call, that today there are no coaches at all, because . . . . it’s Whit Monday . . . . !!

June 17^th:  the Middle Spotted Woodpecker was discovered not alive anymore at 5.35 a.m. Swifts: yellow 27 (=), red 38 (+1) and purple 40 (+13) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 120 (+9), silver 145 (+7), blue 147 (+5) and orange 147 (+7) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 171 (+2) and red 192 (+1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 159 (-1) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: blue 155 (+2), orange 157 (+5) and red 191 (+2) gram. The Eleonora was 364 (+27) gram. In “The Keep” was discovered dead on the bottom the Dark Barn Owl (08-072; May 31^st ’08) which was discovered in Mólivos in the sea, and which was transferred June 8^th to the barn owl-cage in “The Keep”. Body-weight was now only 202 gram (302 gram June 8^th !!). We had to decide putting down the Yellow-legged Gull > see further at his name.

Release:

We could release very, very well at 9.15 a.m. the purple Common Swift >  was flying like a Spitfire !! Less successful we were with the red one: was flying for the first time and at last hit a fence > so again in a couple of days.

At 10.58 a.m. the “spotted birdie” from Mytiléne was brought > see at MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER. The disabled Long-eared Owl we have taken back from “The Keep”. And unfortunately the decision for the White Stork was bad as well, because over here as well the wing was a “mess”. And of course we could have amputated the wing, but what further with the bird ?? We have no space for such a bird and sending to Páros is almost impossible (see the story about the Eleonora’s Falcon). Release as a disabled one in the Salines should have been an option, but than the bird should have been shot within some weeks or been eaten by foxes. So (with tears from all of us) we had to put him down. We received a visit from a Belgian woman. At 12.30 p.m. a phone-call about a pigeon, which will be sent by coach of 1.15 p.m.    

State inequipped for disasters

Lack of coordination between various authorities thwarts response to fires, quakes, ministry report says

The state's civil protection system is being undermined to the point of paralysis by the lack of coordination between different authorities, inefficient use of human resources and underqualified regional officials, according to a report commissioned by the Interior Ministry.

Greece ranks 114th out of 262 countries in terms of its “susceptibility” to natural disasters, according to a group of experts who conducted the study.

These experts blame this laggard rate on the fact that responsibilities for the prevention and containment of natural disasters are scattered across ministries, local authorities and security forces and that there is no clear strategy for cooperation among these groups.

The report refers to “confusion on every level and structural paralysis, the onerous consequences of which were proven dramatically in the 2007 forest fires.”

For the prevention of natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes some 45 organizations are involved in nine areas of competence, according to experts. Eleven state services and 14 organizations are involved in containment. “Much of the dysfunctionalism reported during natural disasters is due to the confused involvement of so many organizations,” the report said.

Many of the aforementioned services, including the fire brigade, are understaffed. Moreover, the report observes, more than half of local authority officials employed for civil protection have only been educated to high school level. This hardly qualifies them for “studying and analyzing risks based on scientific criteria,” as called for by the Civil Protection Authority.

The authors of the report contrast the chaotic system in Greece against the implementation in other countries of an Integrated Emergency Management System, a central, unified service which coordinates all bodies involved in the prevention and containment of natural disasters as well as reconstruction.

Old buildings face quake risk

Thousands of buildings across the country, particularly older structures, are vulnerable to serious damage in earthquakes, as they have been subject to sloppy structural modifications or inadequately maintained, top civil engineers have told Kathimerini.

Experts at the National Technical University of Athens say the removal of walls and columns from old buildings without the prior approval of a civil engineer is “criminal.”  “Houses have a certain balance which we upset with such interventions,” said Panayiotis Karydis, a specialist in anti-seismic structures at the university.

Karydis also criticized the fact that many buildings declared unstable following earlier earthquakes have been since recharacterized as stable without the necessary repairs having been completed.

Karydis, who toured parts of the Peloponnese shaken by a 6.5-magnitude quake earlier this month, said older buildings were always more vulnerable. Around a quarter of the country's buildings - that is 1.3 million structures - were built before 1960.

Many of these buildings have no anti-seismic protection, particularly if they have been modified, according to Karydis, who condemned the practice of farmers converting warehouses into homes to rent to immigrant laborers.

Costas Trezos, a colleague of Karydis, said the damage wreaked on hundreds of homes in the Peloponnese “was inevitable.”  “In fact, the damage was relatively little in view of the size of the quake,” Trezos said.

Both experts agreed that most new structures in Greece are resistant to quake damage. But they stressed the importance of homeowners enlisting a surveyor to make any structural changes.

And such things happens when there is an illegal hunt: “Justice from heaven” !!

Hunting accident

Police in Arcadia arrested a local man on Saturday alleged to have fatally shot his friend during a hunting trip in a local forest. The two men are alleged to have been illegally hunting wild boar when one of them fired at the other. The defendant claims to have shot instinctively after spotting movement in the forest, believing the disturbance to have been caused by an animal.

And while at 1.35 p.m. we let the car quietly in it’s reverse going down the street to pick-up the pigeon, there suddenly was a small obstruction (first thought was a stone under the wheel) > however showed to have been our out-door-cat “Foúrno” (06-169, August 15^th ’06) which probably had been sleeping under the car. We always start the car and wait for a while to give each animal which should be hiding under it the chance to get away > now it had been probably not long enough, because she had the full weight over her head . . . . !! We have waited in vain for the pigeon, because the guy in question had been too busy . . . . !! Giving us a call was something that didn’t even had appeared in his dull head, and “Foúrno’s” death hadn’t happened . . . !! Probably it’s not our lucky day today !! For one of us the siesta went up in smoke . . . . !!

June 18^th:  Swifts: red 37 (-1) and yellow 26 (-1) gram. Juvenile Woodpecker 35 (-1) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 126 (+6), silver 153 (+8), orange 155 (+8) and blue 159 (+12) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 169 (-2) and red 192 (=) gram. The adult Little Owl was 159 (=) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: orange 152 (-5 > so this one isn’t yet eating on his own), blue 163 (+8) and red 194 (+3) gram. The taken-back Long-eared Owl was 245 gram. The Eleonora was 385 (+21) gram. At 9.23 a.m. a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvali in Mytiléne that she is sending by coach of 11 o’clock a sparrow.  

