March 2008

LOG-BOOK:

News about the Bird-flu is in red and about the environment in blue

March 1st:  in all confusion, phone-calls, e-mails etc around the decease of our daughter Runa the Pekinese “Máo” had the opportunity yesterday-evening in the dark not coming-home again > so when it’s light we must go and look for him . . . !! So another trouble !! Buzzard I was 903 (+5), Buzzard II was 1020 (+4), the Mew Gull was 328 (+18), the Sparrowhawk 148 (-10) and the Eagle Owl was 1790 (-24) gram. We’re discovering more and more pieces of vomited meat in as well the night-cage of Honey Buzzard II as in the Aviary > so no good omen. At 7.30 a.m. “Máo” was in our garden again > so lucky for us. We het to take back from the crow-aviary a one-winged Hooded Crow > there were blood-drops everywhere on the ground and there is one leg with a deep injury. See further at HOODED CROW. The Sparrowhawk (08-020; February 21st ’08) is transferred to the falcon-aviary for flying-practice. Around midday we discovered that a bath was taken already.

We received the following news from England about an artificial leg for “Pelli”:

“As usual finally when I get the vets together they decide that it is not possible to make a prosthetic foot for the pelican. I have one more idea in America but it looks like a no-goer. Sorry, sorry.

Mind you if I do find anything I will contact you, but quite honestly I can't see a way. Some swans do cope on one leg but has to be seen case by case.

All best wishes and sorry

Vets are useful sometimes”

March 2nd:  the planned release of Buzzards for today we have to move until tomorrow due to the rainy weather. Buzzard I was 907 (+4), Buzzard II was 1017 (-3), The Mew Gull was 335 (+7) and the Eagle Owl 1816 (+26) gram. We changed the splint of Buzzard I for a single bandage with Dermisol-cream. He is able to open this leg !! Changing the bandage of Buzzard II we have discovered on the head (above/behind the left eye) a shot-pellet > is removed. So was shot as well. The huge injury on the head is still not closing smoothly. It shows to be that the bill of the Mew Gull isn’t closing well at all > however, there are no injuries. We made use of a good clear up of the weather:

Release:

We have released very well Buzzard I from January (08-001; January 2nd ’08) > was flying away majestically !! And because the weather remained well, the other 2 Buzzards (08-005; January 11th and 08-015; February 9th ’08) were released a bit later as well. By the way, after the rains it wasn’t really nice driving over the small tracks: slippery and slithering all the time with the fear getting stuck in a puddle of which the depth wasn’t to take !!

“Pelli” got it done “walking” on her own from the field behind our house to her bedroom in the Sick-Bay !!

March 3rd:  all were “in the plus” this morning: Buzzard I was 910 (+3), Buzzard II was 1030 (+13), the Mew Gull 346 (+11) and the Eagle Owl 1861 (+45) gram. We started again with soft food for Honey Buzzard II in the hope it won’t be vomited again. For “Pelli” we were able to buy almost 7,5 kilo big fishes (for the price of 6 kilo) > is probably the last time. We have discovered that the right eye of the Mew Gull isn’t at all (any more) functioning; we’re going to test now if still something can be seen with the left eye. Has had food in the cage. As well Buzzard I as Buzzard II have had food in the cage > let’s watch if they are eating by themselves. We have brought back the amount of feeding-rounds for the Eagle Owl from 4 to 3. At 11.30 a.m. we had all tortoises which had hibernated taken out of their “bedroom”, bathed in warm water & cleaned and placed in the tortoise-pen: 1 Mediterranean Tortoise (Testudo hermanni), 3 Marginated Tortoises (Testudo marginata) and 11 Spurr-tighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca ibera). Just after twelve o’clock we were phoned about a Peacock, which should hardly eat > one is passing-by (probably) today.

Hereafter we have in our own way, together with a few relatives and many friends who knew what is suitable under this circumstances, said goodbye to our daughter Runa. By phone, by e-mail and in the spirit they were united with us. That she at last may find the rest, she has been looking for for such a long time . . .

March 4th:  Buzzard I was 914 (+4) and Buzzard II was 1029 (-1) gram. The Eagle Owl was 1898 (+27) and the Mew Gull 330 (-16) gram. The latter however had vomited last night lots of given food. Did we discover yesterday that the right eye isn’t functioning anymore, this morning we noticed that the pupil of the left eye is light-stiff . . . . So now it’s becoming to be problematically !! The disabled Hooded Crow could return without bleeding feet to the crow-aviary. After further tests on the Mew Gull (08-023; February 26th ’08) it showed to be that he was stone blind and was bumping up against every wall > so we had to put him down. We have removed the bandage around the leg of Buzzard I > there is a tolerable force in the toes of this leg !! From the head of Buzzard II was removed quite a huge “slice” of necrotic (and stone-hard) tissue, which was hampering a good healing. Spot was treated with Dermisol-cream. From the wing-limb as well necrotic tissue was removed > here as well Dermisol-cream. Today was again “meat-cutting-day” and quite a huge portion as well; in spite of the being left out of 3 Buzzards. In total was, together with Douglas & Janice, processed 18,635 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (107,83 Euro). Total now this year 137,955 kilo for 871,25 Euro. At 11.07 a.m. the for yesterday announced Peacock arrived > see further at PEACOCK. Within the 24 hours after the tortoises were woken-up from hibernation they were eating already, but as well the dull thumping was heard (and even seen) from a male Marginated Tortoise which was translating his dreams of the past months into action . . . . ! At 4.10 p.m. we discovered our disabled Long-eared Owl (07-032; March 14th ’07) dead in his cage. Had been eating no so well already for some days, but that had happened before. Not so much attention was given to this, but . . . !!

