September 2007

LOG-BOOK:

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

September 1^st:  The Kestrel was 210 (+7) gram and the Hobby was remained the same (282) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 569 (-8) and number II was 539 (+7) gram. It seems that the fracture in the wing of the Kestrel is healed, but still “cheese” was coming out of the hole in the elbow. The injury in the wing of the Hobby isn’t stinking so much anymore, but it’s still the question if we can continue without an amputation. And the mercury reached in the shadow 38 degrees Centigrade today !!

September 2^nd:  The Kestrel was 221 (+11) and the Hobby 284 (+2) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 580 (+11) and number II was 560 (+30) gram. The announced TOM-CAT was here at 7.22 a.m. > see over there. We removed the “wrong leg” from the Pigeon with the in-born leg-defect under a total anesthetic, hoping he/she will be able to stand on one leg.

September 3^rd:  all were still alive this morning. The Hobby was 285 (+1) and the Kestrel was 223 (+2) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 598 (+18) and nr II was 577 (+17) gram. Number I is marked with purple to be recognizable when they are both in the buzzard-aviary today. And such happened at 7.45 a.m. and Honey Buzzard I took a huge bath. The injury in the elbow of the Kestrel is closing well > almost no “dirt” anymore had come-out. The injury in the wing of the Bobby showed for the first time fresh blood, and isn’t stinking so much anymore, The Pigeon with the inborn leg-defect (see as well yesterday) started around midday to “behave strangely” > so no good omen. We discovered the Pigeon with the amputated leg not alive anymore at 1.23 p.m.

September 4^th:  the Kestrel was 217 (-6) and the Hobby 293 (+8) gram. And when it was light enough, we could see that both Honey Buzzards had stand the night well; however, eating isn’t yet seen. At 9.30 a.m. a phone-call from someone from Belgium who had “housed” temporarily an injured little cat (for treatment) at the Vet’s place in Pétra > wanted to take the poor soul into Belgium and if he/she (by any chance) could stay here some days till they left for their fatherland > reacted positively. We removed the splint and the bandage from the wing of the Kestrel > now wait and see. After eleven o’clock 2 Dutch visitors. After the siesta 2 Dutch visitors.

September 5^th:  the Kestrel was 218 (+1) and the Hobby 294 (+1) gram. The wing of the Kestrel was complete closed this morning. At 10.35 a.m. a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí that she would send an injured Pigeon with the coach of 11 a.m. With the three trainees we made a cultural excursion to the Kremásti-bridge and to the Early-Christian Basilica, whereafter we picked-up from the coach the announced Pigeon > see at ROCK DOVE. At 11.19 a.m. the little ginger-and-white Tom-cat (07-175; August 28^th) was taken back > advices were given. Meanwhile two Dutch Visitors. At 1.23 p.m. a phone-call from Agiássos, that one had over there a Pigeon with leg- & wing-injuries (discovered already August 28^th in Mytiléne); leg seems to be OK, but the wing isn’t functioning like it should do. Will be brought tomorrow-morning at the Petrol-station. We have given the Kestrel a red ring (right foot) and the Hobby a silver one (left foot) > this to recognize them when they will be transferred to the falcon-aviary.

September 6^th:  the Hobby was 296 (+2) and the Kestrel 221 (+3) gram. The Tom-cat-with-the-lame-rear-part “Ámmos” (07-145; July 29^th) started to have lots of problems with his (un-used testosterone, and so he had to offer this morning both his crown-jewels. Not as a separate case in the statistics. At 7.30 a.m. we received a phone-call that the pigeon was delivered at the Petrol-station > was picked-up. See at PIGEON. Júst at the beginning of the siesta we were wakened by a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Pigeon, which however died while they were speaking to us. At 5.30 p.m. we used the opportunity to check both Honey Buzzards > we were frightened to death and have taken back both birds at once: number I was September 3^rd 598 gram, and now 532 (-66) gram. Nr II was at that date 577 and now 478 (-99 !!) gram !!

September 7^th:  the Hobby was 305 (+9) gram and the Kestrel was the same (221 gram). Honey Buzzard I was 554 (+22) and number II was 488 (+10) gram. Around midday 4 visitors: 2 from Holland and 2 from Hull (GB). At exactly 10 p.m. it started raining, but before we had realized what kind of noise it was, it had stopped already . . . . !!

