February 2009

LOG-BOOK:

News about Greece is in blue

February 1^st:  (unfortunately) we have to tell that since the ex-stray Tom-Cat “Poekie” escaped January 12^th and had disappeared, the situation in the house has improved in such a way that cats, which before that date were living hiding themselves and hardly could be seen, now are appearing in the living and even can be petted !! The only thing that’s worrying, is that we don’t know what had happened to him !! The Long-eared Owl was 277 (-1), the Little Owl 206 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 269 (-1) gram. The Goshawk, which had vomited yesterday a lot, was 839 (-13), the Kestrel 218 (-4), the green Sparrowhawk 167 (+1) and the red one was 255 (-4) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 312 (-5) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 50 (-5) and the other 63 (=) gram.

February 2^nd:  the Long-eared Owl was 275 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 272 (+3) gram. The Goshawk was 839 (=), the Kestrel 216 (-2), the green Sparrowhawk 168 (+1) and the red one 253 (-2) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 314 (+2) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 52 (+2) and the other 64 (+1) gram. The amputation-injury of the Pigeon is fine. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and with the extra-help of Douglas & Janice our own crew has let pass through their hands and under their knives 16,200 kilo (for 100,54 Euro; total now this year 78,090 kilo for 498,92 Euro). At 10.34 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a “Tsígla” (Thrush ??) with which something should be wrong. They couldn’t bring the bird to the bus-station, so we contacted our “auxiliary-forces” over there to get the bird on board of the coach. Later we received the message the bird will be (most probably) on board of the 1.15 p.m.-coach.

Plant trees . . .

Two young boys help plant trees and shrubs as part of a protest in Kypseli against a municipal decision to fell trees in a local plot so that a parking lot can be constructed.

Cephalonia quake

An earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale shook the Ionian island of Cephalonia early yesterday. The tremor struck just before 3 a.m. but did not cause any injuries or damage.

The announced Thrush we had in our hands at 1.52 p.m. > see further at SONG-THRUSH.

February 3^rd:  all were still alive this morning. The Long-eared Owl was 277 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl was 268 (-4), but he had refused to eat yesterday-evening. The Goshawk was 842 (+3), the Kestrel 214 (-2), the green Sparrowhawk 173 (+5) and the red one 254 (+1) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 314 (=) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 54 (+2) end the other 67 (+3) gram. We started a treatment with Cavasan-cream for the right eye of the Song-thrush yesterday evening, and it seemed this morning it the bulb had diminished a bit. Or is this wishful thinking ?? By the way, is loosing feathers very easily !! During a 2^nd feeding later in the morning it showed that the bulb indeed had diminished. We received 2 Greek visitors this morning: one was a reporter from a Greek newspaper in Mytiléne and the other an almost graduated from the University, environment-department, as well from Mytiléne. And the following is happening “coincidentally” exactly on the same spot as where the locals are protesting against the municipality:

Animal poisoning

Residents of the central district of Kypseli are planning legal action over the recent deaths of dozens of dogs believed to have been caused by unidentified individuals scattering poisoned sausage and other bait in the main local square. According to locals, an unidentified white substance has been used to kill stray dogs and several residents’ pets. There is also concern about possible repercussions on the health of children playing in the square.

Parking garage...

Riot police surround a demonstrator yesterday on Athinas Street, near the entrance to City Hall, as municipal authority officials discussed the fate of a park near Amerikis Square where a parking garage is scheduled to be built. Dozens of residents of Kypseli who object to the construction plans clashed with police. Talks, which involved the leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) Alexis Tsipras lobbying in favor of the residents, were called off after reports that protesters had been injured outside City Hall. Residents have been up in arms since municipal authorities felled trees in the park early last week. (note from the L.W.H.: the riot-police isn’t only “surrounding” with 4 officers one single demonstrator, but this one is given a hiding and kicked in the crotch . . . . !! “Freedom of speaking one’s mind” was the name, isn’t it . . . . !!!!)

Zakynthos quake

A moderate undersea quake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, was registered off the southern coast of the Ionian island of Zakynthos early yesterday. Seismologists said there was no cause for alarm.

February 4^th: and again we have an orange weather-alert due to expected storms !! The Long-eared Owl was 274 (-3) and the Dark Barn Owl 265 (-3) gram. The Goshawk was 828 (-14, so had diminished quite a lot after spending yesterday the whole afternoon in an aviary, including taking a real bath !!), the Kestrel was 213 (-1), the green Sparrowhawk 172 (-1) and the red one 256 (+2) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 313 (-1) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 56 (+2) and the other 67 (=) gram. The swelling around the eye of the Song Thrush is almost gone !! Later in the morning, during the cleaning of the cage, he/she escaped and could even reach the street !! During the catching it showed he wasn’t able to fly !! After being caught, it showed that the swelling in the right eye is/was caused by a huge hemorrhage just below. We had to remove all the stitches in the amputated wing of the Pigeon, because a huge bulb of dead tissue was pressed outwards and couldn’t come out due to the stitches. Injury covered with Haemostatic Cotton Wool.

Wind power in Greece tails off

Greece’s construction of wind energy infrastructure has slowed down over the past few years even as other Mediterranean countries have advanced in harnessing this clean technology, experts say.

The fact that Greece has an installed wind energy capacity of 938 megawatts, compared to Portugal’s 2,862 MW is “totally disappointing,” Yiannis Tsipouridis, president of the Hellenic Wind Energy Association, told Kathimerini. “Greece has an abundance of renewable energy sources but no political will to exploit it,” Tsipouridis claimed. He said Greece added 114 MW to its installed wind energy potential in 2008, down from 125 MW in 2007 and 173 MW in 2006, despite having installed Europe’s first wind farm on the island of Kythnos in 1982.

“Countries with the same problems as us have taken the political initiative to invest in green energy,” Tsipouridis said. Europe increased installed wind energy capacity by 15% last year. Germany and Spain lead the field in production with 23,903 MW and 16,754 MW respectively.

We have heard on the radio that the wind is 9 Beaufort, and so we have noticed indeed !!

February 5^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 272 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 264 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 828 (=), the Kestrel 214 (+1), the red Sparrowhawk 254 (-2) and the green one, which won’t be fed today but should try eating on his own, 170 (-2) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 313 (=) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 56 (=) and the other 71 (+4) gram. The little Tom-Cat “RiSta” will be neutered today. And even before 8.30 a.m. he was stripped of two, superfluous for the enlargement of the cat-population in the future, parts. See further at TOM-Cat. The weather was so nice today, after the storms of yesterday, that we could have our coffee outside in the sun, surrounded by all dogs and doggies !! With pleasure we’re announcing that  the Eleonora’s Falcon (08-091, June 14^th from the island of Lemnos), from which some “bastard” had cut all the flight-feathers, at last is moulting and having new ones !!

February 6^th:  “RiSta” has had no problems after yesterday’s surgery and is as naughty as ever again. The Long-eared Owl was 277 (+5) and the Dark Barn Owl 264 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 828 (=), the Kestrel 213 (-1) and the red Sparrowhawk 252 (-2) gram. The green Sparrowhawk has spent the night out and will be taken-back in tonight and measured to see if there is eaten independently yes or no. The Black-headed Gull was 314 (+1) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 58 (+2) and the other 68 (-3) gram. We have given the Song Thrush a colored ring to distinguish him/her from the other one we have in the Aviary; the therapy has ended and as soon he/she is eating independently there can be started with flying-exercises. 

Road collapsed...

People in the prefecture of Ileia in the Peloponnese look at part of the Krestena-Andritsaina country road that collapsed as a result of a landslide which was caused by heavy rain. Landslides were reported in other parts of Ileia as well. Nobody was injured.

We have been busy “dragging” more as 100 kilo of bird-food, which wasn’t strictly speaking “comfortable” for back-bones etc. At 4.10 it showed that the green Sparrowhawk had a full crop, and so can stay in the aviary till the release in March. We have tried the same with the Goshawk, but yet without success. When in the evening we at last had the opportunity celebrating our 30 years together (November 19^th !!), we were greeted at our entrance in the restaurant with: “There they are !!”; waving with a news-paper in the hands. It showed that the reporter who had visited us February 3^rd had used the whole middle-page for us !! And the header was Joris and Ineke Saints of the lesbian fauna (Ο Joris και η Ineke ‘Αγιοι της λεσβιακής πανίδας). So please take account of this in correspondences, although our address will for the time being unchanged and not (yet) www.heaven.com .

February 7^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 277 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 265 (+1) gram. The Goshawk, with one feeding less yesterday, was 819 (-9), the Kestrel 210 (-3) and the red Sparrowhawk 254 (+2) gram. The Black-headed Gull was 314 (=) gram. Little Tortoises: the home-bred was 57 (-1) and the other 71 (+3) gram. The Song-Thrush will be transferred to the Aviary in our court-yard later this morning, but first it should stop pouring with rain !! Did we could place the feeding-bowls in all aviaries without noticing any special at 6.40 a.m., we discovered at 7.42 a.m. in the crow-aviary in the water-basin laying on its back the Hooded Crow (08-211) which we had to take back December 14^th ’08 and of which the wing had to be amputated. He/she had returned to the crow-aviary last January 7^th, and had performed quite well over there in all weather. This time he most probably had made a wrong jump, because he was laying on the good wing with the legs into the air. Could be taken-out alive, dried and placed under the red lamp. However, had probably inhaled lots of  water, because he was not alive anymore at 7.47 a.m. The Song-Thrush was transferred to the Aviary at 8.06 a.m. And after a bit playing a waiting game, the following was of course . . . . taking an extended bath !!