Heating up

Meteorologists said yesterday that people should not be concerned by the fact that the temperature in some parts of the country will reach as high as 39 Celsius today and tomorrow. “A sudden rise in temperature is not unusual in June,” the head of the National Weather Service, Dimitris Ziakopoulos, told Kathimerini yesterday. “The heat will not last for long and buildings will not have a chance to absorb heat as the temperature will drop to between 20C and 22C.” Ziakopoulos did not rule out the possibility of another hot spell before the end of the month.

Because the air-temperature was above the 34 degrees Centigrade in the shade, we started with wetting again the tortoise-pen to avoid “boiled tortoises” (just like last year. At 11.43 a.m. we had the sparrow in our possession > see at SPARROW. At 3.15 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne that a woman will send tomorrow by coach of 11 o’clock a pigeon. And of course we’ll follow this development carefully:

Deadly tick is strucking in Turkey Edited: June 18^th  2008 3:18 p.m. Last change: June 18^th 2008 3:33

ISTANBUL – Turkey is more and more in the ban of a deadly virus that’s been transmitted by ticks. This year already more than 20 people died due to tick-bites, according to the Center for Infectious Diseases in Istanbul on Wednesday. The little animals, members of the tick-genus Hyalomma, are carrying the virus-disease Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, which has as symptoms internal bleedings. The disease is lethal if there is no quick response, according to the Center.

Shepherds

The virus-disease is raising in Turkey since 2002 more often its ugly head. The past six years at least 114 people, most of them shepherds and farmers, have died according to the Turkey’s media. The spreading area of the tick is extending more and more. The habitat of the tick is mostly situated in Middle- & East-Turkey. For the time being it isn’t described in the touristic areas in the west (so that’s where we live !!) and south of the country.

Soviet-soldiers

The name Crimean-Congo-virus is taken from the places where this disease was discovered first. In 1944 Soviet-soldiers in the Crimean were hit by this disease, In the 50-ies the disease was discovered in (what was at that time) Belgian Congo.

At 8.33 p.m. a phone-call from Mória about a gull unable to walk > we’ll wait how (and if) the bird can be brought or sent. At 9.16 p.m. two juvenile House Martins from Kallonís were brought > see over there.

June 19^th:  juvenile House Martins: red 20 and blue as well 20 gram. Juvenile Swifts: red 38 (+1) and yellow 28 (+2) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 132 (+6), silver 159 (+6), orange 163 (+8) and blue 168 (+9) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 174 (+5) and red 191 (-1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 157 (-2) gram. The juvenile Woodpecker was 36 (+1) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: orange 154 (+2), blue 165 (+2) and red 185 (-9) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 238 (-7) gram. The Eleonora was 392 (+7) gram. At 9.20 a.m. a phone-call from our village from a woman who had found a swallow. Because she has a handicapped child, she couldn’t leave the house as well. Is picked-up > see further at BARN SWALLOW. We received 2 Dutch visitors. In vain we have been waiting for the announced pigeon at 11.30 a.m. . . . . !!                                                                                                                                                   

MORE QUAKES

Mild tremors strike island of Karpathos and Peloponnese

A strong earthquake (and the sub-title is “mild tremors” . . .!!), measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, struck Argos, in the Peloponnese, just before 5 a.m. yesterday, and was felt in many parts of Athens. There were no injuries or damage reported after the quake. A second tremor, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, occurred off Karpathos, in the southern Aegean, shortly after 10 a.m. The second quake’s epicenter was located beneath the seabed off the island’s eastern coast.

There was a “wildfire” in between our village and the village of Nápi (as well our municipality) > even a water-dropping aircraft had to be used, but we were too busy to have a look !! Besides that: with 36 degrees Centigrade in the shade not a nice outlook !!

At 2.05 p.m. a phone-call from Pétra about a gull with problems > one is going to see if the bird yet can be sent by coach.

And to write this time something very positive about Greek Vets: the two who have treated “BroBa” phoned us to ask how he was doing and behaving > never yet happened in all the years we’re living here !!

At 4.40 p.m. a phone-call about again another Swift (from the same guy who had discovered the purple one) > will deliver the bird this evening after six o’clock at the Petrol-Station. At 5.34 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne (from the people who have “delivered” (almost) all Jackdaws) that they had a juvenile Sparrow > will come tomorrow with the 11 o’clock-coach. At 5.45 p.m. a phone-call from the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís that one had over there a . . . . Swift. Trip combined with waiting for the cab-driver with the other one. The first one in Kallonís we had in our hands at 5.59 p.m., the 2^nd at 6.17 p.m. Meanwhile people had arrived with a dog with (probably) something in his ear > an appointment was made for tomorrow 8 a.m.

June 20^th:  Swifts: yellow 27 (-1), red 39 (+1) the new green 43 (=) and the as well new orange 47 (=) gram. House Martins: blue 18 (-2) and red 21 (+1) gram. Barn Swallow 19 (=) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 139 (+7), blue 167 (-1), silver 165 (+6) and orange 165 (+2) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 174 (=) and red 190 (-1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 154 (-3) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: orange 159 (+5), blue 172 (+7) and red 178 (-7) gram. Juvenile Woodpecker 34 (-2) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 239 (+1 !!) gram. The Eleonora was 410 (+18) gram.

Re-homing:

At 7.26 a.m. the little kitten “Spirit” (08-087; June 11^th ’08) was handed-over to the people who had rescued him from the dog and he went on his way to Holland.

On the way back suddenly a sparrow flew under the car; stopped, in his reverse back and taken from the street. Was still alive > see further at HOUSE SPARROW. The dog with (probably) something in his ear, which should arrive at 8 a.m. still hadn’t arrived at 9 a.m. > so the owners “can go to blazes”, because we don’t like having “ran the legs out of our bottom” for nothing !!

Releases:

We have released very well the two Swifts taken-in late yesterday afternoon: the orange left at 8.47 a.m. followed by the green at 8.50 a.m.

At 10.37 a.m. a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí from Mytiléne that she wanted to send by the 11 o’clock-coach a gull. And at 11.42 a.m. we had two birds in our possession; see at HOUSE SPARROW and at YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. And the temperature rose again till above the 36 degrees Centigrade.

June 21^st:  all were still alive this morning !! We couldn’t measure the juvenile Sparrow > too lively !! The Barn Swallow was 23 (+4) gram. Juvenile House Martins: blue 19 (+1) and red 24 (+3) gram. Juvenile Swifts: yellow 28 (+1) and red 43 (+4) gram. Juvenile Woodpecker: 39 (=) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 145 (+6), silver 167 (+2), blue 169 (+2) and orange 169 (+4) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 175 (+1) and red 191 (+1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 152 (-7) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 234 (-5) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: orange 147 (-2), blue 166 (-6) and red 179 (+1) gram. The Eleonora was 419 (+9) gram.

