May 2007

LOG-BOOK:

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

May 1^st:  we discovered at 6.10 a.m. in the barn-owl-cage in “The Keep” a white barn Owl, laying on the floor. See further at WHITE BARN OWL.

Release:

At 8.45 a.m. went back to the owners in a 100% condition the little female Rabbit (07-049; April 25^th ’07).

We changed the bandage around the wing-stump of the Glossy Ibis (07-048; April 25^th ’07) > injury was smelling well. The whole day busy with sending the monthly reports, burning of data etc. At the evening-feeding-round we discovered that the broody Little Owl had 5 (warm) eggs. Both trainees Saskia and Monique are since the noon in Hotel “Pasiphae” for promoting our “shop”. In the evening we both suffered from some kind of food-poisoning: vomiting & diarrhoea.

May 2^nd:  the problems of last evening caused lots of unrest during the night and due to this the bitch “Mítsi” took her chance and at 3.50 a.m. we heard a breaking noise and some pitiful miaow > the little Tom-cat “Sámo”  stopped breathing at 4.10 a.m. . . . . Meanwhile both trainees have reported about their experiences from last night, but we are too sick to write it down. At 10.53 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Pigeon with wing-problems > one wants to come and bring the bird. And that happened at 5.15 p.m. > see further at PIGEON. The bearer was showed around as well. Further 2 Dutch visitors (those who had adopted in May 2005 de dog “Joel”, now “Ílios”). And luckily that both trainees came back early from their half day-off, because at our side it kept streaming from two sides . . . . !!

May 3^rd:  for one of us it was a “lousy night” again > she was sitting half of the night on the edge of her bed and completing the catastrophe the bitch “Skágia” jumped into a bowl with vomit . . . .  There is continued with the clearing away of both court-yards (with which there was started already yesterday) and thereafter the already measured & sawed pieces of wood for the foot-bridge over the roof of “The Keep” were painted grey. We have transferred (as a proof) the Long-eared Owl into the cage of the Short-eared Owl. We made a more   “blooming” photo-graph of the Glossy Ibis.

The visit from the Long-eared Owl to the Short-eared Owl seems to be without any damage to both birds > now have a look if we can enlarge this. Just after 6 p.m. both trainees arrived with a, saved by them from the mouth of “Foúrno”, Worm snake (Typhlops vermicularis). And in spite of looking like a worm, this little one has eyes and scales. The food is mainly ants. After taking a picture we have released him/her on a safer spot and congratulated both ladies with this “record-catch”.

May 4^th:  the little Marginated Tortoise was 118 gram this morning. We have discovered (properly speaking already yesterday morning) that the Long-eared Owl can’t stand anymore on two legs; the right leg isn’t functioning any more. So we’re taking the care for this bird completely in our own hands back again. Changing the bandage of the Glossy Ibis it showed that the injury was healing good and is smelling well. And as well the leg of the taken-back Little Owl is starting to heal good and is dry now. Due to a repeat c.q. continuing of the stomach-/intestine-problems of the last days not much work could be done . . . .

May 5^th:  thanks to a, “organized” by Ineke, rim of a car, we could at last store decently the garden-hose in the court-yard of the House-next-door. We were visited today by a delegation of the “Foundation for Animal-help Venezuela”: the chairman, Mark Vos, and the treasurer, Marcel Engel. They came to discuss, in view of the being near at hand changes, the co-operation between them and the L.W.H.  Both trainees left meanwhile for Hotel “Pasiphae” in Skála Kallonís for the 2^nd (and last ?) evening promoting of our work. After the siesta a visit from (ex-)students Ecology from the Aegean University in Mytiléne: 6 adults, 1 child and a cute little doggy.

May 6^th:  there is some improvement in the use of the Long-eared Owl’s right leg. We had to remove a dead piece of humerus in the wing-injury of the Glossy Ibis to accelerate the healing. The leg of the Little Owl is complete dry now. Just before the siesta 8 Dutch visitors. A pair of horns of a ram, discovered and rescued by us from the garbage-dump, changed owner for a “friendly price”. Because of the weather (almost 30 degrees centigrade air-temperature in the shadow) started with the evening-feeding-round more than half an hour later.

May 7^th:  today again “meat-cutting-day” and together 9,905 kilo of meat, liver & minced-meat (price 67,51 Euro) was processed. Total this year now 224,9 kilo for 1392,05 Euro. We’ve started with the repair of the water-fall in the Aviary in our court-yard. At 2.23 p.m. the first juvenile HOUSE SPARROW of this year was brought-in > see further over there. And because we were broad awake, continued with making the water-fall watertight. Because of the warm weather, the evening-feeding-round for “the Keep” was postponed till after 7 p.m.

May 8^th:  the little Marginated Tortoise was 127 gram this morning (!!). We have discovered that from the 5 eggs of the broody Little Owl 2 are put beside and aren’t brooded anymore. The disabled Little Owl with the leg-problems could be transferred again to the little owl-aviary in “The Keep”. And after removing from the water-deposit from the water-fall more than half a bucket of ink-black fluid and cleaning of the deposit, and after the pump/filter as well was cleaned and again installed, the water-fall was running as in the past and even after one hour we couldn’t find any leakage. We discovered the juvenile House Sparrow at 5.12 p.m. dead in it’s cage; had been the whole day more and more inert. So after all a “nest-misfit”.