NATO air defense a concern

Armed forces officers and top officials at the ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense are seriously concerned about the implications of structural changes to NATO’s air defense monitoring system as this will result in Turkish fighter jets entering Greek air space being classified as “friendly” rather than “suspicious” or “hostile” as is currently the case, sources have told Kathimerini.

Changes to the network of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centers (CAOC) will result in the current 10 centers being whittled down to four, including two in the Mediterranean region – in Italy and in Greece.

The Greek operations center – in Lamia – will be responsible for monitoring air space activity over Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania. But the problem, according to Greek defense officials, is the implications of extending the air space borders covered by the Greek CAOC.

With the new system Turkish jets will be recorded by Turkish radar first before they enter Greek air space. As a result the Turkish jets will be classified as “friendly” rather than “suspicious” or “hostile,” as they are when picked up by Greek radar.

Defense officials are concerned because they had relied on the previous CAOC system to keep NATO informed about Turkey’s violations of Greek air space.

Greek officials are reportedly proposing that Turkish jets entering Greek air space be permitted to have a “dual classification” – one by Turkish radar and another (as “suspicious” or “hostile”) once they enter Greek air space. There are fears, however, that the extra data might lead to a system breakdown.

Foreign Ministry and defense officials have been expressing serious concern recently following an increase in violations of Greek air space by Turkish fighter jets over the past two months.

At 3.45 p.m. two laddies from our village were at our doorstep with their six month old Puppy (fem.), which evidently had constipation (due to the wrong feeding). Feeding-advices were given and the poor soul 2 cc Olive-oil in the rectum, which already started working after a few minutes. Further not in the statistics. At 7.14 p.m. there was a very soft knocking at our door; so soft the doggies didn’t even started barking. Two people who had discovered close to the water in Ágios Stéfanos (after Mandamádos) a little bird > see further at SARDINIAN WARBLER. We have a yellow weather-alert due to storms and thunderstorms, and we’re beginning noticing so !!

February 8^th:  it’s raining quite heavily, so some birds had to stay in today !! All patients were still alive at 4.45 a.m. The Long-eared Owl was 277 (=), the Little Owl 209 (+3) and the Dark Barn Owl 264 (-1) gram. The Goshawk was 823 (+4), the Kestrel 206 (-4) and the red Sparrowhawk 253 (-1) gram. The Black-headed Gull, which will be measured only on Sundays as a check, was 314 (=) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 52 (-5) and the other 71 (=) gram. The Sardinian Warbler has indeed brain-damage: the left eye stays behind and the body is kept in a bow-form. The Song Thrush, which was transferred yesterday to the Aviary, was discovered dead at 7.54 a.m. > see further at SONG THRUSH. At the same moment a very disabled Collared Dove was removed from the Aviary, because it was almost drowning !! Placed under the red lamp to dry. And that bird visibly put right luckily !! “Thanks to” a mini-black-out we lost the whole file we were working on in one nano-second !! It wasn’t a replaceable file, but the whole Annual Report 2009, including all the blue parts about Greece, which couldn’t be discovered again on the Internet !! And translating from the English into Dutch is sometimes already a hell of a job, but then translating again back into proper English . . . . !! The two laddies from our village (see yesterday) came to tell the doggie was doing fine and they took as well some Pigeons:

Re-homing:

We have re-homed with a pigeon-fancier 6 Pigeons (of which 5 born in the L.W.H. from disabled parents; nr 6 had a green ring around the left leg > was 08-063, May 21^st ’08 from Mytiléne).

February 9^th:  however, the bad weather is gone at this moment, so our disabled birds are allowed again enjoying the fresh air today !! The Long-eared Owl was 276 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 265 (+1) gram. The Goshawk was 824 (+1), the Kestrel 211 (+5) and the red Sparrowhawk 248 (-5) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 59 (+7) and the other 68 (-3) gram. The Sardinian Warbler is eating well, is only not (yet) capable flying well !! And after we had finished the above and were just outside with “Mázzel”, a heavy weather broke by which the hail-stones painfully hit the head and the air was charged with flashes of lightning and thunderclaps . . . . !! So . . . . ? Did we have no weather-alert at 4.55 a.m., we had at 6.30 a.m. > yellow due to thunderstorms !! At last we could (temporarily) bring out the blind Rook and the “Down-syndrome-Jackdaw”, but due to the condition of the “pitch” in the buzzard-aviary not our Long-legged Buzzard “Granny”. In that aviary a whole new bottom (gravel) must be laid because of the (bad) drainage and probably the same in the Falcon-aviary. Today again the weekly “meat-cutting-day” and the mixed Scottish-Dutch crew let pass their hands 15,555 kilo (for 97,23 Euro; total this year now 93,645 kilo for 596,15 Euro).  

Dust cloud

A cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert engulfed much of Attica on Saturday, causing problems for those with breathing difficulties. The dust, which usually arrives in the spring, came early this year due to unseasonably early southerly winds. Yesterday the dust cloud had moved on to Crete, the Peloponnese and Epirus.

We had to take back the blind Rook at 1 p.m. because he had almost drowned !! Luckily the Sardinian Warbler doesn’t need to be force-fed anymore since he has discovered the meal-worms > that’s a lot of work and frustration lesser on our side and panic on his side !!

February 10^th:  luckily it was (still) dry at 4.35 a.m. and this was as well the case at 6.20 a.m. What the future will bring ?? The Long-eared was 273 (-3) and the Dark Barn Owl 271 (+6) gram. The Goshawk was 823 (-1), the Kestrel 208 (-3) and the red Sparrowhawk 249 (+1) gram. Little tortoises: the home-bred was 62 (+3) and the other 75 (+7) gram. Nothing special about the other 4 patients. In a window of the top-floor of our house a couple of our “out-door-pigeons” has made a nest and during yesterday’s heavy weather they were able keeping their heads cool and their eggs warm !! We’ll keep everyone informed about this early happiness. Sparrows have done the same in a window of the House-next-door, but there the shutters are closed and they have used a hole in the shutter, so this nest wasn’t in danger. We have checked which birds are eligible for a release in the coming months: both Long-legged Buzzards (08-115 & 116; June 28^th/29^th ’08), the Hooded Crow (07-088; June 12^th ’07) which we had tried to release August 9^th ’07, but which wasn’t capable at all to fly, and the male Sparrowhawk (08-209; December 10^th ’08). Those in any case. The following birds still have to develop enough good feathers in the mould, and can be released after that as well: the Eleonora’s Falcon (08-091; June 14^th ’08), the Buzzard (08-154; August 14^th ’08 > discovered in the sea !!) and the two Jackdaws (08-079 & 081; June 4^th/5^th ’08) which both as “nest-misfits” had entered the L.W.H. Further at least 1 Collared Dove. From the following birds it’s doubtful if they ever will be able flying so well they can hunt: the female Sparrowhawk (08-207; November 27^th ’08) and the sub-adult female Kestrel (08-184; September 21^st ’08).

So the people want a change, but the Authorities . . . . ??  

Recycling of household trash . . .

Plastic water bottles adorn trees in a square opposite the town hall of the Peloponnesian port of Nafplion yesterday following an initiative by local residents who are protesting the local authority’s failure to promote the recycling of household trash. Protesting residents also hung up other recyclable materials, including newspapers, to draw attention to the municipality’s ‘indifference’ to recycling. Locals have also been protesting the lack of action being taken to clear up the port’s beaches, many of which are said to be strewn with trash.

And again we had a whole page in the news-paper > now our Annual Report, which was printed completely. At 2.43 p.m. a phone-call from some-one who had found an injured pigeon somewhere in the “Prokiméia” (sea-front) > should come and bring it. It seems we can expect next Sunday around midday a whole environmental group from Mytiléne; some-one phoned to inform us. The announced pigeon was here at 4.05 p.m. > see further at PIGEON. The bearer was showed around and made dozens of pictures.

February 11^th:  all patients were still alive this morning !! The Long-eared Owl was 273 (=) and the dark Barn Owl 268 (-3) gram. The Goshawk was 822 (-1), the Kestrel 208 (=) and the red Sparrowhawk 249 (=) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 57 (-5) and the other 70 (as well –5) gram. The Sardinian Warbler is doing better and better and is eating fully alone. The yesterday taken-in Pigeon is standing still somewhat difficult, as well due to the injury as to the stitches. The Pigeon with the wing-amputation can be transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” today. And that one (09-006; January 20^th ’09) arrived over there at 8.08 a.m. However, at 7.50 a.m. the disabled Collared Dove, which we had saved from drowning some days ago, went back to the Aviary in our court-yard. We received a phone-call at 9.01 a.m. from Mytiléne that some-one should send an injured pigeon with the 11-o’clock-coach. And the following can happen when the materials aren’t OK: 

Harbor injury

A 40-year-old sailor was injured yesterday in the main harbor on the island of Nisyros when an anchor cable snapped as a passenger ferry prepared for departure. The sailor was transferred to hospital on nearby Kos for treatment of his injuries, the extent of which yesterday remained unclear.

