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December 2008 LOG-BOOK: News about Greece is in blue December 1st: the She-dog “Lucy” has passed the night well, and so too her baby. That one was warm at last !! The Long-eared Owl was 318 (-1), the Little Owl 201 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 289 (+1) gram. The Kestrel was 215 (+1), the Sparrowhawk 282 (+3) and the Goshawk 915 (-9) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 40 (+1) and the other 41 (-1) gram. Did someone yesterday-evening had stabled a (sick ??) horse in the big stable of the deserted houslet (we hadn’t paid much attention to this, because sometimes there are more horses over there), this morning at 7.30 we discovered the horse was dead. So now wait and see íf and when the carcass will be removed > it had entered walking, but now it had to be dragged out !! And how ?? Today meat had to be processed again and the winter-crew (Ineke, Tjarda, Douglas & Janice) were occupied with 15,141 kilo (for 99,67 Euro). Total now this year 724,950 kilo for 4576,78 Euro. We have started with the making of a curtain for in the House-next-door in between the living and the hall > in principal the door over there should always be open because of the litter-boxes, but this curtain can make a difference in the temperature and avoid draught. In our house we have the same solution already for years. EC prod for green investments European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas has called on authorities and enterprises to invest in the “green economy,” noting that harnessing the country’s renewable energy source (RES) potential would not only boost the fight against climate change but also combat the economic crisis by creating a wealth of new jobs. The commissioner stressed that this shift toward the green economy “must be carried out quickly by our enterprises and industry,” adding that “whoever moves first will gain the advantage.” “Investments made in clean technologies, with the sustainable use of resources and energy-saving practices, are more cost efficient and productive, creating new jobs and giving European industry a very strong position in a competitive global market,” Dimas told Kathimerini in an interview published yesterday. Questioned about an EU drive to encourage member states to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions they produce by curbing the use of polluting fossil fuels in energy production and embracing RES sources, such as solar and wind energy, Dimas said he believed a United Nations emissions trading program would help. Greece was temporarily suspended from the program earlier this year after UN experts questioned the adequacy of its pollution measuring system. “This trading mechanism will oblige member states, including Greece, to develop their renewable energy sources,” the commissioner said. As regards the progress toward a green economy on a global level, Dimas said he has been encouraged by recent developments, including the election of Barack Obama as the new US president. “The recent comments by Obama regarding the introduction of an emissions trading system in the USA and goals for reducing greenhouse gases in the middle term and long term as well as the active participation of the USA in negotiations signal a change in policy and are very encouraging,” Dimas said. But it is yet common known that “planning” and “forward looking” are dirty words in Greece ?? Bad planning filling roads with potholes A lack of government planning and coordination is resulting in state utilities launching projects without the required licenses and sometimes even digging up roads where works have already been carried out, municipal authorities have told Kathimerini. “It happens all the time,” said the deputy mayor of Nea Ionia, Nikos Dakoutros. “Although we inform utilities and natural gas firms when we plan to start road work, so we can coordinate our activities, they do not let us know, and so the same roads get dug up again and again.” According to municipal sources, often simple notification is enough to permit the launch of utilities work, while many projects are described as “urgent repairs” to bypass the license application. There are some 2,500 potholes on Athens roads. Municipal authorities say they repaired 25,000 last year. And here on the island it’s not better, in contrary !! The Owner (or better: one of the owners) of the deserted houslet could be reached by us, but he didn’t even know about the horse !! In any case he seems to know to whom the dead creature could belong and he is taking action now to take care it will be removed. And so happened in our siesta: with the help of blankets on which the carcass was rolled-over, it was dragged out of the stable and thereafter with a pick-up-truck brought to the landfill. We have heard that our old photo-copier is definitively “gone”, so we must try to get another one . . . . !! Luckily we had already expected so and made some contacts. December 2nd: mother “Lucy” and her daughter are doing fine, but one shouldn’t approach the baby too close, because then she’ll bite !! So quite difficult injecting her the antibiotics !! The Long-eared Owl was 317 (-1), the Little Owl 202 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 288 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 214 (-1) and the Sparrowhawk 184 (+2) gram. The Goshawk evidently “doesn’t believe in it anymore” > was 876 (-39 !!). Was fed yesterday anti-worm-tablets, but vomited that as well even twice. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 38 (-2) and the other 43 (+2) gram. This morning we were able to buy in Mytiléne (with reduction) a combi-laser-printer. Rivers at risk from park plan A new decision by the Environment and Public Works Ministry grants national park status to the deltas of the Axios, Loudia and Aliakmonas rivers in northern Greece but legal loopholes are expected to curb the protection of the area. The decision follows several years of lobbying by local authorities, landowners and hunting associations, demanding that restrictions to farming and hunting activities in the region be lifted. According to the ministry’s plan, the site will be divided into four zones with graded levels of protection. In the so-called agricultural zone, sources say the proposal lifts virtually all restrictions, allowing the development of small-scale industry, small boatyards, the construction of warehouses, private homes and hotels. Stella Vareltzidou, who heads the organization managing local rivers, says the uses of land foreseen by the decision are “inappropriate.” At 6 p.m. the curtain for the House-next-door was ready and hanging. From 7.35 p.m. the whole Internet in Greece was “flat” for almost one hour, and thereafter it was only scanty measure what could be used. December 3rd: “Lucy” had produced droppings for the first time after the surgery !! Mother and child are doing fine. The Long-eared Owl was 320 (+3), the Little Owl 201 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 289 (+1) gram. The Kestrel was 215 (+1), the Sparrowhawk 287 (+3) and the Goshawk 901 (+25 !!!!!) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 41 (+3) and the other 42 (-1) gram. We have removed the hanging cast from the wing of the Sparrowhawk. We’re trying as well getting her eating on her own > is she able to do so, that she can be transferred to the falcon-aviary till the end of the hunting-season. Without the help of someone else we could install the new HP LaserJet, so at last the new patient-cards could be finished. Just in time, because we had only left 5 from the old model !! Can’t see the forest for the roads in Seikh Sou Environmentalists in northern Greece are up in arms over plans to extend by 60 kilometers an already sprawling road network that runs through Seikh Sou, a forest on the outskirts of Thessaloniki. They say the project is illegal, will destroy countless trees and may even increase the risk of fires. “Seikh Sou has some 190 kilometers of firefighting paths, more than any other suburban forest in Greece,” said Yiannis Tziolas, a spokesperson for the ecologists. “Now, on the pretext of creating better access for fire engines, another 60 kilometers of road will be added,” he said. According to ecologists, new roads are being built on paths set aside for firefighters which will double in width and probably be surfaced with asphalt in a couple of years. But by creating easier access for motorists, the initiative could lead to the creation of more illegal landfills – the forest already has 10 – which are frequently the source of fires. Seamen’s strikeAction to disrupt ferry routes from today as staff seek payA strike beginning today by the Panhellenic Seamen’s Federation will disrupt coastal shipping as some 11 ferries belonging to major firms such as ANEK and NEL Lines (from Mytiléne and sailing for this harbor > note L.W.H.) are involved. Seamen are demanding 11 months in unpaid salaries. The federation’s general secretary, Yiannis Chalas, said the action would continue until the outstanding payments have been made. “We will not work on ships that do not fulfill their obligations – if they start behaving we will stop our action,” he said. The Merchant Marine Ministry said it had asked shipping firms to pay their debts or face legal action. Fishermen sail into Piraeus to protest Dozens of fishermen used their boats to block the port of Piraeus yesterday to protest a European Union directive that will come into force next year, preventing them from fishing close to the coast and at a depth of less than 50 meters. The fishermen demand that the government arrange for them to be exempt from the rule. Ferry services were not seriously disrupted by the protest. A similar demonstration was held in Thessaloniki. And so we wonder when here on the island the protests will begin, because neither the Gulf of Géras, nor the Gulf of Kallonís is reaching till a depth of 50 meters !! Since 6.56 p.m. there is a RED
weather-alert for a huge part of Greece (our islands as well) due to
stormy weather. This means: So quite calm we won’t enter our beds, as well because the expectations are as well for tomorrow . . . . !! December 4th: still a red weather-alert, but we hardly notice the reasons because it’s (almost) calm !! The Long-eared Owl was 321 (+1), the Little Owl 204 (+3) and the Dark Barn Owl 287 (-2) gram. The Kestrel was 214 (-1), the Sparrowhawk 284 (-3) and the Goshawk 903 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 41 (=) and the other 42 (=) gram. At 7.20 a.m. the red weather-alert was only still in force for the whole islands-region eastern, south- & north-eastern of the capital (so we as well). On the radio we could hear that 10 Beaufort and increasing is expected !! So the “calm” of this morning is probably the “lull before the storm” !! FERRY STRIKEANEK resumes service Passengers scheduled to travel on a ferry belonging to the ANEK shipping firm will not face disruptions as the company has settled outstanding payments to staff, a spokesman for the Panhellenic Federation of Seamen said yesterday. But ships belonging to major firms including NEL Lines, SAOS and GA Ferries remained moored as seamen entered the second day of a strike to protest companies’ reported failure to pay staff several months in back pay. Dimas awardThe Brussels-based weekly newspaper EuropeanVoice has named European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas “European Commissioner of the Year.” Dimas stressed the Commission’s desire to tackle major challenges. “Looking back four years ago, all the issues discussed in 2004 are still with us,” he said. Boat blockadeFishermen blocked the entrance to Piraeus port with their boats for the second day yesterday. They were protesting a European Union directive, due to come into force next year, preventing them from fishing less than 1.5 nautical miles from the coast and at a depth of less than 50 meters. At 2.36 p.m. the weather-alert had changed into orange !! And at 2.45 p.m., when we were taking the food from the fridge, we heard a lamenting wailing coming from the place where “Lucy” was with her child > it showed not to be the little one, but the mother herself !! Maybe because there wasn’t enough milk, the little one had started sucking everywhere and had all stitches sucked-out and was now busy with the intestines !! We had to give “Lucy” a light total-anesthetic and do all stitches again (including those of the peritoneum). We could stitch the skin now intracutanious (because there were hardly any milk-packets). Hereafter the owner was contacted because there was a problem what to do now. “Lucy” was so upset because of the pain, that she had bitten some times quite deep in two human hands . . . . !! At 4.10 the owner came and took the puppy with him (to try to rear her with the bottle) > for “Lucy” the best solution, will she still will have a chance !! And to enlarge that chance, we started again with antibiotics. In the evening the shutters started flapping quite heavily, but that was all and certainly nothing to panic about !! December 5th: our islands have no weather-alert anymore !! “Lucy” meanwhile has produced droppings: a normal color and a normal consistence. The Long-eared Owl was 320 (-1), the Little Owl 202 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl (which had vomited yesterday a lot) 280 (-7) gram. The Kestrel was 217 (+3), the Sparrowhawk 286 (+2) and the Goshawk 909 (+6) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 41 (=) and the other 44 (+2) gram. Reading the following, we really yesterday “got off scot-free”: RHODES FIREState of emergency called after strong wind fuels blaze The General Secretariat for Civil Protection yesterday declared a state of emergency on Rhodes, in the southern Aegean, after a large forest fire was fanned by winds that reached 10 on the Beaufort scale. The blaze in Kamiros, on the island’s northwestern coast, believed to have been accidentally ignited by a farmer, had been partially contained by last night. But firemen remained on standby as the strong winds that kept water-dropping aircraft grounded had not died down. More than 150 hectares of forestland was said to have been razed but there were no reports of injuries. Winds reached 10 Beaufort... A man in Aigion, in the Peloponnese, watches waves crash on the seafront yesterday when winds reached 10 Beaufort. Elsewhere ferries remained moored, flights were canceled and trees were uprooted. A group of (illegal) migrants was stranded on the islet of Nimos in the southern Aegean. Due to the heavy storms Greece has cancelled the ferry-services in between the mainland and the islands. In front of the Greek coasts storms are raging with peaks of above 10 on the Beaufort-scale. Lots of islands are cut from the outer world. Further there were wildfires on the island of Rhodes. The fires are due to the temperatures till 25° Centigrade from the last days. December 6th: “Lucy” is doing quite well after all that had happened, but we still haven’t won the battle !! “Mázzel” meanwhile is capable climbing and descending all stairs. He is complete clean indoors !! This morning not a single patient was “in the minus” !! The Long-eared Owl was 320 (=), the Little Owl 204 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (+3) gram. The Kestrel was 219 (+2), the Sparrowhawk 286 (=) and the Goshawk 913 (+4) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 44 (+3) and the other 47 (+3) gram. In the hibernating-place for the tortoises “Sophie” is in radiant health (but quite deep asleep). The air in this place is so good, it isn’t necessary digging for dead ones !! At 9.15 our carpenter came with “Lucy’s” puppy: the belly was very hard and swollen. Ineke started with massage and later some olive-oil via the rectum. Meanwhile the carpenter wanted to see his doggie > showed that the lady had bitten-out the belly-stitches (but maybe by the now again swollen tits). Because there was hardly any good skin left-over there for stitching in a normal way, the injury was closed with 3 huge stitches (linen) and covered with a square of gauze with Dermisol-cream. As well she was “dressed” in a kind of pyjama to prevent her of “taking care” by herself. The stitching was done under a light total-anesthetic. As soon as she is conscious again, we’re starting with Lactafal to diminish the milk-production. See for the next article as well November 18th, about “error on map”: “Sea Diamond”Merchant Marine Minister Anastassis Papaligouras yesterday did not rule out the possibility of the state shouldering the cost of the removal of the sunken “Sea Diamond” cruise ship from the seabed off Santorini if the vessel’s owner refused to fund the project. The job is expected to cost some 120 million euros. The shipping firm that owns the cruise liner, which sank off Santorini after hitting a reef in April last year, has blamed inaccuracies in official sea charts for the collision. December 7th: there had been a warning on the radio, that in the week-end the weather should worsen and