May 9^th:  we were able to buy a lot of plants (a.o. Yucca’s) for a “friendly price” for the re-planting-up of the Aviary and the planting-up of new build aviaries and pens. Just before 2 p.m. 2 English birdwatchers, who had seen a young donkey in the neighborhood of the Dasonomeío (Forest Patrol) in Arísvi (Kalloní), with should have huge abscesses on 2 legs > we’ve tried to reach about everyone and at last a State-Vet will go and have a look . . . . . tomorrow (??)

May 10^th:  we started with the renovation of the Aviary in our court-yard; we had to catch a COLLARED DOVE, which showed to be quite “far gone” > see over there. We could diminish over there the W.R.P. again with 6 adults and 1 baby. The renovated Aviary looked like this around 11 a.m.:

And we have released in the new bushes the picked Quail-cock (07-051; April 27^th ’07). At 1.50 p.m. 2 children with a juvenile SPARROW, gasping for breath. The poor creature died in our hands . . . . Later it showed to be that a huge ant (soldier), which had digged itself, was in the mouth of the sparrow. So the bird died from a poisoning with acid formicarum. Not in the statistics.

May 11^th:  when we took out the doggies for a wee at 4.55 a.m., it showed to be that still (at least) 5 mice were alive in the aviary, and the air-gun failed . . .  !! So it will be a search today. The yesterday taken-back Collared Dove was still alive this morning. We have with “hand-force” one of the this morning discovered mice “transformed” . . . !! Controlling the air-gun it showed to be that a solitary living bee had made a nest in the barrel . . . . with lots of trouble this wad of ± 5 cm long could be removed, and as well the bee and two jammed shot-pellets. The air-gun is in good working order again, but the muzzle is taped-of now. Later this morning we could catch and destroy a second mouse. In the House-next-door we could replace a broken window with old glass, left-over from our house. After 5 p.m. 2 Dutch visitors. During the conducted tour we discovered that the Scop’s Owls had caught and “demolished” a mouse, which had entered their cage. They however didn’t eat their prey.

May 12^th:  as well last night the Scop’s Owls hadn’t eaten from their self-caught prey. The Collared Dove, re-taken-in the day before yesterday, was brought back to the Aviary in our court-yard. We had 2 Dutch visitors. At 11.28 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne from the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí, that she should send with the coach of 1.15 p.m. a Pigeon, which was caught by a cat. And it showed to be a COLLARED DOVE, which we had in our hands at 2.02 p.m. > see further over there. Is the 3600^th registered intake !! And at 1.35 p.m. we received a phone-call from Parákoila, that Douglas & Janice had discovered over there in a dust-bin two thrown-away alive “tweety-chickens”. If possible they should come and bring them. And they were here at 4.05 p.m. > see at TWEETY-CHICKEN.  At the evening-feeding-round we discovered at 7.45 p.m. a brown female Pigeon, picked to death by her cage-inmates > it was one of the eldest pigeons we hade over here. And one minute later we discovered the worst of the two tweety-chickens not alive anymore.

May 13^th:  the 2^nd tweety-chicken was still alive early this morning, but was very cold. The new Collared Dove is doing well. With the help of the renovated air-gun we could give a young rat “air-conditioning”; hereafter we discovered 3 without a swimming-license in the water-deposit of the pump and at last “Foúrno” discovered another one and she succeeded to promote this one into “owl-fodder”. Hereafter in exactly 3 quarters of an hour the four of us could give “Humpy” (98-017; February 13^th 1998) his annual “maintenance-service”: trimming, removing ticks, clipping of nails, cleaning ears, removing tartar (and we had to extract 2 elements) and re-vaccinating. Not in the statistics. Later this morning we could trim as well the bitch “Mítsi” (06-223; October 25^th ’06): a pleasure to trim a dog this time without a complete anesthetic. At 12.05 p.m. the 2^nd Tweety-chicken was discovered dead. After 12.30 p.m. we discovered suddenly above the water-deposit in the aviary a more than 80 cm long Leopard Snake (Elaphe situla); with lots of troubles we could pull it out and release it in the open field

Hereafter there was a woman at the door with a, severe bleeding from the mouth, he-dog: dog had bitten a weasel and the weasel had bitten the dog in the mouth. Tried to get the dog “flat” (trying so, the dog had bitten one of use quite hard in the left hand). At last, with a double dose of anesthetics, the dog went asleep. See further at DOG.

May 14^th:  at 4.55 a.m. we already could shoot the first young rat. The Collared Dove from the day before yesterday was discovered dead in its cage at 5.50 a.m. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and together there was 11,495 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat processed (total 74,71 Euro). Total this year now 236,395 kilo for 1466,76 Euro. At 10 a.m. a phone-call from the Vet-practice of Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne, that they had taken-in over there a “strange bird” with a long neck and long bill, which should be caught by a cat > broken wing. Will be send by the coach of 11.00 a.m. And we had the bird in our hands at 11.45 a.m. > a female LITTLE BITTERN > see over there. Meanwhile 2 Dutch visitors. And while we were at the Bank, signing lots of papers, the 2 trainees “angled” a COLLARED DOVE from the bottom of the aviary, which was lying on its back, not capable of walking anymore and covered with ants. Was the same bird we had re-taken-in some days ago. At 8.50 p.m. someone from Kavála (18 hours with the ferry), who came to bring a, bitten by a cat, juvenile BLACKBIRD > see further over there.