Release:

Weren’t we so happy (yet) with our release-effort of the red Swift the 17^th, today we succeeded: at 8.05 a.m. he flew away (after being fed well for the last time) quite well. It was 08-070, which had entered the L.W.H. May 29^th as a very small one. We have been busy with this bird 24 days from 5.50 a.m. till 8 p.m. (every hour !!), but it was worth while !!

Wildfire burns homes and trees north of Athens

Resort of Kalamos threatened by blaze

Two residents of Kalamos, a coastal resort some 35 kilometers north of Athens, struggle to douse a fire ravaging a house built near forestland, yesterday. The blaze destroyed at least two homes but caused no injuries. Several water-dropping aircraft working with firefighters on the ground had controlled the blaze by late yesterday.

Several homes were burned in the seaside resort of Kalamos, just north of Athens, yesterday after a wildfire broke out and revived memories of last summer’s devastating blazes, which left almost 80 people dead.

There were no reports of serious injuries yesterday but the fire destroyed at least two homes. The blaze broke out shortly before 3 p.m. on a forested hillside in an area where many Athenians have holiday homes. It was not clear last night what had caused the fire but Thursday saw the highest temperature this year in Athens.

Some 100 firefighters were dispatched to the area to battle the blaze with the help of six water-bombing planes, three helicopters and 26 fire engines. Traffic police closed off a number of roads in the area to allow fire engines easier access to the blaze’s fronts. Officials said that the fire was fanned by strong winds. The fire was under control by last night but the Civil Protection Authority warned that a number of areas, including eastern Attica and Evia, were at risk of wildfires today. The Kalamos fire was the first major blaze to take place near Athens this year.

A smaller fire broke out near Megara, west of Athens, on Thursday but caused less damage. A 44-year-old Georgian man appeared before a prosecutor yesterday charged with causing the fire by mistake while he was welding a fence in the area of Vlichada.

Last night, firefighters were also called to a blaze in the wood located on the Tourkovounia hill near the Athens neighborhood of Galatsi. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. The fire service said that it had managed to get the blaze under control fairly quickly.

Greece has yet to experience this year anywhere near the scale of the wildfires that swept through the Peloponnese and Evia last summer, destroying dozens of homes and burning more than 250,000 hectares of forest and farmland.

In the wild Fennel opposite our house we have discovered this morning three caterpillars of the Old World Swallowtail !! That butterfly is becoming here rare as well !! We have stopped the registration of the following birds: Dark Barn owl (08-027; March 9^th ’08). Wad at intake shot and is now not able to fly very well. House Sparrow (08-056; May 7^th ’08). Came in as a juvenile and can be released in autumn. Not at this moment because she is missing all the tail-feathers !! The yesterday by us knocked-down Sparrow died at 1.55 p.m. Since the red Swift was released (and can’t keep warm anymore the yellow one) the yellow is cooling down and is as well refusing to eat > so the prognosis is . . . . ?? We just (4 p.m.) heard on the radio that there were again earth-quakes in the Peleponnesos > 5.4 on the Richter-scale. We’ll read about it on Monday. At 5 p.m. 2 Belgian visitors.

June 22^nd:  all was still alive !! All measurements this morning with reserve, because the balance had whims. The yellow Swift was 24 (-4), the red House Martin 19 (-5) and the blue 16 (-3) gram. The Barn Swallow was 17 (-6) gram. The Woodpecker 34 (-5) and the Long-eared Owl 222 (-12) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 148 (+3), orange 174 (+5), blue 174 (+5) and silver 174 (+7) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 178 (+5) and red 188 (-3) gram. The adult Little Owl was 153 (+1) gram. Juvenile Jackdaws: blue 165 (-1) and red 178 (-1) gram. The orange couldn’t be measured anymore > too wild. The Eleonora was 414 (-5) gram. And the balance we don’t trust so much, because so many birds are “in the minus” !! We removed the silver ring from the right leg of the old disabled Hooded Crow (08-083; June 6^th ’08) which was transferred June 8^th to the crow-aviary. Right leg is half lamed and the ring is now around the left leg. The further registration is stopped as well; may stay till it’s his “time to go”. At 9.17 a.m. a phone-call from Hotel “Pasiphae” that it worried them a bit because a stray dog over there refused to eat, was quite diminished and so on. Tourists (2 from England, 2 from Tsjechia) brought her here. See further at SHE-DOG. Looking back on the whole day, it showed to be that the blue House Martin is becoming weaker and weaker: the eyes aren’t so bright open as with the red one, eating was difficult already and is becoming more and more difficult, and is languid. So . . . . ?? The juvenile House Sparrow as well has problems with swallowing: sometimes everything is coming back and it won’t go downwards. So as well here . . . . ?? The yellow Swift still is with us, but in spite of willing, swallowing isn’t possible anymore. Is as well very cold. So . . . . !! The tape around the wing of the Barn Swallow is removed. At the last feeding-round from today (the 1^st was at 5.50 a.m. !!) at 8 p.m. we discovered that the juvenile Jackdaws had eaten very well by themselves (their food-bowl was refilled already one today) > so can be transferred tomorrow for flying-lessons and to lose the habit of humans close to them. Are we lucky with that, that we can think about a release the end of next month !!

June 23^rd:  the yellow Swift had saved his face and wasn’t any longer amongst us before 5.35 a.m.; the blue House Martin and the juvenile House Sparrow will follow during the rest of the day. The red House Martin was 20 (+1) and the Barn swallow 15 (-2) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 153 (+5), silver 175 (+1), orange 180 (+6) and blue 182 (+8) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 179 (+1) and red 189 (+1) gram. The adult Little Owl was 1153 (=) gram. The juvenile Woodpecker was 37 (+3) gram. The Long-eared Owl had remained the same (222 gram). The Eleonora was 413 (-2) gram. At 7.41 a.m. the red Jackdaw was transferred to the crow-aviary and with each time 1 minute difference the blue and the orange followed. They were completely perplexed by so many space !! At 9.21 a.m. there was a complete black-out over the whole island, which lasted till 10.10 a.m. !! The blue House Martin was discovered not alive anymore at 9.50 a.m. Except of buying a new balance for the Sick-Bay, there was bought as well 14,828 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (90,52 Euro), which was processed by both ladies. Total now this year 337,428 kilo for 2158,21 Euro. 