March 5th:  Buzzard I was 911 (-3) and Buzzard II was 1038 (+9) gram. The Eagle Owl was 1948 (+50) gram and from today she will be fed with normal eagle-owl-food in stead of the smaller buzzard-food. Both Honey Buzzards still are fed with soft food and no vomiting has been noticed since ! Most probably the Eagle Owl doesn’t agree with being kept in a cage and so she has ruined completely the door of her cage !!

Mankind’s folly

Experts predict blazing heat waves

Rising temperatures will make the intense heat waves of the past few years seem mild, experts said yesterday. “The unprecedented heat wave of 2003, that caused hundreds of deaths across Europe, will seem cool in 2060 and positively freezing in 2100,” warned Christos Zerefos, the president of the Athens Observatory. Experts say there has been a sharper rise in temperatures in the past 30 years than the rate of increase recorded over the past millennium. Mankind has taken 40 years to destroy the ozone that it took nature 1.5 billion years to create, according to Zerefos.

Because we had to know how much food we have to defrost every day, we have measured exactly how much the new Eagle Owl is eating at the moment, and that compared with the amount the (old) male is eating: the latter (00-284; September 27th 2000) is “on his weight” and is eating about 70 gram of meat/liver a day. The (not yet fully grown) female has eaten today 249 gram !!

March 6th:  Buzzard I was 903 (-11) and Buzzard II was 1044 (+6) gram. Both birds had already been “playing” in their food-bowls yesterday. The Eagle Owl was 1968 (+20) gram. As well the disabled Scop’s Owl in “The Keep” is eating badly already for days and had to be force-fed in the morning !! We received three students from the Secondary School in Pétra. One of the grandfathers, who brought them, was showed around afterwards as well. And again it was “shaky” in Greece:

Rhodes shaken

Two earthquakes measuring 5.1 Richter each hit the Dodecanese island of Rhodes yesterday. The tremors were felt within minutes of each other. The first was recorded at 6.11 p.m. and the second just three minutes later. No damage or injuries were reported.

March 7th:  we discovered at 5.50 a.m. that our disabled HOOPOE (06-113; June 21st ’06) was dead in the cage. Buzzard I was 912 (+9), Buzzard II was 1045 (+1) and the Eagle Owl was 1985 (+17) gram. The last had demolished again the netting of the reserve-cage last night . . . . so that will be a hell of a job te repair today 2 cages, because due to the students from Pétra we couldn’t do anything extra yesterday. Again the Scop’s Owl hadn’t eaten and had to be force-fed. Should te mate been missed ?? In the crow-aviary we discovered the Hooded Crow, which we had re-taken-in March 1st and placed back again March 4th, dead on the bottom of the cage. It showed to be 02-110, which was brought-in June 1st 2002 from our village. One wing was soo damaged, that it (partly) fell off later. June 20th ’02 we had to perform a small correction te make the limb less vulnerable. Was re-taken-in after a heavy storm in the “Wildpark” in 2005 January 17th, after he/she was pinned with the remaining wing on a sharp branch. Could be transferred-back January 22nd to the “Wildpark”. After closure of the park he/she was re-homed in the crow-aviary in the courtyard of the House-next-door. And over there cold winters with snow and ice are survived, and now the weather is improving the “Last Post” had to be played . . . . !! We have bought “bite-free” (welded) netting to repair the cage of the Eagle Owl !! A school from Péla (Macedonia) came to visit us: 25 students and 4 adults. “Thanks to” this, announced two hours before, visit we were able only to repair one of the 4 parts of cages with new netting !! First all blind rivets had to be drilled-out, and because the new netting is thicker than the old one, this couldn’t be folded by hand, but had to be hammered !! And hereafter the drilled holes weren’t anymore on the same spot, because the internal frame wasn’t fitting anymore . . . . !!

March 8th:  we were surprised a bit unpleasantly at 5.45 a.m., because the Eagle Owl had bitten the netting of the reserve-cage in such a matter, that she was free in the Sick-Bay (on top of the cage the Hoopoe had been lived in) > this had caused lots of panic for the Buzzards, so there was vomited quite a lot !! Buzzard I was now 885 (-17), Buzzard II was 1039 (-6) and the “evil” was 2020 (+35) gram. In the tortoise-pen we discovered our eldest patient, the female Marginated Tortoise (95-001*) with two quite badly damaged front-legs > treated with Negerol-spray and taped with Sport-tape (against flies). At 10.20 a.m. the 1st Eagle Owl-cage was ready again and the lady could be moved-back. At 12.30 p.m. half of the 2nd cage was ready as well, but the back-bone stopped co-operating. So tomorrow it should be finished. 