May 15^th:  all new patients were still alive this morning !! The juvenile Carrier-pigeon (07-050; April 26^th ’07) was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. And so as well the Pigeon, taken in May 2^nd (07-054).

Release:

We  have released in the Salines the Glossy Ibis (07-048), which had come-in April 25^th. In spite of her handicap this was real the best solution.

In the morning 3 Dutch and 1 Italian visitor. At 8.32 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Pigeon with a broken wing > will be send by coach (if everything is going according to plan) tomorrow.

May 16^th:  the little Marginated Tortoise (06-218; October 22^nd ’06) is transferred with 126 gram body-weight to the big tortoise-pen. The first he/she did, was . . . . . taking an extensive sun-bath !! After several times trying to reach the woman of the Pigeon (with the broken wing), we at last could contact her and heard that it was impossible for her to send the bird today > tomorrow ?? This doesn’t seem us quite optimum for the healing of the fracture !! At 3.57 p.m. a phone-call from the Shell-petrol-station, that one had discovered over there a box containing a Pigeon > so probably for us. So picked-up > see further at CARRIER-PIGEON. At 6.25 p.m. our highly-pregnant little friend Násja phoned, that she should pass-by with a little bird with a broken leg. She was here at 6.49 p.m. and it was a TWEETY-CHICKEN > see over there. And at 8.02 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a, fallen from the nest (??), young bird > NO Sparrow in any case. We have given the phone-number of the woman from the Pigeon with the broken wing > maybe can be delivered with the same “transport”.

May 17^th:  all patients were still alive this morning. We have discovered that our disabled Barn Owls have eggs in their nest-box . . . . ?? We received a phone-call from Mytiléne, that the young bird will be brought and in the same “shipment” as well the Pigeon with the broken wing. Both birds we had in our hands at almost half past nine. See at SWIFT and at CARRIER-PIGEON. At 10.50 a.m. arrived the (yesterday announced) cat from Eftaloú > pussing injury on the head and an abscess next to it. Abscess opened and injuries cleaned. Meanwhile tried to teach both trainees how to stitch. Did we write April 9^th the following: “In the evening after eight our secretary María Karapolíti was in the court-yard with 2 thrown-away (male) puppies from about 8 weeks old: if we couldn’t take some photographs and place them on the Internet, because maybe people wanted to have those doggies . . . . ?? We have removed some ticks from inside the ears and further they are as healthy as could be, so . . . . ??”, today through our good offices the brown-and-white pup could be re-homed with a German woman in the neighborhood of Mólivos.  At 12.43 p.m. a destroyed nest with 2 tiny Swifts was brought-in > only they have hardly any chance.

From the Internet:

Lake Koroneia getting polluted as water ebbs

The water level of Lake Koroneia, near Thessaloniki, has plunged to a record low of 1 meter, causing a buildup of harmful bacteria that is threatening local wildlife, environmentalists warned yesterday.

If the current lack of rainfall continues, we may witness a similar crisis to the one which hit the lake in 2004, when some 30,000 birds and hundreds of fish were killed by pollutants, according to Savvas Anastassiadis, who heads the crisis management team overseeing lakes Koroneia and Volvi.

Environmental experts and local authorities are coordinating their efforts to monitor the lake and crack down on illegal water drilling and garbage disposal, Anastassiadis told reporters in Thessaloniki. Water samples will also be taken regularly, he said, adding that anyone seeing dead birds near the lake should directly notify the authorities.

Around half past four there was a German family at the door with 2 doggies in the back-side of the car: “if we could . . . . ” It showed to be that they were 2 rescued stray doggies, and they couldn’t any longer lodge them, because a) the land-lord didn’t allow it any longer, b) the Municipality of Pétra threatened to poison the dogs (although the Municipality has the obligation to take care of strays !!), and c) the “Animal-lovers Society of Lesvos” refused to do something and only gave the advice to “dump them somewhere in the woods” !! With lots of efforts we have found people in Mytiléne who would take care of the dogs. While there were made many phone-calls, the whole party ( 2 grown-ups and 2,25 children) was shown around.

May 18^th:  the smallest of the destroyed nest with Swifts was discovered not alive anymore this morning. As well from the Tweety-chicken as from the juvenile Blackbird the leg-splint is removed; starting tomorrow physiotherapies will be given. We picked-up at the Airport our newest trainee, Liesbeth Govaerts from Holland, who has planned to stay until July 3^rd. Meanwhile both “elderly” trainees have replaced us perfectly; including feedings !!  At 5.44 p.m. a phone-call from the Limenarchío in Mytiléne about a Pigeon, which evidently has/had problems > will be send by coach of 11.00 a.m. At 4.10 p.m. at last after weeks of drought (the last rain-shower was April 5^th !!) it started raining. We received a phone-call from the Limenarchío, that the announced Pigeon meanwhile has changed the temporary for the eternal . . . !!

May 19^th:  the oldest juvenile Swift was discovered dead in the nest at 5.45 a.m. At 10.48 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a baby-owl (which was fed with ham !!) > will be brought tonight (we hope !!). And it took lots of persuasion to force the man to hand-over the bird > after all he is punishable by law  when he tries to keep the bird. So we’re going for a ride tomorrow-morning to pick-up the bird !!