Circling hawk an omen for government?

A hawk was seen flying over Maximos Mansion yesterday, as the Inner Cabinet met amid continuing speculation about early elections. The word ‘elections’ has been uttered 288 times in Parliament during the past 12 days. (only a pity it is NOT a Hawk, but a Common BUZZARD !! > we meanwhile informed the News-Paper)

And that announced Pigeon we had in our hands at 11.42 a.m. > see further at PIGEON. And while we still were busy feeding this one, the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí phoned at  12.05 p.m. that she should send with the coach of 1.15 p.m. a . . . . Pigeon (indeed !), which should have a wing-fracture. That announced bird we had in our possession at 1.54 p.m. > see further at 3^rd PIGEON. And because we have now 3 pigeons, we had to give then colored foot-rings to know who is who: the Pigeon which had a fight with barbed wire received a blue ring, the quite juvenile from this morning an orange and the scalped one a red ring.

February 12^th:  all were still with us at 4.40 a.m. During the measuring and feeding the heavy weather broke another time with flashes, rain, hail and thunder > so . . . . ?!?! The Long-eared Owl was 272 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 268 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 822 (=), the Kestrel 211 (+3) and the red Sparrowhawk 245 (-4) gram. The juvenile Pigeon (orange) was 120 (+1) gram. Tortoises: te home-bred was 62 (+5) and the other 72 (+2) gram. Other patients nothing special. As well the groin-injury of the blue Pigeon as the scalp-injury of the red one are nicely quiet !! Returning from an (in vain: his name is Anastassios [the resurrected] but had evidently this morning problems with leaving his bed; in spite of having an appointment) visit to the Orthopedist, we could see in this weather-conditions a blossoming Prunus-tree alongside the road !! But at 11.30 a.m. the “Table Mount” opposite our house was almost totally invisible and the hail-stones clattered around our ears !! The following is happening in a country which claims having invented medical science: 

Impact of medical shortages being felt

Just a day after medical suppliers pulled the plug on state hospitals, demanding the settlement of huge debts, a 53-year-old man died in a Thessaloniki ambulance and a hospital in the northern city ran out of oxygen.

The man died on his way to hospital after the ambulance had run out of the adhesive electrodes that he needed, first-aid workers said. Speaking to Kathimerini after the incident, the president of Thessaloniki’s ambulance workers, Ierotheos Giamouridis, blamed the patient’s death on shortages. “This person relied on the health system but unfortunately the system was unable to help him due to material shortages,” he said.

Ambulance staff claim that there have been shortages for several weeks. The Health Ministry, which yesterday ordered an urgent investigation into the cause of the man’s death, countered that Thessaloniki ambulance workers had not applied for fresh supplies.

Meanwhile, at the city’s Aghios Dimitrios hospital there was another crisis. Five patients in the hospital’s intensive-care unit were nearly left without oxygen as suppliers had suspended deliveries to protest unpaid debts. In the end the hospital borrowed some oxygen cylinders from the city’s AHEPA hospital as a temporary solution.

The situation at beleaguered state hospitals is set to get worse today as doctors start a new 48-hour strike, continuing their protest at a government about-turn on a collective labor agreement.

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos attempted to appease unionists yesterday, telling Parliament that the draft law, which proposes a smaller increase in the basic salary than originally agreed, would be subject to renegotiation in a year’s time.

Trash incinerator for Rhodes

Authorities on the popular tourist island of Rhodes said yesterday that they are preparing to accommodate the country’s first trash incineration facility, though local residents reportedly only just heard about the plans and are seeking guarantees that their quality of life will not be affected.

Ten local mayors and the prefect of the Dodecanese, of which Rhodes is the capital, have all backed the project and a feasibility plan for the facility has been submitted to the Environment and Public Works Ministry, it emerged yesterday.

The facility, which would burn some 250 tons of trash per day, is to be constructed in the island’s north, near the local landfill and not far from the town of Rhodes itself, probably within the next two years.

According to the president of the Hellenic Solid Waste Management Association, Giorgos Ypsilantis, the plant will form just a small part of “a comprehensive waste management operation.” This operation will include the extension of the existing landfill, which is nearing saturation, a new landfill which will be set aside for the ash produced by the incinerating facility, a composting facility for natural waste and a recycling unit for plastic, paper, metals and other reusable materials.

As the cost of the undertaking is estimated at some 100 million euros, it is likely that it will be funded through a public-private partnership, sources said.

One operational issue that remains to be clarified is how the facility will function during the summer months when trash levels usually double due to the influx of hundreds of thousands of tourists.

As for concerns about pollution, local mayors do not appear to be too troubled. “Legislation governing the construction and operation of such facilities is very strict and (authorities) have received assurances that pollution levels will be extremely low,” Ypsilantis said.

Residents however are concerned about the implications of the plant. “People have only now started realizing what is going to happen and are seeking assurances,” said Giorgos Pastrikos of the Greek office of Friends of Nature, an international conservation organization. “The social dialogue on this subject has yet to begin,” he said.

The Pigeon with the amputated wing, which yesterday was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” is doing quite well till now on.

February 13^th: and in spite of a still valid yellow weather-alert due to thunderstorms, it was dry early this morning !! The Long-eared Owl was 272 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 268 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 814 (-8), the Kestrel 210 (-1) and the red Sparrowhawk 248 (+3) gram. The juvenile orange Pigeon was 125 (+5) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 62 (=) and the other 74 (+2) gram. All the other patients are doing fine. During the cleaning of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” luckily only one baby-pigeon could be detected; a bit smaller than the orange one we have as a patient and about 1 week younger.

Dispute over medical shortages

Ministry and health workers blame each other for ambulance death as doctors’ strike hurts hospitals

As the Health Ministry and the union representing the National First Aid Center (EKAB) blamed each other for the death of a 53-year-old man in a Thessaloniki ambulance yesterday, hospitals struggled to operate normally as thousands of doctors continued with a strike over pay.

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos threatened to sue medical staff for “criminal neglect,” noting that the ambulance in which the man died should have been properly stocked as EKAB had emergency supplies.

But EKAB union president Ierotheos Giamouridis said the national committee which approves supplies for all state hospitals is being hampered by red tape.

Meanwhile a coroner concluded that the 53-year-old had suffered a stomach hemorrhage, caused by a burst ulcer, and would have died regardless of whether the ambulance had been stocked with adhesive electrodes or not.

The man’s death provoked an unusually sharp response as it came one day after medical suppliers pulled the plug on state hospitals, demanding the settlement of huge debts.

The suppliers’ action has compounded problems in state hospitals which have been operating on skeleton staff since Monday when doctors launched their first of two 48-hour strikes this week.

Yesterday hospital doctors’ unions expressed their satisfaction with the level of participation in the strike. The capital’s Erythros Stavros hospital and the Geniko Kratiko in Nikaia were among the hardest hit by the strike. “It’s been years since we’ve seen this level of participation in a strike,” said Nayia Vartzeli, a member of a union representing doctors in Athens and Piraeus. Doctors said they would press on with their action despite assurances from Avramopoulos that their labor contract would be renegotiated in a year’s time. The medics have said they are “bitter” at the minister for amending an agreement they had reached regarding improvements to their pay and working hours.

Islands offered water solution

A number of Cycladic and Dodecanese islands could soon have the opportunity to solve their water problems, according to a plan to build a series of desalination plants that was unveiled by the government yesterday.

Most of the islands have to ship in water via tankers, which is a costly venture. Last year, islands spent a total of 13 million euros on transporting water.

Under the plans unveiled yesterday, islands will be able to drastically reduce their water bills as, under the tender, costs will be fixed for the first 10 years. “Desalinated water will cost 3 euros per cubic meter whereas islanders are now paying 8 euros,” said Merchant Marine Minister Anastassis Papaligouras.

The ministry said that 15 firms are interested in constructing the desalination plants and it is now up to municipalities to find the necessary land. After 10 years, the ownership of the plants will pass to local authorities.

Leros collision

A passenger ferry struck a pier at the main port of the Dodecanese island of Leros yesterday, but caused no injuries, as strong winds created choppy conditions. Bad weather kept ferries moored at Piraeus and other ports.

Could we report yesterday about a blossoming Prunus-tree, this afternoon it showed that in the aviary of the little Falcons the plum-tree is overfilled with buds and even has 2 white flowers !!

February 14^th:  it was pouring from rain at 4.40 a.m. and it’s still doing so now (6.30 a.m.), so a nice promise for today !! The Long-eared Owl was 275 (+3) and the Dark Barn Owl 271 (as well +3) gram. The Goshawk was 812 (-2), the Kestrel 208 (as well –2) and the red Sparrowhawk 250 (+2) gram. The juvenile orange Pigeon was 126 (+1) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 58 (-4) and the other 73 (-1) gram. The traumata of both injured Pigeons are healing prosperously: there is absolutely no inflammation-reaction. The scalped one ie eating almost completely on his own, but such can’t be said from the “barbed-wire-pigeon” > should be force fed completely and the fed seeds are leaving the crop quite slowly. However, there was no injury over there and the crop is completely “watertight”. We’ll wait with the release of the Sardinian Warbler till the weather has improved evidently > it’s an insect-eater and when it’s raining so much that kind of food is difficult to find for a (in any case for the time being) somewhat handicapped one.