September 8^th:  the Kestrel was 219 (-2) and the Hobby was 303 (-2) gram Honey Buzzard I was 603 (+49) and Honey Buzzard II was 541 (+53) gram. Unfortunately we had to amputate the wing of the Hobby (07-173; August 27^th) > the gangrene had developed so much that it’s even the question if we can keep him/her alive.

Just before the siesta 4 English visitors from Akrotíri (Mytiléne).

September 9^th:  the Kestrel was 220 (+1) gram and the (amputated) Hobby 281 gram. Honey Buzzard I had remained the same (603 gram) and the 2^nd was 558 (+17) gram. We removed the hanging cast from the wing of the Pigeon “without tail” (07-178; August 30^th = Blue ring r) and as well from the wing of the Rock Dove (07-180; September 5^th = Red ring r). So now observation use of te wing. In the morning 2 Dutch visitors, who brought us in the name of our first trainee Sandra (in 2000) lots of materials for dogs and cats. In the afternoon again 2 Dutch visitors.

September 10^th:  Honey Buzzard I was 630 (+27) gram and number II was 587 (+19) gram. The Kestrel was 221 (+1) gram and the Hobby had remained the same (281 gram). Today was again “Meat-cutting-day) and 10,395 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat was processed (69,86 Euro). Together now this year 424,839 kilo for 2723,62 Euro. Four Dutch visitors, who wanted to take 2 little kittens with them to Holland > see at KITTEN.

Greece at risk of ‘drying out’

If Greece does not take active measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and curb the damage being wreaked by climate change, the average temperature in 2070 will be 41C (106F), rainfall will dwindle by up to 80 percent and many coastal regions will have disappeared, experts are warning.

Rising temperatures and dwindling water will also hamper energy production and reduce the yield of agricultural cultivations, according to a report by the Athens Observatory whose findings were made public in yesterday’s Kathimerini. According to the authors of the report, rising temperatures will push city-dwellers – particularly in the polluted capital – to the northern suburbs, creating pressure for further construction on forestland.

The dramatic impact of climate change on Greece became clear this year with the occurrence of three consecutive heat waves, the observatory’s director, Dimitris Lalas, said. It is not so much the intensity of the heat that demonstrates our altered climate as the frequency of heat waves, he said.

The report warned of the impact of climate change on four key areas: energy production, agriculture, water levels and coastal regions. Rising temperatures are expected to provoke a 5 percent rise in energy demand year-round. During the summer months – when millions of air-conditioners operate in unison – power demand is set to rise by as much as 23 percent.

The dwindling of water resources, as rising temperatures fuel greater water consumption, is also a concern. By 2070, Athens is expected to have 50 percent less water than the minimum amount necessary to supply its residents.

The restrictions on water consumption that will have to be applied to preserve resources will reduce the viability of hydroelectric plants as power generators, the report adds. As for the impact of climate change on agriculture, experts believe that the yield of cultivations will reduce by between 15 and 70 percent, depending on the crop.

Finally, the report warns that between 31,000 and 56,000 hectares of coastal land will disappear by 2070 due to the erosion and flooding provoked by climate change. The most vulnerable areas include Evros, the Thermaic Gulf, and the islands of Corfu, Lemnos, Crete and Rhodes.

Chios earthquake

4.7-magnitude tremor rattles island

An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale shook the eastern Aegean island of Chios (our neighbor-island and on the same tectonic plate as we are > note L.W.H.) yesterday but there were no reports of injuries or damage. The tremor’s epicenter was located in an undersea area, 250 kilometers northeast of Athens.

September 11^th:  the Hobby was 287 (+6) and the Kestrel was 223 (+2) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 649 (+19) and number II was 617 (+30) gram. Both birds are pecking meanwhile themselves to the tweezers with offered meat. During the morning-hours our Vice-Chairman came to show us how we could send pictures and data about the 3 Corn Crakes (Crex crex) we have treated since 1998, could send to a special site here in Greece, because even over here it seems to be something ”special”. Checking the data we discovered that the first one (1998) had come-in with exactly the same symptoms, and with the same “result”, as the one from this year (see August 27^th). . . !! At 6.06 p.m. a phone-call arrived from Hotel Kalloni II, that one had there a birdie with a long bill and beautiful colors (our first thought was a Bee-eater) > so we went for a ride and picked it up; showed to be a male KING FISHER > see over there. At 8.30 p.m. was discovered by Runa a little GREEN TOAD (Bufo viridis) in front of the outside entrance of the House-next-door > taken with us and rescued for the night by lodging it in the Terrarium. Not in the statistics. At 11.30 p.m. 2 village-youth were at the door with a poisoned little cat > see at KITTEN.