PELOPONNESE QUAKE

Tremor measuring 5.9 Richter strikes but causes no damage

The Peloponnese was rocked by three quakes on Saturday, the strongest of which measured 5.9 on the Richter scale, striking at about 2.30 p.m. The epicenter of the quake was in the sea, south of Methoni. No injuries or damage were reported. The other two quakes measured 5.4 and 5.0 Richter. Two people were injured (só it was written, but it should be: killed !!) and dozens of homes destroyed when a 6.5-magnitude quake struck the northern Peloponnese on June 8.

Forest fires

Dozens of small blazes start

Firefighters battled some 80 wildfires, which were fanned by strong winds, around the country yesterday. None of the fires threatened lives or property but water-dropping helicopters and airplanes were called in to help with efforts. The fires spanned most of the country, including in the Peloponnese and on Crete. Firefighters in Attica were forced to douse blazes in Elefsina, west of Athens, and Tatoi, north of the capital. The extent of land burned was not immediately known.

Friends of us, who are staying on the island now had spoken to the people who yesterday had visited us with that Setter and they could tell us that the dog this morning had eaten for the first time  since . . . . days !! At the end of the morning 2 Dutch visitors. After the siesta again two Dutch visitors; during the tour around the juvenile Sparrow was discovered not alive anymore.

June 24^th:  no victims anymore this morning and evidently less to measure and to feed !! The House Martin was 20 (=) and the Barn Swallow was 15 (=) gram. The Woodpecker 37 (=) and the Long-eared Owl 223 (+1) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 159 (+6), silver 176 (+1), orange 186 (+6) and blue 187 (+5) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 179 (=) and red 189 (=) gram. The adult Little Owl was 153 (=) gram. The Eleonora was 413 (=) gram. All juvenile Jackdaws were still alive and were sitting in top of the crow-aviary. Using some extra-time (due to less feeding-rounds) we started with using the old military camouflage-netting for the peregrine-aviary. Four Dutch visitors in the morning.

Quake talk

Seismologists were yesterday being reassuring about the earthquakes that have rattled the Peloponnese over the past two weeks, noting that they were aftershocks from a 6.5-magnitude quake earlier this month and another quake that struck the region in February. A series of weaker tremors, measuring up to 5.9 Richter, which rattled the same region over the weekend were no cause for concern as their epicenter was located under the seabed, experts said.

We could read on Meteoalarm that for tomorrow the Northern Aegean Islands have a yellow alert due to expected extreme heat. The main-land has such an alert already today !!

June 25^th:  the House Martin was 19 (-1) and the Barn Swallow was 13 (-2) gram. The Woodpecker was 36 (-1) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 162 (+7), silver 182 (+6), blue 190 (+3) and orange 192 (+5) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 180 (+1) and red 186 (-3) gram. The adult Little Owl was 150 (-3) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 219 (-4) and the Eleonora was 413 (=) gram. We were able working a bit with the fastening of the camouflage-netting, but were forced by the heat to leave the hot roof. At 10.34 Tjarda was back from a walk with “Dévtros” and brought with her a card-board box > see further at EASTERN HEDGEHOG. In our siesta at 2.35 p.m. we were woken by a phone-call from Skála Eressoú about (probably) a juvenile Swift > however, one will try to bring it up alone . . . . (?!?!). And after (on a for us more convenient hour) we had spoken quite seriously with the good fellow, we received at 4.16 p.m. a phone-call that the bird will be brought tomorrow to the Shell-Petrol-Station. We had the intention to leave during the night the blind Rook and the “misfit Jackdaw” in the crow-aviary (because the weather is well), however the last one didn’t understand anything hereabout and was begging and begging to be taken inside > and so we have done !! At last we were able to feed something to the little Hedgehog > was drinking lots of the offered Ringers-solution. The Barn Swallow seems, after several times in vain trying to fly, not to believe in it anymore: the eyes are small and lackluster. At 10.30 p.m. yet a phone-call from Pérama that someone over there had a small owlet; so the expecting was that we should come and “fly” at that time of the day !! Agreed that we’ll call them early tomorrow-morning.

June 26^th:  the Barn Swallow was discovered not alive anymore at 4.50 a.m. and the House Martin as well isn’t doing well !! House Martin 17 (-2) and the Woodpecker 36 (=) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 162 (=), silver 184 (+2), orange 191 (=) and blue 194 (+4) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 179 (-1) and red 185 (-1) gram. The adult was 149 (-1) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 213 (-6), the Eleonora 416 (+3) and the Hedgehog was 272 (+47 !!) gram. When we phoned Pérama at 7 a.m. one could tell us that is wasn’t necessary (anymore) going in that direction, because “the mother” had returned . . . . !! Glad we didn’t turn out last night !! At 8.29 a.m. we had the bird from Skála Eressoú in our hands > see further at SWIFT. And at 9.51 a.m. two nest-mates from the other House Martins were brought > see at HOUSE MARTIN. At 10.05 a.m. a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí that she’ll send by the 11 o’clock-coach a small birdie with a broken wing. Another phone-call at 10.21 a.m. about probably another Swift > we’ll pick up that one in combination with the trip for the coach.

Large blaze burns chunk of Mount Hymettus

Athens loses another patch of green

A water-dropping aircraft flies over a fire that broke out yesterday on Mount Hymettus, south of Athens. Firefighters brought the blaze under partial control by late afternoon. The fire burnt forestland but no homes were threatened.

A wildfire that broke out near Glyka Nera, on the northeastern outskirts of Athens, burnt some 100 hectares of forestland on Mount Hymettus and caused power outages in many parts of Athens before it was brought under control last night.

In the first fire of the season to directly affect Athens, flames were seen progressing up the eastern side of Hymettus and, once over the top of the mountain, headed for homes on the fringes of some of the northeastern suburbs, such as Aghia Paraskevi and Holargos. No homes were damaged but the fire burned through forest that had been untouched for more than 60 years.

The fire broke out at about 1 p.m. The cause was not immediately clear but initial theories pointed to arson or sparks from an electricity pylon.

It was 45 minutes before the first helicopters began dropping water on the fire, as more than 200 firefighters, nine planes and some 50 fire engines were thrown into the fray.

Firefighters were unable to have much impact on the ground as the fire reached parts of the mountain that were inaccessible by vehicle or on foot.

Relying just on the efforts from the air, it took the fire service until about 6 p.m. to get the blaze under control.

