October 2006

LOG-BOOK:

October 1^st:  all was still alive this morning. The cat “Oxy” at last started to lick some fluid from the tinned cat-food, while “Mister George” hat started eating again. The bitch “Gímli” is evidently “striking wrong” now her “babies” are gone; she is trying with the kitten “Gonda”, but that one isn’t so “sucking” anymore. At 11 a.m. we received the phone-call that the injured Pigeon should be placed on the coach of twelve o’clock > picked-up and was at 12.44 o’clock in our hands. See further by PIGEON. Since today we could force-feed the Grey Heron with fish, which not only is swallowed, but as well isn’t vomited anymore. The use of the injured right wing seems to be OK > wing is stretched normally. If this progress continues, we can think about a release in one week.

October 2^nd:  all was this morning as well still alive, including the Pigeon with the amputated wing. We received the following confirmation about our Corncrake (Crex crex):

Indeed it is a Crex crex. Because of the faded bandings of the flanks and the smooth wings (no cream-colored bandings of the “upper wing-coverts” and the missing of grey in the cheeks), it’s a not adult animal. As far as I can see it’s no juvenile because they have still a brown-black line from the throat till halfway the chest (Rails of the World – Barry Taylor). Besides, a juvenile is moulting in the period half July till half September into the not-adult “dress” and in February/March into the Sub-adult “dress”. Nice species !! Insect-eater; not the most easy kind to feed.

So again a well-meant “Thank you” to Ben Steinfort in Holland. And meanwhile we have a food-mixture, which is swallowed and digested. After we had given the Grey Heron 2 fishes in his cage, those had “disappeared” within half an hour > so this could be a release on the 10^th. We could continue again with the last wall in the cage of the Eagle Owl. Received a phone-call from an English lady who had taken care the whole summer of a dog and if we . . . . “now could take care of that dog till she should come back next summer” . . . . Of course we didn’t agree to that proposal, but in stead of we haven given the phone-number of the Shelter in Skála Eressoú. An intimate fisherman from Skála Kallonís (with a Dutch girlfriend) came and brought lots of fishes. At 5.55 p.m. a phone-call from a woman in Mytiléne, who had a black, crow-like bird which wasn’t able to fly. So we advised her to put the bird tomorrow on the first coach in our direction, but those efforts were probably to much for her . . . . !! So wait and see.

October 3^rd:  the cat “Oxy” has for the first time eaten again (a little bit) !! We could remove by the blind cat “Clara” (97-064) under a light total anesthetic lots of tartar. By the way,  she hardly has left teeth in her mouth anymore. The stitches were removed from the eye-lids of the blind tom-cat “Belly” (see September 26^th). At breakfast the cat “Oxy” started to show appetite and she ate as well bread as cheese !! In the cage of the Eagle Owl we have finished the last wall; now only the connections to the roof must be done. After the siesta “Oxy” started to eat well again and from that moment we stopped (in any case temporarily) with the subcutaneous injections of fluid.

October 4^th: the Turtle Dove (06-178; August 30^th) is languishing more and more in his cage. In spite of a not yet healed wing-injury decided to transfer him/her to the Aviary, in the hope this will “pep him/her up” a bit. The first wall in the cage of the Eagle Owl is closed against the undulated roof-parts in a way no rat can penetrate from there. After the siesta 6 Dutch visitors.

October 5^th:  the yesterday transferred to the Aviary Turtle Dove was sitting this morning at 5 a.m. still stealthily in a corner; maybe there will be developed today some more activities. The shot-with-an-airgun Pigeon (06-191; September 18^th) is transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” > was flying well at once ! Now only regaining it’s strength. At the end of the morning 2 Dutch visitors. The Turtle Dove has hardly moved today and we have discovered him/her laying on the back several times and had to turn him/her upside down  > so the prognosis ??

October 6^th:  we discovered the Turtle Dove dead on the bottom of the Aviary at 5.55 a.m. Ineke came back from Holland and besides some pretty till huge donations she has received, we want to mention that the children Joanne, Aron and Marjenne (where the deaf, white tom-cat “Wozzie” is re-homed now) have sold old toys and supported us hereafter with 50 Euros !! At 10.35 a.m. a phone-call from the Dasarcheío (Forestry Department) that an ill “Búfos” (= Eagle Owl) was detected and that the bird would be send to us. Examples of the manure should be on their way to the State vets. It showed to be a White Barn Owl (12.27 o’clock) and the examples still should be taken. See further by WHITE BARN OWL. We received a phone-call that tomorrow-morning one stray cat from the shelter in Skála Eressoú is coming for de-mothering and that a (neutered ??) Tom-cat will come as well for examinations (has problems with urinating).