September 12^th:  at 5 a.m. the little cat was still alive, but it’s the question if we should last this much longer !! The Kingfisher was still alive as well and was 30 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 225 (+2) and the Hobby 282 (-5) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 647 (-2) and II was 630 (+13) gram. During the morning-hours two Dutch visitors.

The yesterday-evening discovered little Green Toad was released at 12.45 p.m. at a cool, dark and humid place (in the deserted house). More and more we have our doubts about the primarily diagnosis “poisoned little cat” > more likely it seems to be a cerebral problem. Because she is still quite vivid, we started with giving fluid subcutaneously.

September 13^th:  the little cat was already quite far “gone” when we had our first control . We put her down at 6.15 a.m. Honey Buzzard I was 674 (+28) and number II was 645 (+28) gram. The Kestrel was 224 (-1) and the Hobby 270 (-12) gram. The Kingfisher was unchanged at 30 gram. The amputation-injury of the Hobby is becoming cleaner; dead tissue is being shed bit by bit. Doesn’t smell so badly anymore !! Ineke & Joris went for the first time in years for a little holiday to the island of Límnos. The total responsibility was taken-over by Runa & Axel. At the midday- & evening-feeding-round Honey Buzzard II was eating partly from the tweezers and partly on her own.

September 14^th:  the Hobby was 272 (+2) and the Kingfisher was 32 (+2) gram. The Pigeon with the orange ring (07-181; September 6^th) feels warm and doesn’t seem in an optimal condition.

September 15^th: the Hobby was 277 (+5) and the Kingfisher was 34 (+2) gram. By Axel some Little Owls were spotted, under which in any case silversilver (07-091; June 13^th).

Burnt land poses toxic risk

Experts have called for a ban on animals grazing in agricultural areas that were ravaged in the recent fires as well as the monitoring of toxicity levels in this year’s yield of olive oil.

Of some 280,000 hectares of forest and farmland burnt in this year’s fires, the great majority was “virgin forestland” and therefore would not have released high levels of dioxins when it burnt, according to Leontios Leontiadis of the Demokritos Center of Scientific Research in Attica. According to Leontiadis, the toxins were released from other sources. “This summer’s fires also affected illegal landfills and dumps, burning plastics which release dioxins into the atmosphere,” he said. But the impact of these dioxins on the environment was curbed as high winds spread the particles, he added.

The toxic particles are not water-soluble and so will not have penetrated fruit and vegetables on cultivated fields near burnt areas, Leontiadis said. But these toxins can accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals. “Animals should be banned from grazing near burnt areas,” Leontiadis said.

A ban has already been imposed on animals grazing in burnt areas so that the damaged land can be regenerated.

According to Leontiadis, particular attention should be paid to the oil produced from olives culled from fire-afflicted areas. “Olives have the ability to absorb organic pollution,” Leontiadis said. He called for careful inspections to be carried out on the oil before it is distributed.

The longtime impact of the toxins on the environment, and subsequently on human health, is difficult to determine, according to Ioanna Iliopoulou, a biology professor at Patras University. “EU levels only measure extreme toxicity at any one moment – we can only guess about the long-term toxic impact,” she said.

Consumers are advised to avoid consuming the fatty parts of animal meat as these retain the toxins.

September 16^th:  the Hobby was 278 (+1) and the Kingfisher 35 (+1) gram. Measuring the Hobby a piece of scab came off, causing some loss of blood. This was staunched adequately by Runa. Later it showed to be that the stitch was removed by the bird. At 12.05 p.m. there was a Greek woman at the door with a box in which an (injured ?) COLLARED DOVE > see further over there.