May 20^th: we discovered dead the last juvenile Swift this morning. The disabled Long-eared Owl evidently doesn’t “believe in it” anymore and is giving back all the given food. The disabled Collared Dove is again (for how long ??) transferred to the Aviary. The Pigeon with the old wing-fracture is transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. One of the two fractures of the humerus of the Little Bittern is healed. At 10.15 a.m. we had in Mytiléne the young owl in our hands > see further at LITTLE OWL (body-weight at intake was 81 gram; adult birds are: male > 140-180 gram, female > 150-200 gram).

On the way back we were able rescuing a female SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE from being smashed by Greek drivers > taken with us; see further over there. Meanwhile 2 Dutch visitors. And at 12.13 p.m. a mother with a “wisp of a daughter” came and brought a fallen-from-the-nest juvenile SPARROW > see over there. Just before the siesta again 2 Dutch visitors. In the siesta a phone-call from Skála Kallonís from a Dutch tourist over there, that one had shot the dog of her neighbor. To inform against the murderer, they however needed an official statement. And because our traumatologist in his “former life” was educated as Assistant Forensic Medicine, this statement can be given. At 5.30 p.m. however a phone-call, that the dog was too heavily swollen > tomorrow a State-Vet will perform the P.M. The owner however was LAUGHED AT by the police in Kalloní when she came over there to make her statement . . . . !!

May 21^st:  the baby Little Owl had gained 10 gram since intake and was 91 gram early this morning. We have removed the agrafes from the injury of Carrier-pigeon nr 1. He/she is starting to use the legs again and tries to stand upright. So there was a spinal-damage as well. We have discovered that the baby Little Owl’s head isn’t straight upright ! Today again the weekly “meat-cutting-day” and together 11,1 kilo meat, minced meat & liver was processed (total amount 74,21 Euro). Total this year 247,495 kilo for 1540,97 Euro. And while we were on our way back from the Court-house (the mortgage of the House-next-door), we were phoned by a woman from Mytiléne about a disturbed nest with some tiny white birds in it: small bills and small tallons. We’ve asked her to send them with the coach of 1.15 p.m. from Mytiléne. Hereafter we were phoned by the local Pharmacist from our village, who had some Dutch tourists in his shop, who wanted to visit us > those people we’ve told how to walk and straight hereafter we’ve informed the “home-front” about the coming visitors. Four adults and one child. While we were busy with the “guided tour” 2 English people with a discovered (thrown-away) male kitten were in front of the door > was taken-in. The bearers were showed around as well. And while we were hurrying to be in time for the coach, a phone-call came from Kalloní about a juvenile Sparrow. Will be delivered, but when ?? At 1.57 p.m. we had a box in our hands, with herein a squeaking, alive content. But we were informed at the spot, that there was an injured bird of prey in the fields, direction of Mytiléne. So the box was delivered quickly > showed to be 4 baby Little Owls > see over there. Hereafter 2 trainees were “loaded” and on our way to spot the injured bird of prey. At last she (a female Buzzard) was spotted, but she wasn’t injured because she flew away when we approached her > so a trip in vain.

From the Internet:

Study shows country has drought pattern

As preparations to tackle a possible water shortage this summer gather pace, a new study seen by Sunday’s Kathimerini suggested that Greece has suffered one- or two-year droughts at regular intervals over the last 147 years.

The research shows that there has been a mild one-year drought roughly every five years, a serious one-year drought every 10 years and an extensive two-year drought about every 25 years.

The report produced by the Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems and Forest Products shows that Greece’s worst drought on record was in 1898 when there was only 116 centimeters of rainfall during the whole year.

The most recent drought was in 2000, when annual rainfall totaled just 228 centimeters.

However, the study indicates that a year of drought and a year of heavy rainfall, which leads to flooding, are usually only one or two years apart.

The scientists who took part in the research suggest that the study could be used by authorities to prepare for droughts or floods.

“The common factor in the last two droughts (1989-90 and 2000-01) has been that the measures to ease their impact were taken once the effects were already visible,” Dr Giorgos Baloutsos of the National Agricultural Research Foundation told Kathimerini.

“The drawing up of a plan to manage a drought is even more useful today,” Baloutsos added. “The lack of such a plan means that we are tackling this year’s drought problems with last-minute measures that are usually costly and have limited impact.”

Stormy weather hits Greece

Violent storms throughout Saturday disrupted air and sea transport around Greece and obliged the fire service to pump water out of basements but did not result in any injuries.

A German charter flight that was carrying 244 passengers was forced to make an emergency landing at Athens International Airport after being struck by lightning. The aircraft had taken off from Chania, Crete. Two Olympic Airlines flights to Rhodes and Chios (our neighbor-island > note L.W.H.) were forced to return to Athens because of the stormy weather over the Aegean.

Two cruise ships anchored in port on the island of Rhodes were slightly damaged when the mooring ropes of the Oceanic II snapped and the vessel struck the Rhapsody. A private catamaran also sank in the Mandraki area of the island but nobody was on board.

The fire service had to pump water from more than a dozen basements in Piraeus on Saturday after heavy rain in Attica. Firemen also evacuated a hotel on Tinos as the building’s basement had flooded.