October 7^th:  the new Barn Owl hadn’t eaten yet by himself (is logic !). At ten past eight arrived the two announced cats > see further by CAT and TOM-CAT. The 2^nd wall in the cage of the Eagle Owl is finished now.

October 8^th:  we had to decide to give again subcutaneously fluid to the cat “Oxy”, because again she isn’t eating at all anymore. Around lunchtime 4 Greek visitors from Eressoú.

October 9^th:  for today we have planned the release of the Grey Heron and as well the Corncrake.

Releases:

at 9.40 a.m. we released in the Salines the two above mentioned birds. The Corncrake (06-201; September 29^th) flew well and landed on a distance > not discovered anymore during a check. The Grey Heron (06-192; September 20^th) walked away in a solemn manner and tried to fly afterwards, but didn’t (yet) succeed. There is food plenty over there during the time needed for flying-practice, because thát we weren’t able to offer the bird.

At 11.57 a.m. a phone-call from Mólivos from a certain (German) Ursula, that she had discovered an injured Golden Oriole > will come and bring the bird. And she was here at 1.02 p.m. > see further by GOLDEN ORIOLE. The little cat “Gonda” has discovered the ideal foster-mother: she is sucking by our crippled bitch “Skágia” and that one is enjoying far-away her motherhood.

Thanks to our trainee Ramón and the airgun is during the evening-feeding-round the W.R.P. diminished with two fat thick rats. A third we discovered drowned in the sink in the court-yard of the house-next-door !!

October 10^th:  the 3^rd wall in the cage of the Eagle Owl is finished now; including ventilation-holes. Now only the wall in between this cage and those of the Barn Owls and as well of the Scop’s Owls must be done. The first beginning of this is as well started today. We received the following message about the Golden Oriole from Holland:

Thank you for the measures of the Golden Oriole ! Indeed must have been a late nest. Their breeding-season starts the end of May – beginning of June and in about 30 days after the laying of the eggs, the youngsters already are leaving the nest. In favorable years they have two broods and I think our bird is part of that.

With the help of the airgun we were able, even before the siesta, to diminish the W.R.P. again with one: as well this time a thick fatso. At 3.55 p.m. a phone-call from a Dutch couple, temporarily living in Mólivos with their two Setters (one of those we have treated some years ago) > now one of the animals has an abscess on the head. One will pass by. And two minutes later again a phone-call: this time from Mytiléne and about a pigeon “with something wrong with a wing”. They will bring the bird tomorrow to the place where our car will have the car safety inspection. The dog was here at 4.41 p.m. > see further by BITCH.

October 11^th:  we found this morning that our trainee Ramón had diminished last night the W.R.P. again with one: in between the undulated roof-parts and the netting of the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. After we as well had perforated him, he remained very quiet on his place > logic, because was dead already for some hours. However, the clearing away occasioned much brain-racking !! The carrion had a weight of 185 gram and the length was from the tip of the tail till the nose good 43 cm. We could continue with the cage of the Eagle Owl: the part in between the cage of the Scop’s Owls is finished and above the door as well. At 9.30 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne from the veterinary-practice of Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí that they were planning to send a Pigeon with a broken wing. Agreed for the coach of 1.15 p.m. Just after eleven o’clock we received the phone-call that and the announced Pigeon was in our hands and the car had successfully passed the inspection. See further by 2^nd PIGEON. And at 1.55 p.m. we had the next Pigeon in our possession . See further by 3^rd PIGEON. Around 8 p.m. a phone-call from a schoolchild about Pigeon nr 3 > it showed te be “her” Pigeon. We have told her what was wrong and that she could phone us back for the results. We have decided to stop the further treatment of the cat “Oxy” . . . .