Doctors’ strikes set to continue

State hospital doctors ended their 48-hour strike with a demonstration outside the Health Ministry yesterday but vowed to continue protesting their wages by walking off the job next week as well. The doctors said that they would stage another two-day strike starting on Wednesday.

The action being taken by the medics, as well as their decision to limit their hours, means that some state hospitals are unable to deal with all the patients they receive when they are on duty. Officials at the Erythros Stavros Hospital in Athens yesterday directed some patients to the private Henri Dunant Hospital, as some departments did not have medical staff available for certain procedures.

The doctors union has decided that the general hospital in Nikaia as well as hospitals in Thessaloniki, Patras, Iraklion and Ioannina will not be on duty next Wednesday.

The wing-injury of the Goshawk, which had entered the L.W.H. September 14^th 2008 with a very bad open fracture of the right elbow, is now at last closed . . . . !! At 4.45 p.m. the Pigeon with the amputated wing was seen almost in top of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” . . . !! And “weather or no weather”, the Pigeons in the window-frame in the 2^nd floor of our house are relieving one another and the nest is still complete !! From 4.06 p.m. for the whole of Greece a yellow weather-alert is valid due to expected heavy weather, rain, hail, snow and black-ice > so we’ll await the events resignedly.

February 15^th:  till now on it’s only ice-cold, but luckily dry !! But however those weather-conditions induced the out-door Tom-Cat “Big Boy” entering the food-hall as soon as the possibility was there (already at 4.45 a.m. !) and further “assisting” in the Sick-Bay during the measuring and feeding by constantly walking around and before our feet !!

The Long-eared Owl was 274 (-1), the Little Owl 208 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 275 (+4) gram. The Goshawk was 820 (+8), the Kestrel 208 (=) and the red Sparrowhawk 254 (+4) gram. The juvenile orange Pigeon was 134 (+8) and the Black-headed Gull 312 (-2) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 54 (-4) and the other 72 (-1) gram. We stopped the antibiotics for the two injured Pigeons. We have received messages from an Agricultural Secondary School in Holland that, in the framework of the internationalising of the training, they are quite busy in all possible and creative manners organizing support for us. Amongst other things this will result in the coming in the month of May of a whole crew to realize over here a lot of improvements and enlargements. During the cleaning of the cages the Sardinian Warbler had the chance to escape and it showed he is capable of flying quite well. So another couple of days and it will be “Adíos, kaló taxídi” (or: Bye-bye, have a good trip”). We received the ecological group which had announced their visit: 35 people (teachers from the whole island and some of their children). At 5.15 p.m. “Big Boy” choose staying in the Sick-Bay and not to go out anymore. We have placed a cat’s box for him and now it’s wait and see how things will develop.

February 16^th:  it’s still ice-cold outside and “Big Boy” has spent the whole night in the IC (but as well used perfectly the cat’s box in the Sick-Bay) !! The Long-eared Owl was 272 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 279 (+4) gram. The Goshawk was 812 (-8), the Kestrel 207 (-1) and the red Sparrowhawk 254 (=) gram. The juvenile (orange) Pigeon was 140 (+6) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 61 (+7) and the other 74 (+2) gram. All the other patients are doing fine. As well Tjarda as we have the idea that, independent from each other and on different places, we have seen our escaped ex-Tom-Cat “Poekie” !!

Release:

In a bright sun-shine we were able to release very well the Sardinian Warbler > was flying straight and very well !!

We had to remove the stitches from the injury of the “barbed-wire-pigeon”, and as well some dead tissue. Injury further treated with Hansaplast-dressing-spray. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and the whole crew has “done” 14,915 kilo (for 92,56 Euro; total now this year 108,560 kilo for 688,71 Euro). And at last one is noticing in Greece a bit that an army which consists of un-motivated conscripts only is a costly situation which is only producing a huge bench of unwilling “gun-fodder”:

Military service to be limited to army

Young Greek men will soon perform their military service only in the army and not the air force or navy, according to plans unveiled by Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis over the weekend.

Speaking on NET TV, Meimarakis said that he would like to see conscripts only in the army by next year. Currently, conscripts are assigned to either the army, air force or navy, although most end up in the army.

Meimarakis said that he is also aiming to reduce the time conscripts must serve to nine months, adding that the time is ripe for such a reduction.

The basic military service in the army is now 12 months, which is down from 18 months earlier this decade.

The defense minister said that this change would be accompanied by rules that would prevent would-be conscripts from putting off their military service for postgraduate studies.

Meimarakis suggested that it is difficult for someone with a Master’s degree or a PhD to take orders from a drill sergeant.

Last April, Meimarakis said that he may rekindle efforts to make it compulsory for all Greek men to do their military service when they reach the age of 18.

Meimarakis said that if performing military service is compulsory, the age at which it is performed should also be non-negotiable.

Currently, Greek teenagers can obtain permission to delay the start of their service based on family, psychological, health or education grounds. It is fairly common for teens to be allowed to finish their studies before having to serve in the military. A small percentage is also excused completely on medical grounds.

The idea of compulsory conscription at 18 was raised by New Democracy in 2004, but discussions never led anywhere.

We had the opportunity inspecting the nest of the Pigeon in the window-frame on the 2^nd floor of our house: a wonderful shaped (especially for a Pigeon) nest with 2 eggs.

February 17^th:  and again “Big Boy” has spent the whole night in the Sick-Bay (in an empty cage with the door open). The Long-eared Owl was 274 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl 279 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 809 (-3), the Kestrel 203 (-4) and the red Sparrowhawk 256 (+2) gram. The orange Pigeon was 146 (+6) gram, but is difficult measuring, because being caught means . . . . FOOD !! Tortoises: the home-bred was 56 (-5) and the other 76 (+2) gram. The injury in the groin of the “barbed-wire-pigeon” is doing quite well, but the scull of the scalped Pigeon is even better: a quite beautiful pink skin-color and no died-off tissue. So we were in time !!

Asopos ‘contaminating food’

High traces of toxins in river water have tainted agricultural produce on sale in shops, street markets, study finds

New laboratory tests have shown that toxic substances in the water of the Asopos River in central Greece are also present in the agricultural produce being sold in the street markets and supermarkets of Athens.

According to research being carried out by chemists at Athens University, vegetables being sold at markets and stores contain high traces of toxic chemicals such as nickel and chromium that could be damaging to the health of consumers. Tests on carrots, for example, revealed concentrations of 663 micrograms (mcg) of nickel per kilogram, nearly six times higher than the international maximum level. Onions also were found to contain a high concentration of nickel – some 574 mcg per kg. Carrots produced on farms in Thebes also revealed exceptionally high concentrations of chromium – some 95 mcg per kg, more than 10 times the maximum of 8 mcg. “It is more than clear that these substances are passing into agricultural produce,” a researcher said. Experts note that depleted chromium – the highly toxic substance that tests have detected in water in the Asopos River – changes its chemical composition in the transfer from water to food. “But this does not mean that it can change back to depleted chromium,” one expert remarked.

Residents claim that high traces of depleted chromium in the water have caused an increase in cancer-related deaths. These charges have not been scientifically proven.

But the Athens University team has confirmed research by the Agricultural University of Athens, finding that river water has a concentration of 148 mcg of depleted chromium per kg. The Agricultural University also found that local water was not suitable for irrigation, let alone drinking.

Last month European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas condemned authorities for failing to stop local manufacturers from dumping toxic waste into the Asopos River, which also supplies millions of Athenians with drinking water.

Doctors in second week of strikes

Hospitals are in for a second week of upheaval as doctors, continuing a protest over a government about-turn on a labor contract agreement, begin a three-day walkout today.

Meanwhile, in a bid to avert a spiraling crisis in the health sector, Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos presented a “new, improved” version of the labor contract he had agreed upon with unionists, before tweaking it to their detriment.

The union of hospital doctors in Athens and Piraeus has called a three-day strike, starting today, and encouraged doctors to join a rally at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday outside Parliament, where MPs are to discuss proposed reforms.

Doctors at state hospitals across the rest of the country are to join the action from tomorrow when they launch a 48-hour strike.

In a new development, National First Aid Center (EKAB) doctors, who work on ambulances, have decided to join the action, complaining that chronic understaffing obliges them to work excessive hours. They have said that they will work no more than 48 hours per week as of next week, in accordance with the legal minimum.

Last week doctors at state hospitals also worked the minimum required shifts in a bid to draw government attention to the demands. As a result, many hospitals in Athens, Piraeus, Thessaloniki and other major cities struggled to operate normally. An embargo imposed on hospitals by medical suppliers, who are seeking millions of euros in unpaid debts, exacerbated the problems last week.

In a bid to appease doctors, Avramopoulos yesterday presented an “improved” offer foreseeing salary raises ranging between 185 euros for specialists and 370 euros for directors.

Unionists yesterday did not give any official response to the proposed raises, which are not as high as they are demanding, but pressed union members to join strike action.

First case of child botulism

A 3-month-old baby was recovering in an intensive-care unit at a hospital in Rio, near Patras, yesterday after becoming one of only a handful of children in Europe to contract infant botulism during the last decade.

In the first reported case of the potentially fatal disease in Greece, a special drug, which is a human-derived botulism antitoxin, was flown in from California on Sunday.