After 6 p.m. a whole international party (12 people from Salzburg, Münster, Grafrath, Augsburg, Überlingen am Bodensee, Utting am Ammersee, Bonn, Memmingen, Regensburg, Liechtenstein and the Dominican Republic.

May 22^nd:  all newly taken-in birds were still alive this morning. The eldest juvenile Little Owl (red) had gained 9 gram. The other four had gained weight as well: the smallest (green) with 2 gram, orange with 5 gram and blue with 7 gram. The biggest (silver) had gained 5 gram as well. Due to the continuing rain and the “quicksandy” condition of the bottom of the crow-aviary, we have lodged temporarily the blind Rood and the “misfit” Jackdaw in the fox-cage in “The Keep”. At 10.01 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a fallen-from-the-nest swallow > will be send by the coach from 11 a.m. And we had the bird at 11.50 a.m. in our hands > see at SWALLOW. A visit from 4 English people from Newcastle-on-Tyne.

From the Internet:

Weather woes may be due to natural change

Volatile weather conditions across Greece in the last few weeks, including some of the highest May temperatures recorded in the last 47 years, could be due to abrupt seasonal changes rather than the greenhouse effect, according to a leading weather expert.

Dimitris Ziakopoulos, head of forecasting at the National Meteorological Service (EMY), told Kathimerini that it would not be scientifically correct to blame sudden changes in weather on the greenhouse effect. Natural weather volatility can also cause climate change and this could be behind the sharp fluctuations, Ziakopoulos added.

Temperatures in Athens last week reached as high as 33 Celsius (92.3 Fahrenheit) degrees while the highest May temperature previously recorded was 34.6C (94.2F) in 1960. Experts said the weather should improve for the upcoming long weekend.

At 2.56 p.m. a phone-call from Mória, that a huge white bird had crash-landed on the playground of the primary school over there, and that the children were very terrified > so we went for a ride. See further at YELLOW-LEGGED GULL. Hereafter just after 4 p.m. a Tom-cat arrived with a grass-seed in his eye > see at TOM-CAT. And we received a visit from our “reptile-man” Jelle Hofstra; he and his wife were very envious of our “home-bred” Marginated Tortoise.

May 23^rd:  and as well this morning all patients were still alive. The juvenile Swallow is doing well. From our “Little Owl-family” had red gained 13 gram (=113), green was 7 gram more (=31) and orange as well (=48). Silver had gained 8 gram (=53) and blue 10 gram (=53). In the morning 3 visitors: two from Holland and the mother of one of them from Meinerzhagen, Sauerland (Germany). Shortly after this visit the pump/filter of the Aviary breathes it’s last > a crack in the wall. So tomorrow we’ll try to buy a new one.

And for the third successive day our siesta was “done in” (and this time not for a rescue !) when at 2.35 p.m. a party of very noisy Dutch tourists (not bothering about the siesta-time > our neighbors definitively didn’t appreciate this), standing with their nose in front of the notice-board on which is written that we “between 1.15 and 15.45 p.m. are only open for EMERGENCIES”, very loudly were tolling our bell: they wanted to visit us !! The fact, that we were busy already from 4.50 a.m. and will be busy till after 8 p.m., so we need that siesta, didn’t impress them at all: THEY were on holiday and wanted to visit us unannounced at THAT point of time !! Our request coming back after 3.45 p.m. (they wanted to visit as well the Olive-oil-museum in the village here) didn’t fall on fertile soil, and their departure was if possible even more noisy as their arrival. This kind of behavior isn’t helping at all to cultivate any notion in the other inhabitants of the street for the work we are doing; on the contrary !!

And at 7.25 p.m. 2 starting adolescent girls were at our door with a thrown-away male kitten; ± 14 days old and very dehydrated. In this case as well Liesbeth will “drill for hidden talents” and try to keep this little one alive; she is doing the same with the other little Tom-cat “Salimo”. That we have taken-in the little guy (in spite of a note at the door that we don’t take-in anymore kittens etc.) and not put down, is because of the real courageous efforts of both girls to feed the little one with all possible efforts.

May 24^th:  the dehydrated kitten was “quite alive” this morning; something which hardly could be said from his care-taker . . . . The red Little Owl was 121 gram, silver was 64, blue 58 and orange 57 gram. The little green was 39 gram. The Pigeon with the spinal-injury was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”:  in his efforts to stand on the legs again, he/she was damaging quite seriously both wings. Maybe this will have effect. With both “eldest” trainees we performed the well-known “cultural excursion”; doing so, we could buy as well the new pump. After home-coming it showed to be that the diameter of the new pump is more than from the old pump > so we must enlarge the hole in the concrete floor with force . . . . !! After the siesta 2 German biologists from Hamburg; they could tell us that the bird, we had booked-in May 22^nd as a Swallow, in reality was a RED-RUMPED SWALLOW > so we have changed this in the records.

May 25^th:  the yesterday transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” Carrier-Pigeon with the spinal-injury is doing well over there: in any case the wings aren’t damaged anymore till they were bleeding. The body-weights of the baby Little Owls are as follows: red 135 (+14), silver 76 (+12), blue 67 (+9), orange 65 (+8) and green 49 (+10). And after several “slidings” with the hammer (poor left hand !!) we had at 9.10 a.m. the new pump on it’s place and in working order. The splint is removed from the wing of the little Bittern and the fracture seems to be healed; now only the function . . . . ?? After the siesta was discovered that the Carrier-Pigeon with the spinal-injury had taken a bath, but had been unable to leave the water > was soaking wet, but luckily found by Liesbeth.