12 oktober:  all patients were still alive early this morning. Because “Oxy” was evidently showing pain, was falling from the couch and strictly speaking was asking for permission to die, we have put her down in the presence of all of us; exactly (minus one day) two years after she came in. We have given back to nature her dreadful emaciated body.

In the cage of the crow-family we discovered an invalid Hooded Crow (nest-misfit) with both eyes “glued together” > we were able to open them. However; the prognosis is . . . . ?? Even before breakfast we had finished the cage of the Eagle Owl. The next to do will be one wall in the barn Owl-cage, but that’s an immense wall. Hereafter we have the other cages “on the program”: those of the Scop’s Owls, the Little Owls and the Pigeons. All the netting of the cages must be replaced with netting with smaller loopholes, to give rats lesser chance to enter the cages. At 8.45 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Collared Dove they had in their possession for one year. Shouldn’t be able to fly. Because this was no “emergency” after such a long time, we’ll wait till the care-taker can come and bring the bird. At 9 a.m. a phone-call from our village about a doggie, hit by a car. Because we haven’t the possibility to take the dog in (we could only offer first aid), one should see what to do. We did lots of injury-cleaning by the Pigeons 1 & 2 > see over there.

Friday October 13^th:  in the cage of the Eagle Owl the rats (evidently locked in in a wall) had the possibility to free themselves by penetrating the concrete and have eaten the food for the Eagle Owl > so we must see what we can do against this. Both trainees Karlijn & Ramon are going back to Holland today after a well-finished practice, in which they have learned a lot; and not in the least about themselves. And while we were already “boarding the car” there came a phone-call from Mytiléne from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí about a PIGEON with a broken wing > so that bird we picked-up on our way to the airport. Was however a COLLARED DOVE > see over there. At 4.10 p.m. a phone-call from Vaterá from Stávros Giannákas (the former Vet in the Agrotikí Stégi) that he had a small “Búfos” (= Eagle Owl) in his possession; probably shot. He’ll come and bring the bird (but most probably it’s again a Barn Owl !!). The bird was over here at 5 p.m. and it was no Barn Owl, but a Short-eared Owl > see further over there. That the Vet named it as “Búfos” is because the Greek name is “Valtóbufos”.

October 14^th:  all was still alive early this morning, but that’s all ! The yesterday taken-in Collared Dove was discovered gasping for breath and at 6.02 a.m. there was no life present anymore > so suffocated. The Short-eared Owl was a lot more vivid (and wilder) and had demolished a part of the bandage around the wing. Had diminished a bit (7 gram) last night, but that’s normal. Had produced a nice pellet. In the cage of the Eagle Owl rats had digged an immense hole in the floor !! The injury of the Pigeon with the bitten-off wing smells good. It was quite difficult without any assistance to change the bandage by the Short-eared Owl, but after some nice words from our side it was allowed and there were no bitings. As well this injury (still ?) smells good. With the help of quite a lot of concrete and some rocks we were able to close the two holes in the bottom of the cage of the Eagle Owl. We started the storage on the computer of the history of the L.W.H. from the beginning till and including the year 2000, using the old Annual Reports, pieces of Newspapers etc. After the siesta 3 visitors from our former village, Loutrópolis Thermís.

October 15^th:  the Short-eared Owl had gained weight with 35 gram !! In the cage of the Eagle Owl those “shit-rats” had digged themselves through, under the yesterday made stone barrier. It showed to be that the injuries of the Short-eared Owl were smelling well during the changing of the bandaged, and that no sign of gangrene was present. If a complete recovery of the functions is possible, is the question, because lots of tendons seems to be damaged. We removed the agrafes by Pigeon nr 2. With the help of lots of concrete we tried to “embank” the rat-plague.

October 16^th:  we received the message from Holland that our Short-eared Owl is most probably a female (concerning the measurements). She had gained 5 gram and was now 477 gram. In the cage of the Eagle Owl those “shit-rats” had the possibility to dig again a hole under the yesterday poured concrete. And we can’t work with poison or rat-glue over there . . . . !! It makes us dejected. The whole condition of our ex-tom cat “Mister George” is causing us a lots of worries > he is isolating himself the whole day and is hardly eating any more . . Pigeon nr 2 was transferred today to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. We have discovered that the juvenile Golden Oriole isn’t (yet) capable to fly. At half past twelve a phone/call from our First Aid station in Thessalonica that a Pigeon was reported with a leg-problem, but they hadn’t yet seen the bird. At 7.26 p.m. a phone-call from Skála Loutrón that people had discovered a small (injured on a wing) bird of prey; probably a member of the falcon-family or a Sparrow-hawk. We’re leaving tomorrow morning quite early to pick-up the bird (if it’s still alive). At 8 p.m. again a phone call from Thessalonica that they had the Pigeon in their possession. One leg seems to be very thick and has a black color (??). One is going to try to send the bird (if still alive) with the first Ferry, but that one is sailing only next Saturday and is docking here late in the afternoon on Sunday !!

