May 2005

Total amount of visitors this month:  159                      (total this year: 504)

GENERAL NEWS:

May 1^st:  what we expected, happened: we discovered the injured SPARROW (05-068; April 30^th ) at 04.55 a.m. dead in his cage. We could release the COLLARED DOVE (05-041; April 2^nd ’05) > was flying well. By the other COLLARED DOVE (05-057; April ’05) we could remove the splint > it seems the fracture is healed. Only a few days of observation and then to the Aviary for flying-practice. We could stop the further registration of as well the Quail-hen (05-009; January ’05) and the SONG THRUSH (05-037; March ’05) > both birds will remain disabled (hardly or not able to fly). Two visitors late this evening: the people who brought the SONG THRUSH (05-037; March ’05). We had hardly any problems with all the shooting with Eastern; sometimes the shot-pellets were clattering on the laminated iron roof, but that was all. Our new trainee, Raluca Leustean  from Rumania, arrived a “little bit late” > plane was delayed, so she arrived over here at a quarter past midnight > so a short night for us !!

May 2^nd:  except for the Zebra finches, all birds now have moved over from the temporary aviary in the House-next-door to the Aviary in our Court-yard. Tomorrow the last inhabitants (including their nest-boxes) will be moved over. A boy brought-in a female Canary-bird (see over there).  Four visitors from Holland (a couple with 2 children). After 5 p.m. we could release 2 Stripe-necked Terrapins, brought over here by children from the village. They  wanted to keep them, but we could persuade them to let us release them.

May 3^rd:  all birds are back again now in their renewed aviary. Village-children came and brought two COCKS for treatment. At 11.30 a.m. the temporary aviary in the House-next-door was cleaned and again in use for the last bird which was still present in the Wildpark > a female Buzzard (99-031; March ’99). At 11.45 a.m. came the third COCK from the same owner with the same symptoms. Against 6 p.m. the CAT (with cat-flew and an abortion later > see April ’05) was taken to be brought-back to Mólivos. At 7.40 p.m. we received a phone-call from Mytiléne about a “swallow” > will be brought tomorrow (??!!)

May 4^th:  started with the castration of a Tom Cat. Hereafter came back the CAT from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú (05-064; april 27^th ’05) for re-stitching of the belly > the skin-stitches were broken. The AFRICAN GREY PARROT (05-039; March ’05) died at the moment Ineke was buying something in that shop > taken back home for P.M. > had lots of fluid in the thorax and also around the heart. Two Greek visitors and one Dutch. The PIGEON (05-054; April ’05) went back after 18 days to the owner in a good condition. The COLLARED DOVE (05-057; April ’05 from Ágia Paraskeví; open wing-fracture) went to the Aviary for flying-practice.

May 5^th:  the whole morning busy with the basement on the first floor of the last aviary > partially breaking away of the basement of the old “water-deposit” (see February 8^th & 9^th ) and the brick-laying of necessary walls. In the evening we noticed we had placed one of the walls on the wrong place > so we must start tomorrow-morning with breaking down that wall and do it again. Let’s hope we can manage without damaging the bricks too much.

May 6^th:  we could release well the PALLID SWIFT. Four toddler-tortoises (vintages 2002 & 2003) were “re-homed” in the new Aviary. The wrong-build wall was demolished and again constructed. The whole morning busy with bending pieces of 12 mm iron and placing them in the wall (as a kind of ladder). Three visitors from Holland (of them 2 volunteers).

May 7^th:  with the help of the 2 volunteers we could paint and place a really good part of the iron skeleton of the last aviary. The strange corners are causing severe brain-racking. At the Evening-feeding-round we discovered dead in the Pigeon-aviary in “The Keep” the white Pigeon with the hanging wing (03-078, May 2003). In spite of her inborn wing-defect she was a perfect mother for several nests, and luckily she didn’t pass her disorder to her children. One of those is still present. By the plucking of the feathers (we need them still for preparing food for the Owls) we noticed  she was “covered” with skin-tumors !!