African dust cloud warning

A thick cloud of dust from Africa is expected to engulf parts of central and southern Greece today, causing traffic problems by reducing visibility and aggravating allergies.

Motorists have been warned to be extra careful as storms, forecast for many parts of the country, could transform the dust into muddy rain, making travel precarious.

Meanwhile doctors warned that the dust could aggravate seasonal allergies and make life difficult for asthmatics. The symptoms usually start with an itchiness in the nasal area followed by irritation in the lungs. Those in places affected by the dust cloud who suffer from asthma and lung-related complaints (so Ineke !!) should remain indoors, experts said.

The dust cloud, a mist of tiny grains of sand blown over from Africa by southerly winds, is a seasonal phenomenon in Greece.

At 2.55 p.m. we were called from Mytiléne that “somewhere” in the fields in the neighborhood of Evraikí (at Chalatsés) there was an injured (?) bird of prey, one was scared to catch . . . . !! They waited for us at the cross-road to Pérama and from there in a snail’s pace (the lady in question didn’t dare driving faster than 65 km and overtaking was a complete new idea for her !) to the spot. The bird still was there and the woman was even talking to it !! See further at BUZZARD. At 6.10 p.m. people were at the door with a little puppy, which had fallen from a balcony ((± 2 meter high or more) on the street. Was quite anemic, strained belly and on the head a huge bulb with fluid. So is probably “end-of-practice”; the people were told to light a candle, because we couldn’t do further anything more. Not in the statistics. The new Buzzard was sleeping quietly late this evening.

March 9th:  the Eagle Owl had used the opportunity to open the door of her cage and so she was free in the Sick-bay again > luckily no panic for the other patients !! The new Buzzard had spent the night well. Buzzard I was 909 (+24), Buzzard II was 1048 (+9) and the new one, Buzzard III, was 511 (+8) gram. The Eagle Owl was 2035 (+15) gram. Checking the nest-tower in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” (during doing so, we discovered 3 healthy young ones, born out of disabled parents), one of the elder pigeons could escape. Will probably return, because is born over there out of the same disabled parents. Further examinations of Buzzard III didn’t show any injury; but positively feather-lice > PINEX-spray !! The pupils were reacting equally now, but strange “shakings” with the head are still there. The pinching-force of the claws is more than 100% OK, even as the sharpness of the talons . . . . !! At 11.25 a.m. the complete cage for the Eagle Owl in the Sick-Bay was ready and had as well better locks (we hope !!). At 5.40 p.m. a phone-call from Troulótti Thermís, that people had over there an injured bird, which was unable flying away; probably an owl. In spite of the late hour (darkness) we went for a ride and picked it up  > see at BROWN BARN OWL.

March 10th:  all patients were still alive this morning. The new Brown Barn Owl was standing straight on the legs at 5 a.m.; body-weight was 173 (-2) gram. Buzzard I was 915 (+6), Buzzard II was 1047 (-1) and Buzzard III was 571 (+60) gram The Eagle Owl was 2027 (?? > is hardly weighable anymore, and had diminished with 8 gram). The Scop’s Owl is starting seeing light on the end of the tunnel and hardly needed to be force-fed. Buzzard II is standing well on the legs, only the tremors of the head are still present. The yesterday escaped Pigeon isn’t seen back > we hope it’s a positive omen. The dead Hooded Crow (see March 7th) is given as a pray to the Eagle Owl > maybe she’ll start eating on her own. Later in the morning we discovered that in any case she had been “playing” with the prey. We have discovered another shot-hole in the body of the Brown Barn Owl: left side, low in the neck/beginning of the breast. So this explains the hemorrhages over there. By the way, the swallowing is going more easy. After further checks of the cages on ground-level in the Sick-Bay, we discovered that as well the wings of “Pelli” (from the outside) as hammering bills of members of the heron-family (from the inside) have damaged quite a lot the netting of two other cages on that level > the netting was complete unfastened. So has to be changed as well by thicker nettings, and meanwhile we have started with that. In any case the Eagle Owl had at 5 p.m. “demolished” the dead Hooded Crow > has had food in the cage (after being fed a bit).

March 11th:  the Eagle Owl had completely “demolished” and eaten the Hooded Crow; the given food in the cage was further untouched. Wasn’t measurable anymore > in any case above 2000 gram !! The Brown Barn Owl had been quite active last night; he (confirmation from Holland) had gained weight with 23 gram and was now 196 gram. It really may named a “wonder”, because we didn’t even want to bet a Farthing on his life !! Buzzard I was 921 (+6), Buzzard II was 1045 (-2) and Buzzard III was 606 (+35) gram. The bound backwards head and the “tremors” however still are present > so has been a real severe brain-damage ! We have removed from the leg of Buzzard I the scab > a piece of dead bone came with it and the injury seems to be clean now completely. The pinching-force in this leg is almost complete back now (au !) so this means that this young fellow is releasable again !! From the wing-limb of Buzzard II as well the scab is removed and dead tissue removed > a.o. a piece of dead bone could be removed in which clearly the shot-hole was visible > so now we know through what the fracture was caused, As well this injury seems to be complete clean now. Today there had to be cut meat again and without helpers Ineke has processed 7.140 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (48,56 Euro). Total now this year 145,135 kilo for 919,81 Euro. The escaped Pigeon from the day before yesterday is “spotted” meanwhile: has joined the pigeons around our house, which we all have released in 2006 (during the Bird-flu, when no-one wanted to have pigeons). And again it was “shaky” in Greece:

Minor tremor

An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale shook the area of Loutraki, west of Athens, yesterday but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The tremor struck just before 10 a.m. and its epicenter was located 50 kilometers west of Athens.