Infant botulism is caused by eating the spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, or poisons produced by the spores. The most common way of getting botulism is from poorly processed foods that are vacuum sealed.

Scientists from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) have visited the home of the baby to collect samples of food so they could be sent to a laboratory in England. They are also examining the possibility that the baby was given honey, which is a potential source of spores and should not be given to toddlers under 12 months old.

We received a phone-call from Mólivos that a whole school wanted to visit us tomorrow (of course depending of the weather-situation). The woman who phoned us, was one of the teachers who had visited us last Sunday.

February 18^th:  “Big boy” was again in this night, went quickly out at 4.40 a.m. but was in again at 5.20 a.m. > it rained again !! The Long-eared Owl was 278 (+4) and the Dark Barn Owl 279 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 817 (+8), the Kestrel 201 (-2) and the red Sparrowhawk 257 (+1) gram. The orange Pigeon was 149 (+3) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 63 (+7) and the other 76 (=) gram. We could remove the stitch on the head of the scalped Pigeon > the skin remained perfectly on its place and when the scab will have disappeared (with all at this moment funny-uprising-feathers) the little head is as new again !! We received the primary school from Mólivos; 2^nd up to and including 6^th class: 75 children and 5 adults.

BOTULISM CASE

Baby in critical condition

A 3-month-old baby was in a critical but stable condition in a hospital in Rio, near Patras, as it undergoes treatment for the first case of infant botulism ever recorded in Greece. A special drug that was flown in from the USA was administered to the baby on Sunday. Doctors said that the child is still having breathing problems and that the next week will prove crucial for its survival.

Apparently is living a “monastic life” a must for coming in heaven, but most probably in another way . . . .

Woman left to die in makeshift monastery

A 76-year-old woman on the island of Salamina, near Piraeus, who had turned the house she lived in with her deaf sister into an unofficial monastery, was left to die by robbers who bound and gagged her, police said yesterday.

Officers were called to the home, which doubled as a monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary, after neighbors found the deaf woman standing in the middle of the road, looking dazed and appealing for help.

Police found the 76-year-old gagged and bound to a chair inside the house. A coroner found that she had died of asphyxiation.

Her sister was able to tell officers, with the help of a sign-language interpreter, that two thieves had broken into the property on Monday night and tied up the two elderly women. Officers believe that the robbers targeted the property as they expected to find valuable religious items there.

February 19^th:  meanwhile we’re developing plans for building an “arch” (only we still don’t know where we can buy “gopher wood” !), because it’s still wet and thunderstorms but we’re getting used to it. The Long-eared Owl was 279 (=1) and the dark Barn Owl was as well 279 (=) gram. The Goshawk was 817 (=), the Kestrel 202 (+1) and the red Sparrowhawk 258 (+1) gram. The orange Pigeon was 154 (+5) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 62 (-1) and the other 76 (=) gram. The injury of the “barbed wire-pigeon” has closed in such a way that in two days time we can think about transferring to “The Keep”. We have brought both mountain-bikes to the cycle mender for a complete revision because of the coming of 2 new trainees in 11 days. At 11.15 a.m. we had to take the disabled birds back in again > the table-mount couldn’t be seen anymore due to the falling rain.

Minister seeks to appease doctors

Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos yesterday sought to win over protesting state hospital doctors, who are in their second week of strike action, offering them salary increases and the opportunity to join a fast-track process to become directors.

In the first parliamentary discussion of a new health sector bill yesterday, Avramopoulos backtracked on a government about-face on a labor contract agreement and edged closer to the original pact that had satisfied doctors in December.

The minister put back on the table his original pledge to allow doctors induction to a three-stage assessment procedure that would bump them up to director status. Earlier this month, he had backtracked on this promise, suggesting that it be “frozen” for a year.

Avramopoulos also approved salary raises that would bring directors' monthly salaries to 2,054 euros, unit supervisors' wages to between 1,468 and 1,759 euros and specialists' wages to 1,027 euros. The increases are reportedly very close to those demanded by doctors.

Unionists had not reacted to the minister's pledges by late last night, but Avramopoulos' initiative fueled anger among opposition MPs. Avramopoulos, for his part, claimed that the bill being discussed is “a virtual carbon copy of the labor contract signed in December.”

Hospital doctors, who today round off a three-day strike, are to convene on Monday to discuss the ministry's new terms. Meanwhile, many hospitals continued to operate on skeleton staff. At the general hospital of Nikaia, near Piraeus, and at Thessaloniki's G. Gennimata Hospital doctors blocked the entrances, accepting only really urgent cases. Medical suppliers are continuing with an embargo on hospital deliveries, demanding that millions of euros in outstanding debts be paid.

Turkish violations

Four Turkish fighter jets violated Greek air space over the Aegean islet of Farmakonisi yesterday and were chased off by four Greek jets. The Turkish Phantoms flew over the islet at an altitude of 1,500 feet.

At 3.30 p.m., after a real terrible thunderstorm, we had for the first time all six “outdoor-cats” at the same moment to be fed > was quite a puzzle, because certain feeding-places are for more cats “their” spot. But it ended without too big fights and everyone has had. The brooding Pigeon in the window-frame has well survived the heavy-weather, in spite of the storm was blowing exactly against that window. The escaped Tom-Cat “Poekie” is seen more and more in the neighborhood of the house: he looks fine, only a bit thin. Only coming very close to the house he doesn’t dare (yet ?). At 5.15 p.m. we could see a double rainbow; something the two of us never had seen before. Checking the wing-fracture of the scalped Pigeon it showed the fracture was caused by a shot-pellet: entrance at the pulse and exit at the elbow (or vice versa of course). Late in the evening “Poekie” was eating in our court-yard but was chased by our dogs because they didn’t recognize him anymore of course !!

February 20^th:  for the first time since days it was dry early this morning !! The Long-eared Owl was 279 (=) and the dark Barn Owl 282 (+3) gram. The Goshawk was 813 (-4), the Kestrel 200 (-2) and the red Sparrowhawk 258 (=) gram. The orange Pigeon was 159 (+5) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 65 (+3) and the other 78 (+2) gram. We have noticed nów that the disabled Song Thrush (07-208; November 1^st ’07) is a male: early in the morning we are treated to really quite nice singing !! The “barbed-wire-pigeon” was transferred at 8.17 a.m. to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” for flying-practices, because thát as well can improve a lot. The hanging cast is removed from the wing of the scalped Pigeon > in a day or so this one can be transferred to “The Keep” as well. At 11.15 a.m. Násja came to take some young pigeons:

Re-homing:

At 11.25 a.m. we could re-home with Násja 2 young Pigeons: both were hatched in the L.W.H., but the elder was taken-back December 26^th ’08 from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” due to severe feather-parasites (08-214) and brought back to there January 19^th ’09. The 2^nd had left the nest about a fortnight ago. Both birds had disabled parents. 

Surgery cuts

Between 8,000 and 10,000 scheduled operations at Thessaloniki hospitals alone have been canceled due to this week’s nationwide strike by doctors, local unionists said yesterday. Doctors are on Monday to decide whether to continue their action, following pledges by Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos to honor an agreement reached in December that he backtracked on earlier this month, triggering the rolling strikes.

Weather woes

A cold snap expected to start today is to intensify over the weekend with temperatures plunging to several degrees below zero, as well as rain and snowfall in many parts and strong winds expected to disrupt coastal shipping. Temperatures are forecast to drop to –8° Celsius. Sunday and Monday are expected to bring snow to the northern suburbs of Athens (and that’s a lot more southwards than we are !! > note L.W.H.)

Like agreed in the Board-meeting of December 18^th ’08 this morning Médie Meijer and Ineke had been brain-storming about an educational program for both the Nursery School and the Primary School for the coming winter (2009-2010). There will be 3 different programs for the different levels of age: the 1^st for the (only class in the) Nursery School and the 1^st class Primary School, the 2^nd for class 2 and 3 Primary School and the 3^rd for the classes 4, 5 and 6.

February 21^st:  it’s quite cold outside, but luckily still dry. The Long-eared Owl was 281 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl 179 (-3) gram. The Goshawk was 819 (+6), the Kestrel 199 (-1) and the red Sparrowhawk 258 (=) gram. The orange Pigeon was 160 (+1) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 60 (=5) and the other 74 (-4) gram. The Pigeon which was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” yesterday has till now on not yet left the bottom of the cage > so there seems to be something wrong with the wings . . . ??

Snow fell...

Snow fell in some parts of Attica yesterday, including the community of Rodopoli, which is located on the northwestern edge of Mount Pendeli, north of Athens. Temperatures are expected to dip substantially across the country and in Athens over the weekend and snow has been forecast for many parts of Greece.

Asopos set for more pollution

Authorities are planning the creation of a large industrial zone and an energy hub in the broader region of Viotia, central Greece, where pollution is already at high levels due to the uncontrolled dumping of toxic waste in the Asopos River, Skai TV and radio has learned.

According to an investigation by Skai, the industrial zone is slated for development in the municipality of Thisvi and the energy center near the city of Thebes.

Laboratory tests on drinking water in the communities of Oinofyta, and more recently Thebes, have revealed high levels of toxic chromium. Residents have blamed higher-than-usual rates of cancer in their community on the polluted drinking water, though tests have not confirmed any link.

Last month, European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas criticized authorities for failing to stop local manufacturers from dumping toxic waste into the Asopos River, which also supplies Athenians with drinking water.