September 17^th:  the Hobby was 292 (+14) and the Kingfisher was 46 (+11) gram. At 9.30 a.m. Ineke & Joris were back again. At 12.30 p.m. by a local pigeon-fancier 7 Pigeons were taken, under which two we still could recognize:  07-050; April 26^th and 07-054; May 2^nd ’07. At 12.38 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a birdie “as huge as a fist” with problems > one is trying to send the bird with the coach of 1.15 p.m. At 4.25 p.m. the announced birdie “as huge as a fist” was brought: a bone-thin juvenile (and that at thís time of the year !!) SWIFT > see further over there.

September 18^th:  quite probably there had been a gremlin yesterday in the balance, because the measuring-results were today a bit more realistic: Hobby 278 (the same as the day before yesterday) and the Kingfisher 36 (+1 compared with the day before yesterday). At 8.04 a.m. we started with the amputation of the right rear-leg of the (ex-)Tomcat “Ámmos” (07-145; July 29^th) and that was finished exactly at 9 a.m.: the leg, which only was in his way and without any function, was amputated at the knee. Assistance was given by the three trainees. At 9.15 a.m. Ineke “plucked” from the road (in between the Petrol-station and our village) a little puppy, which not even tried to avoid the traffic > see at PUPPY.

Release:

At 10.20 we could release fantastically well in the “East-River” in Skála Kallonís the Kingfisher (07-183; September 11^th). Was flying as a blue flash.

We had to buy extra meat because of the Honey Buzzards: 1,545 kilo of beef for 11,88 Euro. Total this year now 426,384 kilo for 2735,50 Euro. Just before the siesta 3 Dutch (Frisian) visitors. At 1.14 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Sparrow > will be brought this afternoon. And the people with the Sparrow were here at 4.45 p.m.; not with one, but with two sparrows > see at SPARROW.

September 19^th:  after the Tom-cat “Ámmos” had removed already yesterday the bandage around the injury and we had taped the injury again with Sporttape, we discovered this tape this morning next to his litter-box ! We’ll leave the injury like it is now, in the hope he will not remove the stitches by himself. The Hobby was 281 (+3) gram.

Dead birds found in Koroneia

Some 200 dead birds have been found at Lake Koroneia near Thessaloniki, prompting experts to express fears yesterday that there could be a repeat of the disaster three years ago when about 30.000 birds died near the lake due to poisoning.

Staff at the Hellenic Wildlife Hospital (EKPAZ) said they have been collecting the bodies of dead birds, including flamingos and ducks, since last week and fear the numbers will rise. Samples have been sent to laboratories in Athens and Thessaloniki for tests to determine why the birds are dying but it is feared that toxins similar to the one that appeared at the lake, some 20 kilometers east of Thessaloniki, in 2004 due to low water levels has returned.

At least 29 types of birds died three years ago when the bacteria Clostridium botulinum – an anaerobic, spore-forming rod that produces a potent neurotoxin – increased in the lake due to low water levels.

This form of bacteria is quite common in lakes but it is thought that the large amount of water that was drained from Koroneia for irrigation at the time, combined with heavy pollution, meant it multiplied much faster than usual.

Environmentalists warned this May that the water level of Lake Koroneia had plunged to a record low of 1 meter, causing a buildup of harmful bacteria. It is thought that a different type of toxin-producing bacteria called Arthrospira fusiformis is now causing the deaths of the birds.

Maria Moustaka, a biology professor at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, told Kathimerini yesterday that the bacteria was first detected in February and has now reached a level of high concentration. “It is likely that there will be more deaths as the toxins collect in the birds’ tissue,” said Moustaka.

The Thessaloniki Prefecture introduced a set of measures after the disaster in 2004 designed to protect the lake but EKPAZ yesterday asked for the protection of the lake to be boosted. Many of the projects drawn up three years ago have not been put in place despite Greece having been given access to European Union funds to implement the scheme.

We received a phone-call from Mytiléne that the 2^nd Sparrow from yesterday had died today . . . . ! After the siesta 3 Norwegian visitors: one from Skála Kallonís and 2 from Sogne (Norway). 20

