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May 2008 LOG-BOOK: News about the environment in blue May 1st: without any problems “Máo” has spent the night after the surgery of yesterday-evening and the only “carnage” in the living was from some crushed, thick ticks . . . . !! We couldn’t measure the juvenile Great Tit anymore > escaped constantly and was flying quite well. The Turtle Dove was 151 (+1), the Shearwater after an extensive bath yesterday 729 (-18) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1427 (+52) gram. The Long-eared Owl has spent his first night in “The Keep” without problems, only still not eaten on his own yet. The Turtle Dove (08-044; April 20th ’08) was, after the scab on the left wing was removed and covered with Hansaplast-Bandage-Spray, as disabled transferred to the Aviary in our Court-Yard. The first “acquaintance” between the Honey Buzzard and the Long-eared Owl wasn’t quite without problems, but after some hours the Long-eared Owl was only threatening by making himself twice as huge as normal. For the Honey Buzzard it was very interesting in the beginning, but after some hours it wasn’t interesting anymore. After we had wondered already for some days if there still was “life” in the baby-tortoise (08-031; March 25th ’08), we have discovered at 5.15 p.m. that this wasn’t true anymore ! At 8 a.m. this still was the case (a bit). In the nest-box of the Barn Owls no little owlet was discovered anymore; there still was one egg, but the parents weren’t in the neighborhood anymore. May 2nd: the knocked-down Tom-Cat “Mítso” has produced the first (small) turd !! Started drinking milk by himself at once !! The Shearwater was 735 (+6) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1472 (+45) gram. Because the last started to have quite a thick left foot, there was done a test for “Bumble-foot” (Pododermatitis) > was negative. The little Great Tit isn’t so active as yesterday > is eating more difficult ! At 12 o’clock there was brought-in by the people who had adopted “Yule” in the past (see as well April 30th) an injured little Tom-cat > they want to take it to Holland in the summer. See at KITTEN. Meanwhile we have started with the replacement of the nest-boxes in our Aviary. After the Tom-Cat “Mítso” had produced again some small, good turds, we were able (with difficulties) putting a bit fast food into his mouth. However, he has a “print” in his neck, which strongly points in the direction of “hanging” > this could explain the difficulties with swallowing. At 7.15 p.m. the little Great Tit was quite cold and only with difficulties to persuade swallowing a bit food, so . . . ?!?! Was at 10.55 p.m. still alive. May 3rd: at 5 a.m. all was still alive and the little Great Tit was sleeping quietly. Was however discovered tumbled down and dead at 5.50 a.m. The Shearwater was 735 (=) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1498 (+26) gram. We have checked again the leg of the little Tom-Cay “Petrí” very carefully > yesterday we didn’t succeed doing so, because he was too stressed. See further at KITTEN. At the end of the morning 2 Dutch visitors. And the following even was world-news: We’re the true Lesbians, say irate Greek islanders A Greek court has been asked to draw the line between gay women and the natives of the Aegean Sea island of Lesbos (Lesvos). Three islanders from Lesbos - home of the ancient poet Sáppho, who praised love between women - have taken a gay rights group to court for using the word lesbian in its name. One of the plaintiffs said last week that the name of the association, Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, “insults the identity” of the people of Lesbos, who are also known as Lesbians. “My sister can't say she is a Lesbian,” said Dimitris Lambrou. “Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos,” he said. The three plaintiffs are seeking to have the group barred from using “lesbian” in its name and filed a lawsuit on April 10. The other two plaintiffs are women. A spokeswoman for the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece said the action was “a joke in bad taste that borders on discrimination.” “I don't see how the word can be an insult,” Evangelia Vlami said. “We don't think doubt can be cast on dictionaries... even the United Nations refers to us as lesbians.” Also called Mytilene, after its capital, Lesbos is famed as the birthplace of Sáppho. The island, particularly the lyric poet's reputed home town of Eressos, is a favored holiday destination for gay women. “This is not an aggressive act against gay women,” Lambrou said. “Let them visit Lesbos and get married and whatever they like. We just want (the group) to remove the word lesbian from their title.” He said the plaintiffs targeted the group because it is the only officially registered gay group in Greece to use the word lesbian in its name. The case will be heard in an Athens court on June 10. Sáppho lived from the late 7th to the early 6th century BC and is considered one of the greatest poets of antiquity. Many of her poems, written in the first person and intended to be accompanied by music, contain passionate references to love for other women. Lambrou said the word lesbian has only been linked with gay women in the past few decades. “But we have been Lesbians for thousands of years,” said Lambrou, who publishes a small magazine on ancient Greek religion and technology that frequently criticizes the Christian Church (meant is the Greek Orthodox Church; and not without good reasons !! > note L.W.H.). Vlami, the gay group spokeswoman, said any misunderstanding can easily be resolved through linguistics. “Most people from Lesbos prefer to use the word Mytilene, which is the more ancient version and because some people may be afraid of being misunderstood,” she said. “I don't see what the problem is... Can't a woman just say: I am from the island of Lesbos?” Lambrou says Sáppho was not gay (correct: she committed suicide because a MAN had rejected her love !!). “But even if we assume she was, how can 250.000 people of Lesbian descent - including women - be considered homosexual?” (AP) May 4th: the Shearwater was 731 (-4) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1515 (+17) gram. We started with the latter (prophylactically) injecting antibiotics because of her thick feet. After one day in the Dermisol-cream, the leg of the little Tom-Cat “Petrí” is almost clean. However, he had a thick, hard belly and was lamenting > so a problem with relieving after other food; 1.5 cc olive-oil was giver per os. At 10.05 a.m. a phone-call from Eressoú about a kind of swallow, which should have something wrong with one wing > will be brought !! Hereafter 4 Dutch visitors. At 2.26 p.m. we had the “swallow” in our hands > see at COMMON HOUSE MARTIN. In the transport-box one had placed food for this insect-eater: bread, cake and whole sunflower-seeds . . ! At 5 p.m. we received a phone-call from the discoverers of the little Tom-Cat “Petrí” that after all they didn’t like this name so much; now it should be “Joris” (why in heavens name ??). And so this means that in a few months time one Joris must remove the crown-jewels of the other Joris . . . . !! Let’s hope that none of the two Joris ‘s will keep psychological traumas hereafter . . . . !! May 5th: the Shearwater was 729 (-2) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1530 (+15) gram. The little Tom-Cat “Joris” meanwhile had produced some nice turds. The leg is almost clean and it’s evidently now that the leg isn’t bitten-off, but ripped-off > the separation is exactly in the joint. The anal-glands were emptied and a almost ripped-off part of the damaged right ear was removed and cauterized. Today again meat-cutting-day and with the extra help of the discoverers of the little Tom-Cat “Joris” there was processed 11,990 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (75,72 Euro). Total now this year 244,425 kilo for 1545,62 Euro. We received 4 Dutch visitors. At 12.53 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a gull with a broken wing, which hardly could be caught. The catching we have transferred to acquaintances of us over there; we’ll see if one succeeded or not. At 2.30 p.m. we were brute wakened-up out of our siesta by a somewhat “simple” woman from our village who had entered our court-yard, and who had a “foggy” story about a cat > told her that we were sleeping, but that didn’t enter her mind. She went back to catch the cat. And a quarter of an hour later a Dutch tourist phoned from Eftaloú, that there was a puppy over there covered with tick-bites. “If we could come and take the pup . . . . ?!?! We have told him that we could check the pup after 4 o’clock, but that they had to bring him and that we couldn’t take him in. And they were here at 3.47 p.m. > see further at PUPPY. The two bearers were showed-around as well. The “foggy-woman” was back at 5.50 p.m. and we have informed her as good as possible. When at 6.15 p.m. we would bring the food for the nocturnals to “The Keep”, there first was thought that one of the three kittens had escaped and now was stuck with a body-part in between the door; such a plaintive sound it was. However, showed not to be the case, but there was a plaintively screaming little kitten in front of the Aviary > so see further at KITTEN. In the evening we heard that no-one had called our contact-person in Mytiléne about that gull . . . . May 6th: so this was a restless night, because the new kitten absolutely couldn’t join the other three in the same bench (they started hissing at once) and he had to spend the night in our bedroom. He was alone, and so . . . . !! Preparing the food happened with the kitten under our shirt, sitting on our shoulders. The Shearwater was 722 (-7) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1538 (+8) gram. The latter has for the first time eaten herself meat from the bowl !! Was the disabled Long-eared Owl this morning sitting on the roost in the aviary (more than 2 meters above ground-level, and how he came there is still a puzzle for us !), from where we placed him back in his nest-block, later this morning he had joined the Honey-Buzzard on the same roost.