October 17^th:  the Short-eared Owl had gained weight till 491 gram. In the cage of the Eagle Owl the rats hadn’t  been able to gnaw through the yesterday poured filling (reinforced concrete) !! We left at half past seven and at 8.17 a.m. we had the bird in our possession: a shot female Sparrowhawk > see further over there. We discovered later this morning that the fracture of the wing of Pigeon nr 3 isn’t yet healed, but as well that there is as well a fracture of the radius & ulna. At 1.45 p.m. came a phone-call from Mytiléne that someone had placed on the coach of 1.15 p.m. a pigeon, caught by a cat. So racing downwards to be in time and at 2.02 p.m. we had a juvenile ROCK DOVE in our hands > see further over there.

October 18^th:  the roof of the Sickbay, repaired by us September 24^th, showed to be waterproof: is spite of the rain it was dry inside. “Mister George” is visibly getting worse (see as well October 16^th) and we aren’t going to “tease” him further more, but are making life for him as comfortable as possible. The Sparrowhawk was absolutely not measurable (our hands are “porous”) and is quite vivacious. The Short-eared Owl had gained weight with 8 gram. The Hooded Crow, we reported already about October 12^th, was discovered dead this morning in the Crow-Aviary: the rain of last night was fatal for him. About our Hoopoe the following: in a Dutch book about “Birds in captivity” there is written that the Hoopoe is “a well-known bird for in an aviary; one of the most wanted insect-eating soft-billed birds. He is easy to keep . . . . etc”. We noticed over here it’s a feverous “killer” of just hatched small tropical birds > he is completely chopping them into pieces with that long bill !! And in spite of the fact he needs flying-practice, we had to remove him already several times out of the Aviary; just because of that reason. After the siesta 4 Dutch visitors.

October 19^th:  The Short-eared Owl had gained 2 gram and is now 501 gram. At 9.40 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Collared Dove > advised to send the bird by coach. However, was brought-in by the discoverer himself (was ere at 10.45 a.m.) > see further by 2^nd Collared Dove (was the 3500^th registered intake since 1996 !). At 11.20 a.m. again a phone-call from Mytiléne about a White Peacock, which is emaciating > they will pass-by with the bird. We received a whole box with useful materials from the “Foundation for Animal-Help in Venezuela” in Holland. And the White Peacock was over here at 3.45 p.m. > see further over there. A phone-call from the Shelter on Sámos that they needed urgently the anestheticum “Rompun”, because there were coming some vets for a sterilization-program and the anesthetics hadn’t arrived yet > we’re going to try buying tomorrow-morning some.

October 20^th:  the Short-eared Owl had gained 6 gram. We could buy 3 bottles “Rompun” (99 Euro) and that will be send by courier around midday. At 8.45 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Pigeon which shouldn’t be able to fly > one is going to try to send the bird by the coach of 11 o’clock. And the bird arrived: a nice-colored PIGEON, without any serious problems (only lots of parasites, under which that blood-sucking “horse-flies”) > see further by PIGEON. And we weren’t yet ready with the intake of that pigeon, when a phone-call came from Mólivos: they had over there an injured little bird of prey > so back in the car again and taken-up. Showed to be a PEREGRINE > see over there. Meanwhile we were expecting some Dutch visitors, but they phoned us at a certain moment from the middle of nowhere: they had missed the right way and were now close to . . . . some bee-hives. If we could tell them the right way from there . . . . !! And there are some bee-hives on the island here, so we had not the faintest idea. They were trying to find their way out of there and wanted to try it tomorrow again; only better. At 7.20 p.m. a phone-call from Thessalonica about the Pigeon which should arrive by ferry on Sunday (see October 16^th) > will come tomorrow !! And of course just on such a “sh.t-time” that we must go to Mytiléne twice !! And at 9.20 p.m. again a phone-call from Thessalonica, that it should be Sunday: they had been in the harbor with the pigeon, but no ferry. The booking-office had misjudged themselves one day . . . !