At 1.20 p.m. the 2nd cage in the Sick-Bay (the one under the terrarium) had new netting and was again ready for use. After the siesta we discovered that Buzzard II had removed all the bandage around the wing-limb > so this will be again “Jacob wrestles with the angel” giving a new bandage. And unfortunately we had a “prophetic view” . . . . (but the new bandage is on it’s place!).

March 12th:  no victims and/or ruined cages this morning !! The Brown Barn Owl was 297 (+1), Buzzard I was 926 (+5), Buzzard II was 1046 (+1) and Buzzard III was 651 (+45) gram. After a good hour we had to take back the disabled Rook and the ditto Jackdaw back from the crow-aviary in the court-yard of the House-next-door > the bottom was looking like a swimming-pool (such a rain there was falling) and those birds can’t help it they have no “flippers” . . . . !! Because our Eagle Owl evidently is related (and not so far away) to notoriously “brake-away’s-from-prison” and so meanwhile quite has damaged the new, welded netting, we hastily started preparing the cage of the Eagle Owl in “The Keep” for the lodging of a couple. So we had to remove a thick roost, but the big screws were fastened so well an electrical screw-driver broke into pieces. At last the tree-saw was used to remove the roost. From the remnants two smaller roosts were made and fastened. As well a sleeping-/nesting-place was prepared. But because the bite-activities of the lady, the netting of the door and above should evidently be made more bite-resistant !! The new Brown Barn Owl is recuperating in such a way he can’t be caught easily, but as well that he is “hissing” quite well; something what has given this kind in some parts of the Netherlands the name “Cat-Owl”.

March 13th:  the Brown Barn Owl was 303 (+6), Buzzard I was 936 (+10), Buzzard II was 1052 (+6) and Buzzard III was 683 (+32) gram. The backwards bended head is still present here. During a further examination later this morning (the 3rd ?? the 4th ??), it showed to be that the bird indeed positively was shot > shot-holes were discovered in the left leg (2x) and left side as well in the abdomen. So the brain-damage is probably due to the plumping down. Is evidently shot far after the end of the hunting season !! And after we first had supported the yesterday placed roosts (there is coming suddenly quite a lot of weight on such a roost when an adult Eagle Owl is landing there after all), our “lady” was transferred after breakfast to the eagle owl-aviary in “The Keep”, over where after 2 not succeeded efforts to fly up at last the best roost in top of the aviary was occupied. The male was flabbergasted watching all this from the ground !! We received 1 Greek visitor from Plomári. Around the evening there still hadn’t been a quarrel in the eagle owl-aviary > we’re anxious what will happen tonight.

March 14th:  the Brown Barn Owl was 321 (+18) gram and is transferred to a bigger cage. Buzzard I was 935 (-1), Buzzard II was 1048 (-4) and Buzzard III was 705 (+22) gram. The (feared after all) carnage in the eagle owl-aviary in “The Keep” didn’t happen thank to the Gods, and “watching eating, does eating” was evidently the case over here > almost nothing was left !! But whó had swallowed all ?? The bandage around the leg of Buzzard I is removed and the spot is only covered now with Hansaplast-bandage-spray. And as well from the wing of Buzzard II the bandage is removed and the spots are as well covered with Hansaplast-bandage-spray. Buzzard III is transferred to a bigger cage and is sitting now (still a bit difficult) on a branch in stead of on the bottom. Meanwhile we are complete finished with the re-organizing and re-arranging of the Library > we didn’t have so much free space in years . . . !! Now only all the “stuff” that was brought to the House-next-door must have it’s proper place. At 6 p.m. the first House Martins of this year were spotted !!

March 15th:  the Brown Barn Owl was 320 (-1), Buzzard I was 942 (+7), Buzzard II was 1033 (-15, but without bandage) and Buzzard III was 736 (+31) gram. We could stop the further registration of the Sparrowhawk (08-020; February 21st ’08) > he is doing quite well in the aviary, but can’t fly well enough to be released. As well Buzzard I (08-013; February 2nd ’08) as Buzzard II (08-014; February 4th ’08) are transferred to the buzzard-aviary. If they can cope over there, maybe Buzzard I is releasable; Buzzard II will stay with her one wing and a half. And again a part of Greece shook:     

Methoni earthquake

An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Methoni, in the Peleponnese yesterday. There were no reports of injuries or damages. The earthquake’s epicenter was in an undersea area 275 kilometers southwest of Athens and struck at 9.10 a.m. A month ago, two strong quakes with magnitudes of 6.5 and 6.4 struck the same area and were felt as far away as Italy and Egypt.