Environmental alarm sounded for Greece Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias spoke at the Athens Summit on Climate Change and Energy Security, which began at the Athens Hilton Hotel yesterday and will run until tomorrow. Souflias has come under criticism from environmental groups and the media for not giving green issues enough attention. Greece was left in no doubt yesterday that it has to act quickly to improve its environmental policy as experts at an international conference in Athens warned of rising temperatures and more forest fires in the coming years. The Athens summit heard that temperatures in Greece would increase by between 1 and 3 degrees by 2060, which in turn will have an effect on water reserves and the country’s climate as a whole as there will be a smaller difference between the temperatures in northern and southern Greece. Experts also warned that warmer weather and drought could lead to more wildfires. President Karolos Papoulias, who has spoken out in the past on environmental issues, used the opportunity to send a stark warning to all Greeks that they risk witnessing again fires similar to those that devastated parts of the Peloponnese and Evia last summer. “Our disregard for nature and the consequences of the overuse of its resources contributed to the disaster,” he said. “There are no more excuses. There is no more ignorance.” With Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in the audience, Papoulias went on to put pressure on the government to separate the Environment Ministry from the Public Works Ministry. Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias has expressed his opposition to the idea. “Without institutional independence in environmental policy, it is difficult for effective action to be taken within the government,” he said. “Instead, the problems and conflicts will be covered up, temporarily, only for society to later encounter worse conditions and more onerous methods to solve them.” Papoulias brought up another sore subject when he mentioned the Kyoto Protocol. Greece was last month suspended from the treaty’s emissions trading scheme because its system for measuring greenhouse gases was deemed unreliable. In his speech, Karamanlis insisted that Greece would meet its obligations. “Greece will meet to the fullest the quantifiable obligations that it has undertaken to limit greenhouse emissions and to increase the use of renewable resources,” the prime minister said. Fires will get worse, experts say Firefighting experts yesterday told an Athens seminar that Greece must take the necessary measures to fight increasingly fierce blazes as temperatures rise and land dries out. Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos told delegates that hundreds of illegal landfills across the country are often the site of blazes, either accidental or intentional. Pavlopoulos’s comments came hours after firefighters managed to control a large fire at Attica’s main landfill, northwest of the capital. It is unclear whether the blaze, believed to have started from four smaller fires, was caused by arsonists or by a methane explosion triggered by the rotting garbage. There were no reports of injuries in the Ano Liosia blaze. Pavlopoulos said the government had earmarked 35 million euros for the firefighting coffers of local authorities. Greek fires are expected to “increase in size and intensity” over the coming years,” according to the country’s fire chief Athanassios Kontokostas. After the siesta we received 3 visitors from England:1 from Southend and 2 from Huntingdon, who wanted to see why they had made a link between their site (www.lesvosbirding.com) and our site > they were quite enthusiastic. After we had yesterday placed the new little Kitten (named “FiveMay”) with a face covered with spoiled milk together with the other three kittens, washing and cleaning started and since that moment it was as thick as thieves. So we had a quiet night !! The Long-legged Buzzard, who is eating on her own now, was 1583 (+45) and the Shearwater was 728 (+6) gram. We have seen our “lunatic Buzzard” (so Buzzard III; 08-026, March 8th ’08) yesterday for the first time not any longer only on the bottom of the aviary, but an the roost at the feeding-place and as well this morning he was sitting there > so there is a tiny gleam of hope !! The leg-injury of “Joris” is almost completely closed; the last 2 tiny spots are covered now with a gaze with Balsamum peruvianum. Further we started carefully with re-socializing > he still is terrified of dogs !! The cause of the injuries ?? At 11.22 a.m. we received a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne, that she was sending an injured sparrow with the coach of 1.15 p.m. Two Greek visitors this morning. Nuclear power consideredGreece should begin thinking about whether to build reactors, ministry saysThe option of Greece turning to nuclear power to solve its energy and environmental problems was firmly put on the table by the Public Works and Environment Ministry yesterday. Greece does not have any nuclear power plants but, in a statement released yesterday, the ministry indicated that a debate should begin on whether this form of energy could be adopted. The ministry was reacting to comment by European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, who said that “nuclear energy does not belong to the group of renewable energy sources.” Dimas was responding to questions from journalists at the Athens Summit on climate change. They had asked for his reaction to a statement by Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias during his speech on Monday night, in which he reportedly suggested “nuclear power is green power.” The ministry responded immediately in an attempt to put Souflias’s comments into context. “What Mr Souflias was trying to do was… to open the public dialogue on a crucial matter,” the statement read. “Greece is gradually being surrounded by nuclear reactors. Shouldn’t the dialogue begin so that we can make clear our country’s position on the issue?” The ministry went on to clarify what Souflias had meant in his speech and to criticize Dimas in what is turning out to be a personal tug of war between the two men. “Mr Souflias never said that nuclear energy was a renewable source, as Mr Dimas attempted to claim. Mr Souflias said in his speech that the European Union now refers to nuclear energy as ‘green energy’ since it does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants.” However, the ministry’s suggestion that the use of nuclear power in Greece is on the agenda provoked an instant response from opposition parties and environmentalists. “If someone suggests the nuclear option in the face of climate change, it means that he is essentially importing one big threat that could be destructive for health, the environment and security, to replace another,” said Greenpeace. The announced sparrow we had in our hands at 2.01 p.m. > see further at HOUSE SPARROW. In the same box 15 Euro was sent, ever left for our work at the Vet’s practice. At 7 p.m. we were called by the former chief of the Police in our village (now stationed in Kallonís), the Police Warrant Officer Achilléas Malamélis, that he was waiting at the Town Hall, because over there was an injured bird > so we went over there, because catching the bird himself was of course impossible. See further at COLLARED DOVE. May 8th: all patients in the Sick Bay were still alive this morning. The Shearwater had diminished: 705 (-2 and the Long-legged Buzzard was 1637 (+54) gram. On the injured leg of the little Tom-Cat “Joris” there is only one “hotspot” left-over; only a dry faze was used. The injuries of the bitten Collared Dove are mainly deep flesh-injuries; however how the bone-structure of the hand is, we can’t oversee yet. As well a dry gaze was used. We were able quite well in replacing the roosts annex nest-boxes for the Aviary in our court-yard. Nuclear energy