From the Internet:

Heavy rain spurs Attica floods

Hours of heavy rainfall yesterday flooded hundreds of homes and stores across Attica and caused widespread problems on roads.

The northwestern suburbs were the worst hit, particularly Zephyri, Menidi, Thracomakedones and Ano Liosia. There was also damage to homes at the foot of Mount Parnitha. Brief power cuts also occurred in the northern and eastern suburbs.

The fire service received about 500 calls to pump out flooded basements and to rescue drivers from cars submerged in rivers of water up to 1 meter deep. Firemen on Salamina, off the coast of Athens, had to rescue several vehicles after the roads around the island’s port were transformed into streams. They even had to enlist the use of a crane to remove a stranded ambulance. The ambulance eventually reached the local hospital without any harm befalling its patient.

The masses of debris and garbage cluttering rivers and lack of anti-flood works exacerbated yesterday’s flooding, according to the general secretary of the Secretariat for Civil Protection, Panayiotis Fourlas. And the lack of adequate drainage networks worsened the situation in Ano Liosia and Menidi.

Zephyri Mayor Fotini Yiannopoulou blamed a lack of funding from the Environment and Public Works Ministry for the extent of local floods. “We have been waiting for money to clean up our local stream for two years now,” she told Kathimerini. “If it had been cleaned, we would not have suffered this damage,” she said. (footnote of the L.W.H. > if those people firstly not had dumped all those rubbish in the river, cleaning shouldn’t have been necessary at all !!!!)

In Menidi, local authorities blamed the lack of adequate drainage for the flooding of hundreds of basement homes and stores. In many neighborhoods of Menidi, a working-class district, some 80 percent of homes were flooded, officials told Kathimerini. Some 100 firemen and 35 fire engines remained on standby in the area last night.

The extent of the damage caused by rainfall elsewhere in the country was unclear yesterday. But a hailstorm in the northern prefecture of Imathia damaged tens of hectares of cotton, wheat and beets as well as peach and citrus trees.

According to the National Meteorological Service, there will be more rain today with a slight improvement expected over the weekend.

In the evening we have celebrated the departure of both “eldest” trainees Monique and Saskia, who are leaving early Sunday-morning. Presenting the Certificates it showed to be that they till now on had scored the best from all trainees we have had in the past enlarging their knowledge !!

May 26^th:  all patients were still alive this morning, but our night had been nor so comfortable, because we were in charge of the little kitten. The juvenile Little Owls had made the best of it: red 151 (+16), silver 89 (+13), blue 79 (+12), orange 78 (+13) and green 61 (+12). Did we write March 26^th “during the unloading of the car the in heat “Mítsi” saw her chance and disappeared > several seeking-trips remained till now on without result. During the seeking-trips for “Mítsi” (which was discovered at 1.40 p.m. by Diane; surrounded by lovers > so there’ll be trouble . . . !!)”, today we have prepared her delivery-cage, because her “days are being fulfilled”. The little Tweety-Chicken is using the leg better and better and is peeping, during the feeding of the baby Little Owls, to his heart’s content together with them > one can hardly hear the difference, or is he polyglot now ?? At 11.02 a.m. a phone-call from Polichnítos about a Sparrow > one will find a way to gat the bird here. Hereafter the two girls who had brought-in the youngest kitten came with two friend to see “their” kitten > had a tour-around as well. And thereafter arrived two German women from Polichnítos with the announced SPARROW > see over there.

May 27^th:  at 5.30 a.m. Monique & Saskia left after a good training-period over here. The Carrier-Pigeon with the spinal-injury had taken a bath again, but had been able to leave the water on own power. The baby Little Owls are still doing well: red 154 (+3), silver 94 (+5), blue 87 (+8), orange 84 (+6) and green 66 (+5). At 6.20 a.m. Mítsi started with delivering . . . . (and of course in the living !!). At 8 a.m. 5 were born: 4 girls and 1 boy. The latter she was allowed to keep . . . The proceeds of the promoting of the L.W.H. by the two this morning departed trainees in hotel “Pasiphae”  was 47,07 Euro. We had to remove from the water-deposit in the Aviary some huge cockroaches (without swimming-license), which had blocked up the pump. With the trainee Liesbeth a short “cultural excursion” was made. The juvenile Blackbird isn’t doing well > has problems with swallowing (although is trying to eat by himself). And the smaller kitten as well is giving concerns: isn’t doing like we had hoped.

May 28^th:  we discovered the juvenile Blackbird at 5.45 a.m. not alive any more. The smallest kitten is still amongst us. The baby Little Owls are doing well, in spite of some kind of regimen: red 166 (+14), silver 105 (+11), blue 101 (+14), orange 98 (+14) and green 81 (+15). We have changed the position of the nest-box  in the cage of the 4 babies, to give them more “walking-space”. The eldest juvenile Little Owl is (normally) holding the head up-right; only when we took a picture of course not ! The youngest kitten has made for the first time a purring noise. We’re taking him at intake at ± 10-11 days; so is now a good 2 weeks old. At the end of the morning 2 Dutch visitors. During the guided tour we could rescue again out of the water the Carrier-Pigeon with the spinal injury. At 1.15 p.m. our garagist was at the door with one of his doggies, which probably could have been poisoned > checked, but no symptoms could be discovered. Two too long nails from the thumbs of the rear-legs were clipped. Not in the statistics. After the siesta again a Dutch visitor.