And what else one can expect with a monthly salary of not even 1027 Euro . . . . ??

Operation error cuts into surgeon’s finances

The Supreme Court has ruled that a cardiologist must pay a patient 44.000 euros in compensation for forgetting to remove a needle from his body during a bypass operation 14 years ago.

It was revealed yesterday that the court found the doctor guilty of negligence when he omitted to remove the needle during surgery at Thessaloniki’s AHEPA hospital.

The doctor had argued that the patient should have sued the state as he was working for the national health system but the court found that the surgeon was fully responsible, saying he “should have applied his considerable scientific knowledge and expertise as a university professor.”

The doctor was also ordered to pay 2.000 euros in court costs.

AEGEAN EXERCISE

Greece pressing countries not to take part in Turkish operation

Greek diplomats are pressing their counterparts in the US, Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium to scale down their planned participation in a Turkish military exercise due to be held in the Aegean during the second half of next month, sources have told Kathimerini. Athens is keen to dissuade these countries from joining the exercise as sections of it are believed to constitute an attempt by Ankara to consolidate territorial claims in the Aegean, the sources say. The aim of the Greek diplomatic effort is not to convince these countries to avoid the exercise entirely but only those sections that challenge Greece’s rights in the Aegean.

At 5.10 p.m. 2 Greek visitors; for the time being from Mytiléne > are both in the Army.

February 22^nd:  the Long-eared Owl was 281 (=), the Little Owl 206 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl was 276 (-3) gram. The Goshawk was 813 (-6), the Kestrel 197 (-2) and the red Sparrowhawk 257 (-1) gram. The Black-headed Gull had remained nicely the same: 311 gram. The orange Pigeon couldn’t absolutely be measured: is much to vivid !! Tortoises: the home-bred was 65 (+5) and the other 76 (+2) gram. A huge part of Greece has a yellow, and sometimes even an orange weather-alert due to cold, snow and more of those misery. With the help of Jeroen we have freed a place in the court-yard of the House-next-door where we, following a good Amsterdam tradition, can hang both mountain-bikes against the wall. Only one water service-pipe must yet be fastened better over there. And such was done later, and as well both hooks for the ATB’s were drilled into the wall. In the afternoon the weather-alert was adapted and we’re now in the yellow zone as well for the rest of the day and for tomorrow. Preparing the food for the evening-round, during doing so the stray cats are fed as well, we have noticed that the out-door Tom-Cat “Papa” isn’t so well any more: starts to be quite thin !!

February 23^rd:  and still it’s cold, but luckily yet dry. The Long-eared Owl was 283 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl 279 (+3) gram. The Goshawk was 807 (-6), the Kestrel 194 (-3) and the red Sparrowhawk 256 (-1) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 64 (-1) and the other 77 (+1) gram.

Once bitten, twice shy, but not in Greece . . . . :

Convicts repeat helicopter escape

Notorious criminal and accomplice flee high-security prison in carbon copy of their June 2006 breakout

Riot police officers guard Attica’s high-security Korydallos Prison yesterday shortly after the country’s most notorious criminal, Vassilis Palaiokostas, and his Albanian accomplice escaped in a spectacular helicopter breakout that was almost identical to their jailbreak in June 2006. Police discovered the helicopter used in the escape in a field in eastern Attica a couple of hours later. The pilot had been bound and gagged.

In a massive security blunder for the government, the country’s most notorious criminal and an Albanian accomplice escaped from Attica’s high-security Korydallos Prison yesterday in a helicopter breakout all the more spectacular for being a repeat of a 2006 performance.

Vassilis Palaiokostas, 43, and Alket Rizai, 34, who had been in solitary detention but exercised in the same area, were collected from the roof of the prison shortly before 4 p.m. yesterday by a helicopter that circled the prison grounds twice before dropping a rope ladder to lift them away.

The two men had escaped from the same jail in almost exactly the same way in June 2006. Rizai was arrested in July of that year, while Palaiokostas was caught only last August, following his suspected involvement in the abduction of prominent Thessaloniki industrialist Giorgos Mylonas. Both men had been due to stand trial this week for the original breakout.

As the helicopter rose away from the prison grounds yesterday, guards opened fire. One officer sustained minor injuries after shooting himself in the hand. (Note L.W.H.: with such “HANDY” guards one needs no friends anymore . . . . !!)

It was unclear whether the fugitives fired back, though guards reported seeing a woman passenger wielding an assault rifle.

The helicopter used in the escape was found by police a few hours later abandoned in a field in Polydendri, eastern Attica. Officers found the pilot gagged and bound with a hood over his head. The pilot told police that the helicopter had been chartered by a couple who had rented it twice before in recent weeks. The helicopter left Athens airport at 1.30 p.m. with one male passenger and stopped near Itea, central Greece, to pick up a woman, according to the pilot, who lost radio contact with the airport shortly before 4 p.m.

With the ranks of ruling New Democracy reportedly in turmoil over the scale of yesterday’s security lapse, Justice Minister Nikos Dendias fired the ministry’s general secretary in charge of prisons, another ministry official and the head of Korydallos Prison. He said crime charges would be brought against all those found responsible. “I will not tolerate this insult – all necessary measures will be taken, however harsh,” he said. A statement by opposition PASOK said: “There is no state, no government.”

Today meat had to be processed again, and because due to an engine trouble Douglas & Janice couldn’t be present, Tjarda & Ineke had been busy cutting until the blisters were growing on their fingers getting all done. And that was this time 17,215 kilo (for 104,88 Euro; total; now this year 125,775 kilo for 793,59 Euro). And while both mountain-bikes were picked-up at the cycle mender’s shop, a young laddy was at our door-step with an ill little puppy (only a few weeks old) > transferred to the Vet in the Agrotikí Stégi. At 11.50 a.m. a well-known to us appeared with his Setter, with which he had been visiting a Vet for already umpteen times. The bitch had evidently a huge mucus-infection, but was treated herefor as well umpteen times by the same Vet with antibiotics and Cortisone > so only symptomatically and not causally !! The dog was injected s.c. with 40 IU Ivermectin and hereafter it should start improving in a week or so. Further not in the statistics. At the same moment made a contact-line for army-clothes which should be dumped otherwise (the man is a regular n.c. officer, so . . . . !!) as working-clothes for the crew here. Around 6.45 p.m. we were phoned from Palaiochóri by the Dutch woman Marjan who had two of her dogs poisoned > we have been busy till 9.15 p.m. coaching the whole rescue over there. 

February 24^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 283 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 277 (-2) gram. The Goshawk was 809 (+2), the Kestrel 196 (+2) and the red Sparrowhawk 256 (=) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 58 (-6) and the other 74 (-3) gram. At 9 a.m. we received a phone-call from Palaiochóri that the situation with both dogs had improved; one is already as good as before the poisoning and the other was hereto on her way. Did we write yesterday about the prison guards: “ with such “HANDY” guards one needs no friends anymore . . . . !!” today our suspicions were confirmed (after almost 18 years one is learning a lot about the Greek society):

Police hunt fugitives as jail guards held for complicity

Minister heralds security measures; reports say officers were warned  

As a massive police hunt got under way yesterday for a notorious criminal and his Albanian accomplice, who escaped from Korydallos jail on Sunday in a spectacular repeat of their 2006 helicopter breakout, four prison guards and the helicopter pilot were detained.

Justice Minister Nikos Dendias called for the bank accounts of the four guards, who face charges of complicity, to be opened amid speculation that the operation had been funded using part of the 6-million-euro ransom Vassilis Palaiokostas netted after kidnapping a prominent Thessaloniki industrialist last year.

As ruling conservative cadres argued about who was to blame for the stunning security lapse, reports said an inmate had warned prison guards about an impending escape by Palaiokostas and that the serial robber’s Albanian accomplice Alket Rizai had beaten up a fellow inmate for talking about his plans to escape.

Meanwhile Dendias heralded much-delayed security measures for prisons. These include waiving the right to anonymity for owners of prepaid card cell phones so police can trace suspects’ calls, the more selective recruitment of prison guards and better training for all prison staff. A spokesperson for the union of prison guards referred to “massive shortfalls” in training.

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros appeared to lay the blame for the lapse on the previous PASOK government. “Parts of the (prison) system have been so undermined that the many measures that were implemented (after the first escape in 2006) proved ineffective.” Anastassis Papaligouras, who had been justice minister at the time of the 2006 outbreak, said he had reacted then by implementing 16 measures. But he noted, “Upgrading security infrastructure unfortunately cannot substitute the crucial human factor.”

Focusing on another gray area that facilitated Sunday’s escape, transport experts blamed lax regulations governing rented helicopters. Firms that rent out helicopters are obliged to submit a flight plan to the Civil Aviation Authority before every trip but the authority has no way of tracking the course of rented helicopters and can only learn of any problems if the helicopter fails to reach the planned destination. Also, helicopter pilots are not obliged to check passengers picked up after leaving the airport. This allowed the woman believed to have organized Sunday’s escape to board the Interjet helicopter in Itea, central Greece, bearing weapons.

Somber mood in government, as opposition parties slam failings

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis called an emergency meeting of the Inner Cabinet yesterday to discuss the fallout from Sunday’s escape at Korydallos Prison.