indeed: we have a yellow weather-alert due to thunder-storms. The Long-eared Owl was 322 (+2), but that was the only one which was “in the plus” ! The Little Owl was 204 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 280 (-3) gram. The Kestrel was 219 (=), the Sparrowhawk 284 (-2) and the Goshawk, which had vomited last night, 895 (-18) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 40 (-4) and the other 45 (-2) gram. Changing “Lucy’s” bandage we have discovered that the situation in any case hasn’t worsened since yesterday !! At 11.15 it started thundering, after a whole morning of drizzling. And that worsened even so, that we had to take back inside our blind Rook > wasn’t capable anymore finding a shelter. In the evening we could remove from both wings of our very disabled Jackdaw (named “Down syndrome”) lots of totally deformed clogs of feathers and grown-inside feather-remnants > hereafter both wings looked like Swiss Cheese !! December 8th: all patients were still alive this morning. The Long-eared Owl was 325 (+3), the Little Owl 204 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 280 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 221 (+2), the Sparrowhawk 284 (=) and the Goshawk 892 (-3) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 44 (+4) and the other 46 (+1) gram. Changing “Lucy’s” bandage, no shocking things appeared: the stitches are still there, but the injury is still running. From a report by a Dutch Vet in Jordania: “As well I had to perform some difficult surgeries, like an eye-amputation on a knocked-down stray cat, something I had practiced once during my studies on a dead animal. But such a surgery I shouldn’t dare to perform on my own dog. In Holland that’s a job for a specialist.” And those kind of surgeries are performed over here as quite a normal case !! Today meat (15,755 kilo for 99,95 Euro; total now this year 740,705 kilo for 4676,73 Euro) had to be processed again, but as well a two-seater couch for the living of the House-next-door had to be picked-up in Parákoila: so we had to split-up. And after we had emptied the car and re-built as a mini-van, we had the couch over here installed at 11 a.m. Hereafter Douglas took-in his cutting-place again for processing the meat together with Janice, Tjarda & Ineke. Rhodes twister leaves damage in its wake Residents of Rhodes had a rude awakening yesterday when a whirlwind swept across the Dodecanese island, causing damage to homes, shops and a sports center in the main town. The mini-tornado, which lasted only a few minutes, struck at about 9.30 a.m. and was accompanied by heavy rain. The Kallipateira sports center bore the brunt of the damage as part of the roof was ripped off the building. The whirlwind also damaged sports equipment and the fencing around the complex. Some shops in the town center also had their windows smashed, while damage to a number of store and road signs was reported. In addition, several areas of Rhodes lost power as a result of the whirlwind but no injuries were reported. “Sea Diamond”Residents of Santorini have decided to permanently block the entrance to the local tax office starting December 17 in protest at the failure to remove the wreckage of the cruise ship “Sea Diamond” from the island’s waters. Both the company that owns the ship and the government have refused to pay for the shipwreck to be raised and removed. December 9th: “Lucy” is not like she should be: hasn’t eaten anymore since yesterday-afternoon (and so as well not the medication) !! The Long-eared Owl was 321 (-4), but had vomited; the Little Owl was 203 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 282 (+2) gram. The Kestrel was 224 (+3), the Sparrowhawk 288 (+4) and the Goshawk 895 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 44 (=) and the other as well 44 (-2) gram. We could feel a thick lump on the belly of “Lucy” (under the bandage and the pyjama) so we “smelled already a rat” !! Showed to be a incarcerated hernia, which was closing more and more. So again under a total anesthetic tried to bring back the intestine into the belly > negative. So we had to open further the peritoneum to push back the noose. After a wound-toilet the peritoneum was stitched again with 7 stitches. Skin was closed with 5 U-stitches and again a pyjama was given. Let’s hope this was the last time . . . !! Around 11 o’clock she was a bit normal again. At 1 p.m. however she hadn’t drunk or eaten, but at 3.25 p.m. there was eaten a bit. At 4.55 p.m. we heard from the carpenter that the little puppy (08-208B, * November 30th) hadn’t made it !! December 10th: letting out the doggies at 4.50 a.m. our car was glittering white-frozen under the lamp-light !! The Long-eared Owl was 319 (-2), the Little Owl 201 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 284 (+2) gram. The Kestrel was 222 (-2), the Sparrowhawk 290 (+2) and the Goshawk 890 (-5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 43 (-1) and the other 46 (+2) gram. Meanwhile “Lucy” has eaten somewhat, however still no droppings were produced. Changing the bandage, we could see for the first time a nice, dry belly !! The riots in Greece after the killing of the 15-year old student have spread as well to our island: In the night from Saturday to Sunday in the capital Mytiléne paint was thrown against the Police-headquarters, 2 patrol-cars were demolished, windows were smashed and a dust-bin close-by was set alight. On Sunday at 2 p.m. the Greek flag was lowered in Sáppho-square (at the harbor) and under a terrible rain they went in the direction of the Ministry (of the Aegean). Off the Ethniki-Bank stones were thrown through which the rolling-shutters were damaged. Outside the Customs-office at the harbor, the western side of the building, stones were thrown so the rolling-shutters came down at the entrance; a police-shield for passport-control was the target as well. On Sunday on their way from Sáppho-square to the Ministry of the Aegean windows of shops and public buildings were smashed. Hereafter they went loud screaming to the ministry; stones were thrown and about all windows on ground-level were smashed. At the same moment in the city-center of Mytiléne some autonomous groups destroyed the cash-dispensers at the Agrotiki-Bank and the Emboriki-Bank; at the Postal Savings-bank the shutters were destroyed. At 1.36 p.m. we were phoned by the vet from the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís, that they had a “geráki” with a broken wing > so we picked it up. Was discovered in the court-yard of the firm and the vet had used thick leather gloves to catch him > showed how this could be done without those frightening things, and as well how to use an emergency-tape to prevent worsening of the fracture. See further at SPARROWHAWK. And because we now have two Sparrowhawks, which are the very image of each other but only are a bit different in seize, we have given them a colored foot-ring: the old one (female) received a red ring right foot, and this new sub-adult male a green ring around the right foot. December 11th: and again we had a white-frozen car under a wonderful huge full moon at 4.50 a.m. In the Sick-Bay all patients were still alive !! The Long-eared Owl was 320 (+1), the Little Owl 204 (+3) and the dark Barn Owl 284 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 221 (-1), the red Sparrowhawk 294 (+4) and the new green one 124 (+2) gram. The Goshawk was 888 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 44 (+1) and the other 48 (+2) gram. For the first time we could change “Lucy’s” bandage without the use of a muzzle: is complete dry and not swollen !! Starting at the west of the country there is already coming an orange weather-alert due to stormy winds and thunderstorms: Weather worsensThe unseasonably fair weather conditions of the past few days are set to change from tomorrow when winds are forecast to reach 9 or 10 on the Beaufort scale with heavy rain and thunderstorms as well. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection said it had asked local authorities to be on standby for possible damage and problems on the national road network. The stormy spell is expected to ease from Saturday. We had to (and could) trim the beak of as well the Long-eared Owl as the Little Owl. At 4.42 p.m., bringing around the foot for the nocturnals, we discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” a juvenile Pigeon, which was hardly or not fed anymore by the parents > was bone-thin. So taken-in > see further at PIGEON. And as soon as we had time again using the computer, it showed that from 4.16 p.m. there was an orange weather-alert for the whole of Greece due to the coming storms !! December 12th: still an orange weather-alert for the whole of Greece, but till now on we hardly notice why !! All patients in the Sick-Bay were still alive at 4.50 a.m. The Long-eared Owl was 317 (-3), the Little Owl was 202 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 883 (-5), the Kestrel 221 (=), the red Sparrowhawk 291 (-3) and the green one 136 (+12) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 41 (-3) and the other 48 (=) gram. The yesterday-afternoon taken-in juvenile Pigeon was 166 gram. At 6.55 a.m. it started raining and blowing. We have discovered that the green Sparrowhawk indeed was shot > shot-hole was discovered at the underside of the wing, close to the pulse-joint. So the bird was shot from a great distance (noticing the angle the inshot-hole and the outshot-hole are making, and because there is only one shot-hole) while he was flying in the direction of the shot. By the way, the injuries are smelling good. “Lucy’s” belly-injury looks fantastic now and the udders are so diminished that we can phase out the Lactafal. Yesterday it was her last day of antibiotics. After we had placed and connected three earthed sockets in the only bathroom our two houses have (and before we could do so, we had to re-tile a part of a wall in the past days), we could work as well for half an hour making the House-next-door more livable. Ferry sit-in Angry seamen occupy ship A passenger ferry that had been due to take 200 passengers to Chios and Lesvos was occupied by protesting sailors late on Wednesday night and remained moored in Piraeus. The seamen occupied the vessel, owned by NEL Lines, to protest the firm’s alleged failure to pay staff several months’ unpaid salaries. Earlier in the week, the management of NEL Lines claimed to have settled the outstanding payments. “Sea Diamond”Merchant Marine Minister Anastassis Papaligouras is today due to meet the mayor of Santorini, Angelos Roussos, and other local officials to discuss what is to be done about the sunken Sea Diamond cruise liner. According to sources, the ministry is exerting pressure on the Sea Diamond’s insurance company to cover the cost of pumping out hundreds of tons of fuel from the sunken vessel. Vessels dockedHigh-speed vessels serving routes to islands in the Argosaronic Gulf remained moored yesterday as winds exceeded 8 on the Beaufort scale. Ferries to several Ionian and Aegean islands also remained docked. The coast guard in Thessaloniki warned of stormy weather in the Thermaic Gulf today with wind speeds expected to reach 9 Beaufort. From 2.56 p.m. only the islands in front of the Turkish coast (and so we as well) have an orange weather-alert; for the rest of the country the alerts are lifted. At 4.10 p.m. we discovered that “Lucy” for the first time since the intestines had been stuck, had produced some droppings > we already had started worrying . . . . !! December 13th: at 4.37 a.m. the weather-alert was lifted. We discovered at 4.40 a.m. the juvenile Pigeon (taken-in December 11th) not alive anymore > NO P.M. was done. The Long-eared Owl was 316 (-1), the Little Owl 202 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 284 (+1) gram. The Goshawk was 879 (-4), the Kestrel 222 (+1), the green Sparrowhawk 149 (+4) and the red one 295 (+4) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 41 (=) and the other 48 (=) gram. “Lucy” is eating again traditionally. One has started with the complete cleaning of the court-yard of the “deserted houslet” > so something is going te happen with it. One of the owners and his wife, who were very interested in our work came to have a look and got a short tour around. We have removed “Lucy’s” pyjama > the injury is now only covered with a plaster. And again we probably have got off scot-free: Two dead as storms bring floods, damage Strong winds battered many parts of the country yesterday, causing widespread damage and flooding and keeping ferries moored in ports. A 38-year-old Albanian woman and her 18-year-old daughter died late on Thursday when their car plunged into the sea on the Ionian island of Cephalonia in the middle of a thunderstorm. The woman’s 16-year-old son had been driving the vehicle (is happening here regularly; even younger !! > note L.W.H.) but managed to get out. Yesterday storms damaged homes, stores and farms in the Peloponnese. There were landslides on some roads due to heavy rain which knocked out several sets of traffic lights. Passenger ferries remained moored at Piraeus and in Aegean harbors. A Greek ferry sailing into the western port of Patras from Italy sustained a 2-meter gash in its hull when gale-force winds drove it into the pier. No harm came to the 102 passengers aboard the “Pasiphae”. “Sea Diamond”The company that insured the “Sea Diamond” cruise ship which sank off Santorini last year has until December 20th to come up with a plan to pump out the fuel left in the wreck, Merchant Marine Minister Anastassis Papaligouras said yesterday. He told officials on the island that the insurer will also have to cover the cost of the endeavor. Papaligouras added that the government would also pressure those responsible for the vessel to remove it from the sea, just off the Aegean island. However, islanders said that they would begin an indefinite sit-in protest at the local tax office on December 17th to push for the shipwreck to be towed away. At 2.04 p.m. the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí phoned from Mytiléne about a stray cat with a joint which “was completely ruined” and on which she only could perform a surgery if the poor soul thereafter could have rest and care for 10 – 20 days > otherwise it should be put down. She hadn’t the place herefor. “If we could . . . ??” In principal answered positively. After 5 p.m. we could work for a good hour in the House-next-door. December 14th: “Lucy” had everywhere in the Sick-Bay left the healthy marks of a good digestion and she ate after her owl bowl, another 2 bowls with cat-biscuits !! She herself had removed the plaster from het belly and the injury looks fine. So in a day or two she can return to her owner. The Long-eared Owl was 317 (+1), the Little Owl 202 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 284 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 879 (=), the Kestrel 224 (+2), the green Sparrowhawk 143 (+3) and the red one 294 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 42 (+1) and the other 47 (-1) gram. At 7 a.m. was discovered in the Crow-aviary in the courtyard of the House-next-door a disabled Hooded Crow, completely spoiled by the rain, which desperately was clinging to one of the climbing-irons. See further at HOODED CROW. At the time being the only difference between “Sophie” and the other hibernating tortoises, is that she is sleeping with a “white back” and the others don’t. From 1.47 p.m. a huge part of Greece (under which the North-Aegean Islands) a yellow weather-alert for today and tomorrow due to thunderstorms; in view of the last times we’ll wait and see . . . . ?!?! Because after all we wanted to get to the bottom of it, we have tried to reach the vet in Mytiléne about the (eventually) coming of the cat after the surgery. At last we could hear at 8.05 p.m. that the cat hadn’t made it, but informing us hereabout . . . . is something that isn’t fitting in the Greek line of thought !! December 15th: still a yellow weather-alert for thunderstorms and heavy rainfall, but except from some rain-drops we haven’t noticed so much. Nothing was “in the minus” this morning: the Long-eared Owl was 317 (=), the Little Owl 203 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 284 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 882 (+3), the Kestrel 225 (+1), the green Sparrowhawk 144 (+1) and the red one 294 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 43 (+1) and the other 49 (+2) gram. The Hooded Crow has improved meanwhile in such a way we can have a look today what and how to do. After we first had clipped all flight-feathers of that wing at 7.40 a.m. to see what was left-over and could be used, we indeed had to decide that the wing should be amputated. So on the old-fashioned way the wing was “tied up” and the bird will stay in the Sick-Bay till that part has fallen-off. The injuries at the wing of the green Sparrowhawk could be covered only with a dry compress. Back to owner: At 9.35 a.m. an over-grateful owner came to take home his “Lucy” (08-208; November 29th ’08); our hair has turned into grey due to all what went wrong with her, but it was wonderful she could go back in a 100% condition. Today meat had to be processed again: 14,750 kilo (for 91,60 Euro with 5% discount; total now this year 739,700 kilo for 4668,38 Euro). This was done by Douglas & Janice and Tjarda & Ineke. Meanwhile lots of materials, redundant now in our house, were transferred to the House-next-door and we noticed that in the past mice had damaged a lot !! 