May 8^th:  busy with the dumping of rubble (see May 5^th) on the rubbish-dump of Ágia Paraskeví, very  early in the morning, we discovered over there a (probably) poisoned YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. Taken him/her with us. During the morning-hours we had to perform for the third time a surgery on the goat-lamb “MijLa” > she had all kind of lumps on her belly and we were afraid for tumors. Luckily they all were the “remainings” of the surgery before (read: puss-lumps) > we emptied them all and the belly was closed again. In the morning 4 Dutch birdwatchers and in the afternoon the director of some Dutch Travel-agencies (a couple with 2 children) > they are willing to adopt and take with them the 5 little kittens (April 23^rd). Further a phone-call from the island of  Chíos about a kitten with severe cat-flew > will (probably) be brought tomorrow.

May 9^th:  the YELLOW-LEGGED GULL was released well. We worked the whole morning constructing the Crow-aviary. Just before the siesta we picked-up the kitten from Chíos from the coach at the Shell-petrol-station.

May 10^th:  we discovered in the Aviary a moribund COLLARED DOVE > showed later to be 03-220; September ’03 > shot half-blind and with a wing fracture. Died in our hands. The whole morning busy with the last Aviary > is almost ready now. After the siesta we continued working and just before 7.15 p.m. the skeleton was ready. 4 Dutch visitors today. We took in a baby HOUSE-SPARROW.

MAY 11^th:  early in the morning the baby-sparrow was still alive. We started this day with the sterilization of the cat “JoMei” (04-184c; August ’04) and the castration of the tom-cat “Mosjé” (04-192; as well August ’04). The “construction-crew” started with bringing scrolls of netting & pieces of trees from the Wildpark to the Hospital, for use in the Crow-Aviary. During the morning a part of the netting is done and the trees are placed in the Aviary.

May 12^th:  busy with the netting of the last aviary. An injured Hoopoe arrived. Four Dutch visitors (couple with 2 children). Late in the evening a juvenile HOUSE-SPARROW was brought-in.

May 13^th:  the last aviary has all its netting and the door as well is hanging. By the building of this last aviary we had the assistance from a Dutch volunteer and from our son Martin (who spent several days of his holiday on the Island here to help us). Both we will give our thanks. Now only some small details, and the day after tomorrow the Hooded Crows and the Jackdaw can be moved over. The Buzzard will “fill” their old aviary. We received a phone-call from Polichnítos: Monday May 16^th a complete school from there will visit us.

May 14^th:  at 10.15 a.m. the members of the Crow-family were exploring their new aviary. The Buzzard entered 5 minutes later in her new “home” as well. Two visitors from Holland came > colleagues (from the shelter in Deventer). 1 Young, injured SPARROW was taken in. Late in the afternoon 3 Dutch visitors came.

May 15^th:  the injured SPARROW (= juvenile SPARROW nr. 3) survived the night and is, concerning the injuries, doing quite well. Later that morning we had to put it down. During the morning we received 8 visitors: 2 from Germany, 3 from Holland and 3 from Polichnítos (a couple with a child). Today in the Pigeon-Aviary in “The Keep” the first born over there (out-of disabled parents) Pigeons had left their nest > already NOW we have a home for them.

May 16^th:  the working-day began with giving our black dog “Humpy” (98-017; February ’98) his yearly” great service-turn”: under total anesthetic (we are loving our fingers too much !!) dental-stone was removed, ears were cleaned and nails were clipped, a sporting summary hair-cut was given and tens of tics were removed. The three of us had 3 quarters of an hour hard labour with this !! Because our old “door-plate” was a little bit shabby due to the weather, one of our “builders of last year” had taken with him one of the antique roof-tiles (really mend for the roof above the release-cage for the Barn Owls > August 11^th 2004) and he has made a new one for us, that was placed this morning. The Nursery Class from Polichnítos came to visit the L.W.H. > 30 children, 30 (grand-)parents and 4 teachers > a really Greek “sh.t-hullabaloo” . The “chief-infant school teacher” could only communicate with the children by screaming, and we should try to keep those little “hopes-of-the-nation” a bit quiet! But we (and the birds/animals) have survived !! As well (at almost the same moment)  a visit from an American, living in France. Owing to this we now already have outnumbered the total amount of visitors in 2004.

The White BARN OWL (05-061; April ’05) with the fracture of the shoulder moved over this evening (hoping for the best) to the Barn Owl-Aviary in “The Keep” > probably she will remain disabled. Let’s hope she will start eating on her own.