October 21^st:  all patients were still alive, although the Peregrine had vomited the given food from yesterday-evening. The Short-eared Owl was 504 gram. After breakfast there was panic in the Falcon-Aviary; such a panic that the dogs started barking !! A quite young male Sparrow had entered the Aviary and that bird was flying better (but as well with more panic) than the two normal inhabitants. Their “hunting-call” had alarmed the dogs. With quite a lot of efforts and a shrimp-net we could at last catch the sparrow and release it outside the Aviary. We could remove the splint and the bandage by the Sparrowhawk, but she still has the hanging cast. The Short-eared Owl is without splint and bandage now > so let’s see how this will develop. A phone-call from Eftaloú about a little cat which shouldn’t be OK > one will pass by tomorrow. Without honey (see yesterday) the two Dutch visitors came. We received a message from the Foundation AEQUOR  that we are recognized as a practice-offering organization. An e-mail came from Holland, that our Peregrine is a juvenile female from the sub-species Falco peregrinus brookei. So the 3 birds we had in 1999 must have been of the same, mediteranean subspecies. Late in the evening a phone-call from Thessalonica about the pigeon > we now know where exactly the bird is on board of the ferry.

October 22^nd:   the Short-eared Owl had gained weight with 7 gram. Just before an immense thunderstorm broke, we discovered in the Tortoise-pen a just hatched baby > see further by MARGINATED TORTOISE. At 10.10 a.m. the announced little cat was here > see further by TOM-CAT. After the Sparrowhawk escaped from her cage, we discovered that still an open fracture of the hand is present > so was splinted again. At 1.03 p.m. we had on board of the ferry “PENÉLOPE” the box with the pigeon in our hands. See further by PIGEON. Around 5 p.m. a girl from the village came with her budgerigars, of which one had the upper-bill só long, we could have named the bird “Pinocchio” > we could clip more than 3 cm. Not in the statistics. After 7.30 p.m. our Secretary, María Karapolíti, was in our court-yard with a discovered (quite frightened) stray dog: “If we were able to take a picture of the dog, in case an owner should appear . . . . ” So there still exist people who believe in miracles . . . !!

October 23^rd:  we discovered dead this morning the shot Pigeon (06-209; October 11^th). The Short-eared Owl should be fed less, because she is becoming too fat > gained 12 gram yesterday (is now 523 gram). The wing-injury of the Peregrine is smelling well; she is more quiet now because by changing of the bandage only one of our fingers was bitten !! The little Tom-cat of yesterday is using the rear-leg and we couldn’t discover any sign of being incontinent > the cat-toilet is used properly. At 12.35 o’clock a phone-call from Mólivos from some Dutch tourists that they had discovered in a dust-bin a thrown-away little kitten > they will come and bring it. And we had the poor soul in our hands at 2.50 p.m. > see further by KITTEN.

October 24^th: did we report the last time about “Mister George” October 18^th, this morning very early we had to help him to do the last step into a better life . . . . .

The Short-eared Owl had, after one feeding-round less, diminished till 507 gram. We were able to transfer to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” the following birds: 2 Pigeons (06-202; October 1^st ’06 & 06-216; October 20^th). During the morning-hours a complete Dutch “invasion”: 10 visitors !

October 25^th:  the Short-eared Owl had remained the same with 507 gram. The injuries of Pigeon nr 5 are closing slowly, although we had te remove some “cheese” from inside. From a Dutch family we received 3 parcels with lots of useful materials for the animals (and also for us) > LOTS of THANKS ! At 2.57 p.m. a phone-call from our little friend Násja that she had found an injured (bitten by a cat) Collared Dove > if she could come and bring the bird. Bird was here 6 minutes later > see by COLLARED DOVE. At 4 p.m. a phone-call from our secretary María Karapolíti about a little doggie > she’ll pass by. And she was here at 5.10 p.m. with the little bitch “Mítsi” > see further over there.