Did we expect that Buzzard I could manage carrying on quite well in the buzzard-aviary, the contrary was true > remained the whole day laying on the bottom and had evidently problems with the use of both legs. So we must take him back in the evenings for force-feeding. Buzzard II however was sitting quite quick in the top of the aviary and will probably cope over there.

March 16th:  the Brown Barn Owl was 345 (+25), Buzzard I was 945 (+3) and Buzzard III was 763 (+27) gram. Buzzard II has spent the night well and was sitting at 6.15 a.m. already in top of the aviary. Now hoping she’ll start eating on her own. Buzzard I is a bit more active today in the buzzard-aviary.

March 17th:  the Brown Barn Owl, which had vomited yesterday a lot, was 330 (-15) gram. Buzzard III was 790 (+27) and Buzzard I was 943 (-2) gram. The latter showed having quite a thick right leg (the good one !) > probably a fracture of the tibia . . . . !! How this happened ?? Will stay in any case completely in his sick-cage now. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and 12,795 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (83,50 Euro) had to be processed. Douglas & Janice offered their time (and knives) again to finish the job. Total now this year 157,930 kilo for 1003,31 Euro.

March 18th:  is was raining soo hard this morning, that the doggies didn’t want to leave the court-yard; even “Humpy” (who normally spoken is going out for a walk in the village every morning) stayed inside. Only “Mao” did imperturbable what had to be done and so we had to follow into the wetness !! The Brown Barn Owl was 336 (+6), Buzzard I was 944 (+1) and Buzzard III was 813 (+23) gram. And while we’re writing this (6.20 a.m.) Buzzard II (with one wing and a half) was sitting impassively in top of the buzzard-aviary. This morning at 7.25 o’clock the first Swifts of this year were spotted. At 8.30 a.m. “Násja’s” mother came with the doggie of her daughter for vaccination. This brought us, except from 1 Euro extra, a whole amount of ice-cream !! At 9 a.m. a phone-call from Pámfila about an owl with ears, which should have a broken wing > will be sent by the coach from 11 o’clock from Mytiléne. And we had the box in our hands at 11.38 a.m. > see further at LONG-EARED OWL.  At 12.03 p.m. a phone-call from Skála Eressoú about as well a Thrush (they called us yesterday as well for advices for this bird) and about a gull with leg-problems > one is looking what can be done about this. And after several tries in the evening we at last heard that the mentioned birds maybe can arrive here the day after tomorrow > than it’s (probably) too late to do something sensible with them !!

March 19th:  all patients were still alive this morning and the Long-eared Owl was sitting quite sprightly on top of the nesting-box. He (probably; again the measurements are just in between) was after the amputation 178 gram; this morning 192 (+14) gram. The Brown Barn Owl was 341 (+5), Buzzard I was 947 (+3) and Buzzard III was 833 (+20) gram. We have discovered on the left leg of the Long-eared Owl, just below the knee, quite a huge skin-injury; closed by an older scab. We have caught some children (one from the village, the other a gipsy-boy), who tried to molest with one of our own iron bars (4 meter long !!) “Pelli” > their ears shouldn’t have liked this . . . . !! Later it showed to be that indeed they had injured her: on the throat, because they had “poked” her through the netting with that piece of iron . . . . !! A pity that those ears weren’t gripped more firmly !! We received the message that the birds from Skála Eressoú will be delivered here tomorrow around 4.30 p.m.

March 20th:  all patients were still alive this morning and “Pelli” had spent the night without any further problems !! The Long-eared Owl was 195 (+3), the Brown Barn Owl was 344 (+3), Buzzard III was 852 (+19) and Buzzard I (after having vomited yesterday) 926 (-21) gram. From Portugal arrived Tjarda de Vries, who wants to come and help us. At 8.35 a.m. a phone-call from Parákoila about a cat with leg-problems > one will pass-by around 11 o’clock.

Re-homing:

At 10.03 a.m. “Pelli” (07-222; December 4th ’07) was delivered again in the harbor of Skála Kallonís.

The announced ex-Tom Cat was here at 11.08 a.m. > was a bit frightened in the surgery, because the last time there it cost him his crown-jewels. Had now an injury in between two toes of the left rear-leg > cleaned and told how to treat the injury. Further not in the statistics. Our well-known pigeon-fancier “Mílto” came and took some pigeons:

Re-homing:

We were able to re-home 5 pigeons from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”: one born over there out of recuperating parents and 4 ex-patients: 07-065, May 17th ’07; 07-178, August 30th ’07; 07-181, September 6th ’07 and 07-226, December 20th ’07. As well  the Silky Fowl (07-219; November 29th ’07) was re-homed with the mentioned “Mílto”.

At 4.35 p.m. arrived both announced birds > see at SONG THRUSH and at SCOPOLI’S SHEARWATER. The last one was the 200th kind we ever had in our hands.