5.2-magnitude quake Strong tremor near LamiaA strong quake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, struck the area near Amfikleia, about 60 kilometers southeast of Lamia, just after 10.30 a.m. on Saturday but no injuries were reported. The quake, of which the epicenter was located north of Mount Parnassos, reportedly damaged about 20 traditional stone homes. There were also reports of landslides on local roads as the quake dislodged rocks from roadside mountain slopes. Rap from EC for Mesogeia The region of Mesogeia, in eastern Attica, continues to have one of the country’s most inadequate systems of waste management, despite a series of warnings from Brussels to comply with European Union standards or face huge fines, Kathimerini has revealed. The latest rap from the European Commission came in a letter last month, seen by Kathimerini, in which officials call for waste-management projects to be completed by 2010, saying that the 2013 deadline cited by Greek authorities is unacceptable. “The specified time period is more than adequate for the necessary action to be taken,” the letter said. In the same letter, the EC asks for semi-annual reports on the progress of construction of new infrastructure in Artemida, Markopoulo, Nea Makri, Koropi and Rafina. In many of these communities, sewage tanks are regularly emptied through the local drainage network – an illegal practice that poses a risk to public health. December 16th: there is no weather-alert anymore. Early this morning it was very quiet in the Sick-Bay without “Lucy” !! The Long-eared Owl was 318 (+1), the Little Owl 202 (-1) and the dark Barn Owl 289 (+5) gram. The Goshawk was 881 (-1), the Kestrel 226 (+1), the green Sparrowhawk 141 (-8 !!) and the red one 296 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 45 (+2) and the other 50 (+1) gram. Santorini blockadeResidents of Santorini are set to go ahead with the blockade of the local tax office from tomorrow in protest at the failure by the government and the company that owns the Sea Diamond cruise ship, which sank off the island last year, to remove the wreck. The residents say they will continue the protest indefinitely. During the day quite a lot could be done in the House-next-door. December 17th: the Long-eared Owl was 318 (=), the Little Owl 203 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 290 (+1) gram. The Goshawk had vomited again and was 871 (-10), the Kestrel 225 (-1), the green Sparrowhawk 145 (+4) and the red one 297 (+1) gram. The last mentioned we’re treating the inner side of the beak with PYRALVEX now, because it isn’t real “kosher” on the left & right side under the tongue !! Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 45 (=) and the other 51 (+1) gram. At 7 a.m. we have discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” a juvenile Pigeon, which was quite lethargic but which couldn’t be caught at that time. We succeeded herein at 7.45 a.m. > taken-in for observation. See further at PIGEON. At 8 a.m. we had after all to amputate the wing of the Hooded Crow. As well the bandage as the hanging cast could be removed from the wing of the green Sparrowhawk. We started with the dismantling of the first of two over complete nest-boxes for Barn Owls > a hell of a job because the manure has corroded all screws and those cross-points are difficult to remove . . ! The wood will be used in the House-next-door. At 4.45 p.m. was discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” a not yet quite adult Pigeon, which most probably got the worst of it in a fight for a good nesting-place > yea-yea; peace-symbol !! December 18th: all patients were still alive this morning !! The Long-eared Owl was 316 (-2), the Little Owl 203 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 288 (-2) gram. The Goshawk was 866 (-5), the Kestrel 226 (_1), the green Sparrowhawk 142 (-3) and the red one 300 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 39 (=6) and the other 50 (-1) gram.. The yesterday taken-in juvenile Pigeon is a bit more lively, but we still don’t cheer !! The Hooded Crow had eaten quite well after the amputation. During the cleaning of the cages we have discovered that the yesterday taken-in juvenile Pigeon was covered with feather-lice !! Treated with PINEX-spray. >> This morning there was a meeting of the members of the board about the situation in the L.W.H.: we have only money left for 4 months on our accounts and its “flying away” with all those birds of prey. As well something should be done for the again and again enlarging incapacity on our side continuing everything on the same footing. The board members will think about this all << Acropolis, protesters continue fight
Protests triggered by the police killing of a 15-year-old boy nearly two weeks ago took a less violent and more imaginative turn yesterday, as demonstrators hung two giant pink banners off the Acropolis citadel, appealing for mass demonstrations across Europe. One banner bore the word “Resistance” written in Greek, English, Italian and German and the second called for “Demonstrations in all Europe” today. The protesters appeared to be trying to tap into the sympathy that riots in Athens last week sparked in other European cities. The protest was the second visual appeal to citizens to join demonstrations after a group of youths overran a state television studio on Tuesday. Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros condemned as “inexcusable” yesterday’s protest on the Acropolis, which had only just reopened to tourists after a 10-day strike by Culture Ministry workers. “There can be no justification for this action... This hurts the image of our country abroad,” he said. (and that strike-action by public servants doesn’t . . . ?? Note from the L.W.H.). Although widespread rioting had largely abated, there was some violence in Athens yesterday. In Kaisariani, near the riot police headquarters targeted by youths on Tuesday, a group of self-styled anarchists torched a police bus. The driver managed to escape unhurt. There was also some trouble outside the capital’s main courthouses, where youths pelted police with flour, eggs and fruit. At 3.25 p.m. it suddenly became pitch-dark and it started raining in a way dogs definitively shouldn’t like it. Luckily we had just before taken them out !! And in spite of only a yellow weather-alert for our region due to stormy winds, there came a huge thunderstorm, so we couldn’t even see anymore the Table-mount opposite our house. And only against half past eight in the evening it stopped a bit !! December 19th: the weather-alert is changed for our region into thunderstorms; so a bit late !! The Long-eared Owl was 316 (=), the Little Owl 203 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 289 (+1) gram. The Goshawk was 859 (-7), the Kestrel 227 (+1), the green Sparrowhawk 143 (+1) and the red one 298 (-2). Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 47 (+8 > so we don’t trust anymore the measurements of yesterday, in spite of doing it three times !!) and the other was 52 (+2) gram. The Hooded Crow is eating well and the juvenile Pigeon is producing normal droppings, although still should be force-fed. We have caught as well the brother/sister if the juvenile Pigeon and checked > had as well feather-lice. Treated with PINEX-spray. Further not in the statistics. Because X-mas-trees aren’t available over here and such a tree should give an immense mess with all those cats and dogs, and because we hate those artificial trees one can buy over here but which show only a huge bad taste and after all we should like to have some cosy atmosphere around Midwinter (Yule), we went this morning in the direction of Achladerí to cut some real green. And we came back with enough for our house, for the House-next-door, for Tjarda’s place and for the house of Melanie. The juvenile Pigeon has shown some interest for the feeding-bowl: some spoiled seeds were laying around. At 11.28 a.m. we were phoned by a certain Lucy (English) from somewhere around Plomári, that someone had over there since yesterday a “Hawk”. More we don’t know yet at this moment (12 o’clock). This Lucy didn’t even know the phone-number she was calling from. But in any case we are on “stand-by”. And in our region it only had poured with rain yesterday: FLOOD RESCUETruck stuck in rising water Firemen yesterday rescued four people from a truck that had become trapped in floodwaters on a country road near Trikala, central Greece. The truck was found half-submerged in water after heavy rain caused a river to break its banks and flood the local road network. The four people were rescued safely after hours of efforts by rescue workers. Heavy rain caused traffic disruptions in Attica too, while strong winds kept some ferries moored. Luckily no families (doesn’t matter from which side) received the “Cross-of-Honor” by post !! This because medicines were involved ?? Air violationTwo Greek air force fighter jets engaged in a mock dogfight with two Turkish planes over the small Dodecanese island of Farmakonisi (Medicine-island > note L.W.H.), the Defense Ministry revealed yesterday. The two Turkish planes were among eight fighters that entered Greek air space. At 5.10 p.m. it showed that the juvenile Pigeon had quite a full crop and so at last had eaten by hem/herself. December 20th: the whole night it lightened and at 5.45 a.m. the rain joined the flashes. The result was that we had several minor powercuts, due to which working on the computer was hardly possible !! In the Sick-Bay all were still alive. The Long-eared Owl was 311 (-5), the Little Owl 202 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl was 288 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 860 (+1), the Kestrel 231 (+4), the green Sparrowhawk 146 (+3) and the red one 294 (-4) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 45 (-2) and the other 51 (-1) gram. WHITE CHRISTMAS ? Snow expected to accompany sharp drop in temperaturesTemperatures are to drop sharply over the weekend, with snow and storms expected to cause travel disruptions in many regions of the country. Icy conditions are expected to make roads treacherous in western and northern Greece, while snow is forecast for much of the country in the countdown to Christmas. Storms may cause problems on coastal shipping routes. And at last something is “becoming airborne” in doing something about the unlimited amounts of thrash which are thrown away unrecycled: Coupon plan to boost recycling A pilot project in Athens offering citizens redeemable coupons for recycling their trash is to be extended across the capital and introduced in Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Patras and Iraklion, authorities said yesterday. Under the system – called “Compensatory Recycling” – citizens who recycle plastic, metal, paper and other waste are given a coupon, whose value depends on the volume of trash recycled, that they can either donate to the municipality’s recycling kitty or use to get discounts at supermarkets. The scheme will be funded by packaging producers and so costs will not be passed on to consumers, Deputy Mayor Giorgos Dimopoulos told Kathimerini. Apart from its standard blue recycling bins, Athens already has 25 special compensatory recycling kiosks with slots for different types of trash. The aim is for another 75 to be set up across Athens next year and dozens more in other cities. December 21st: the Long-eared Owl was 313 (+2), the Dark Barn Owl 287 (-1) and the Little Owl 205 (+3) gram. The last one will be measured from today only on Sundays > now we know meanwhile how much there should be fed. The Goshawk was 850 (=), the Kestrel 229 (-2), the Green Sparrowhawk 148 (+2) and the red one 297 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 46 (+1) and the other 50 (-1) gram. The juvenile Pigeon is eating only a bit during the day, but is against nightfall “making a sprint” and has hereafter a full crop. The amputation-injury of the Hooded Crow is looking well. We could finish the green-decoration for both houses; we used branches of the Cypress with fruits and others with little yellow flowers, branches of the Pistachio with red, pink and black little fruits, branches of the Eucalyptus with yellowish little flowers, branches of the Lusitanian Oak with acorns, a branch from the Lesser Asparagus with green fruits (we’ll never do this again: those thorns are bloody sharp !!), the tops of Blackberries with not yet ripe red berries (for the color) and some top-ends of branches of the English Oak with leaves in different colors. The as well taken with us claspers from the Hop plant (with white flowers) unfortunately didn’t survive. December 22nd: the Long-eared Owl was 307 (-6, but had vomited yesterday a few times) and the Dark Barn Owl 284 (-3) gram. The Goshawk was 861 (+1), the Kestrel 230 (+1), the green Sparrowhawk 149 (+1) and the red one 298 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 43 (-3) and the other 49 (-1) gram. Nothing wrong with the juvenile Pigeon and the Hooded Crow. Today again meat had to be processed: 14,180 kilo (with 5% discount 88,77 Euro; total now this year 753,880 kilo for 4757,15 Euro), and because as well Douglas as Janice were busy somewhere else, this all was done by Ineke & Tjarda !! The third one of our team was busy in the House-next-door. And we don’t receive any post at this moment, because: OLYMPIC STRIKETechnicians refusing overtime cause numerous cancellations A continuing strike by Olympic Airlines ground crews continued to wreak havoc with the carrier’s schedule over the weekend. By yesterday afternoon, 23 flights had been cancelled, since maintenance staff started their action on Wednesday by refusing to work overtime over wage demands and to express their opposition to plans to privatize the airline. A government committee is due to meet this week to discuss the tenders submitted for Olympic. SALMONELLA DETECTEDPoultry farm eggs recalledEggs produced at the Agrek poultry farm in Evros, northeastern Greece, are being withdrawn from the market after municipal health inspectors discovered traces of the poisonous bacteria salmonella on the premises. The farm was sealed off on Saturday and any movement of chickens in or out of the premises has been prohibited. All the eggs at the farm have been confiscated and will be destroyed. And while some parts of Greece have a RED weather-alert because of expected storms, we only have orange, but this time we can notice so: there is an ice-cold wind from the northeastern and even a short moment outside without an overcoat one can’t stand !! December 23rd: still an orange weather-alert due to storms and it remains ice-cold outside !! The Long-eared Owl was 307 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 282 (-2) gram. The Goshawk was 854 (-7), the Kestrel 230 (=), the green Sparrowhawk 149 (=) and the red one 296 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 43 (=) and the other 52 (+3) gram. And because as well for him there was no room in the inn (beg you pardon: in the “kafeníon”) the out-door Tom-cat “PAPPA” had found a refuge in an empty marten-nest on top of the oven of the Central Heating. Some shepherds have passed-by meanwhile, but till now on we haven’t heard singing coming from above . . . . !!