October 26^th:  was the baby tortoise at intake 12 gram, the days hereafter it diminished a bit till 11 gram. But early this morning it was again 12 gram. The Short-eared Owl was unchanged 507 gram, but isn’t yet eating on it’s own. We could transfer both Collared Doves (05-199; 9/27-’06 and 06-214; 10/19-’06) to the Aviary for flying-practices. The last one was flying well at the spot. Only, both must wait till after the hunting-season. As well the juvenile Oriole went for some hours to the Aviary for flying-practice. We started with concrete in the cage of the Scop’s Owls. At the end of the morning 5 Dutch visitors.

October 27^th:  the Short-eared Owl was 502 gram. After we had bought already yesterday the materials, today we installed the emergency-lighting (4 strip-lights) in “our” part of the building > will switch-on automatically when again there is a power-cut. In the “House-next-door” this still should be done. Later this morning 5 children from this village with a doggie that should be hit by a car yesterday (??) > checked but nothing serious could be discovered. Not in the statistics. The children were showed around and were allowed to help with the feedings etc. and they overwhelmed us with questions.

October 28^th:  the Short-eared Owl had diminished till 494 gram, but the baby-tortoise had gained weight with 2 gram since two days ago, and was now 14 gram. We could remove again some dead tissue from the leg of the Pigeon from Thessalonica. The bitten-by-a-cat juvenile Rock Dove is almost complete “water- & air-tight”. We could remove from the wing of the Short-eared Owl a lot of coagulated feathers > this is giving the wing more mobility. She only didn’t love it so much ! The floor of the cage of the Scop’s Owls is now complete “concreted”. In the cage of the Little Owls we discovered one of the residents with the same leg-problems as some months ago > taken back and treated. Not in the statistics. From the juvenile Sparrowhawk we had to remove today most of the hand-part of the wing > was complete dead and mummified. The Peregrine started to eat by herself !

October 29^th:  beginning of the winter-time, but we hardly had any “profit” of that extra hour, because the animals woke up (of course) with summer-time, so started to be restless !! The Short-eared Owl was 492 gram. The juvenile Rock Dove (06-213; October 17^th) was transferred to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. We started with the jointing of the cage of the Scop’s Owls. At 9.25 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne that yesterday evening a shot small “Geráki” (little bird of prey) was discovered; injured on a wing and on a leg. They will coma and bring the bird. And the bird was here at 10.25 a.m. > again a shot juvenile SPARROWHAWK > see over there. The bringer and his little son were showed around as well. At 12.44 o’clock a phone-call from Pétra about a (possibly ??) poisoned young dog > was here at 1.25 p.m. See further by DOG.

October 30^th:  was the shot Sparrowhawk yesterday the whole day laying on her belly, this morning there were tries to stand up straight. The Short-eared Owl was unchanged 492 gram. The baby Marginated Tortoise had gained 1 gram and was now 15 gram. In the House-next-door the emergency-lighting (as well over here 4 strip-lights) is installed and proved working well. It was raining cats and dogs and thundering the whole day, so all our dogs refused to go out. We used a little “interval” to take out “Mítsi” and we could safe the life of 6 Green Toads (Bufo viridis) by collecting them and release on a safer spot. Of course, we could have used them as “natural food” for our Stork, but that went us just too far !

October 31^st:  it’s still heavy weather ! Several “flattened” Green Toads discovered in the streets, but not useful anymore for the Stork (no putty-knife present !). For the end of the week temperatures (during the night) are predicted against zero ! And that’s even for Greece absolutely abnormal ! The Short-eared Owl was unchanged 492 gram. Sparrowhawk II is sitting straight on the heels and is far more less aggressive than the other one. At 7.45 a.m. “Násja” phoned us that one of her little cats was severe ill > if she could come. She was here (in a severe rain-shower) with the cat in a . . . . bucket !! See further by TOM CAT. The splint from the wing of the Peregrine is removed > has only hanging cast now. The leg of the taken-back Little Owl is improving slowly. We were able to remove a lot of coagulated feathers from the wing of the Short-eared Owl > the wing is clean now. How the flying-capacities will be ?? The bad weather is affecting the birds in the Aviary as well: we discovered dead the visual handicapped Sparrow (o6-059; April 26^th) dead on the bottom . As well some tropical birds were affected and we had to take-in some. One died meanwhile. The weather is so bad, that we plucked the following from Internet:

Rained-out flights

Olympic Airlines canceled eight flights from Athens International Airport yesterday because of heavy rain and high winds around Greece. Flights to the islands of Chios, Lesvos and Myconos were among those grounded. A flight from Thessaloniki to Lesvos was also canceled due to the bad weather.