May 29^th:  the red juvenile Little Owl was (after some diet-measures) 168 gram (+2), silver was 115 (+10), blue 110 (+9), orange was 105 (+7) and green was 90 (+9 gram). Today the knives had to be whetted, because it was “meat-cutting-day”: 10,565 kilo of liver, meat & minced meat (price 73,22 Euro) had to be processed by 2 people. Total this year 258,060 kilo for 1614,19 Euro. We have removed from several spots from the body of the Carrier-pigeon with the spinal-injury penetrated feathers and dead tissue.

And at 2 p.m. we made acquaintance with our newest trainee Samantha de Vos. At 3.33 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a swallow, which they wanted to bring here. At 4.35 p.m. a phone-call from the late Police-chief from our village, that children were on their way to bring a small kitten, which had fallen in “something” and should be in a bad condition > see further at KITTEN. Our newest trainee had a complete guided tour around , so she will know everything now . . . ?? At 6.10 p.m. the announced swallow arrived > see further at SWIFT. The bearers (3 from Mytiléne) had as well a tour around.

May 30^th:  all patients were still alive this morning. “Mítsi” got completely confused and wanted to go inside the house, but her baby was in the Sick-bay > so now she is with her son in the library . . . !!The red Little Owl must live on a diet now > 184 (+16) gram !! Silver was 124 (+9), blue 119 (+9), orange 114 (+9) and green 100 (+10) gram

Releases:

At 7.25 a.m. the yesterday taken-in Swift could be thrown back into the air > was flying perfect. At 9.52 a.m. the Little Bittern was released in the “Mylopotamos-river” > tried to fly at once, but didn’t succeed yet. Must have more practice over there. And at 10.22 a.m. The Lesser Mole rat (07-047; April 24^th ’07) was released at the Early Christian Basilica > it was queer to see how she was digging herself in.

And at 12.30 p.m. at last arrived the iron profiles (we had ordered weeks ago) for the gang-way on top of the roof of “The Keep” > the bearers had a tour around as well.

From the Internet:

Possible Antibodies discovered against H5N1 Bird-flu

Edited : May 29^th   2007 2:11 p.m. Last changed: May 29^th 2007, 2.17 p.m.
 
SAN FRANCISO – Human antibodies against the  H5N1-variant of the Bird-flu-virus, are protecting mice against the lethal virus.

Scientists have proved so in a research, of which the results were published this week in the medical magazine PLoS Medicine. The mice which were administered those antibodies and afterwards on purpose were infected with H5N1,  didn’t fell ill. The researchers used antibodies from Vietnamese who had survived an contamination with the virus, Mice which already had fallen ill from H5N1 and were administered with the antibodies, lived much longer than the animals which hedn’;t been given medicines.

Difference

The difference between a vaccine and antibodies is, that a vaccine indeed is protecting against a disease for a longer period, but starts working just after some weeks or even months. Antibodies are working directly, but probably only offering protection for some months.      
”Release”:

At 6.15 p.m. the little Tweety-chicken was taken back by two grateful children.

May 31^st:  the red Little Owl was, due to the taken diet-measures, 186 gram (+2). Silver was 128 (+13), blue 126 (+16), orange 120 (+15) and green 108 (+8). At 10 a.m. a phone-call from Akrotíri about a Barn Owls, which should be injured > so we went for a ride. At the same time the owner of a doggy came about her beloved, which should be injured on one eye by a cat > will come back at 4 p.m. At 11.24 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about an injured Swift > will be send by the coach of 1.15 p.m. And the bird was here at 1.59 > see further at SWIFT. And the (Cuban) woman with the doggie was here at . . . . 4.50 p.m. > we have showed her that we didn’t appreciate thát so much !! Advices were given how to treat the (already days old !!) red eye. Not in the statistics. At 7.40 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a (probably juvenile) Barn Owl > will be brought tomorrow-morning to the Shell-Petrol-station. And at 10.10 p.m. a phone-call from Skála Kallonís, that a seal was spotted in the Gulf of Kallonís, which was in danger to be shot by fishermen . . . . (it’s after all their fish, they think . . . . !!). There is tried to reach every competent authority: the Coast Guard in Mytiléne couldn’t do anything, because it was the responsibility of the Station in Skála Polichnítou. The Coast-Guard-Station had the same response. However . . . .  the Coast-Guard-Station in Skála Polichnítou couldn’t be reached due to technical reasons . . . . !! So we’ll try it again tomorrow. 

Total amount of visitors this month:  084                      (total this year: 208)

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 342 (total this year 0913 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 34 [wild ones: 25; others 09], (total this year 086: wild ones 052, others 034; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3629)  of which:

WHITE BARN OWL (Tyto a. alba): 1 from the barn-owl-cage in “The Keep”. Had a fracture of the right humerus with an immense callus-mould around the elbow, due to which the bird could hardly move. Is bone-thin. As soon as possible that wing should be amputated, but it’s the question if the bird “still believes in life”. Discovered dead at 7.30 a.m.