At 6.27 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne from the people who had “delivered” so many Jackdaws last year > now they had 2 young Pigeons. Will be sent tomorrow by the 11-o’clock coach. December 24th: it’s still ice-cold outside, but the wind has dropped a bit. The Long-eared Owl was 301 (-6) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (+1) gram. The Goshawk was 844 (-10, but had vomited again), the Kestrel 226 (-4), the green Sparrowhawk 147 (-2) and the red one 293 (-3) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 47 (+4) and the other 51 (-1) gram. At 11.05 a.m. we received a phone-call that both little pigeons were placed on the coach to Mólivos. Sea Diamond plan submitted Core Marine, the company that operates the Sea Diamond, the cruise ship that sank off Santorini in April last year, has submitted a plan to the Merchant Marine Ministry to remove several hundred tons of fuel that are still trapped in the vessel’s wreckage. For months, residents of the island have been pressing authorities and the company that owns the ship, Louis Cruise Lines, to pump the fuel out of the shipwreck as they fear that it will seep out and pollute the water. Locals recently began a protest outside Santorini’s tax office to press their demands for the wreck to be removed. Core Marine said it was submitting the plan, which will be analyzed by experts at the ministry and the National Technical University of Athens, as a “goodwill gesture” and that this did not mean it was accepting any responsibility for the accident. The firm pointed to the fact that a new map published by the Greek Navy in November indicated that the reef struck by the Sea Diamond had not been correctly marked. Did we have had already the idea that it was snowing a bit at 8.10 a.m., this was confirmed when we had to go downwards picking-up both young pigeons: the mountain-tops were complete white !! The pigeons we had in our possession at 11.45 a.m. in a wonderful decorated basket (in which as well a 20-Euro banknote, covered with dung) > see further at PIGEON. December 25th: a huge part of Greece (luckily we not yet) has a yellow weather-alert due to extreme cold !! But one can’t call it comfortable outside ! The Long-eared Owl was 300 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 281 (-2) gram. The Goshawk was 840 (-4), the Kestrel 225 (-1), the green Sparrowhawk 250 (+3) and the red one 292 (-1) gram. The juvenile green Pigeon was 137 (+16 !!) and the red one 211 (+11 !) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 45 (-2) and the other 53 (+2) gram. We have transferred both Sparrowhawks for the day-time to the falcon-aviary for flying-practices. Dumping seed-remnants from the Aviary for the “out-door-pigeons” (released in the bird-flu-period in the past, when no-one wanted to have pigeons) on top of the roof of “The Keep” we discovered a thick layer of ice in the (now empty) tortoise-pen. We could remove a thick scab (old blood, feather-remnants, stitches etc) from the wing-stump of the Hooded Crow and the injury was closed again with 3 agrafes. Both Sparrowhawks have done well in the aviary and didn’t fight with the other inhabitants. The red one showed being capable of flying quite well, in spite of having all tail-feathers broken; the green one didn’t do even well. And while a huge part of the western world or was busy with the pointless preparation of special herefor killed animals, or was guzzling (and doing so while a huge part of the world has hardly to eat) at home, with relatives or in luxury restaurants (and thus due to a romantically story which however never has taken place in December, but June 17th in the year 2 before J.C. !!), it was for us a normal working-day which we’re closing with some pieces of bread in melted cheese. December 26th: the whole mainland of Greece has for the coming days an orange weather-alert due to snow and ice; we luckily not (yet), The Long-eared Owl was 297 (-3) and the Dark Barn Owl 280 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 840 (=), the Kestrel 225 (=), the green Sparrowhawk 154 (+4) and the red one 289 (-3) gram. The green juvenile Pigeon was 138 (+1) and the red one 206 (-5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 47 (+2) and the other 61 (-2) gram. At 8.10 a.m. was discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” one of the two just hatched juvenile Pigeons (the elder), sitting too quiet behind a branch > showed being very dead (with a full crop) and was quite severe picked on the head. We have caught the nest-partner to prevent a repeat. So see further at PIGEON. The carpenter came to pay his “debt-of-honor” because of “Lucy” and he brought with him an antique “branch-ax” (from before the time of the branch-saws and/or chain-saws). This old piece of iron, fixed on top of a stick, was used in 1912 te liberate Lesvos from the Turkish occupation. Is evidently a “decisively argument” !! We already had one, which had lost the point during a “trepanation” . . . . They both are fixed again on top of a stick and will be used as wall-decoration. December 27th: all were still alive in the Sick-Bay this morning ! The Long-eared Owl was 296 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (+3) gram. The Goshawk was 834 (-6), the Kestrel 226 (+1), the green Sparrowhawk 151 (-3) and the red one 287 (-2) gram. The yesterday taken-in silver Pigeon was 171 (wasn’t measured at intake), the green one 149 (+11) and the red one 213 (+7) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 46 (-1) and the other 53 (+2) gram. All four juvenile Pigeons, now present, are eating on their own and well. The amputations-injury of the Hooded Crow is looking fine. Most of the main-land of Greece has a orange weather-alert due to extreme cold and snow, but we have only a yellow due to thunderstorms. At 10.16 a.m. we were phoned by someone on his way from Mytiléne to ?? and who had delivered at the Shell-Petrol-station a “geráki” (bird of prey). So we picked it up > see further at SPARROWHAWK. And after we had updated the computer with the new data and bringing back the patient-card to the Sick-Bay, we heard neighing coming from the court-yard of the deserted houslet. IN the stable over there is lodged now a horse-family and the stallion and the colt are separated from the mare and their daughter. As “doors” for these parts pallets are used . . . . !! The “door” from the ladies-part was however closed with a piece of rope, but from Greek origin, so . . . . they were outside and although the court-yard had a perfectly closed door, the fence-part next to it is missing !! With the help of a still present huge piece of thick netting this opening could be closed provisionally (mother and daughter went, doing so, inside and started badgering the rest of the family > wheelbarrows were flying around and so on !!). Luckily the horse-owner could be reached and further we have stood guard till he had arrived. First snowfall... Children making snowballs yesterday in Hortiatis, near Thessaloniki, which saw its first snowfall this winter. Plunging temperatures also brought snow to other parts of northern and central Greece and to Mount Parnitha, north of Athens. Roads were treacherous in some parts. Moderate quakeA moderate quake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter-scale happened this morning at 10.27 a.m. outside Chalkidiki. The epicenter was located 5 km north-eastern from Sarti in the open sea in between Sarti and Vourvourou, outside Chalkidiki. There were three minor aftershocks but no reports about damages and injuries. Long live the hunting (but not the hunter . . .) Hunter mistaken for a wild animalIn Arta a 32-year old hunter was shot by a member of the group he was hunting with for boars. By accident he was taken for a boar. He was brought to the hospital, but was over there declared dead. During the evening the weather changed from “only wet” into a complete heavy weather with severe undercooled rainfall. We wonder how many birds we’ll discover tomorrow morning which couldn’t stand this . . . December 28th 4.30 a.m.: it’s still heavy weather !! In spite of the fact the doggies needed so much going out for a wee, we couldn’t persuade them doing so > the mess inside the house can be understood !! In the Sick-Bay all patients were still alive. Two of the out-door cats, we’re feeding, have found a refuge over there as well, because outside it’s not bearable, even for them > quite difficult measuring and feeding !! The Long-eared Owl was 293 (-3), the Little Owl 199 (is within the norms) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 826 (-8), the Kestrel 224 (-2) the green Sparrowhawk 150 (-1), the red one 283 (-4) and the new silver one 239 (+4) gram. Juvenile Pigeons: the red one was 214 (+1), the green 149 (=) and the silver 177 (+6) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 48 (+2) and the other 53 (=) gram. We have prepared a huge cage for the case we have to take back-in some Buzzards from the buzzard-aviary for recuperation > at this moment (6.40 a.m.) we can’t see anything yet there. At 7.45 a.m. it was light enough to see that although the buzzard-aviary looked more like a cage for terrapins, all birds had survived; although very spoiled by the rain. At 8 a.m. the rain started diminishing a bit, but we hardly could bring birds outside yet. The grey-and-white outdoor-tomcat decided at that moment it was time leaving the Sick-Bay, but his black-and-white sister remained sitting under a stool in the Sick-Bay and felt very comfortable over there !! At last she had to be removed with some pressure from above the cage of the Little Owl > that one evidently didn’t feel so comfortable with this unexpected subtenant (although it was reverse with under and above).