Glyka Nera Mayor Giorgos Siokos said that he was convinced that the fire was the work of arsonists.

Mount Hymettus has more than 8,000 hectares of forest, which have faced the risk of fire on many occasions over recent years. Last summer, areas such as Vyronas and Holargos were threatened by blazes on different parts of the mountain.

Senior fire officials told Kathimerini that yesterday’s blaze began in the same area that another five, much smaller ones, had begun in the past. They added that a 27-year-old man was arrested last month on suspicion of trying to light a fire in the same spot on three occasions.

Yesterday’s blaze also caused power to be lost in various parts of Athens when it burnt through overhead wires. The center of Athens, the southern suburbs of Hellenikon and Glyfada and Piraeus were left without power for about an hour. The sudden outage led to many people getting trapped in elevators. The fire service said that it received more than 250 calls to help those who were trapped.

Water charter

A minister, local officials, representatives of the Athens Water Company (EYDAP), hotel owners and academics all signed a charter yesterday committing them to saving water. With Greece facing water shortages this summer (so see as well the article “Water aid” of the 27^th !!), Skai TV and Radio organized the drafting of the charter and yesterday’s signing in a bid to reduce water wastage. Almost half of Greece’s water is lost through networks and pipes that are poorly maintained.

The Swift from Skála Kallonís we had in our possession at 11.09 a.m. > see at PALLID SWIFT. The “little birdie” at 11.40 a.m. > see at UNKNOWN BIRDIE. At 11.33 a.m. they phoned from a pet-shop in Mytiléne, that they should send by the 1.15 p.m.-coach a pigeon with a broken wing. And that bird we had in our hands at 1.55 p.m. > see further at PIGEON.

June 27^th:  the “unknown birdie” we discovered not alive anymore at 4.55 a.m. It should can be one of the Warbler-species, but we’ll hear about that yet from Holland. The Pallid Swift was 42 (+1), the red House Martin 17 (=), the orange 18 (=) and the green 15 (-3) gram. The Woodpecker was 38 (+2) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 166 (+4), silver 186 (+2), blue 195 (+1) and orange 198 (+7) gram. Juvenile Little Owls: blue 181 (+2) and red 186 (+1) gram. The adult one was 150 (+1) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 209 (-4) and Eleonora 418 (+2) gram. The Hedgehog was 290 (+18) gram.

Release:

At 8 a.m. we could release very well the juvenile Pallid Swift from yesterday.

At the greengrocer’s in Kallonís was picked-up a juvenile Collared Dove > see over there. At 11.07 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a swallow one should have already for some days (and had tried almost everything to feed, so !!) > sending by coach doesn’t seem possible, but someone should be able bringing the birdie tonight over here. However: it’s the Saints-festival, so all roads are closed and the traffic will be diverted > ????

Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale struck near Kamena Vourla, some 120 kilometers north of Athens, just before midnight on Wednesday. The quake did not cause any damage or injuries.

Water aid

Greek ships have been dispatched to start delivering some 8 million cubic meters of water to drought-stricken Cyprus, Environment and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias said yesterday. Souflias, who yesterday signed an agreement with Cypriot Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis, said that Greece’s own water supplies are not running low at the moment  (see as well the article “Water charter” from the 26^th !!), but also called on consumers not to waste water.

Hymettus damage surveyed as new fires strike

Burned trees on a slope of Mount Hymettus, northeast of Athens, are seen yesterday after a wildfire swept through the area on Wednesday, burning some 150 hectares. Firefighters were in action yesterday afternoon after a blaze broke out in an area between the northern suburbs of Chalandri and Vrilissia, which has been targeted by arsonists in the past. Water-dropping helicopters helped put out the fire. There were more than 50 wildfires yesterday.

At 4.03 p.m. at our doorstep a juvenile Collared Dove (discovered in the streets in our village) was handed-over > see at COLLARED DOVE. We have transferred at 4.12 p.m. the adult Little Owl (08-080; June 5^th ’08) with a green foot-ring left foot to the little owl-aviary in “The Keep”, followed at 5.15 p.m. by the red juvenile (08-067; May 28^th ’08 > now RedRed) and at 5.20 p.m. by the blue (08-074; June 1^st ’08 > now BlueBlue). The baby Little Owls will be transferred tonight after the last feeding-round to the cage where the mentioned before three older ones came from. At 8.36 p.m. yet a phone-call from the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís, that they had over there a Swift > so we went and picked-up that bird. See further at that name. 

June 28^th:  the red House Martin was discovered not alive anymore at 5.10 a.m. House Martins: green 13 (-2) and orange 17 (-1) gram. The new Swift, which had entered with 29 gram, was now 32 gram. Injured Collared Dove 86 (-10) and the other 100 (+5) gram. The Pigeon was 251 gram. The Long-eared Owl was 206 (-3) and the Eleonora 427 (+9) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 167 (+1), silver 190 (+4), blue 196 (+1) and orange 198 (=) gram. The Hedgehog was 320 (+30) gram. In “The Keep” all transferred Little Owls had spent the night without problems, although we doubt if there is eaten on their own. We received a phone-call from our “crew” in Mytiléne that the swallow about which we were phoned yesterday, was in our hands > see further at SWIFT. And while they were already on their way back, there came a phone-call from Mória that someone had found last night a Swift, but had forgotten to phone us earlier. Had this indeed happened, than the bird could have been picked-up on the way back. Now this was impossible. At 10.50 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne that with the 1.15 p.m.-coach a pigeon with a broken wing will be sent.   

Heat and wind fuel more fires

High temperatures and strong winds yesterday fueled more than 60 fires across the country, with large blazes north of Athens and on the island of Evia.

Fires broke out at Stamata and Aghios Stefanos, northern Attica, where blazes had also ravaged forestland earlier in the week. These fires, and another large one in the municipality of Aidipsos on Evia, had been partially brought under control by late yesterday.

A smaller fire that broke out in the early evening on Ardittos Hill, next to the Panathenaic Stadium in central Athens, was extinguished before it had a chance to spread.

There was also a fire on the island of Kythera in the Peloponnese but the local fire brigade was quick to douse it.

Athens, eastern Attica and Evia are again high-risk areas for fires today.

And that Pigeon we had in our possession at 2 p.m.; seeing the box it came from a Vet. See further at PIGEON.

Evacuation Greek ferry Edited: June 28 2008 10:38 p.m. Last changed: June 28 2008 10.38 p.m.     