Ministers agreed with the view that Vassilis Palaiokostas and Alket Rizai were aided by guards. Justice Minister Nikos Dendias confirmed this suspicion when he left the meeting. “It is the government’s view that this could not have succeeded without involvement of those inside,” he said.

Dendias did not come under any pressure to resign, having taken up the post less than two months ago. However, this did not ease any of the pressure on the government.

PASOK leader George Papandreou argued that Greece had become a laughing stock and said of the government, “The longer they stay, the more damage they will do.” He also questioned how there can be consensus between the parties, which the government has demanded, when ND is in such a state. Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) chief Alekos Alavanos said the situation was “farcical” and repeated calls for a cross-party committee to examine public order issues. Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) spokesman Kyriakos Velopoulos said that the country’s security was being “stripped naked.”

In the evening we received news about the poisoned dogs in Palaiochóri: one is doing quite well but the other, which hadn’t recuperated so well this morning, has still not yet made water. Are the kidneys attacked by the poison ??

February 25^th:  for our feelings it’s very cold outside, although the thermometer isn’t showing this. The Long-eared Owl was 278 (-5) but had vomited a lot yesterday and the Brown Barn Owl was 279 (+2) gram. The Goshawk was 806 (-3), the Kestrel 196 (=) and the red Sparrowhawk was 257 (+1) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 63 (+5) and the other was 77 (+3) gram. At 9 a.m. we received a phone-call from Palaiochóri that the 2^nd poisoned dog (see yesterday-evening) this morning thrice had made water: good color and quite a lot !! One is very grateful over there for all given advices and moral support !!

Five on trial for jailbreak

Testimonies highlight lapses; PASOK seeks cross-party debate on public order

As four prison guards and a helicopter pilot appeared in a Piraeus court yesterday to face charges of negligence for failing to stop Sunday’s audacious carbon-copy prison escape by two notorious criminals, the government came under pressure to make amends for the unprecedented security lapse.

Testimony given by the defendants in court gave conflicting accounts of Sunday’s escape from Korydallos Prison by serial robber Vassilis Palaiokostas and his Albanian accomplice Alket Rizai, a repeat performance of a June 2006 breakout. Meanwhile sources said that the men had entered the exercise yard for an unscheduled break, just five minutes before the helicopter arrived, adding that Piraeus police officials had warned prison staff the pair would try to escape.

In court, one guard claimed that the helicopter pilot had aimed a gun at him while the convicts climbed a rope ladder to the hovering helicopter. The pilot countered that he had been threatened by his passengers, a man and woman, who had held a submachine gun and a knife to his head.

Other testimony highlighted a series of security lapses. The warden of the wing where the fugitives had been kept said he had deemed it safe to have the pair take their exercise time together, away from other inmates. A search of the defendant’s home unearthed 15 cell phones and 12 bank books.

The lawyer for the four guards accused authorities of seeking scapegoats to resolve the matter quickly.

Meanwhile tensions ran high within ruling New Democracy. Some cadres described the breakout as a “total humiliation,” while others accused Justice Minister Nikos Dendias, who has been in the job less than two months, of recruiting ministry staff based on party-political criteria and underestimating risks.

Opposition PASOK called for a parliamentary debate on security, covering prison shortcomings, social unrest and the emergence of a new terror threat. “It is clear that the government cannot tackle the current security crisis,” PASOK leader George Papandreou said in a letter to Parliament Speaker Dimitris Sioufas.

Cell phone measure gets poor reception

Plans announced by the government in the wake of the Korydallos Prison helicopter escape to oblige mobile phone users to submit their particulars when they buy prepaid cards met with opposition yesterday, mainly from cell phone companies who fear that it will damage their business.

Justice Minister Nikos Dendias announced the measure after it appeared that convicts Vassilis Palaiokostas and Alket Rizai used prepaid mobile phone cards to communicate with the people that helped them escape. However, the sudden announcement, which drastically changes the current system whereby customers do not need to give any personal details when they buy a card, prompted a backlash.

The president of the National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT), Nikitas Alexandridis, said implementation of the plans would entail many practical and legal difficulties. Meanwhile mobile phone company sources told Kathimerini that if enforced, the decision would prove costly as firms would have to process some 10 million applications, which would also have to pass security checks. Currently, mobile phone cards can be purchased from kiosks as well as stores, prompting questions about how the checks could be carried out.

Mobile phone firms also believe that it would result in 20 to 30% fewer calls being made via prepaid cards, as many people who desire anonymity, not just criminals, would find alternative ways to communicate.

“We are studying the legal frameworks that exist in the European Union so that we can find the right balance between respect for privacy and the maintenance of public order,” said Transport and Communications Minister Evripidis Stylianidis.

Baby recovering

A 3-month-old baby suffering from infant botulism has recovered significantly from the critical condition it was in last week and is scheduled to be discharged from a hospital in Rio, near Patras, doctors said. A special drug that was flown in from the USA was administered to the baby last week.

Via the village-loudspeaker-system was announced that tomorrow we’ll be without water, due to cleaning of the waterworks, from “somewhere” in the morning up and until “somewhere” in the afternoon. During a visit in the evening we have heard that the first White Stork has been spotted in Polichnítos and that in Skála Polichnítos in between 7 and 10 were seen at the water’s edge. That’s quite early for the time of the year. By the way, the White Stork in Polichnítos was flying in the same direction as the 2 Dutch observers in their car (they were doing 65 km/h) and the bird “kept step”. 

February 26^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 276 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl as well 276 (-2) gram. The Goshawk was 806 (=), the Kestrel 195 (-1) and the red Sparrowhawk 257 (=) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred 62 (-1) and the other was 79 (+2) gram. We have discovered that our Kestrel is a young male and not a female; so the body-weight is OK for him. At 10.16 a.m. a phone-call from the vet-practice of Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne that with the 11-o’clock-coach a (young ?) Pigeon will be sent. And at 10.25 a.m. we could take a picture from the just hatched baby-pigeons in the window-frame of the 2^nd floor of our house.

Jail has ‘no plan’ to avert breakouts

As police scoured the country for signs of the two notorious criminals who escaped from Korydallos jail on Sunday in a daring repeat of their June 2006 helicopter breakout, the prison’s recently sacked governor said that there is still no operational plan to avert a similar escape attempt.

Speaking at the trial of the helicopter pilot and four prison guards charged with negligence for failing to stop the breakout, Leonidas Karabekios said, “There is no plan, we just ring the alarm and use our walkie-talkies to pass round the word that a helicopter has appeared.”

He also told the court that prison authorities had received an anonymous telephone call a few days before the escape warning that it would happen. Guards subsequently checked the two convicts’ cells but found nothing suspicious, he said.

Karabekios said that security had been beefed up in the jail’s C Wing where serial robber Vassilis Palaiokostas and his Albanian accomplice Alket Rizai had been held in separate cells, though he noted that most convicts kept “improvised” knives. According to Karabekios, the four guards on trial should not be held responsible as they were acting “in the absence of any plan and sufficient training.”

Meanwhile Dimitris Tsovolas, one of the defense lawyers for the guards, resigned, citing “doctored charges” and “intervention in the workings of justice.”

Police yesterday conducted fresh searches of the cells of inmates suspected of some involvement in planning the escape. These cells included that of Vassilis Stefanakos, one of the two people charged as an accomplice in the pair’s first helicopter breakout in June 2006.

EU to rule on Roma, again

Greece is to face the European Court of Human Rights once again, accused of violating the rights of hundreds of Roma who have been homeless since their eviction from a makeshift settlement in the central Athens district of Votanikos in June 2007.

A complaint lodged with the court this week by the Greek Helsinki Monitor, a nongovernmental rights group, accuses authorities of turning a blind eye to the eviction of the Roma and subsequently ignoring requests for their rehousing. The group claims that its appeals to police and an Athens prosecutor to stop the eviction had been ignored. It maintains that authorities also ignored a similar appeal by a private company into whose building in Kolonos some of the Roma had moved after their eviction.

The organization also condemns Greece for failing to make use of European Union funding to improve housing for thousands of Roma living in Greece.

The Strasbourg-based court is due to issue its judgment on the complaint this fall. Out of 440 cases involving Greece, the court has issued guilty verdicts in 431, or 98%.

HOSPITAL BUG

Six patients ill in Thessaloniki

Six patients were being treated in a special unit of Thessaloniki’s Ippocrateio Hospital yesterday after contracting a hospital bug, doctors said. The condition of the five men and one woman was unclear yesterday. But health experts said the Klebsiella bacteria is one of most dangerous bugs to have emerged in Greek hospitals. Another two patients were found to have been infected with a similar bug earlier this month.

At 11.40 a.m. we had water again. And while we were waiting for the announced Pigeon, we could see that the tops of the Lepétymnos-mountains were covered with snow !! The Pigeon we had in our possession at 11.53 a.m. > see further at ROCK DOVE. In the afternoon it showed that all islands in the Aegean had a yellow weather-alert and so we notice !!

February 27^th:  still the same cold weather as yesterday. The Long-eared Owl was 272 (-4) and the Dark Barn Owl 278 (+2) gram. The Goshawk was 810 (+4), the Kestrel 194 (-1) and the red Sparrowhawk 254 (-3) gram. The Rock Dove is swallowing already somewhat better, but had diminished a bit: 218 (-4) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 66 (+4) and the other was 77 (-2) gram. We have given the young male Kestrel a colored foot-ring to recognize him from the other two males.