The hunter is dead; long live the hunt (continuation) . . . . After the first investigations was taken for granted that the hunter was killed by own fire. He should have slipped and the gun should have fired accidentally. After further investigations and a Post Mortem it was clear that he was shot from a distance of about 20 meter. So more interrogations and investigations are necessary to know who had fired. At 12.35 p.m. a phone-call from someone who had discovered in or close to the Kólpos Géras a gull-like bird, with which something was wrong. The guy was frightened as hell of the bird-flu, and only with a lot of difficulties we could persuade him that this disease wasn’t present at the moment in Greece. In any case he wanted to bring the bird. And with his highly-pregnant wife, both “covered” with gloves in case of an eventually contamination (!!) he brought the gull here at 1.48 p.m. > see further at BLACK-HEADED GULL. Removing the food-bowls from the aviaries we accidentally discovered (via the netting in between the falcon-aviary and the crow-aviary) that the heavy weather of last night indeed had been fatal for one bird: in top of the crow-aviary we could see a dead Western Jackdaw with a blue ring > showed to be 08-077, which had entered the L.W.H. as a so called “nest-misfit” June 3rd ’08 and which, now at last, was having new and good feathers . . . . !! December 29th: nó victims in the sick-Bay this morning !! The Long-eared Owl was 289 (-4) and the Dark Barn Owl 282 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 810 (-16 > so we’re going to loose him !!), the Kestrel 226 (+2), the green Sparrowhawk 154 (+4), the red one 282 (-1) and the silver one 228 (-11 !!) gram. Juvenile Pigeons: green 157 (+8), red 221 (+7) and silver 177 (=) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 245 (-5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 49 (+1) and the other was 53 (=) gram. Checking the Black-headed Gull for feather-lice was discovered that the bird was shot indeed: inshot-hole discovered in the left wing but no fracture(s) could be detected. Today for the last time this year meat had to be processed, and the whole “cutting-crew” (Douglas & Janice, Tjarda & Ineke) had processed 16,750 kilo (for 107,73 Euro; total now this year 770,630 kilo for 4864,68 Euro. Last year this was at the end of December 612,679 kilo for 3946,34 Euro; so this means for this year a good 150 kilo and almost 1000 Euro more !! So it isn’t so strange we’re almost in low water !! And here as well the mountains had a white covering: Heavy snowfall... People walk through the snow covering the roads near the village of Elikonas in Viotia, north of Athens, on Saturday. Although there was no snow in Athens over the weekend, other parts of Greece experienced heavy snowfall, making driving conditions treacherous on many roads. Hunter’s death probed further Police in northwestern Greece were yesterday questioning several members of a hunting party after ballistics tests proved that their claims that one of the group had slipped and shot himself were false. The 32-year-old man was killed while hunting for wild boar near Arta on December 26. He went on the trip with several members of his family and friends. Police were told that the man had leaned on his hunting rifle when he slipped on a hillside and that it had gone off, shooting him in the side of the chest. However, a postmortem examination carried out in Ioannina on Saturday indicated that the man, who was not named, had been shot from a distance of some 20 meters. Police have confiscated all the rifles used by the party in a bid to establish whether the man was shot, most probably accidentally, by another member of the party. There have been several occasions recently when hunters have been accidentally killed by friends who have mistaken their movements for those of a wild boar. After midday our islands had a yellow weather-alert due to expected snowfall and stormy winds !! Gathering the empty food-bowls in the aviaries we discovered in the buzzard-aviary a dead Buzzard (we had expected this one shouldn’t have survived the heavy weather from two nights ago). The bird was missing the hand-part of the left wing, so we’re going to find out which one it had been. And it showed to have been 08-014, which was discovered shot in Íppio February 4th ’08, and where the wing had to be amputated six days later (for the whole history of this bird see ever since February 4th 2008). At the last feeding-round it looked if the Black-headed Gull had hardly or no sight at all . . . . !! We have parked our car around 6 p.m. in a way that, if indeed we’ll have snow tonight, we don’t have to leave the street backwards and slippery tomorrow !! December 30th: still now snow over here, but it’s ice-cold and we still have a yellow weather-alert !! The Long-eared Owl was 289 (=) and the dark Barn Owl 282 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 801 (-9), the Kestrel 225 (-1), the green Sparrowhawk 152 (-2), the red one 277 (-5) and the silver one 232 (+4) gram. Juvenile Pigeons: red 219 (-2), green 166 (+9) and silver 191 (+14) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 264 (+!( !!) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 48 (-1) and the other 55 (+2) gram. Samothrace quakeAn earthquake measuring 4.8 Richter struck the northern Aegean island of Samothrace shortly before 1 a.m. yesterday. The quake was also felt in Alexandroupolis and on Lesvos but did not cause any damage. According to the Athens Geodynamic Institute, the undersea quake's epicenter was 52 kilometers southeast of Alexandroupolis. Several minor aftershocks followed the quake. Ferry collisionA passenger ferry crashed into the harbor of the Dodecanese island of Kásos yesterday, causing minor damage to the vessel but no injuries to anyone on board. The “Marina”, part of the GA Ferries fleet, had just set sail from the island with 20 passengers and 45 crew members when a it was struck by a freak wave that knocked it back against the harbor. The captain refused to dock at the same port again, fearing worse damage and asked for permission to sail to Rhodes or Piraeus for repairs. The whole morning we have been busy with the replacement of a strip lightning in our kitchen; the two we had eventually for that replacement both were broke down. At last (because it was built-in and no other material was fitting) such a model was discovered in a dazzle light, not in use anymore . . . . !! December 31st: at 5.45 a.m. was discovered that the Pallid Swift (08-120; July 4th ’08) which under normal circumstances should have been already for months in Africa, but which still is here due to broken feathers, was very cold and lethargic in it’s nest. Of course this can be a kind of “hibernation”, this birds are doing more under bad weather-conditions, but as well this can be the end of the story . . . . !! The Long-eared Owl was 288 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 281 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 798 (-3) and the Kestrel 223 (-2) gram. Sparrowhawks: the green was 157 (+5), the red 272 (-5) and the silver one 236 (+4) gram. Juvenile Pigeons: green 178 (+12), red 223 (+4) and silver 200 (+9) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 280 (+16) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 49 (+1) and the other 54 (-1) gram. The Pallid Swift was discovered not alive anymore at 8.30 a.m. Even so he had survived for almost half a year !! The visually handicapped Black-headed Gull has eaten for the first time from a bowl held before his bill > móre than we could have fed. This was repeated in the afternoon with even more success and as well the water bowl was found afterwards !! Total amount of visitors this month: 002 (total this year: 489) 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 028 (total this year 3339 kilometers) Total amount of intakes this month: 09 [wild ones: 09; others 00], (total this year 236: wild ones 180, others 056; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4047) of which: SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus): 2; the first was a sub-adult male, discovered in the court-yard of the Agrotikí Stégi in Kallonís > open fracture left wing (radius & ulna). Hanging-cast & splint were given and the clean injury covered with Dermisol-cream. Body-weight at intake was 120 gram (with the splint 122 gram) and that’s much too low > should be at least 150 gram.
(see as well December 12th & 15th). The 2nd was a female, discovered in Mytiléne and, according to the discoverer, “most probably had hit something”. So observation. Is quite a lot more “sharp” than the other two we have: even with two people we hardly could remove her talons out of the hands of one of us !! Got a silver ring right foot and was at intake 235 gram > is much to low: should be 280 – 320 gram !!
PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 5 juveniles, of which 3 from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. The first had left the nest not so long ago and was probably hardly or not fed anymore by the parents > was bone-thin and quite dirty. So we’re trying to change this. (see as well December 13th). The 2nd was almost the same story as number 1; was sitting very lethargically and was quite thin. Let’s hope we have more luck with this one as with the first. (see as well December 18th & 19th). Nrs 3 and 4 came from Mytiléne and were as well juvenile. The grey-colored received a red ring left foot and the dirty-white one a green ring left foot. The one with the red ring was 200 gram and the one with the green ring 121 gram. They are eating on their own and had both a full crop the first evening here > so a lot of work less !! The nest-partner of nr 5 was discovered dead (picked !! Brain-damage ??) and this one is taken-in prophylactically. Received silver ring left foot. HOODED CROW (Corvus cornix sharpii): 1 disabled from the L.W.H. Has had in the past a fracture of the right humerus, which has developed now into a pseudo-arthrosis. Couldn’t up- or downwards anymore, because the hanging wing was in the way. First try to recuperate and thereafter have a look if the wing should be amputated or not. Showed to have a deformation of the upper- and lower-bill, due to which eating wasn’t so easy anymore > trimmed and cauterized. (see as well December 15th, 17th & 25th). BLACK-HEADED GULL (Croicocephalus (was Larus) ridibundus): 1 adult, discovered at Pigadákia (ultimate end of the Gulf of Géras). Could have been shot > the left eye is one mess of clogged blood, while the right eye as well isn’t quite “kosher”. To start with observation brain-damage and later looking of something more is wrong. One hour and a half after intake we had been able (very carefully) to open the left eye again > the eye-bulb itself seems to be OK. Started with CAVASAN-cream for both eyes (see as well December 29th & 31st).
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