ATHENS – A Greek ferry with well over 500 passengers has to be evacuated. The “Theóphilos” had run aground just before the arrival at the Greek island of Chíos in the Aegean.

There should be a hole in the hull of the “Theóphilos” from where fuel is leaking. “The Captain told us putting on our life-jackets, but there is no panic”, a passenger told Skai TV by mobile phone.

The ferry is sailing in the direction of the (little) island of Oinoússos accompanied by helicopters and ships of the Coast-Guard. The “Theóphilos” however remained seaworthy and there is no direct danger for the passengers, reported Skai Radio. The “Theóphilos” is connecting Chíos with the main-land. (Note L.W.H.: the “Theóphilos” from NELLINES is connecting Lésvos and Piraeus (mainland) and is anchoring in Chíos as well on the outward-  as on the return voyage).                                                                                                                   

June 29^th: the purple Swift was discovered not alive anymore at 4.52 a.m. House Martins: orange 16 (-1) and green 13 (=) gram. The Woodpecker was 37 (-2) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 170 (+3), silver 191 (+1), blue 196 (=) and orange 203 (+5) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 205 (-1) and Eleonora was 429 (+2) gram. Collared Doves: the injured one 83 (-3) and the other 110 (+10) gram. Pigeons: the injured one 253 (+2) and the pigeon from yesterday 197 (+43 !!) gram. The latter is holding the head in such a strange manner, that as well a brain-damage should be possible. The Hedgehog was 328 (+8) gram. And while two of us were on their way for the release of the Woodpecker, there was a phone-call from Thessaloniki for advices for a pigeon with a swollen foot.

Release:

We have released well at the Mylopótamos (Mill-river) the juvenile Middle Spotted Woodpecker (08-095; June 17^th ’08). Opposite the ruins of the water-mill at the other side of the river he was released in a hollow olive-tree, whereafter within seconds his head was visible again in triumph !!

At 10.55 a.m. we discovered the yesterday taken-in Pigeon is a kind of “Gordian knot” in the cage > so there is a severe brain-damage with not such a good prognosis. Showed to have as well some “horse-flies” (blood-sucking ones) > PINEX-spray was used. There came a phone-call from Mólivos about a mother-cat with two little kittens > mum doesn’t seem to be in such a good condition. However, we can’t take-in the family, because our greater cages are full !! Phone-numbers were given from people who maybe can do something. The care-taker of the cats must go back to Germany where her mother (owner of the cats) is in hospital. At 11.55 a.m. a phone-call from the Limenarchío (Coast-Guard) in Pérama, that they had over there a “geráki” (bird-of-prey) > so we went for a ride and picked-up the bird. See further at LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD. In the siesta (about 2.40 p.m.) the electricity disappeared in such a way that nothing was working anymore !! After a lot of phone-calls with the electricity-company ΔΕΗ there arrived a little blue car and at 4.07 p.m. all was working again. Reason ?? At 3.20 p.m. a phone-call from Hotel “Pasiphae” in Skála Kallonís about the Setter from June 22^nd (see over there and as well June 23^rd). Dog seems to be about in coma now, loosing blood in the urine and as well from the mouth. In that case euthanizing should be the best solution. We will be called again. We got the confirmation from Holland about the today taken-in Long-legged Buzzard: at last the measurement of the leg was decisive, because the other measurements (wing & tail) still are enlarging due to growing feathers. We heard as well about the “unknown birdie” from the 26^th: for 95% sure it was a juvenile Eastern Olivaceous Warbler (Acrocephalus pallidus). We’ll thank again our expert Ben Steinfort for the clearance in for us puzzling cases !!

June 30^th:  at 4.50 a.m. we discovered the green House Martin dead: was stuck in between the nest and the wall (with the head downwards) and had been unable to free himself !! The orange House Martin was 16 (=) gram. Baby Little Owls: green 173 (+3), silver 196 (+5), blue 201 (+5) and orange 207 (+4) gram. The Pigeon with the wing- & leg-fracture was 252 (-1) and the other with the brain-damage 197 (=) gram. Collared Doves: the bitten baby was 80 (-3) and the juvenile was 101 (-9_ gram. The latter by the way is hardly able to stand on its legs. Eleonora was 429 (=) and she may try “life outside” from today on. The Long-eared Owl was 200 (-5) and the Hedgehog 341 (+13) gram. The new Long-legged Buzzard was 842 (-36) gram. At 7.37 a.m. a soft peeping was heard in the barn owl-aviary in “The Keep” > two little owlets !! We’re going to check this very carefully and eventually intervene (taking-over the care) when there is a threat it’s going wrong. At 7.42 a.m. the Eleonora was transferred to the Peregrine-aviary on top of “The Keep”. At 8.06 a.m. a phone-call from Géras, that one had discovered over there quite a special (ill ??) bird-of-prey > they’ll come and bring the bird. At 8.15 a.m. the not-injured juvenile Collared Dove was discovered not alive anymore. We did a check for the three Little Owls, which were transferred the 27^th to the little owl-aviary in “The Keep”: green (now GreenGreen) had diminished with 22 gram and was now only 128 gram. RedRed had diminished 15 gram and was 171, and BlueBlue had diminished 8 gram and was 173 gram. All three are back again in the cage in the place for nocturnals, and so there are now lodged 7 Little Owls. At 9.34 a.a. arrived the announced bird-of-prey: a nest-companion of the yesterday taken-in Long-legged Buzzard > so see over there. And while on one side birds were transferred, measured and placed back, taken-in and taken-care, at the other side there was taken care of the food for those birds: 14,065 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (88,89 Euro). Total now this year 352,493 kilo for 2247,10 Euro.  

Passengers safely evacuated after ferry hits rock in Aegean

The Theóphilos passenger ferry is pictured yesterday, visibly listing, after being anchored close to Oinoússos, in the eastern Aegean. Officials said the ferry listed only a couple of degrees after hitting a rock on Saturday afternoon. None of the 485 passengers aboard the ship were injured. The ship’s captain is expected to be charged with negligence.

Most of the 485 passengers aboard a ferry that hit a reef near the Aegean island group of Oinoússos on Saturday afternoon were safe in Piraeus by yesterday evening.

There were no reports of injuries to the passengers following the collision but a 15-meter gash in the hull of the Theóphilos caused the vessel to take on water and provoked a small fuel leak. Until late yesterday the vessel remained anchored just off Oinoússos waiting to be patched up and transferred to Chios for more substantial repairs.

The Theóphilos hit a rock near Oinoússos just after 6 p.m. on Saturday while on route from Lesvos to Piraeus via Chios.