option derided A bid by Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias to open a discussion on whether Greece should consider adopting nuclear power seems to have stalled before it had a chance to get going. His idea was rejected flat out by government politicians, the leader of the main opposition party and the head of the Technical Chamber of Greece. Perhaps the most damaging reactions to Souflias’s effort “to open the public dialogue on a crucial matter” came from within his own party. First was the response of New Democracy MP Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who also presides over Parliament’s environmental protection committee. Souflias had suggested in a speech earlier this week that the European Union now regards nuclear energy as “green energy since it does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants.” But Mitsotakis poured cold water on these claims, telling reporters, “Nuclear energy is not green.” A few hours later, following questioning by PASOK MPs, Development Minister Christos Folias told parliamentary deputies, “Nuclear power has not been included in the government’s energy planning.” PASOK leader George Papandreou had earlier made it clear to his party’s deputies that he was against the use of nuclear power and criticized the government for considering the idea. Speaking at the Athens Summit on climate change, PASOK MP Michalis Chrysochoidis had also blasted the suggestion that Greece should consider building nuclear power stations. “Greece should be concentrating on protecting the environment and not announcing the intention to invest in nuclear energy, which brings with it big dangers,” he said. The president of the Technical Chamber (TEE), Yiannis Alavanos, said that by adopting nuclear energy, Greece would simply be swapping dependency on oil and lignite for another type of fuel. He added that building nuclear reactors in a country as prone to earthquakes as Greece would be “extremely unsafe.” At 12 o’clock the Tom-Cat “Mítso” left again for his home-address. After the siesta we still could continue a bit working for the Aviary. At 6.15 p.m. a phone-call out of a car on the road, which was at the moment in Karátepe (close to Mytiléne), that they had a severe injured Collared Dove, which definitively couldn’t wait till tomorrow to be sent. They were willing to bring the bird. And at 7.08 p.m. we picked-up the injured one at the Town Hall: brought by a delegation of 5 Greeks in 2 cars, and the patient himself was covered in the expensive silk shawl of a “lady, painted like an Indian in warrior-colors”. But in spite of that, she had a heart for the injured one !! Such a luxurious “bearing-committee” we never have had before !! See further at COLLARED DOVE II. May 9th: all patients were still alive this morning; even Collared Dove II, which however was laying on his side !! The little Tom-Cat “Joris” himself had removed the bandage from the injured leg. The Shearwater was 718 (+13) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1647 (+10) gram. Inspecting the injured leg of “Joris” it showed to be, although he isn’t walking on this leg, he is using the leg during sanitary stops > so the leg is constantly covered with “shit”. So after all there will be an amputation in the future. At 10.45 a.m. eight of the 12 nest-boxes annex roosts in the Aviary in our courtyard were replaced. However, the other 4 are ready as well, but in the old ones still baby-birds are present > so we have to wait till they have hatched. Nuclear power talk mushrooms A more positive note was sounded yesterday on introducing nuclear energy into the country as officials argued that a larger number of Greece's neighbors have shown interest in using the unpopular power source. National Council on Energy Strategy (SEES) head Rafael Moisis said that the time is coming to open talks on using this technology to power energy plants after 2020. Moisis's comments come after Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias had suggested earlier this week that the European Union regards nuclear energy as “green energy, since it does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants.” New Democracy MP Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who presides over Parliament's environmental protection committee, appears to adopt yesterday a more open stance to nuclear energy given that «Greece will be surrounded by nuclear power plants» in neighboring countries. Soaring oil costs worldwide are fuelling interest in developing alternative forms of energy as analysts forecast that petrol prices will continue to move higher. “Forty years ago, we believed that the planet would fill up with nuclear power stations but we were wrong,” said Ian Facer, a senior member of staff at the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency. “I think, however, that at this point in time, nuclear power comes to offer cleaner and cheaper choices in the field of energy.” Meanwhile, Greenpeace Greece Director Nikos Charalambidis said that nuclear energy is expensive, despite claims to the contrary by plant manufacturers. “In the case of Finland, in reference to a 1.600 MW reactor, we have evidence that the cost of a nuclear power facility can easily reach $4.300 per kilowatt,” he said. “Recent estimates by Moody's Investor Service place the cost of constructing a reactor between $5.000 to $6.000 per kilowatt.” The Technical Chamber of Greece and PASOK leader George Papandreou have both taken stances against nuclear power being brought to the country. Collared Dove II has spent the whole day “sidelong”: isn’t eating nor drinking by himself, so needs to be fed several times a day. No disorders could be detected in both eyes and as well the legs can be used normally. At 7.30 p.m. we discovered that there is no straight line between the head and the tail, but that the tail in bending (seen on the back) to the right > so spinal-injury ?? The juvenile House Sparrow was given today for the first time seeds as well. May 10th: the four kittens are doing wonderful well together. For the sanitary works we are assisted by both she-dogs “Mítsi” and “Gímli” which are “changing the pampers”. In the Sick-Bay all were still alive; even Collared Dove II. The Shearwater was 736 (+18) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1659 (+12) gram. And suddenly at 6.35 a.m. on the whole island the electricity disappeared, only to come back at 7.55 a.m. When at 9.25 a.m. we wanted to start in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”, we discovered over there a dead Pigeon which hadn’t been there at 7.45 a.m. Had no foot-ring, so we don’t know which bird it was. Was bone-thin, so only plucking and the rest was thrown away. At 11.45 a.m. the glass-with-iron bottom in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” was changed by an inch-thick wooden part. At 11.50 a.m. a phone-call from Metóchia about an injured Squirrel. Guided by Dutch Médie (who knew the road, because we never had been there) we have picked it up. See further at CAUCASIAN SQUIRREL. Plan set for green ministry Greece has announced plans to set up a separate Environment Ministry in about 18 months as the conservative government comes under growing pressure over its environmental policies. Greece currently runs a joint Environmental, Physical Planning and Public Works Ministry, headed by Giorgos Souflias. However, it is widely believed that a stand-alone Environment portfolio would help the government improve on its poor green record. Questioned yesterday by journalists on whether an Environment Ministry is part of his future plans, Souflias said it will take shape “in about a year and a half from now.” “We are examining the issue and I will make relevant recommendations,” he said. Souflias had said in September last year that the government intended to make the move in possibly two to three years. The issue had not been raised since then. However, recent news that Greece has been suspended from the Kyoto Protocol's emissions trading scheme for not measuring greenhouse gases properly has turned up the heat on the conservatives. “The United Nations decision means that Greece cannot buy or sell emissions rights... until it proves that it will conform to UN instructions,” said environmentalist groups Greenpeace and WWF in a joint ad published in the Greek press yesterday. Greece is the first country in the world that has been penalized for not conforming to Kyoto Protocol guidelines, according to the environmental groups. PASOK responded to Souflias's announcement yesterday by describing the decision as a concern given the government's record on environmental issues. “The announcement to set up an Environment Ministry after a year and a half can only raise concerns,” said PASOK MP Spyros Kouvelis. Meanwhile, Greenpeace is expected to hold a press conference next week on how the government can improve its environmental policies. We have removed the bandage and as well the hanging cast from the wing of Collared Dove I; however both wings of number II are taped together on the