Guard takes rap for breakout

Chief of inmates’ ward blamed for letting them exercise together; lawyer alleges trial was fixed

The head guard of the wing at Korydallos prison in which escaped convicts Vassilis Palaiokostas and Alket Rizai had been held was convicted of negligence yesterday, taking the rap for the massive security lapse that allowed the notorious criminals to perform a repeat of their June 2006 helicopter breakout.

After a trial lasting just five days, Nikos Karagiorgos, in charge of Korydallos’ C Wing, received a suspended six-year sentence for negligence. The court ruled that he had been to blame for deeming it acceptable to keep Palaiokostas, a serial robber and kidnapper, and Rizai, a convicted murderer, in nearby cells and to allow them to exercise together.

A second guard received a suspended six-month sentence after an unauthorized weapon was found at his home. Both he and Karagiorgos were released and have lodged appeals against their sentences. Another two guards and the helicopter pilot were acquitted.

Dimitris Tsovolas – a defense lawyer for the guards, who resigned on Wednesday citing “state interference,” complained yesterday that the trial had been fixed in order to wrap the case up quickly and spare the government any further embarrassment.

Karagiorgos himself, speaking to reporters after the verdict, claimed that he had been used as a scapegoat and said that he would clear his name by appealing the court’s decision.

Meanwhile, under pressure to find the fugitives and put them behind bars once again, police have been scouring the country for signs of the two convicts, focusing in particular on mountain hideouts at which Palaiokostas is believed to have hidden in the past.

And then first there was that security-guard in Athens who was shouting around, thereafter a prison-guard who shot himself in the hand and now the following:

Prison officer in fatal spree

A 23-year-old jail guard accused of opening fire at oncoming motorists on a country road in western Crete, killing one person and seriously injuring another, was “incoherent” when arrested, police said yesterday.

According to police, the suspect, who had been employed as a guard outside a jail in Chania, started firing at oncoming motorists on a country road near the resort of Sougia at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, killing a 48-year-old motorist and leaving another driver with serious face and shoulder injuries. He is also alleged to have fired at a taxi driver who managed to avoid injury. The 23-year-old, who used a registered shotgun in the alleged attack, was found by police yesterday at his parents’ home.

Police said that he admitted to the shootings but became incoherent when asked why he did it. Chania’s Police Chief Emmanouil Stagakis said: “He kept repeating illogical assertions such as ‘It was fate,’ ‘It was God’s will,’ ‘It’s the fault of the system’ and similar statements.

And from our side the only thing we can do is to agree with him by blaming “the system”, when that same system is allowing such idiots walking around armed . . . . !!

And that same system is keeping munitions in such a careless manner, that we could write the following November 29^th 2008:

Explosive disappearance

Two artillery shells are missing from a high security military munitions depot in Alexandroupolis, northeastern Greece, it was revealed on Friday. During a regular inspection, officers found that two padlocks had been changed on one of the warehouses and that two 81-mm shells were unaccounted for. (come on, unaccounted ??)

And high security ?? Just as high as in that prison of last sunday ??

Stolen missiles turn up at rubbish dump

Five mortar rounds and two anti-tank missiles that were stolen from an army camp last year have been found at a garbage dump near the village of Sapes in northeastern Greece, police said yesterday.

There had been concerns that the munitions would be used by a terrorist group but after investigating the scene where the missiles were found, anti-terrorist officers handed the case over to the local police, apparently ruling out any link to an urban guerrilla group.

Police sources said that the most likely scenario is that the shells were stolen so they could be sold but that the thieves were unable to find any buyers, especially as they had not taken the necessary launchers or firing mechanisms. The mortar rounds and missiles were reported missing from an army munitions facility near Alexandroupolis last November.

At 12.36 p.m. the yellow weather-alert for the Northern Aegean Islands was lifted (so that’s as well us). The weather is evidently milder. At 4.15 p.m. we discovered that the Eleonora’s falcon meanwhile has complete new flight-feathers > so the waiting is now for new tail-feathers.

February 28^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 275 (+3) and the dark Barn Owl 279 (+1) gram. The Goshawk was 800 (-10), the Kestrel 194 (=) and the red Sparrowhawk 254 (=) gram. The Rock Dove was 247 (+29 !!) gram. Tortoises: the home-bred was 58 (-8) and the other 80 (+3) gram. Tjarda could tell us that our escaped ex-Tom Cat “Poekie” now has found a refuge on the flat roof of her bathroom and from there is terrorizing now the whole neighborhood !!

Islet hit by migrant crisis

Strong winds keep dozens of immigrants on Agathonisi and supply ships at bay

Authorities on the tiny Aegean islet of Agathonisi have warned of a crisis situation, as dozens of illegal immigrants who have arrived there from neighboring Turkey cannot leave due to strong winds that are also keeping ferries at bay as provisions run out.

As winds reaching 8 on the Beaufort scale isolate the island and supplies dwindle, tensions have been rising as there is not enough food to go around, community leader Evangelos Kottoros told Kathimerini.

The migrants, from various countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, number around 75, exceeding the islet’s permanent population of 70. “They are not violently disposed but there is an issue of survival. When people are cold and hungry, they don’t think straight,” Kottoros said. He said migrants from different ethnic groups had been fighting over who should be able to sleep in a small storeroom authorities have provided for them. Also migrants have been knocking on residents’ doors, asking for help. “Everyone has made an effort to help these unfortunate people but we are people too and we have problems,” Kottoros said. The community leader said he and the three policemen stationed on the island had warned of a crisis situation two years ago when the island started coming under pressure from an influx of illegal immigrants from Turkey.

Sources said that Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos intervened yesterday and that efforts were being made to send a ship to the islet to remove the migrants.

According to Kottoros, strong winds have not stopped smuggling ships from arriving on the islet. He said 351 migrants have arrived so far this year, compared to 43 in the same period last year. “What will happen when the weather gets better? Smugglers have realized that Agathonisi is unguarded and keep sending people,” the community leader said. Last summer, when Agathonisi was deluged with hundreds of migrants, Kottoros called on the government to supply it with its own coast guard so it could keep smugglers at bay. Authorities on nearby Patmos blocked the island’s ports to migrants last summer, increasing the influx to the smaller islet.

Guard to testify

A 23-year-old jail guard accused of opening fire at oncoming motorists on a country road in western Crete, killing one person and seriously injuring another, is to face an investigating magistrate on Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted murder. He is to see a psychiatrist in the meantime.

Tomorrow around midday we’ll be visited by people from the new (2^nd) Animal-Lovers Society “Kivotós” (“The Ark”) from Mytiléne in the frame-work of a closer co-operation; amongst others as well about the educational-lessens in schools which are planned for next winter. 

Total amount of visitors this month:  120                      (total this year: 211)

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 021 (total this year 0047 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 07 [wild ones: 06; others 01], (total this year 015: wild ones 010, others 005; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4062) of which:

SONG THRUSH (Turdus philomelos): 1 adult from Mytiléne. Doesn’t seem to be shot, but has a right eye that’s goggling quite strange. Is as well simmering during breathing. Antibiotics were injected and further observation. (see as well February 7^th ). Was discovered dead the 8^th; according to the body it was a cerebral death.

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 1 from the L.W.H.; “RiSta”. Was discovered injured at an average age of 7 weeks close to the school by the village-youth August 6^th ’08. Started being quite “masculine” so the stimulus’ for this behavior were taken away.

SARDINIAN WARBLER (Sylvia melanocephala): 1 adult male, discovered close to the water in Ágios Stéfanos. Seems only having received a “kiss from traffic”. Observation brain-damage. This is the 2^nd time we have such a bird; the first was in the last century (1998).

(see as well February 16^th ).  

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 3; the first was a Cock Pigeon, discovered in the center of Mytiléne. At the first look he seems to have been “in a fight with barbed wire” > that material has evidently won with points !! Several minor injuries on all toes and the whole right groin was open. The last injury (temporarily) closed with a continuous stitch. Antibiotics were injected. Seems having no fractures. (see as well February 16^th & 20^th). The 2^nd wasn’t injured (like was announced), but quite juvenile. Had almost al nails like “clogs” due to glued manure > removed. Body-weight at intake was 119 gram. The 2^nd wasn’t injured (like was announced), only very juvenile. Had at intake almost all nails like “clogs” due to clued droppings > removed. Body-weight at intake was 119 gram. Number 3 was announced as only having a wing fracture > showed to be correct (a closed one), but what was worse was a complete scalping of the skull !! Bird had as well horseflies > PINEX-spray was used. The wing fracture (left humerus) was to start with treated with a hanging cast. A lot more difficult was the scalped skull: skin was ripped-off just above the nose !! With a lot of difficulties a little useful piece of good skin could be detected and with one big stitch the ripped-off piece of skin, which was hanging in the neck, could be brought back on its place. Of course antibiotics were injected. (see as well February 17^th – 20^th).

ROCK DOVE (Columba livia): 1 not yet adult specimen from Mytiléne. Is missing from the right wing in between the elbow and the pulse some flight-feathers, but no further injuries could be detected. Body-weight at intake was 222 gram. Was treated preventatively with PINEX-spray. Is swallowing difficult, but no corpora aliena could be detected in the larynx and/or esophagus. So observation.