The crew initially told passengers to board lifeboats but then called off the evacuation, saying that the ship was able to advance to Oinoússos. Shortly afterward, however, passengers were asked to board small tourist boats and transferred to the nearest large island, Chios. The next morning, the majority of passengers boarded ships to Piraeus.

It was unclear yesterday when the passengers would be able to get back their cars and luggage, which were still on the ship by late yesterday.

Divers were reportedly being dispatched yesterday to try and seal the gash, which is below the vessel's waterline. Meanwhile, marine experts were cleaning up the fuel leak.

All evidence suggests that the collision was the product of human error, a Merchant Marine Ministry official said. The captain of the ship, who reportedly failed to report the collision immediately, is expected to face charges of negligence. The ministry reportedly heard about the incident from news reports on the radio.

Total amount of visitors this month:  025                     (total this year: 255)

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 631 (total this year 1987 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 49 [wild ones: 46; others 03], (total this year 127: wild ones 099, others 028; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3938) of which:

SHE-DOG (Canis familiaris): 2; the first was a quite young girl, of which the ancestors in any case had been in the neighborhood of a Collie during the Creation !! Had a slight temperature and the smell of the faeces was of “old blood”. Showed to been fed with chicken-bones. Tried to get some active coal being swallowed, but that was given back. Preferring the certain to the uncertain 1 ampoule of Konakion was injected. Further feeding-advices were given and how further to act. (see as well June 2^nd). The 2^nd was a Setter from about 3 – 4 years old, which was almost 100% blind on the right eye (a typical case of a hunting-dog, which was dumped because she was useless for the hunt !!). Was quite emaciated and ditto anemic. Refused absolutely to eat and drinking was difficult as well. Mouth was inspected, but no corpora aliena (strange objects) could be detected; as well not in the pharynx. Some huge ticks could be removed and as well some razor-blade sharp grass-seeds from in between the toes > dog was walking again hereafter !! Antiparasitica were given and advices how to treat the dog further. In any case she was NOW still to good to be euthanized. (see as well June 23^rd).

LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua indigena): 6; the first was a juvenile from Metóchia. Except for being small, he/she is really covered with dozens and dozens of ticks !! And they have to be removed all by hand !!

(see as well June 27^th).

The 2^nd was hatched May 29^th late in the afternoon and evidently remained behind with the other three (which had hatched a bit earlier). Body-weight at intake was only 23 gram, while the other three were 46, 46 and 51 gram.

Received later a green ring. Number 3 was an adult from Mytiléne and had received a “kiss” from a car the evening before intake-day: closed fracture of the left pulse; blood from both nostrils (but the ears are clean). To start with only a hanging cast was given. Intake-weight was 151 gram.

(see as well June 27^th). The nrs 4, 5 & 6 were nest-companions of nr 2 and very dirty. Received colored rings and were measured: silver 109, blue 114 and orange 118 gram.

EURASIAN SCOP’S OWL (Otus scops): 1 juvenile from Mólivos; body-weight at intake was 69 gram.

Was discovered dead the same evening > had tried to vomit, but had suffocated herein.

WESTERN JACKDAW (Corvus monedula): 4 juveniles from Mytiléne; the first 2 from the same nest. The 1^st was quite thin (only 105 gram) and was swallowing difficultly as well. Was discovered dead when number 2 arrived (see June 3^rd). The 2^nd was from the same nest and “thrown-out” due to a bill-deformation just like a Crossbill. Bill was trimmed a bit and cauterized. Prognosis however is so-so, because the intake-weight was just like number 1 too low (108 gram). Received a blue ring. The third is evidently older and more sprightly than the first two. Intake-weight was 123 gram. Received an orange ring. Number 4 came from the same nest as nrs 1 & 2; is quite lively but is missing a lot of feathers on the head. Received a red ring. Was 162 gram.

(see for the three survivors June 23^rd).

BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica): 2 juveniles; the first from Mytiléne > lots of the big feathers from the right wing were glued together with latex-paint > so is going to be a puzzle to remove that !! The 6^th all affected feathers were removed from the right wing, but as well two from the tail and from the thumb of the left wing. It could be the case that the paint had contaminated the bird during the grow-period in the nest and that due to this the feathers were unable to grow till a normal length.

(see as well June 16^th). The 2^nd came from  our village and had a fracture of the right wing > hand-part. Wing was taped. (see as well June 26^th).

HOODED CROW (Corvus cornix sharpii): 1 not so young adult from Mytiléne, which should be injured. No injuries could be detected (legs and nails are quite strong and sharp !) and the wings as well seem to be OK. Only is quite thin and is only 354 gram. Is missing almost all the tail-feathers. Is quite bite-happy !! (is the 3900^th registered intake we have !!) (see as well June 8^th & 22^nd)

GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus): 1 adult, discovered in the neighborhood of Pétra. Doesn’t seem to be injured, but is hardly capable standing on his legs and is bone- & bone-thin.

(see as well June 9^th).

COMMON SWIFT (Apus apus): 9; the first was a juvenile from Mytiléne. Weight at intake 27 gram. Has a bill-deformation as well. Was in spite of extensive feeding-advices fed with . . . . “bread” !! We hope this won’t cause the death of the poor one !! Received yellow ring. (see as well June 23^rd). And he had evidently problems with the fed brad: this kept stuck in the esophagus and was blocking the passage of real food for insect-eaters !! The 2^nd was an adult from the same town as nr 1; looks only having made a crash-landing, because no injuries could be detected.(Green ring).(see as well June 15^th). The 3^rd, a juvenile, was discovered in Mytiléne by a VET who knew nothing better than waiting at least 5 hours before the bird was handed over !! Bird is bone- & bone-thin and already days without being fed. Received an orange ring. But it’s a question-mark if tomorrow-morning will be reached !! (see as well June 16^th). Number 4, as well a juvenile, was discovered the day before intake in Mólivos. Had no leg-fracture, but a small injury at the calf of the right leg, due to this the leg remained somewhat “behind” in strength. Received purple ring left foot. (see as well June 17^th). Number 5 was an adult and discovered in Kallonís > only some feather-parasites could be detected. Orange ring right leg. The 6^th was discovered by the same person and at the same spot as nr 4, only this was an adult. No injuries could be detected. Green ring right leg. The last two probably were blown by the wind against the bottom (see for nrs 5 & 6 as well June 20^th). Number 7 came from Skála Eressoú; was a almost full-grown juvenile which probably during the maiden-flight had hit the ground. Body-weight was only 18 gram and that’s much too light. Received red ring right leg. Is quite lethargic !! Hardly any food could be given and was found dead already at 1.20 on the intake-day. The 8^th was discovered in Kallonís and was as well a juvenile. Body-weight at intake was 29 gram, so that’s not greasy at all !! Received purple ring left. (see as well June 29^th). Number 9 had been already for several days in the possession of a good-willing, but ultra-stupid man, who had tried already feeding everything he could think about, in stead of calling first a Vet (who should have given our phone-number). So the bird is completely emaciated and fish-bone thin !! Wants to eat and is doing so even biting in our fingers. Received orange ring left foot. Was so greedy to be fed, that at the last feeding-round (7.08 p.m.) the first two portions were swallowed up and suddenly it was all over . . . . !!