back to prevent constantly coming under the body. We have started to treat the lasting diarrhoea of “Joris” with Vetrimoxin. At 6.01 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a pigeon with a broken wing > one can’t keep the bird for the night (afraid for bird-flu ??) to send it tomorrow by coach, so we’ll have a look what kind of solution there can be. It showed to be the discoverers are running a night-club, so that was the reason. But we have found someone who went and picked-up the bird and will try to send it tomorrow. May 11th: the Squirrel was quite vivid and lively this morning. The Shearwater was 737 (+1) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1659 (=) gram. During the cleaning of the two old parts of the bottom of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” we discovered in the “apartment-bloc” over there another 4 young pigeons: so being disabled is no excuse, or their TV has only lousy programs !! We have, after we had discovered several blood-drops on the walls of the cage of the Squirrel, caught the animal (with lots of problems !! Was biting like hell !!): a) showed to be not a male, but a female, and b) it remains a question mark where the blood came from. Except two minor, bold spots on the back the whole skin was picobello intact and as well on the legs nothing could be detected. At 11.30 a.m. the whole Aviary in our Court-Yard was re-planted. Now only with concrete some rat-holes must be filled in the niche and above the water-deposit. After the siesta for the first time one (a bit normal) turd was discovered in “Joris’ ” litter box. At 5.10 p.m. the Persian Squirrel was discovered dead, laying on het side > so evidently there was more wrong with her. Tomorrow a P.M. will be done. About the injured Pigeon from Mytiléne nothing is heard anymore. May 12th: no further victims early this morning. The Shearwater had diminished: 726 (-11) and the Long-legged Buzzard was 1685 (+26) gram. For the P.M. on the Persian Squirrel, see at that name. Luckily we had seen at 5.45 a.m. on Euro-News what’s written below, so we were still able to fill-up the car at the only petrol-station still having something: Gas-shortage due to strike in Greece In Greece there has caused a gas-shortage by a strike of gas-truck drivers. In most of the Service-stations in Greece there is no fuel anymore. And where still a bit is left, there are long queue’s with waiting cars. The drivers of the gas-trucks are demanding a higher compensation for the provisioning of petrol-stations. Today again meat-cutting-day, and in total 11,295 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (71,45 Euro) was processed by both ladies. Total now this year 255,720 kilo for 1627,07 Euro. Since this morning it’s clear to us, why the inlands of Portugal are “de-populating” in such a high rate: when with the mentioned before amount of meat already pieces of own limbs are added, this will be clear when it’s happening with lambs or cows. See further at Homo sapiens ssp semi-portugalensis. We received a photo-reporter from Rotterdam, who was busy making a commentary about “Lesvos as Bird-island” > he has stared his eyes out over here !! During this visit we have “let out” the Long-legged Buzzard for some hours in the buzzard-aviary. As well we discovered a disabled Little Owl, which had glued to the missing leg quite a huge “lump of dirt” > removed and taken-in for the time being. Not in the statistics. Southern earthquakeAn earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale shook the area of Tenaros in southern Greece’s Mani late on Saturday. There were no reports of injuries or damages. The earthquake struck at 11.53 p.m. and its epicenter was 225 kilometers southwest of Athens. Around 7 p.m. first two villagers with an ± 3 months old puppy, which one had fed wrongly > his belly was quite hard, couldn’t defecate anymore and was vomiting. Three cc olive-oil was given via the rectum and 2 Norit-tablets. We used the opportunity as well for binding-off two extra toes on the rear-legs. Hereafter came another puppy, where ticks had to be removed and an anti-flee/ticks-collar had to be given. This patient (just like her predecessor) not in the statistics. May 13th: the diarrhoea still hasn’t disappeared with the little Tom-Cat “Joris” !! The Shearwater has had a good bath yesterday and had lost lots of glued sand: 670 (-56) gram !! The Long-legged Buzzard had “enjoyed” the excursion in the buzzard-aviary and was 1704 (+19) gram. Still no big changes in the situation of both Collared Doves. The juvenile Sparrow is at top speed and more and more difficult to feed. Was transferred (with a full crop) at 9.05 a.m. to the Aviary for practicing. Bear is collared on Egnatia Highway Conservationists yesterday placed a tracking collar around the neck of a young brown bear – one of 10 that are to be monitored via satellite technology as road construction gets under way near their natural habitat in the mountains of central and northern Greece. The collar donned by the two-and-a-half-year-old bear contains a radio transmitter that emits a signal every two hours, allowing experts to track its movements. The collar has been made to last two years – until the bears reach adulthood – after which it falls off, said experts at the Arcturos Bear Sanctuary. The sanctuary chose to study the bears in the mountains of Grevena and Trikala as the junction of the Egnatia Highway and another road is being built there and it wants to monitor the impact of this development on the bears. Some 30 brown bears have been monitored over the past decade. Clean air drive targets dirty cars A new plan for curbing air pollution, announced yesterday by Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias, will penalize motorists driving cars producing high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) with heavier taxes and restricted access to town centers. The move came two weeks after the European Commission suspended Greece from the Kyoto Protocol’s CO2 emissions trading protocol. The pollution-curbing plan will be based on a new system of calculating road tax depending on the level of pollution motorists inflict on the environment, rather than engine capacity, as is currently the case. Cars will be categorized from Alpha to Delta (with Alpha indicating zero or low emissions and Delta high pollution levels) and road taxes will be paid accordingly when the system is implemented next year. The “class” of each car will also determine the frequency of its access to the city center, Souflias said, noting that Alpha cars will have full access while Delta will only be admitted at weekends. Taxis will be excluded from the scheme. Another element of the plan is the gradual withdrawal of older, more polluting, cars from the roads. Drivers will be given financial incentives to switch to more environmentally friendly cars, Souflias said. In Greece the average car on the road is 12 years old compared to an average age of seven years in the EU-15. The ministry’ will also impose restrictions on industrial plants that make a sizable contribution to the CO2 emissions responsible for global warming. Also households will be obliged to switch their boilers from heating oil to natural gas within three years of pipeline access. “When it comes to air pollution, there are no magic solutions,” Souflias said. “For the measures to succeed we need citizens to contribute too.” As well the Long-legged Buzzard has spent the whole day “out”. At 5.30 p.m. the tape around the wings of Collared Dove II was removed > is sitting nicely straight now !! May 14th: the Shearwater has diminished again a bit: 661 (-9) gram. The Long-legged Buzzard is doing well with her daily trips out: 1755 (+51) gram, and this with one feeding-round less !! The juvenile Sparrow was still present at 6.45 and alive; however if there has been eaten ?? The half leg of the Little Owl, re-intaken May 12th, is starting becoming cleaner and cleaner. At 11 a.m. two immense rat-holes (one could pass through with a whole regiment at the same moment !!) closed in the fox-cage in “The Keep”, which had been without an occupant for one year and a half. This had to be done on the belly, with the arms stretched, because otherwise the holes couldn’t be reached !! At the evening-feeding-round Collared Dove I escaped and tried to fly. Doing so, a scab of the injured wing came loose and we had a carnage again > so a new bandage was given. May 15th: no further carnage this morning. The Shearwater was 695 (+34) gram, but the Long-legged Buzzard was 1720 (-35) gram. Collared Dove II is sitting nicely straight. We still can see the juvenile Sparrow flying in the Aviary. At 7.26 suddenly the electricity disappeared again on the whole island > in the plant they couldn’t tell why, but only that there was a huge damage. And because nothing else could be done, the rat-holes in the Aviary were filled with concrete (after first thick glass was crammed in the holes), and three of the four remaining nest-boxes annex roosts were replaced by new ones. This was done at 10 o’clock. Collared