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 1 juvenile from Mytiléne > old, wrongly healed fracture of the left wing (humerus). Is a nest-misfit ?? (see as well May 15^th)

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 3; the first was a juvenile from our village > so we’ll give it a try again (see as well May 8^th). The 2^nd came from Kalloní and was quite small as well. Showed to have a leg-fracture and was dead 3 hours after intake. The 3^rd came from Polichnítos and was as well not all to big.

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 2; the first was an adult from the Aviary of the L.W.H. > was quite lethargic and could hardly walk. So observation, but . . . . ?? (see as well May 12^th, 14^th & 20^th ). The 2^nd was an adult as well and came from Mytiléne > should be caught by a cat ?? Open fracture right wing (with bone-splinters) and lots of feathers were missing. Injury stitched with 1 U-stitch, fracture was splinted and antibiotics were injected (see as well May 14^th).

TWEETY-CHICKEN (Gallus gallus dom.): 3; the first 2 were only some days old little ones, discovered in a dust-bin in Parákoila. Both with leg- & wing-problems. In any case we’re going to bring them “properly” to their end. The first stayed alive only for some hours. For the 2^nd see May 13^th. The 3^rd came from our village and had a greenstick-fracture of the right leg (tibiotarso) > splinted. (see as well May 18^th & 30^th).

DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 from our village; was treated by us already several times for grown-in nails on the rear-legs. Was now bitten by a weasel in the mouth. Under total anesthetics the bite-injury could be closed with two stitches. Our own injuries had no need to be stitched. The dog was picked-up at 4.35 p.m. (not bleeding anymore) by his grateful mistress.

LITTLE BITTERN (Ixobrychus minutus): 1 adult female from Mytiléne > should be caught by a cat. Had in any case a humerus which was in 3 pieces > splinted.(see as well May 25^th & 30^th).

BLACKBIRD (Turdus merula): 1 juvenile, discovered in Variá. Bitten by a cat > fracture of the tibiotarso right leg with bite-injuries > splinted & antibiotics were injected. (see as well May 18^th, 27^th & 28^th).

CARRIER-PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 2; the first was an adult from ???; several skin-injuries and the bird is hardly capable to stand on its legs. With 4 agrafes we could stitch one injury, and antibiotics were injected in the case it’s a cat-bite (see as well May 21^st & 24^th). The 2^nd came from Mytiléne and had an old fracture of the left pulse-joint. Fracture had healed already (wrongly > wing is hanging), but there is no loss of function (see as well May 20^th).

SWIFT (Apus apus): 5; the first was a quite small juvenile from Mytiléne > so we’re going to give it a try again. Doesn’t seem to be a “nest-misfit”. (see as well May 19^th). The other 2 were only some days old when, due to construction-activities the nest was destroyed. They have hardly any chance. The smallest was discovered dead the morning after intake. (see as well May 20^th). The 4^th was an adult from Mytiléne, probably a “crash-landing” due to the hard wind > we’ll have a look tomorrow if release is possible. (see March 30^th). And the 5^th came as well from Mytiléne and had landed as well “by accident” on earth. Let’s have a look if a release is possible tomorrow (June 1^st).

CAT (Felis catus): 1 from Eftaloú; had been here in the past for “de-mothering”. Now abscess on the head with next to it a pussing injury > abscess was opened and injuries were treated.

LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua indigena): 5; the first was a juvenile (not yet a “ast-ling”) from Mytiléne; was brought-in by the dog of the owner. No teeth-marks could be discovered. So trying to bring it up. Has a red ring right foot.

The next four were a lot smaller and came as well from Mytiléne >  from a disturbed nest. Their intake-body-weights were 22 gram (green ring left), 2 x 36 gram (orange ring left & blue ring left) and 40 gram (silver ring left).

2^nd picture 5 days after intake

SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE (Testudo graeca ibera): an about 25 year old female, discovered on our way back from Mytiléne to Mandamádos > rescued from being smashed by cars behind us. Over here several ticks could be removed.

KITTEN (Felis catus): 3; the first was a young tom-cat from Kalloní > had been taken care of by some English people, who couldn’t take in home > is now (temporarily ??) inhabitant of the House-next-door. Is named “Salimo” and his care-taker is the trainee Liesbeth. The 2^nd was ± 14 days old and came from our village > thrown-away and very dehydrated. Here as well the above mentioned Liesbeth will try to save him. The 3^rd was hit by a car yesterday (May 28^th) in the neighborhood of Dáfia and rescued by the late Police-chief from our village. Had fallen today in a bucket full of soap-suds and arrived moribund (in a box wherein a half-grown tiger should have fitted . . . !!) > prognosis was “infaust” so we have put her down.

RED-RUMPED SWALLOW (Hirundo daurica): 1 juvenile from Mytiléne > so trying to bring the bird up. Was in the beginning wrongly booked by us as a Swallow.

YELLOW-LEGGED GULL (Larus cachinnans michael.): 1 adult from Mória > was poisoned. Discovered still alive, but in our car on the way beck “went to heaven without using the wings”.

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 1 adult from Parákoila > had a grass-seed in the left eye > could be removed without any damage.

BROWN BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata): 1 juvenile from Akrotíri > an “astling”. No injuries, so only trying to bring him/her up.