May 17^th:  we didn’t discover the BARN OWL (see yesterday) dead in the Aviary, so . . . .  All the windows of the House-next-door, where till today never had been in any glass, received their glass today. We could do so, because on several trips to the rubbish-dump we took with us lots of still unbroken windows & glass-doors > gathered and taken with us. Over here our trainee Raluca “gained experience” by removing carefully the glass. We even can repair now some broken windows in our house !!

May 18^th:  in the morning 2 Dutch visitors. A child brought a fallen nest with 4 baby HOUSE-SPARROWS, In the afternoon 3 Dutch visitors with a lot of medicines for the animals.

May 19^th:  in the morning 9 Dutch visitors. As well the three Dutch visitors from yesterday-afternoon > now bringing a small neglected dog with a grass-seed in its eye > grass-seed removed and hair & puss around the two eyes as well. Advices were given how to treat further this injury. Neither the bringers, nor the dog was counted in the statistics. We received a phone-call from a school in Pámfila > they almost forced us to receive that school tomorrow-morning > we had to answer negative, because one of us will be at the air-port to “deliver” a dog & a cat for export to Holland. They couldn’t understand our difficulties !! In the afternoon a visit from two of our Dutch experts: Mr. Jelle Hofstra (we ask him difficult questions about reptiles & amphibians) and Mr. Ben Steinfort (who is our source of information for difficult to determine birds). He took, like every year, some pictures from skulls we collected in the last year with him back to Holland > with this he is cooperating with an English University-publication. We from our side are sending as much as possible dates for this scientific publication.

May 20^th:  at 9.30 a.m. the dog “Joel/Yule” disappeared on the conveyor-belt on his way to Holland by plane. At the same time the cat “MeiMei” was taken as cabin-luggage on the same flight; as well on her way to Holland. 1 Juvenile SPARROW (House ?? Spanish ??) picked-up at the Shell-Petrol-Station. In the afternoon an injured DOVE arrived. In the evening we received a phone-call from Mytiléne about a PIGEON with a broken wing > will be send tomorrow by coach. Some messages from Holland: it all went well during the journey for “Joel/Yule” and “MeiMei” and both families are super-enthusiastic with both animals (except for the sharp claws of “MeiMei” )

May 21^st: in the morning we took in an injured juvenile SWALLOW. Two Dutch visitors. We picked-up the injured DOVE at the Shell-Petrol-station. In the afternoon another 3 visitors: 2 from the Free-state of Bavaria and an English woman from Skála Eressoú (board-member of the Shelter over there). The 5 thrown-away KITTENS (05-063; April ’05) are not OK at all > we fear with great fears.

May 22^nd:  in the morning again a juvenile SPARROW was taken-in. In the afternoon the last living “inhabitants” of the Wildpark were taken back: our Mealworm-nursery. Hereafter again a juvenile SPARROW was taken in. At 6 p.m. the weakest of the 5 kittens (temporarily named by us “Anklet”; to separate her from her brother “Stocking”) went back to the Source of all Life. Late in the evening a YELLOW-LEGGED GULL was brought-in.

May 23^rd:  a very young GULL (the “egg-tooth” was still present!) picked-up in Skála Kallonís > only the ambulance “gave up” and we had to be brought home.

May 24^th:  the ambulance-car is still in the garage > a spare-part should come from Athens, so . . . . . At 1 p.m. we had the car back and we were a bit more poor than we were before.

The White Barn Owl (see May 16^th) we discovered around midday dead on the bottom of the aviary > so she didn’t make it.

May 25^th:  the whole morning busy with replacing broken windows in our staircase > cats are able to sit and watch the birds without problems. One visitor from Ireland.

May 26^th:  we received a message from our Dutch “Bird-expert” that our “Laughing Gull” is a common Yellow-legged Gull. Early in the morning we “de-mothered” the cat “Rèsta”. At the evening-feeding-round we discovered in 2 Barn Owl-nesting-blocks in “the Keep” hatching-eggs.

May 27^th:  on our way to Skála Kallonís in Arianá  we could save the life of a SWALLOW. A phone-call from Mytiléne about an African Grey Parrot with eye-problems. We have treated this bird last year as well. Will be brought tomorrow. One Dutch visitor.