March 21st:  all patients were still alive this morning !! The Thrush was 54 gram and the Shearwater (if possible an even more “bloody biter” as a Yellow-legged Gull !!) was 414 gram. The Long-eared Owl was 208 (+13) and the Brown Barn Owl 341 (-3) gram. Buzzard I was 948 (+22) and Buzzard III was 889 (+37) gram. We have removed a dead piece of bone from the wing of the Long-eared Owl, outside the stitch. The Shearwater is eating with joy little fishes; only a pity those aren’t available (more) at this moment. Tjarda has started making “Pelli’s bedroom” spic-and-span. We were able to buy for a moderate price 2.5 kilo of smaller squids. Snipped in the length the Shearwater ate (the first time himself!!) almost a whole squid !! And that’s quite necessary, because we have discovered that the normal body-weight for this species is in between 700 and 800 gram !! Later this day it became a life-and-death struggle > we now have special protecting tape ready to cover the thumb of our left hand !! Even a Goshawk is easier to force-feed !!

March 22nd:  we received the message from Holland that our Shearwater is a female. Her body-weight was 465 (+41) gram. And we had to tape the middle finger of us as well as a protection !! The Thrush was 55 (+1) gram, the Long-eared Owl 217 (+9) and the Brown Barn Owl 347 (+6) gram. Buzzard I was 963 (+15) and Buzzard III was 907 (+18) gram. We have removed the 3 agrafes (close to the shoulder) the amputated wing from the amputated wing of the Long-eared Owl > injury looks fine and is smelling OK. Without all to much damage to our hand(s) the Shearwater has swallowed lots of pieces squid at the 2nd feeding-round. After we had transferred the Song Thrush after the 2nd feeding-round to another cage, and given him/her a water-bowl which should be of a better use for him/her, we unfortunately had to find that this opportunity was used by pulling the head in the water and keeping it there . . . . !! So was discovered dead at 10.10 a.m. During the (badly) needed cleaning of the nest of the Barn Owls, we discovered 3 warm eggs !! Did we brought March 3rd 15 tortoises (counted twice !!) out of their hibernation-cage into the tortoise-pen, today we discovered 17 tortoises in the pen !! So two (Spurr-tighed Tortoises) had hibernated there !!

Bird flu ?

Authorities in the northern region of Evros were on alert yesterday after bird flu was detected among poultry in a Turkish border village. It was unclear whether the virus was the H5N1 strain that can be fatal for humans. Poultry breeders have been warned to keep their livestock indoors and ensure they do not come into contact with wild birds. They have also been banned from selling poultry in open-air markets.

March 23rd:  no victims this morning. The Shearwater was 502 (+37), the Long-eared Owl 229 (+12) and the Brown Barn Owl 354 (+7) gram. Buzzard I was 951 (-12) and Buzzard III was 916 (+7) gram. We have discovered another egg in the barn owl-cage in “The Keep”; only this one was laid on the feeding-table and already bruised > was “transferred” to the crow-aviary !! In the eagle owl-aviary was discovered that the netting of the door already is partly bitten into pieces > so today we must make this “break out-free” !! And due to all kind of circumstances we couldn’t do so today > tomorrow ?? We have tried to release the Brown Barn Owl > failed, because flying was hardly possible; even not after a throw up !!

March 24th:  the Long-eared Owl was 234 (+5), the Brown Barn Owl 350 (-4), Buzzard I was 954 (+3) and Buzzard III was 936 (+20) gram. The Shearwater was 494 (-8) gram. Luckily the hole in the door of the eagle owl-aviary wasn’t enlarged last night. Today again “meat-cutting-day) and except from Douglas & Janice Tjarda was helping as well in the processing of 12,040 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (75,30 Euro). In total now this year 169,970 kilo for 1078,61 Euro. At 11.30 a.m. all the iron for the repair of the door of the eagle owl-aviary was de-rusted and ready to be painted.                                                                                              

Wet weather

Rain and strong winds will replace the recent spell of mild weather in most of the country over the next three days, including tomorrow’s public holiday. Attica will escape most of the bad weather but some showers are expected.

At 12.55 p.m. all the iron was painted for the 1st time. And after the siesta the first what was done was painting for the 2nd time > was ready at 3.50 p.m. At 5.04 p.m. a phone-call from Karen in Mólivos, that the children had discovered a just-hatched tortoise (had hibernated half-ready in the egg > “Dia-pause”). Will be brought tonight to Pétra, from where Melanie will take it tomorrow to us.

March 25th:  the Shearwater, which yesterday really unceremoniously has “gorged” squids, was 525 (+31 !!) gram. The Long-eared Owl was 244 (+10), the Brown Barn Owl 360 (+10), Buzzard I was 956 (+2) and Buzzard III was 935 (-1) gram. At 7.59 a.m. the announced baby-tortoise arrived > see further at SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE. We have a weather-alert “code yellow” here because of the very strong winds, but those were responsible as well that hail-stones several times were hitting our heads quite painful !! At 12 o’clock the door of the eagle owl-aviary had a “break-out-free” grating. In the nest-box of the Barn Owls we discovered now 4 eggs.