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus michaellis): 2; the first was an adult, discovered in the streets in Tavári. Open fracture of the left humerus with skin-penetrating piece of bone. This had to be shortened a bit, and was placed back on its place. Injury closed with 2 stitches. Splint for the broken wing and both wing-tops cross-way taped together. The 17^th the fracture was examined again: tissue was dead and there was the beginning of gangrene. So prognosis Infaust and put down, because there is no-one waiting for an one-winged gull; the bird himself not in the first place. The 2^nd was an old one, discovered in Kallonís and via the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí sent to us. The right wing seems to be lamed and is hanging. No injuries could be detected, For the time being the wing was taped. Bird has strange “outgrowth” around the eyes !!

Was discovered dead after a few hours (at 3.30 p.m.) in the cage. No P.M. was done.

KITTEN (Felis catus): 1 ca 1 month old little Tom-Cat from Mólivos; rescued from being a “playing-ball” in the jaws of a dog (see for this June 10^th). Went June 20^th to Holland.

EUROPEAN GREENFINCH (Carduelis chloris): 1 male, just almost in adult dress or just over it. Was brought-in injured at 11 a.m. (on the head and couldn’t stand on his legs) and was at midday already not alive anymore. P.M.: right leg almost ripped-off the body; injury on top of the head and the whole back was without feathers > traffic-problems ?? In any case not by a cat.

ELEONORA’S FALCON (Falcon eleonorae) 1 adult female from the Island of Límnos. Some idiot had “trimmed” all big feathers from both wings > that the bird was unable to fly is logically, and that the body-weight was too low as well (312 gram in stead of 350-450 gram).

(see as well June 30^th).

MIDDLE SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopos medius): 2; the first was an adult from Mólivos; had (most probably) hit a window. Observation severe brain-damage (the head is turned and had symptoms just like an apoplexy). (see as well June 17^th). The 2^nd was a juvenile and came from Mytiléne > is only a bit too small to be independent. (see for this one June 29^th)

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 3; the first was a juvenile from Mytiléne. Was sent-in by the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí. Had entered the transport-box alive, but came out dead. The 2^nd tried to be quicker than our car. Seemed to have had only a slap, but later an injury was discovered at the left wing. Wing for the time being only taped. (see as well June 21^st). The 3^rd was discovered by the people who had brought-in (almost) all Jackdaws in Mytiléne: a juvenile which looks a bit like a “misfit”. Orange ring right leg. (see as well June 23^rd).

HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum): 4 juveniles; all from the same group of nests at the Secondary School in Kallonís. Body-weight at intake for the first 2 was both 20 gram. Red & blue ring right leg. (see for the blue one June 23^rd and for the red one June 28^th). The next two came in a nice pot with peat-dust and artificial flowers (but had been fed with . . . . bread !!). Received orange and green ring. Body-weight at intake for both was 18 gram. (see for the green one June 30^th).

EASTERN HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus concolor roum.): 1 young male (*2008), which was discovered by Tjarda in a thick cardboard-box with a thick plank on it where rubbish was collected. Had lots of ticks and flees. Ticks were removed and flee-powder (carefully) was used. Had as well an old injury on the right thigh, close to the buttock. Body-weight at intake was 225 gram and that’s tóóóó light !!

PALLID SWIFT (Apus pallidus): 1 juvenile from Skála Kallonís. This one as well is blown by the stormy winds against the earth. Was 41 gram. Received yellow ring right leg. (see as well June 27^th).

UNKNOWN BIRDIE (Avis N.N.): 1 juvenile from Mytiléne. Completely unknown to us what species this is, only that’s an insect-eater. Open fracture left wing. No good prognosis.

(see as well June 27^th). It showed to have been a JUVENILE EASTERN OLIVACEOUS WARBLER (Acrocephalus pallidus).

PIGEON (Columba livia dom): 2 juveniles from Mytiléne. The 1^st was, seeing the dirty feathers, a traffic-victim. Only a (closed) fracture of the right humerus had been the result. Hanging cast was given. At a further examination there was discovered a fracture of the right leg (tibiotarso) as well > splinted. The 2^nd had over the whole body superficial skin-injuries with the loss feathers. At the first examination no fractures could be detected > so observation.

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 2 juveniles; the first came from Kallonís, where he was sitting quite dejected at the green-grocers. Showed to be bitten by a cat: skin-injuries left side thorax and belly (2x), at the left shoulder and on the left wing. Skin-injuries (from tallons) closed with agrafes; other injuries sprayed with Negerol. Lincospectin was injected. Had quite some feather-parasites (all was itching over here !!) > PINEX-spray was used for the bird, for the cage and for us !! Received blue ring left leg and green ring right leg. The 2^nd came from our village; is a bit older than number 1, but the body-weight is less !! Received green ring left leg and blue ring right leg. (see June 30^th).

LONG-LEGGED BUZZARD (Buteo rufinus): 2 juvenile females (we thing; the confirmation will come yet from Holland) of which the first one was discovered floating in the harbor of Pérama. The “Lesbian” variety of an Osprey ?? Was quite under-weighted (878 gram) and with the keel on the sternum one could have a good shave !! Probably the first heat-victim of this year.

When at the second feeding as well the feathers were cleaned a bit (we don’t know where she has been in, but seaweed it wasn’t !!) it showed that those damned horse-flies can survive a longer stay in seawater > there appeared some. At the spot PINEX-spray was used. At the arrival of number 2 the first received a blue ring left leg. The 2^nd came from the same nest (at Katsínia, at the mouth of the Gulf of Géras) and was discovered in the neighborhood of the nest. As here as well quite under the norm (826 gram). Received green ring left foot.