May 28^th:  the BUZZARD (05-067; April ’05) went as a disabled bird to the Buzzard-aviary on top of our bathroom. The HOOPOE (05-078; May 12^th) went as a probably invalid to the Aviary. The AFRICAN GREY PARROT arrived quite early. In the siesta we picked-up a young PIGEON in Mytiléne. Hereafter a German party of travelers (20 people + guide) with an injured Stripe-necked Terrapin.

May 29^th:  2 young PIGEONS were brought-in > picked by other pigeons. After an interruption of several weeks we could continue with the demolishing of the last 2 aviaries in the Wildpark. Two Dutch visitors (those who were responsible for the rescue of the bitch “Maria” Via e-mail we could give advices to a woman in Hallandale (Florida-USA) about the lodging / feeding / age of Spurr-tighed Tortoises.

May 30^th:  in the former Wildpark we flattened today Aviary VIII (where the Scop’s Owl was lodged) almost complete. Two COLLARED DOVES from Mytiléne picked-up from the coach.

May 31^st:  the Stripe-necked Terrapin received a polyester protection over her injuries and was released in the “East-River” in Kallonís.  Six Visitors from Holland.

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 329 (total this year 1387 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 35 [wild ones: 22; others 13], (total this year 116 > : wild ones 049, others 67; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3070),  of which:

CANARY-BIRD (Serinus canaria dom.): 1 female from Ágia Paraskeví >  problems with laying her egg: was breathing very difficult and had a huge swollen abdomen. The cloacae was punctuated and a wind-egg was sucked out. In the beginning the prognosis didn’t seem very good, but during the day it improved and in the evening she was sitting perfect upright. Went the next day in tip-top condition back to the happy owner .

COCK (Gallus gallus dom.): 3 juvenile male chickens from Ágia Paraskeví > probably Diphteritis. Antibiotics were given. The first of the three discovered dead next morning at 6 a.m.. P.M. > our diagnosis was confirmed: the larynx was affected and so was the right lung. The second died at 12.54 p.m. and the third we discovered dead at 3.55 p.m. as well. No further P.M. was done.

TOM CAT (Felis catus): 2; both from Ágia Paraskeví > the first had been here as well April 23^rd (see at that date) > now he was “de-fathered”. The second was “Mosjé” (see May 11^th )

CAT (Felis catus): 2 from the L.W.H. > “JoMei” and “ Rèsta” > were “de-mothered”.

PALLID SWIFT (Apus pallidus): 1 adult from Mytiléne > discovered May 3^rd. Open fracture of the upper-bill (inside > hit something ??) Released well.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus cachinnans michael.): 2; the first an adult, discovered on the rubbish-dump of our village > probably eaten “something wrong” > was vomiting and could be caught without gloves. Atropine & Apomorfine were injected > now wait & see. Was released the next day in the Salines > flew away at the spot. The second was brought-in late in the evening > discovered in the Salines by a father with 2 children (one of those had been here with an excursion and had been very attentive !! “I HAD to bring him  !!) Has eaten poison and/or is very old. We injected Atropine and now it’s “wait & see”. Next morning at 4.55 a.m. discovered dead in its cage. No P.M. was done.

KITTEN (Felis catus): 1 small Tom-cat; about 4 – 4,5 weeks old with a severe cat-flu> both eyes are in a bad condition.

Came from the Island of Chíos and is bone- & bone-thin. Prognosis ?? The left eye seems to be “gone”, while the right one has probably still some function. Three days after intake we started to have some hope about the condition of the left eye. May 18^th he was taken by the woman who had discovered him on Chíos > she will take him to Mytiléne and he will become a house-cat over there.

HOUSE-SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 9; the first was a baby from Skála Kallonís > discovered in the streets by our “construction-crew” during a visit of the beach in the siesta. Is very, very young, so . . . . Died in the morning after intake (due to internal bleedings). The second came from our village and was brought-in at about 8.30 p.m. > is much older, so that one will have a better chance. Died in spite of a better prognosis after one week. Number three (another juvenile from our village) was bitten by a cat > antibiotics and wait & see. We had to put it down > was in a bad condition and was suffering. The next 4 were “delivered” in their nest > one has a leg-fracture as well. The first of this series died in the night of May 25^th – 26^th. The 2^nd died in our hands on the 27^th . The 3^rd gave-up the battle one day afterwards. The last one of this nest stayed alive just one day longer. Nr eight was coming as well from our village and seems to have a bill-deformation . . . . .  Discovered dead May 27^th. The ninth came from the same address as his/her predecessor > is only juvenile. However, died after 2 days.