March 26th:  the baby-tortoise had been walking around yesterday whole day, but not (yet) eaten > had diminished a tiny bit. Will be fed with Common Chickweed today. The Long-eared Owl was 256 (+12), the Brown Barn Owl 369 (+9), Buzzard I was 947 (-9) and Buzzard III was 951 (+16) gram. The Shearwater was 556 (+31) gram. In the barn owl-cage at last we were able to catch a one-winged White Barn Owl, which had been hiding already for days behind the “rustic fence”, and place her back in top of the cage > maybe she is separating herself to die, but we must be certain about that !! From the wing-limb of the Long-eared Owl we have removed some dead tissue > 2 agrafes. At 11 a.m. we were ready with a (separable) place in the Intensive Care, wherein we can treat the patients even better under the red lamp. Needs only yet painting. At 11.22 a.m. a phone-call from Kallonís, about a somewhere over there locked-in “Búfos” (Eagle Owl, but is probably a Barn Owl). One will call us back later. And such happened at 2.45 p.m. > so we went downwards. After almost half an hour waiting, it showed to be one had sent us to the wrong meeting-place . . . . !! On the correct spot it showed to be that the bird had been locked-in at least for three days, was already dead and no-one knew where the corpse was . . . . !! And while one of us was busy for nothing, 3 visitors from Mytiléne were showed around.

March 27th:  the baby-tortoise seems to have eaten something. The Long-eared Owl was 272 (+16), the Brown Barn Owl 389 (+20), Buzzard I was 948 (+1) and Buzzard III was 952 (+1) gram. The Shearwater was 587 (+31) gram; is starting to do walking-efforts !! And during a given bath there was tried to step out of the bath-tub !! At 8.40 a.m. the separable “heat-lamp-cage” for the I.C. was painted for the first time. A second dog-catcher (in the past obtained from the GAWF, and which was over-complete here) was sent today to the “Chios Animal Welfare Society”. At 4.05 p.m. a phone-call from a Belgian woman from Mólivos (who in the past had dealt more with a 200% wrong diagnosis of the vet in Pétra !!), about het cat > cat was already “treated” by that vet against “cat-flu”, but the symptoms are pointing more in the direction of a poisoning . . . !! She’ll pass by. And was here at 4.54 > see further at TOM CAT.

March 28th:  the baby-tortoise was still (or again ??) 11 gram. The Long-eared Owl was 282 (+10), the Brown Barn Owl 400 (+11), Buzzard I was 983 (+35) and Buzzard III was 973 (+21) gram. The Shearwater was 600 (+13) gram. We received 2 visitors from Athens, and while we were busy with them we received a phone-call at 12.35 p.m. from Palaiochóri about a cat in labour > was here at 1.44 p.m. See further at CAT. And at 4.18 p.m. five children were at our doorstep with a just knocked-down puppy > see further at PUPPY. At 6 p.m. the Cat had eaten already a bit !!

March 29th:  all were still alive this morning and the Cat had eaten well and even weed (not in the cat’s box, but who cares !!). The baby-tortoise was unchanged 11 gram; this can last for some days. The Long-eared Owl was 290 (+8), the Brown Barn Owl 413 (+13), Buzzard I was 948 (-35) and Buzzard III was 987 (+14) gram. The Shearwater was 600 (=) but had had (due to all strange circumstances) one feeding-round less. And again it was “shaky” in between the “donkeys”:

Tremor in Crete

An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale hit the island of Crete early yesterday but authorities said there were no reports of injuries or damage. The Athens Geodynamic Institute said the quake had an epicenter in the sea south of Crete, near the island of Gaidouronisi (Donkey-island) and struck at 2.17 a.m.

Rain today but gone tomorrow, experts say

Despite the heavy rain in many parts of the country yesterday, scientists at a conference in Athens warned that Greece is headed for higher temperatures and a lack of water in the not-too-distant future.

Experts believe that Greece will start experiencing problems of drought by 2025, as rainfall is expected to drop by about 30 percent over the next few years, according to statistics revealed at a conference on climate change organized by Kathimerini (news-paper) and Skai (tv-channel) yesterday.

The same conference heard that the average temperature in Greece would shoot up by about six degrees by the end of this century.

“Everybody has to realize that they have to change their habits,” said Nikos Chrysogelos, the head of the Mediterranean SOS network, which helped to organize the conference.

We received 1 Dutch visitor.

March 30th:  beginning of summertime, but we’ll change during the morning because animals are reacting on light and not on some idiot arrangement !! The cat had eaten quite well. The baby-tortoise was still 11 gram. The Brown Barn Owl was 418 (+5), the Long-eared Owl was 283 (-7, but had vomited yesterday and is now again on soft food), Buzzard I was 962 (+14) and Buzzard III was 994 (+7) gram. The Shearwater is trying walking more and more and was 626 (+26) gram. Cleaning the cages in the Sick-Bay we discovered that the Cat had produced a huge, good smelling pee !! Another trouble less !! We received 6 visitors from Mytiléne today: the first four had brought last year a young Spurr-tighed Tortoise (07-131; July 7th) and the other two had warned us so Buzzard III (08-026; March 8th) could be rescued. Suddenly there was a power-cut on the whole island from 4.54 until 5.55 p.m. !!