September 20^th:  because Honey Buzzard I had diminished quite a lot since half last week, ánd because there was eaten the last days not so well any more, we started measuring again: this morning 645 gram (was 674 September 13^th !!). The Hobby was 283 (+2) gram. Tom-cat “Ámmos” is (still) perfectly leaving the injury and the stitches alone. The two Honey Buzzards are transferred to “The Keep” for flying-practices. Today again “meat-cutting-day”: 11,210 kilo for 76,74 Euro. Total this year now 437,594 kilo for 2812,24 Euro. We have meanwhile reported about the unusual breeding of the Swift and about the 3 Corn Crakes we had (in 1998, 2006 & 2007). At 11.18 a.m. the well-known Ignáti was at our door with an OSTRICH-CHICKEN from about 2 weeks old > see at BLUE EAST-AFRICAN OSTRICH. At 1.22 p.m. a phone-call from Variá (neighborhood of Mytiléne) about a (juvenile ?) Gull which should have a broken wing and a broken leg, but the bird wasn’t yet caught. Advices were given how to catch the bird and how to send it to us. In the evening we received a call that the bird couldn’t be counted under the living anymore . . . !!

September 21^st:  at 5 a.m. we discovered a thick, fat Green Toad (Bufo viridis) in our court-yard and rescued from the teeth of our dogs > temporarily lodged in the Terrarium. All patients were still alive this morning. The Hobby was 285 (+2) and Honey Buzzard I was 654 (+9) gram. The above mentioned Green Toad was set free at 8.30 (in the first rain that lasted longer than 5 minutes). The wing-injury of the Hobby is almost closed. At 10.40 a.m. the 2^nd Blue East African Ostrich had arrived > see over there. At 4.05 p.m. three young village-laddies were at our door with a, discovered in the dust-bin, thrown-away alive PUPPY > see over there. In the evening again a Green Toad could be placed in safe and was lodged as well temporarily in the Terrarium in the Sick-Bay.

September 22^nd:  all were still alive early this morning. “Ámmos” is taking care of his injury perfectly and doesn’t touch the stitches. The Hobby was 286 (+1) gram and Honey Buzzard I was 653 (-1) gram. We have transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” the following birds: the Rock-dove (07-180; September 5^th) and the Pigeons (07-178; August 30^th) & (07-181; September 6^th). The Kestrel (07-168; August 23^rd) was as well transferred; to the falcon-cage. And we could release well the Green Toad. At 10.55 a.m. a phone-call from Pétra about a Hedgehog, not in such a good condition > should be send by the coach of 1 p.m. from there. A later call informed us that this coach was cancelled, and that the poor one should be send by taxi in the afternoon. At 1.16 p.m. a phone call from Skála Kallonís about a Pigeon with a broken wing > one is going to try delivering this bird as well today. At 5.18 p.m. the announced “Pigeon” arrived here; only however it was a COLLARED DOVE > see over there. And an 5.28 p.m. our “first” Collared Dove “vanished” > see as well over there. The Hedgehog in Pétra was refused by the taxi-driver, because he was afraid for . . . . bird-flu !! Since when Hedgehogs can fly . . . ?? At last a friendly Dutch tourist with “more balls” has taken the poor one to Hotel Pasiphae in Skála Kallonís, where we have picked-it up > see at EASTERN HEDGEHOG.

September 23^rd:  last night there was a power-cut from 2.15 till 4.15 a.m. And although we went for a look at 5 a.m. with fright and fear, all patients were still alive; even the Collared Dove. And as well the Eastern hedgehog showed evidently that he/she (we still don’t know) was breathing; however there hadn’t been eating. The Hobby was 185 (-1) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 67-0 (+17) and number II was 742 gram. All yesterday transferred to the pigeon cage in “The Keep” Pigeons had done well. For the first time since the construction of the “tower” in the falcon-cage (2005) a Kestrel has put up in here: the yesterday transferred one. The injury of the Hobby is completely closed now and doesn’t need any treatment anymore > only waiting for new feathers. We could remove 3 ticks from the body of the Hedgehog, only sexing is still impossible. In the morning 4 Dutch visitors. The Collared Dove had made from the closed fracture of the left wing an open > closed and a bandage was given. We discovered the Eastern Hedgehog at 1.35 p.m. not alive anymore. The whole day the skies are covered with loud-screaming European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster)!! At almost 8.30 p.m. some primary-school-laddies with a box filled with thrown-away, just born PUPPIES: seven !! > see over there.