Dove I had removed again the bandage > only hanging cast was given. At 11.25 a.m. electricity returned and at once we went to Kallonís for shopping; before this was impossible because all pay-desks are electronic now !! We have bought a.o. new hinges for the fox-cage in “The Keep”. Meanwhile we were informed by the “Village-loudspeaker-system” that tomorrow the whole day we’ll have a water-stop !! The door of the fox-cage was hanging on the new hinges at 1 p.m. At 4.10 the door of the fox-cage was stripped on both sides of years of foot-prints and other remnants, and so is ready to be painted tomorrow. At 6.12 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a sparrow with a broken wing (??) > maybe will be brought tonight and otherwise tomorrow by coach. At 7.20 p.m. we have discovered in “The Keep” in the Little Owl-aviary a nest with (at least) 4 brooded eggs !!!! May 16th: all watering-cans are filled, buckets are full and there is water present for flushing the toilet. As well water for mopping is “prepared” !! The Shearwater was 702 (+7) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1729 (+9+ gram. We’re able now to tell apart the three left over black little Tom-Cats and so they have received their names today: “Skoúro” (dark. Is 100% black), “Kwastje” (Dutch for little brush > has a white tail-point) and “Niëllo” (starts to have more and more silver-gray inlay in the black). The Collared Dove, which had come-in May 8th (with observation backbone- / brain damage; 08-058) was transferred today at 8.05 a.m. to the Aviary for revalidation. Doing so, the juvenile Sparrow was spotted in radiant health. And after we had taken the phone ourselves to inform about the condition of the yesterday-evening announced Sparrow, it showed to be that the poor creature had died already yesterday-evening > however, informing us about this is a way of thinking completely strange for Greeks . . . . !! Our own juvenile Sparrow was seen eating lettuce with enthusiasm !! The door of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” was (temporarily) replaced by a carpet and completely sandpapered. At 12 o’clock both doors were painted on both sides and were drying in the sun. The fox-cage was closed again at 1.30 p.m. At 3.35 p.m. the door of the pigeon-cage was hanging on its place again too. At 6.43 p.m. suddenly again there was a power-cut (and no one knew why; even not in the plant in Mytiléne !!), coming back only at 7.30 p.m. !! That opportunity we have used socializing a but further the little Tom-Cat “Joris” > he isn’t so afraid any more for other animals !! May 17th: the Shearwater was 705 (+3) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1704 (-25) gram. We again have penetrated the (much too) thick left foot of the latter to know if there is “Bumble-foot” (Pododermatitis) and again no puss could be detected. The wing-injury of Collared Dove I was cleaned and now it was visible that the whole bone-structure of the hand-part is completely a mess. Only taped with Sport-tape. The lag of the taken-back Little Owl is complete clean now; from tomorrow only a dry bandage. The rat-hole above the water-deposit in the Aviary in our court-yard was probably not (or not well enough) closed, because this morning it was open again. Now first some pieces of thick glass were placed inside and the whole filled (again) with concrete. We hope this will be sufficient. The huge hammer-drill was given a new cable, which was a left-over from a broken down vacuum cleaner in the House-next-door. Hereafter visitors from München (in Germany) who are taking home the blind Tom-Cat “Stevie”. And while we were saying “good-bye” 2 Dutch reporters came to make a commentary. At 12.15 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a little Sparrow one wanted to send by coach of 1.15 p.m. And it was in our hands at 1.58 p.m. > see further at HOUSE SPARROW. FIRE TALKSMinister, civil protection officials pledge better planning this yearInterior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos and senior officials from the Civil Protection Agency yesterday discussed ways to better coordinate the country's security services to avert and combat forest fires. Pavlopoulos stressed that the meeting was not “for show.” He said it was aimed at highlighting the “gaps” in the state mechanism and “to meet the demands of Greek society in order to protect citizens, the environment and our wealth of forestland.” He stressed the importance of closer cooperation between state services and local authorities. At 4 p.m. two people from Mytiléne were at our door, who had discovered in a field near Loutrópolis Thermís an injured Swift > see at COMMON SWIFT. At 4.30 p.m. arrived (accompanied by their wives) our specialists for reptiles, Jelle Hofstra, and for bird-sub-species, Ben Steinfort. They brought with them two books we can use very well for the determination of reptiles and birds. The this afternoon taken-in little Sparrow wasn’t alive anymore before 5.20 p.m. May 18th: all patients were still alive this morning. We had to open again the eye of the Common Swift and put some ointment herein. The Shearwater was 700 (-5) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1724 (+20) gram. The latter has more and more problems with the left foot !! The club-foot of the re-taken Little Owl was taped only with Sport-tape and hereafter brought back to the Little Owl-cage in “The Keep”. The Shearwater had his bath again. It showed to be that because the waterfall had been running yesterday the whole day, the used concrete hadn’t hardened and those “lousy rats” had used the opportunity by pushing a piece of glass out of the concrete, creating an opening again. Glass was placed again, more concrete was used and the waterfall wasn’t used the whole day. As a replacement a huge water-bowl was placed. Tomorrow we’ll have a look how things are. Several times phone-calls about a knocked-down dog in Kallonís, but no-one wanted to bring him and of course there was none of the (at least three) vets living over there reachable (or wanted to do something . . !!) May 19th: the Swift had eaten this morning with joy a huge cockroach, of which we had changed “by hand” the anatomy and physiology a bit. The eye is still thick. After the bath of yesterday the Shearwater was 672 (-28) gram. Walking is improving more and more. The Long-legged Buzzard was 1757 (+33) gram. In the Aviary in our court-yard the rat-hole hadn’t re-opened > so the pump is working again and the waterfall is running. Thanks to the donated booklet “List of Western Palearctic Bird Species 2008” we could make our own data more “up-to-date”. When in the future one can’t find directly a name (English and/or Latin) in the own bird-guide, probably those names were altered during the International Ornithological Congress in 2006. Today meat-cutting-day again and both ladies have processed 12,600 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (80,77 Euro). Total now this year 268,320 kilo for 1707,84 Euro. A huge First-Aid-kit was ready for use on top of the table in case of . . . . . !! (see for this as well May 12th). Meanwhile we continued with the painting of wooden- & iron parts of some cages. At 12.45 p.m. the last nest-box annex roost in the Aviary in our court-yard could be replaced. After the siesta 2 Dutch visitors. May 20th: early this morning it showed to be that we had forgotten bringing back last night the little Tom-Cat “Joris” to his cage in the Sick-Bay: so he had spent the whole night (without any problems by the way) in house and was complaining miaowing for food !! The Shearwater was 675 (+3) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1740 (-27) gram. Because the door of the Crow-aviary was quite dislocated by the sun, we bought a catch and made this fitting. As well a “rat-entrance” at the lower part was closed. Hereafter the door was painted for the 2nd time. In the Aviary in our court-yard two other rot-holes filled with glass and concrete. We received a phone-call that we should be at 8.30 a.m. with the blind Tom-Cat “Stevie” at the Shell-Petrol Station. At 12.30 p.m. a phone-call from Dáfia that someone had over there a swallow with a broken wing > agreed to pick it up at 4 p.m. at the Shell-Station. Today arrived from Holland our new picture postcards (± 2000 !!); very artistic “composed together” by our Dutch friend Hans Augusteijn, who came and brought them himself. The swallow we had in our hands even before 4 p.m. (3.52 p.m.); for the first time it wasn’t us waiting !! See further at COMMON HOUSE MARTIN. More and more we’re having the idea that most of “Joris’ “ injuries are inborn ! As well the left front-leg as the left rear-leg the nail of the “forefinger” are completely deformed and such can’t be the result of a trauma. As well the tail and the missing foot could be an inborn defect. The absence of muscles and tendons in the rear-leg could be an indication for this. The ear however was traumatized ! His droppings are almost 100% normal now. At 7.59 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a