March 31st:  the Cat produced next to us quite a good dropping for the first time after surgery > again less trouble !! The baby-tortoise is still unchanged and isn’t eating yet a lot. The Long-eared Owl was 287 (+4), the Brown Barn Owl 426 (+8) and the Shearwater 647 (+21) gram. Buzzard III was 999 (+5) gram. Buzzard I escaped from the cage and it showed to be that both legs can’t be used completely; still has had the “last breakfast”, but unfortunately this will be the “end of exercise” . . . . !! And such was the case at 8.05 a.m.: after almost 2 months of fighting from and with the bird (as well positive as negative) we had to give him into other hands. It was 08-013 and had come-in badly shot February 2nd ’08. We could remove lots of dead tissue from the wing-stump of the Long-eared Owl. The operated Cat started walking around in the Sick-bay (from yesterday the door of her sick-cage was left open during the day) and came to look around in the Surgery !! We did a P.M. on the (apparently) “good” leg of Buzzard I: at intake there was no injury been visible over here, but now we discovered a shot-pellet in the thigh, just above the knee, which had caused a crack in the thigh-bone (pseudo-arthrosis) . Should the discovered wild-grow of bone-tissue in the knee, tibia & fibula be connected with this ?? Today again “meat-cutting-day” and together with Douglas & Janice there was processed 14,505 kilo of meat, liver & minced-meat (97,74 Euro). Total now this year 184,475 kilo for 1173,35 Euro. For the cage of Cacatua “Jókko” we could make from (in the past discovered on the rubbish-dump) half a military pup-tent a cover (with a zipper) which can be used in case of too much noise. We hope this material is more bite-proof than the blanket we used, because that one is looking like a target for heavy weapons !! 

Total amount of visitors this month:  046                      (total this year: 073)

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 193 (total this year 0827 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 11 [wild ones: 07; others 04], (total this year 034: wild ones 028, others 006; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3845) of which:

HOODED CROW (Corvus corone sharpii): 1 from the L.W.H. > bleeding injury in the “thumb-toe” and in another toe of the left foot > after cleaning closed by cauterization . In the left foot a beginning of a “bumble-foot” > treated as good as possible. (see as well March 4th & 7th).

PEACOCK (Pavo cristatus): 1 ± three year old cock; showed to have not such an appetite. Over here as well the upper-bill was too long > trimmed. Further a yellowish “batter” in the mouth, which was difficult to remove > beginning of Trichomoniasis ?? Treated prophylactically with Spartrix. Had as well parasites in between the feathers > treated with PINEX-spray. Over here as well it was unknown that those birds need as well animal food !! The listlessness could be explained as well by the fact that he was the only cock with six hens > I shouldn’t be capable standing proper on my legs in his place, because it’s now the time of the year !!

BUZZARD (Buteo buteo): 1 young male; out of the “bushbush” next to the church of St. Nicolas in Chalatsés (just before Pérama). No fractures or other injuries could be discovered, but the right pupil remains behind the other one and the bird has the head turned to the left. So observation cerebral. Intake-weight was 503 gram > so too light !(see a.o. March 13th).

BROWN BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata): 1 adult from Troulótti Thermís; was in a very bad condition. Body-weight was only 275 gram, had shot-injury in the left leg (no fractures), hemorrhages in the throat (even visible from inside the mouth) and lower on the left side of the throat. Swallowing was hardly possible. First have a look if there is still life the coming morning before a therapy can be started. (see as well March 10th & 23rd).

LONG-EARED OWL (Asio otus): 1 adult from Pámfila. Very old fracture right humerus (upper-arm), with a separate piece of bone (in the middle) of 18 mm. No blood circulation present anymore in the wing. Dead part of the wing tied up and cut. Antibiotics were injected. Was at intake 198 gram (so too light) and after the amputation 178 gram.

SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos): 1 adult from Skála Eressoú. Observation brain-damage. (see as well March 22nd).

Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea): 1 adult from Skála Eressoú. Observation spinal-injury.

SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE (Testudo graeca ibera): 1 just hatched one; discovered in Mólivos. Intake-weight was ± 12,5 gram.

TOM CAT (Felis catus): 1 ex- from Mólivos; was behaving not as normal and had immense wide-open pupils, which still were reacting on light. Was treated prophylactically against poisonings.

CAT (Felis catus): 1 from Palaiochóri; primipara. Since yesterday no convulsions anymore and was spreading quite a bad odor (is an “understatement” . . . . !!). There was one little tail visible out of the vulva, but that part broke at catching > so was already quite a time dead. Decided to a total ovariohysterectomie > it showed to be 4 kittens; in quite a state of decomposition. The uterus ruptured by fastening !! After the surgery taken-in and put under a heavy “umbrella of antibiotics”. Was half an hour after the surgery already quite smart.

PUPPY (Canis familiaris): 1 not yet half a year old one, knocked down in our village by a Doctor from the IKA (the State-Sick-Fund), who didn’t even stopped . . . . !! Bleeding in the urine-bladder (the urine was pink) and a fracture of the left rear-leg (tibia). Because that fracture wasn’t splint able and we hadn’t any intake-place free at that moment (but the poor soul should have an owner, because of the “collar” around the neck) only 1 ampoule of Konakion was injected and asked to the children to find the owner and bring the puppy back. 

 

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