September 24^th:  the Hobby was 288 (+3) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 673 (+3) and number II was 741 (-1) gram. The tomcat “Ámmos” is feeling quite warm and has hardly eaten > antibiotics were injected. Later it showed to be that the injury was leaking fluid on one spot > over here (with lots of difficulties for us) 1 stitch was removed. It seems if the (repeating) dislocation of the heel of the little Ostrich is an in-born defect: only we can’t perform a surgery because the bird is still growing !! Today again “meat-cutting-day”: 10,205 kilo for 68,33 Euro. Total this year now 447,799 kilo for 2880,57 Euro. Late in the morning 2 Dutch visitors. The severe injured Collared Dove gasped for the last time for breath at 5.32 p.m. . . . !! Again 2 Dutch visitors. At 7.20 p.m. suddenly at the whole island electricity disappeared (no one could tell why and for how long) and such lasted more than one hour !!

September 25^th:  the Hobby was 288 (=) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 675 (+2) and number II was 758 (+17) gram. Today the three trainees were taught how to stitch injuries.

September 26^th:  the Hobby was 292 (+3) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 693 (+18) and II was 743 (-15) gram. With the three trainees the well-known “cultural excursion” was performed. Meanwhile, already announced a time ago, a Cacatua was delivered > the owner was absolutely incapable taking care and didn’t even know what kind of bird she had bought about 3 – 3,5 years ago > see at GOFFIN’S CACATUA. At 12.56 p.m. a phone-call from some German-speaking tourists who had discovered “somewhere” on the road to Polichnítos a bird with a broken leg. According to the given description (dark brown, long legs, a bill bended downwards) it could be a Glossy Ibis. After a long time of explanations it showed to be only about 10 km from home, so we went for a ride. Showed to be (most probably) a CURLEW (Numenius arquata), which indeed had a broken leg. This however didn’t prevent the bird from taking-off and flying well for three times. So a trip (21 km) for nothing.

September 27^th:  the Hobby was 293 (+2) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 689 (-4) and II was 765 (+22) gram. At 8.15 a.m. arrived 2 semi-stray-cats from Eftaloú > the cat “Molly” and the Tom-cat “Ptolomé”, and they left again at 10.10 a.m.; both some grams less heavier. The 2^nd Blue East African Ostrich was taken back by the owner at 10.55 a.m. At 11/03 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a quite young Collared Dove > will be brought this afternoon. And of course that didn’t happen > after lots of efforts we at last heard in the evening that this was cancelled, because the parents still were feeding the little one . . . . !!

September 28^th:  the Hobby was 294 (+1) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 700 (+7) and number II was 770 (+5) gram. At the end of the morning 3 visitors from Isen (close to Munich, Germany); the same people who had called us the day before yesterday for the Curlew. 20  At 5.59 p.m. a phone-call from Kallonís about a knocked-down doggie > they passed-by. See at PUPPY.

September 29^th:  the Hobby was 296 (+2) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 700 (=) and II was 778 (+8) gram.

September 30^th:  the Hobby was 293 (-3) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 705 (+5) and II was 795 (+17) gram. All three trainees have been practicing stitching on a dead House Marten. We received a phone-call from Pétra about a puppy, three months old, which had fallen down from quite a distance > was screaming from pain and those people wanted to pass-by. Meanwhile 4 visitors from Skála Polichnítos.  And while we were busy guiding them around, again a call about that puppy > wasn’t screaming now any more . . . . (a good or a bad omen ??) and so they won’t pass by any more.

Total amount of visitors this month:  045                     (total this year: 436)

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 120 (total this year 2345 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 27 [wild ones: 08; others 19], (total this year 221: wild ones 145, others 076; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3764) of which:

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 1 little one from Parákoila; had a grass-seed in the left eye that already had damaged the eyeball. Under a  total-anesthetic the seed was removed. Was taken-back the same day at 1 p.m.

ROCK DOVE (Columba livia): 1 quite young specimen, via the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí > is missing the tail-feathers, has a huge hemorrhage in the right wing and the body has the shape of a bow. So: observation brain-damage. At the evening-feeding-round it showed that the right leg wasn’t used and there was a hemorrhage on the right side of the back. (see as well September 9^th & 22^nd)

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 1 juvenile, discovered ± August 28^th in Mytiléne. Was kept by the (good-willing) discoverer tóó long without adequate care, by which the broken elbow is now a “pseudo-arthrosis” and the bird is disabled for ever . . . . !! (see as well September 14^th & 22^nd)
KITTEN (Felis catus): 3; the first were two ± 5 weeks old Tom-cats; thrown-away alive in Mólivos. Prepared everything for their departure September 14^th to Holland. Number 3 was brought-in quite late in the evening > was poisoned. Apomorfine & Atropine were injected. Was still alive the morning after intake, but . . . (see as well September 12^th & 13^th)

KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis): 1 male, discovered in the open-air-lounge of Hotel Kallonis II in Skála Kallonís > not injured. Was flying quite well in our surgery, but was much to light (only 31 gram in stead of 40-45 gram.