white pigeon, one had already since ± May 16th with a broken wing and as well some other injuries . . . . !! If all is going according to plan, will be sent by coach today, but if we will be capable doing something after so many days . . . . ?? May 21st: all patients were still alive this morning !! The Shearwater was 668 (-7) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1788 (+48) gram. At 8.25 a.m. the blind Tom-Cat “Stevie” (07-204; October 20th ’07, from Eftaloú) was carried over to his new owner on his way to a new life in Munich (Free-state of Bavaria). Because of the fact that yesterday it was 30 degrees Centigrade in the shade (air-temperature !) we have cleaned the air-conditioning in as well “The Keep” as in the Sick-Bay. Not being “quite familiar” with the intestines of such pieces of apparatus, almost took 2 finger-tops . . . . (it will be a very long time before those nails must be clipped again !!). We could continue with the painting of doors. The announced Pigeon we had in our hands at 11,54 a.m. > on the first look it was spotted white, but that only was . . . . FEATHER-LICE !! See further at PIGEON. Support for elite force of firefighters The leader of Parliament’s environmental committee yesterday backed a call by conservation group WWF Hellas for the creation of a special force to fight forest fires as a blaze broke out in forestland at the foot of Mount Hymettus, east of Athens. “It is time to move from words to action,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a joint press conference with WWF. The head of WWF Hellas, Dimitris Karavellas, highlighted a “series of problems which, if not dealt with, will lead to the same problems as last year” when more than 80 people died in wildfires across the country. “We must face the fact that our fire protection system is not efficient,” Karavellas said. Yesterday’s blaze, the first major forest fire in Attica since last summer, was extinguished with the help of four firefighting aircraft and 10 fire engines. There were no reports of major damage or injuries. Forestry experts yesterday stressed that reaction times will have to be just as fast if future blazes are to be brought under control. “We have to realize that this threat is not going to go away, so the concept of zero fires is unrealistic, but we must work on drastically reducing the areas that get burnt,” according to forestry expert Aristotle Papageorgiou. For this to happen, he said, specially trained staff must be deployed in a new firefighting force, coordination with other authorities must be improved and forestland must be the subject of regular inventories. An initiative by prefectural authorities in eastern Attica is expected to help achieve the latter goal. Authorities said yesterday that they were investing 100.000 euros in a “geographic information system” (GIS) which uses satellite technology to monitor forestland, give warning of fires and prevent illegal construction. Yesterday state inspectors were investigating the presence of what appeared to be illegally built structures at the foot of Mount Parnitha, north of Athens, which was badly burnt in last year’s fires. Flight problemsBirds ground plane from ThessalonikiThe 226 passengers who had been due to board a flight to Britain from Thessaloniki airport on Monday evening had to stay the night in the northern city as security officials feared that birds had been sucked into the engine during the plane’s arrival in Thessaloniki. Security officials sounded the alert after finding several dead birds on the airport runway. At 2.35 p.m. the Common House Martin was discovered in the water bowl . . . . !! So bowl was removed. At 3.30 p.m., while we were taking out our doggies for a pee, a “huge car” entered our street, with in it a mother and son from Kallonís. They had discovered in Mytiléne, in the midst of the roads, a literally dumped old she-doggie: nails from the front-legs centimeters long, the whole body covered with ticks, pussy eyes, bone-thin and teeth a (veterinarian) dentist could make a holiday to Tenerife out of them. The skin was already covered with knobs (. . . . !?!?). Because we couldn’t take her in (although we should have wanted to give her a good life here for the time still being), started with clipping nails, removing ticks, cleaning eyes and removing lots of glued hairy “stuff” around some teeth. Here remained some deep “pockets” !! Agreed that the son (who had been here already several times with his school) should remove the rest of the ticks, and that both of them should pep-up the little one till she should be able to have a complete anesthetic for the removal of a complete “Atlantic-wall” of tartar, and that we should do that. So “for the time being” not yet in the statistics. At 4.40 p.m. the House Martin was found laying on the back . . . . May 22nd: and wonder of wonders all patients were still alive !! The Shearwater was 680 (+12) and the Long-legged Buzzard was 1778 (-10) gram. The whole morning busy with the door of “The Keep”: upper-part of the door was painted for the 2nd time and the under-part was freed from old layers of paint and varnish. We received a phone-call from Thessaloniki about a Pigeon which was sitting “thick” and was quite languid: as good as possible advices were given. Release: because the eye was good open (and remained so), the Common Swift (08-061; May 18th ’08) was released (after a good, last feeding) at 12.30 p.m. First the flying was a bit hesitatingly, but soon there came company of two of the same kind and they disappeared all together. Some day ago we picked-up from the rubbish-bin some Papyrus-plants, which we had put here in water to see if they still were able “doing something”, and today we discovered some nice, light-green sprouts > so we have some addition for the aviaries !! During the feeding after the siesta the House Martin started swallowing more and more difficult and we discovered him/her dead at 7.15 p.m.; quite amazing it took so long due to what was wrong already yesterday !! But as long as there is life, there is hope . . . . !! At 9.18 p.m. with lots of noises a pick-up-truck entered our street, stopped before the door and with shouting and “banging-at-the-door” our attention was asked: was our Secretary Maria Karapolíti with her friend Bábis, with their poisoned dog “Cazzy” in their arms. Was poisoned. See further at HE-DOG. May 23rd: no further victims this morning. The Shearwater was 694 (+14) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1776 (-2) gram. The first one should get used to other food, because small squids and other small fishes aren’t available any more, because the Gulf of Kallonís seems to be seriously polluted and hardly anything is caught nowadays. Meanwhile we already have contacted people in Mytiléne, but till now on without any results . . . !! We were informed by phone that the he-dog “Cazzy” (in any case for the time being) is doing well. Thanks to the attention of Ineke, who heard a fish-monger shouting “he had “kalamáris” (small squids), we could buy for 20 Euro. Now we have a stock for 33 days !! The under-door of “The Keep” had its first painting on the outside. And while that door was drying in the sun, we started removing paint from the outside of our entrance-door. At 12.55 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a pigeon, unable to fly > will be picked-up tomorrow (during the shopping). We received the message from Munich that “Stevie” is doing quite well there and has stolen meanwhile the heart (and the bed) from the aged mother of the woman who has adopted him !! At 7.50 p.m. another phone-call from Mytiléne about a bird(ie ?) which maybe could be bitten by a cat. In spite of all our questions we couldn’t find out what kind of bird it could be. By our “auxiliary forces” over there the bird is picked-up and will be handed over tomorrow as well. Land register set for initial entries in June Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias (r) waves to cameramen as he leaves the head office of the land registry in Athens after announcing that the process of listing millions of unregistered properties around Greece is due to begin next month. Greece and Albania are the only European countries without land registers. The process that should lead to some 3 million Greeks declaring their properties so they can be entered on the country’s first comprehensive land register is due to begin in less than a month’s time, it was announced yesterday. Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias said that people who own property in 107 areas, including dozens of municipalities of Attica, should begin submitting paperwork from June 17 so they can be entered on the registry. The deadline for people living in Greece to hand in the necessary documents will be September 30, while those living abroad who own properties in these areas have until December 30 to act. “This is a really ambitious program with which we plan to record 6.7 million title deeds in less than four years and introduce some 310,00 hectares of land onto the registry,” said Souflias. It is thought that two in three adults living in Greece will have to go through the process of registering their property so a help line will be set up to assist those with queries. Property owners will be able to visit one of 76 land registry offices to submit their paperwork or can fill in the forms online at the registry’s website. It will cost applicants 35 euros to register each property and another 20 euros for any other facilities, such as separate storage rooms or parking bays. Souflias pleaded with property owners, who will need a photocopy of their title deeds, to be prompt with their applications. “Regardless of how well we have prepared, if everyone waits until the last minute, there will be a lot of problems,” he said. Those not submitting their paperwork in time could face fines of up to 1,500 euros. Despite several attempts and millions spent in the past, efforts to create a proper land registry in Greece have foundered. May 24th: The Shearwater was 710 (+16) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1780 (+4) gram. At 8.05 a.m. was rescued from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” a juvenile Pigeon, which was disowned and pecked by the own mother. Was removed already early this morning out of the water-bowl. See further at PIGEON. At 8.55 a.m. we received a phone-call from Mytiléne, that the unknown birdie had died last night. Hereafter 2 visitors from High Wycombe (GB). Further we received a phone-call from our ambulance that the announced pigeon was a Collared Dove, that he/she was quite lethargic and was in our possession at 8.35 a.m. The under-door of “The Keep” was painted on the outside meanwhile for the 2nd time. The under-door from our house was cleaned completely and painted on the outside for the 1st time. The Collared Dove was at the L.W.H. at 11.15 a.m.; see further over there. Was discovered not alive anymore at 5.10 p.m. > no P.M. was done. At 7.20 p.m. our “Picture postcard-makers” passed by with one of their Setters, which maybe could have a strange object in one ear > nothing could be detected. Ear-drops were given to them and further not in the statistics. At 9.05 could be rescued from under the front-paw of our cat “Foúrno” a WORM SNAKE (Typhlops vermicularis). That this is a real snake and no worm is proved by the good visible eyes.
Later released on a “cat-safe” place. May 25th: no victims this morning. The Shearwater was 707 (-3) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1756 (-24) gram. The under part of the door on our side (street-side) has had its 2nd painting, while the under part of the door of “The Keep” had on the inside the 1st: the wood showed here and there some damage by wood-worms. The top-part of our door at the street side is partly “de-painted”. Today for the first time this year the air-conditioning in as well “The Keep” as in the Sick-Bay was switched on. After 1 p.m. a whole English family with a cardboard box, in which 4 thrown-away puppies, which they wanted to “drop” over here > transferred to the “Animal-lovers Society of Lesvos”, which is lodged in summertime in Mólivos. At 5.30 p.m. we have removed the hanging cast from the wing of the bitten by a dog Collared Dove (May 7th) and as well from the wing of the Pigeon with the neglected wing-fracture (May 21st). May 26th: the Shearwater had vomited yesterday many times and was now 670 (-32) gram; the Long-legged Buzzard was 1748 (-8) gram. We stopped the further registration of the one-winged Long-eared Owl (08-028; March 18th ’08); still needs to be fed, but that can take months before this is done by himself. The past days we were quite occupied with the most strange misunderstandings (and the results of those): first there was a woman on our island who, after the discovery of a baby-tortoise in her garden, had been searching in vain for . . . . the mother !! That a female tortoise is laying her eggs and hereafter it’s “do it yourselves” was completely foreign to the nature of this good willing islander. Hereafter there was a woman in Thessaloniki (to be exact not a wretched hole of a place), who looked for help for a cat with problems. She already had visited for advices . . . . the parish-priest (so just a panacea: good for everything but no cure !!), in stead of visiting a good vet !! He came with the view that “animals have no soul, no spirit” !! In her innocence she had as the main argument for giving help to the cat that “the cat had no family at all” . . . . !! That cats in the wild absolutely don’t live in a family-connection (at best a mother with her kittens) was as well completely inconceivable for Greek ideas !! However, the worst still had to come: we received a “sob-mail” from a Dutch female tourist (a fortnight or so on the island; probably more used to nightly disco-sounds and traffic-noises than to the country-side) who wanted making public the misconditions on this island !! So hold tight . . . . : “a) Dogs which are howling during the night (against the moon probably, or to colleagues further in the village) > of course they were pitiful . . . . !! That was her opinion and consequently it was so !! b) A donkey, which was “singing” the whole night, and he was quite alone . . . . and this “singing” stopped after some days . . . . !! (we should have been glad he has shut up at last, after such a long time proclaiming his sexual needs) . . . . so was pitiful or not alive anymore !! That was her opinion and consequently it was so !! c) A tortoise, which was met during a trip > was walking alone and nowhere a house could be discovered . . . !! Was “of course” fallen from the rocks . . . . !! That was her opinion and consequently it was so !! That thousands of those animals are walking free in their nature (and so already for millions of years !!) . . . . NO, that wasn’t fitting in the mind of this urban-citizen ! d) Goats with their legs fettered (preventing them from climbing into trees and so not creating another “maquis” over here) should be freed of those . . . . !! Unfortunately there is no other option, but the reason of those fetters was unknown to the scribente . . . . !! e) Further ALL dogs and cats had a “pitiful look” in their eyes and so fundamentally there was something wrong on the island here . . . . !! That was her opinion and consequently it was so !! Here lots of action had to be taken . . . . !!” Maybe one can understand we’re a bit “fed-up” with all those misunderstandings and we wonder who is “pitiful” after all ?? Today again meat-cutting-day and the 2 ladies have processed 12,645 kilo (for 89,63 Euro). Total now this year 280,695 kilo for 1797,47 Euro. The under part on the street-side of our house received the 1st painting on the inner side, while the under part of the door of “The Keep” received its 2nd layer. And we started wetting the shadow-places in the tortoise-pen, because: Changing weatherAfter hailstorm, heat wave expected A hailstorm lasting about half an hour destroyed a number of crops on Saturday in the western part of Kavála prefecture in northeastern Greece. The freak hailstorm came as Greece prepares for a sharp rise in temperatures this week. Weather forecasters are predicting that the temperature could reach 36 Celsius by Wednesday. In the siesta there was announced that tomorrow we’ll have (again !!) a water-stop from 8 a.m. until ?? We have removed a dead piece of bone from the fractured wing of the Pigeon and the injury sprayed with Hansaplast-Bandage-Spray. So most probably will be transferred tomorrow to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. May 27th: the Shearwater was 682 (+12) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1724 (-24) gram. The (small) injury on the wing of the Pigeon has closed well. At 6.30 a.m. all water-bowls in the aviaries were filled, the plants had been watered and the shadow-places in the tortoise-pen had been wetted. The Pigeon was transferred at 6.57 a.m. to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. The bitten by a dog Collared Dove was transferred at 8.25 a.m. as a disabled one to the Aviary in our court-yard. The top-part of our door on the street-side received on both sides the 1st painting, while the under-part of the same door on the inner-side received the 2nd. The door-frame in “The Keep” was painted in a darker grey color than the door itself; not too dark of course, otherwise it should look too much like a “funeral-card”. The name was removed from above the door (where hardly anyone saw it) to the top-part of the under-door. Drive to clear illegal landfills Deputy Interior Minister Thanassis Nakos yesterday encouraged local authorities in northern Greece to help clear the countryside of hundreds of illegal landfills by year-end and avoid millions of euros in fines from Brussels. Nakos has intensified efforts to clear up the landfills as they are often the site of fires, and rising temperatures will only increase the risk of blazes breaking out in them. It is thought that some of the fires that ravaged Greece last summer – including one on Skiathos and another in Corinth – had