Total amount of visitors this month:  045                      (total this year: 627)

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 405 (total this year 3412 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 25 [wild ones: 16; others 09], (total this year 269 > : wild ones 152, others 117; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3512),  of which:

PIGEON (Columba livia dom): 5; the first was an adult from Mytiléne (very nice color and design) which lost unfortunately by a cat the whole hand-part of the right wing. As well a huge hole in the right flank and some minor injuries on the back. Injuries were stitched, wing was fashioned and Dermisol-cream was used. As well antibiotics were injected. The 12^th we could remove the whole died-off part of the wing (see as well October 24^th). The 2^nd came from the same town and had lost its complete tail. Due to this wasn’t able to fly well and was “brought-in” by a hunting-dog. Bite-injuries on the chest and on the back > closed the 12^th with on each spot 1 agrafe (see as well October 16^th). The 3^rd (as well from the island-capital) was shot (inshot-  and outshot-holes were discovered) in the left wing > open fracture underarm/pulse. Hanging cast was given. Discovered dead early in the morning of the 23^rd . The P.M. showed an absolutely emaciated bird, with the colon overfilled with worms. Number 4 came from the same place and we couldn’t find anything wrong. However, wasn’t able to fly > so observation (see as well October 24^th). The 5^th came from Thessalonica and had, after an old fracture, a deformation of the leg with a huge, black scab upon it. So this is going to be a surgery to get the leg in the right position again.

And after a further examination of that black scab it showed that it could be removed quite easily and we had 2 deep (but clean) holes in the leg. At the same moment there was hardly any deformation anymore. So splinted and let’s hope there will be no remaining loss of function. And in the Veterinary University in Thessalonica no-one had been capable to make this discovery ! (see as well October 28^th)

WHITE BARN OWL (Tyto a. alba): 1 adult from Papádos > was announced as “ill” and manure-examples should be taken. However, the bird was get lost in a sticking plant (petherés or “mother-in-law”) and wasn’t able to fly anymore. It took a great loss of minor feathers to get the bird free from those seeds. We didn’t took any manure-examples anymore (not necessary !). Was injured as well on the left wing (bite-injury due to free itself from the plants ??)

CAT (Felis catus): 1 still breast-feeding from the shelter in Skála Eressoú > should be neutered, but inside everything was to such a degree grown crooked (the whole uterus with the ovaries were grown into the peritoneum (and couldn’t be separated !) and in the omentum majus there were several cysts present), that it became an “open-close-surgery”. The caretakers is advised to give her the “pill” (by injection), because a new gravidity she won’t survive.

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 3; the first one as well came from the shelter in Skála Eressoú and was, after being neutered over there, now a so-called “bladder-tom-cat”. With lots of problems and pain a catheter was put-in and we could tap bloody urine. This was full of “bladder-grit”. Food-advices and medicines were given. The 2^nd was discovered about 2 months ago in Eftaloú. Is shuffling with the left rear-leg, is incontinent and something should be wrong with the tail as well. Observation if there should be yes or no a leg-amputation. Number 3 came in on the last day of the month. Shouldn’t have eaten for some days. Was lethargic and had a severe hypothermia: 33,9 centigrade !! So observation (and it was good we switched-on this morning the Central Heating > now the Sick Bay is a little bit more warm ! However, the Tom-cat was born over here April 18^th ’06 > see April 17^th & 18^th). During the afternoon he “faded away” more and more and died. The young owner only wanted a P.M. if the cat could remain intact, and of course that’s impossible.

 GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus oriolus): 1 juvenile from Mólivos (should have been already the end of August on the way to Africa); had flown against a window 5 days ago. Had brain-damage, but as well a wing that was diagnosed by the discoverers as “broken” > no therapy was given here for. They came today to bring the bird. Due to an immense hemorrhage in the pulse-joint a fracture wasn’t possible anymore to diagnose. Hanging cast was given.