(see as well September 18^th)    

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 2; the first was an almost adult specimen from our village. Is missing almost all the big tail-feathers and had a thick right pulse. Hanging cast was given. After deliberations by phone with Límnos antibiotics were injected in case of a possible cat-bite. Had continuously problems with too much drunk water > suffocated at last herein September 22^nd at 5.28 p.m. The 2^nd was discovered in Skála Kallonís; almost the same age as number 1. Open fracture right elbow and closed fracture left wing. The prognosis is almost nihil, but we have treated and splinted the injuries. Antibiotics were injected. (see as well September 23^rd & 24^th).

SWIFT (Apus apus): 1 juvenile (!!) from Mytiléne > bone-and bone-thin. The prognosis is almost nihil, but one has taken só many pains to get the bird over here, that we are going to give it a try. Died exactly one hour after intake in our hands.

PUPPY (Canis familiaris): 10; the first was a ± 6 – 8 weeks old little bitch, which was sitting infatuated in no-mans-land in the midst of the road. Rescued from becoming a “Persian Carpet”. Is named “Τρίτη” (Tríti = as well “the third” as Tuesday; the day she was rescued).

The second was born the day of intake, as well a female and after being born at once thrown away alive in a dust-bin. Was already quite cold > put down. The next seven from our village were just born and thrown-away alive in a dust-bin. Slimy from old olive-oil they were. We had to put her down. The 10^th was a male, about 3 months old and knocked-down by a car in Kallonís. Except from some minor skin-injuries there was a greenstick-fracture of the left rear-leg (metatarsalia) > taped.

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 1 adult male; already for 3 years in the possession of the bearers, who had visited already a Vet in Mytiléne with the birdie. The bird had fallen more and more apathic and wasn’t eating anymore as well. Showed to have 2 immense atherome-cysts on the head due to which there was a huge deformation; the Vet had here for already prescribed . . . . Antibiotics !! Showed to have as well “space-occupying processes in the throat, due to which as well eating as breathing was obstructed. Died in our hands. Showed to have as well atherome-cysts around the tail. In any case this had been a “lost battle”. The 2^nd one, a female, showed to have none of the symptoms the other had > so not in the statistics. (see as well September 20^th).

BLUE EAST AFRICAN OSTRICH (Struthio camelus molybdenus): 2; the first was a ± 2 weeks old chicken, with a rupture of the ligaments of the heel left leg > taped.

Will later have company of another chicken, only for “gossiping”. And that one came next morning: was about 2 weeks older and evidently bigger and more “talkative”. Number 1 was tumbling down constantly in the morning of the 26^th and was discovered dead at 11.45 a.m. (see as well September 27^th).

EASTERN HEDGEHOG (Erinaceus concolor roum.): 1 adult from Pétra; was announced as “having lots of pus” > however showed to be after a good examination cooking fat or cooking oil (being busy in the rubbish ??). So trying cleaning-up.

Was discovered the day after intake at 1.35 p.m. not alive anymore. P.M.: the ultimo cause of death was cor-pulmonal. Lungs were faded and the blood vessels to the heart were very swollen. Those symptoms could point in the direction of a poisoning with dioxin (from the eaten old cooking oil) or some other kind of poisoning after rain had fallen and poisons were dissolved.

Coffin’s Cacatua (Cacatua Goffini): 1 about 4 year old one; is on the red list of being extinguished. Was sold in spite of that in Greece and this kind one can obtain still . . . . !! The owner couldn’t take care of the bird (and had never known how to treat him properly !!).

CAT (Felis catus): 1 semi-stray from Eftaloú, but some Dutch are taking care of her. The joy of “stray-motherhood” was taken away from her.

TOM-CAT (Felis Catus): 1 as well a semi-stray from the same village, only English people are taking care of him. Is still capable of “playing football”, only scoring not any more.