SPARROW (Passer ????): 1 juvenile from / via Mytiléne > delivered & send to us by a Vet over there. Is still unknown what kind of SPARROW it is > maybe we’ll know when he/she is fully grown and still alive. Condition isn’t so well. Discovered dead the next day in the evening.

HOOPOE (Upupa epops): 1 adult from around Pérama > open fracture left Humerus > splinted.

Went May 28^th  as a probably disabled to the Aviary. In spite of the fact that this bird should be “easy to keep in an aviary”, this one is refusing to eat, so must be fed by hand twice a day.

Ondanks het bijvoeren, in de middag van de 31^e dood in de voliere aangetroffen.

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 3; the first  from Ágia Paraskeví > was born last year in Aviary II in the Wildpark and later given/sold to a child. Was kept together with Chickens & Helmeted Guinea-Fowls > was severe picked by one of those. Was as well not good fed !! The second came from Mytiléne and had a fracture of the hand-part of the left wing > hanging cast was given. Had as well an old fracture of the right wing > so will stay probably for ever. Went May 31^st to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. Number 3 was a juvenile and was picked-up in Mytiléne > had entered a cafeteria and refused to fly away. Should be injured, but no injuries were found.

BABY-PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 2 very young chickens from Ágia Paraskeví > severe picked by others of the same kind > several holes needed to be stitched > taken-in for further treatment.

SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica): 2; the first a juvenile from Ágia Paraskeví > injured on the head. Discovered dead next morning. The second was an adult; discovered in Arianá in the middle of the road. Probably hit by a car > observation brain-damage. Was released the same day in the afternoon > was flying like a Spitfire.

Gull-chicken (Larus N.N.): 1 about 5 days old baby, discovered under a tree in the harbor of Skála Kallonís with a cat close to it. Isn’t yet known what kind of Gull it is; comparing to the picture it could be a “Laughing Gull”, only that’s an American species.

Body-weight by intake was 52 gram !! Had gained weight after the first day with 12 gram !! The day hereafter bodyweight was 90 gram !! May 26^th in the morning the body-weight was 108 gram !! In the afternoon our baby started by him/herself picking food, or even better to glut !

Two days later the body-weight early in the morning had risen till 168 gram !! May 30^th the weight was already 220 gram > must soon have another cage !!  The last day of the month the body-weight early in the morning was 248 gram !!

AFRICAN GREY PARROT (Psittacus erithracus): 1 adult from Mytiléne > is coming back every year with the same symptoms: a streaming cold / rhinotrachitis etc. Was already here on 2003 (July) and in 2004 (May). Will be treated again with a double antibiotics-cure > Greeks will NEVER learn !!

Day by day the situation of this patient worsened > id bone-thin and refuses to eat. So the prognosis isn’t so well at all. Died the last day of May.

STRIPE-NECKED TERRAPIN (Mauremys caspica): 1 adult from ???? Discovered by a German party of travelers. Is overrun by a car (injuries among others open fracture of the left upper-jaw and on the breast-shell [open fracture thoracic-part] and other injuries). Will be repaired with polyester. Late in the evening we discovered SHE had laid 6 eggs (of which 1 was broken).

We tried to contact Holland to know what and how to do > only our “reptile-expert” is on holiday on the island over here and isn’t reachable by phone !! At last, after hours and hours of calling, we could reach a Greek expert, who could tell us HOW to act. The eggs will be “buried” tomorrow. There is as well a fracture of the left rear-leg > concerning this, the fracture of the thoracic part and the other injuries are only taped with sport tape. The eggs are “buried” May 29^th on a safe place. May 31^st the taped pieces were covered with polyester and she was released later that day in the “East-River” in Kallonís. 

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 2 from Mytiléne > the first, a juvenile, had a closed fracture of the right wing (hand-part) with huge hemorrhages > hanging cast was given. The second was an adult and “delivered” by one of the better Vets > should have a broken wing as well > showed to have a huge hole in the crop due to an air-gun-pellet > closed with 1 agrafe. Both wings and legs were intact !!