(see as well October 16^th)

BITCH (Canis familiaris): 2; the first came (temporarily) from Mólivos, but strictly speaking from Holland > huge abscess behind the left ear, which already had opened. Under topical anesthetics  it was emptied and flushed. Antibiotics were given to the owners. We heard later that everything was OK. The 2^nd was a social-intake-reason: “Mítsi” originated from Mytiléne, but her owner developed Alzheimer and ended, via first an intake in the hospital, in a nursing-home. Her doggie had to be put down (is about 6 years old). Our secretary, María Karapolíti had heard of this and had decided that this shouldn’t happen and took care of the dog. However, unexpected she had to leave for the island of Mílos and didn’t trust her friend to take care of this creature > so that’s the reason . . .    

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 3; the first was an adult from/via Mytiléne. Was announced by the vet as a PIGEON with a broken wing > however, was missing from the right wing all big feathers and had evidently no fractures !!  What yet was “missed” by the vet, was the fact that the bird had a serious Trichomonadiose (Pigeon-cancer) by which swallowing food was almost impossible. Due to this the bird was very emaciated. With lots of troubles one tablet Spartrix (in very small pieces) was brought-in under the obstacle. Will be fed temporarily with liquid food. (see October 14^th). The 2^nd (the 3500^th registered intake since 1996) had flown the day before intake against a huge window > the right wing is hanging a bit, but no fractures. Observation (see as well October 26^th). The 3^rd came from our village and was bitten by a cat. Seemed to have only a small injury on the back > antibiotics were injected. Was dead within half an hour > dark red blood was coming from the mouth. So the cat had bitten quite severely. After plucking it showed that the throat was bitten in such a way, that the bird suffocated in it’s own blood.

SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus): 1 adult from Vaterá > was shot. Open fractures of the right wing (radius & ulna). In spite of the apparent hopeless situation still tried to save the wing. Injuries were treated with Dermisol-solvens and a splint was given. As well antibiotics for 5 days. The Vet, who brought the bird, was full of admiration for our surgery . . . !! By the way, he assisted with the reposition of the wing.

(see as well October 21^st & 28^th)

SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus): 2; the first was a juvenile female from Skála Loutrón. Was shot and had an open fracture (or fractures ?) of the left wing (hand-part). Antibiotics were given and the injuries treated with Dermisol-solvens and a splint 

(see as well October 21^st, 22^nd & 28^th). The 2^nd was discovered the day before intake on top of the Ólympos-mountain: as well a juvenile female and quite mauled by shot-pellets. Fracture of the left leg, pulse-joint of the left wing shot through and (at least) 1 shot-pellet in the breast. Everything was splinted and antibiotics were injected

ROCK DOVE (Columba livia): 1 juvenile from Mytiléne > was caught by a cat (but already some days ago) and was covered with (scabbed) holes. No fractures. Only antibiotics were given. (see as well October 28^th)

White Peacock (Pavo cristata alba): 1 quite young cock from Mytiléne. Was quire emaciated, but hardly any reasons could be discovered. The owner had been “pottering” himself with antibiotics and deworming-medicines but (of course) in a too low doses. Antiparasitica were given to him. Last year a Peacock of this owner had died due of rat-poison, but this time this couldn’t be the reason, because of the droppings.

PEREGRINE (Falco peregrinus brookei): 1 juvenile female from Mólivos > open fracture right wing; probably shot. We weren’t able yet to check this, because the bird is quite aggressive (it’s for the first time since 1999 we have such a bird) and is hardly to handle. Splint with Dermisol-solvens was given and antibiotics were injected.

MARGINATED TORTOISE (Testudo marginata): 1 just hatched baby from the tortoise-pen in the L.W.H. Was quite a small one, because the body-weight was only 12 gram !! And first we had booked this little one as a “Spurr-tighed Tortoise”, but we had to change the name after we discovered the “black triangles “ on the belly-shell. After all those years the first time this species has produced offspring over here.

KITTEN (Felis catus): 1 about 3 days old male; was heard screaming already the 22^nd in a dust-bin in Mólivos > discovered one day later and brought over here > put down.

DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 quite young specimen from Pétra > was probably poisoned. Under the motto “Safety first” Apomorfine as well as Atropine were injected. Had the wished result