started at landfills. Nakos told local authorities yesterday that his committee aimed to reduce the number of illegal landfills by 70%. Estimates about the number of makeshift dumps polluting the Greek countryside range from 800 to 3.000. “The European Court of Justice has given us a deadline to eradicate all landfills by the end of December,” Nakos said. “Our efforts are aimed at ensuring there will be no more than 500 uncontrolled landfills by the end of the year,” he added. (Note of the L.W.H.: Brussels is telling ALL must be removed, and so this means in Greece one is glad when “only” 500 are remaining !!) As Nakos was seeking to drum up support in the provinces, his superior, Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos, was discussing fire prevention tactics with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis in Athens. Apart from boosting firefighting personnel and improving cooperation with neighboring countries, clearing up landfills is a top priority. Dumpsites are often the site of fires, set by careless locals, reckless arsonists or triggered by methane explosions. Worryingly, one of the greatest concentrations of makeshift landfills is in the Peloponnesian prefecture of Ileia, which bore the brunt of last year’s catastrophic fires. But the region of Macedonia, which Nakos visited yesterday, also has dozens of illegal dumps. According to the regional governor of Central Macedonia, Giorgos Tsiotras, there are around 82 makeshift landfills “active” at the moment, down from 542 in 2004. Cleaning up illegal landfills is not the only challenge for authorities. According to EU directives, they also have to create modern waste-processing plants next to all official landfills so that the volume of trash that ends up being dumped is reduced. At 5.33 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a juvenile birdie, probably a Sparrow, one will try to send by coach tomorrow. May 28th: the Shearwater was 704 (+22) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1748 (+24) gram. The ex-Tom-Cat “BroBa” (= BrokenBack; 07-133; July 12th ’07), which is living in the House-next-door, was already some days not like he was before. This morning was discovered he had problems on the toilet > an intimate Vet in Mytiléne was contacted because we thought to feel a huge bladder-stone. During examinations over there it showed to be his intestines were overfilled with droppings he couldn’t get rid off. They’ll inform us what will happen. And just back from this trip, a phone-call from Loutrópolis Thermís that in the school-yard a juvenile Little Owl was discovered > so on the road again. See further at LITTLE OWL. Warming risk for north The impact of climate change on Greece will be most severe in the country’s north, where temperatures are expected to rise by an average of 3 degrees Celsius over the next 25 years, while southern parts will be the worst hit by desertification, an eminent Greek scientist has told Kathimerini. Global warming will curb rainfall and fuel forest fires in Greece, according to Christos Zerefos, the president of the National Observatory in Athens and one of two Greek scientists awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with dozens of foreign colleagues, for their efforts to combat climate change. “From 2031 until 2060, Greece will see its rainfall dwindle by 25%, its sea level rise up to 20 centimeters and the period of risk for forest fires increase by up to three weeks,” Zerefos told Kathimerini. People will need 25% less energy for heating but 100% more energy for cooling, he said. Temperature rises will be larger in the northern mainland due to its distance from the sea and relative lack of wind – both cooling factors. Temperatures are forecast to rise by 3 degrees Celsius over the next 25 years, double the projected rise of 1.5 degree Celsius in southern Greece. However the country’s southeast, and many of the islands, will be hard hit by desertification, Zerefos said. The period between 2070 and 2100 will see intense desertification, according to research to be made public today at a seminar in Thessaloniki. A group of scientists, including Zerefos and experts from NASA, tried to assess the impact of climate change in the region by studying meteorological changes between 1961 and 1990. “All scenarios foresee a drop in rainfall,” Zerefos said. In a related development, the Society for the Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage unveiled a detailed proposal for the creation of a separate environment ministry. Environment and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias has vowed to create a separate ministry within 18 months. Zerefos said this would be “useful but not a panacea.” Qualified experts and good cooperation with other ministries are more important, he said. At 1.20 p.m. two youngsters from our village with their he-doggie which could have been knocked-down. Doggie really was dripping-wet, because for “mothers” this had been the best first aid . . . . !! A single drop of blood was visible from the penis. No fractures could be detected. The children were told where to take care of in case there was an internal bleeding. Further not (yet) in the statistics. The Vets in Mytiléne called and could tell us the intestines were overfilled and now they are going to find out what can be done (if !!). We could pick-up at the post-office a huge card-board box with all kind of things for dogs & cats; what’s not (or less) useful for us, will be transferred to the Shelter in Skála Eressoú !! And after this really speaking hectic morning, we were disturbed in our siesta by . . . . the people from the sparrow (phone-call yesterday afternoon) > they were wondering what should happen with the birdie. Pertinently was refused to send the bird by coach and hereafter there was hung up. Suddenly 2 Dutch visitors were standing in our house, so we could forget any further nap. And while we were busy trying to get everything to be done in good order, suddenly 2 people from the Electricity-Company ΔΕH were in the court-yard with one of the parents White Stork from our village: they had discovered the bird with a wing-fracture > see further at WHITE STORK. We started at once informing the Municipality about what had happened and that we should be able to take care of the young birds, because the remnant unattached parent can’t do this on his/her own. Hereafter Tjarda came with a discovered “lost” little kitten > so see further at KITTEN. At 7.20 p.m. we heard a soft squeaking in “The Keep”, not coming from the pigeon-cage !! And so we discovered in the Little Owl-aviary two just hatched “fluffy balls” !! And at 8.10 p.m. another phone-call from Kallonís from a little boy who had discovered a small birdie in his court-yard > we’ll take action tomorrow. May 29th: all was alive this morning !! The juvenile Little Owl was 163 (+1), the Shearwater 698 (-6) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1736 (-12) gram. At 6.40 a.m. we discovered three little white owlets in the Little Owl-aviary and still two warm eggs. On the birdie in Kallonís the parents (or a cat ??) had taken pity, and we received the message that the sparrow from Mytiléne will be send by coach of 11 o’clock. With lots of problems we succeeded playing “Big Brooder”:( N 2). At 11.26 a.m. a phone-call from Mesótopos (and to be exact from Tavári) about a bird with the color and the seize of a Partridge, only with a longer bill (?? Corncrake ??) > will be brought this afternoon after 4 p.m. at the Shell-Station. And while we (in vain) were waiting for the sparrow from Mytiléne, one phoned at 11.35 a.m. from Mytiléne that “somewhere” in a yard a “crow-like” bird was sitting, which was screaming loudly > first the phone-number of our “auxiliary people” was given. And at 12.10 p.m. the “sparrow” was delivered here: showed to be quite s small baby-swift > see at COMMON SWIFT. We received news about “Broba” that the given medicines hadn’t worked at all and that they are going to try to remove the droppings now by hand. At 4.35 p.m. we had the bird from Tavári in our possession, and we had been mistaken with our guess: a LITTLE BITTERN > see over there. At 5.15 p.m. a phone-call from our “Recce –unit” in Mytiléne, that they had spotted the bird, only it was in a closed yard where people couldn’t enter without problems. They will try to get the key. At 7.15 p.m. we had for a very short while four little white fluffy moving balls in the Little Owl-aviary in our hands, while there still was one warm egg !! May 30th: all was still alive this morning, even the baby Swift. That one wasn’t measured yesterday at intake because really we didn’t believe he should make it; soo small and soo cold !! Was now 23 gram. The Little Bittern had remained the same (91 gram), the juvenile Little Owl 167 (+4), the Shearwater 693 (-5) and the Long-legged Buzzard 1740 (+4) gram. We received 4 visitors this morning: 2 from Belgium and 2 from Holland. During this visit we discovered in the nest-box of the Little Owls except the owlets as well a dead, half eaten mouse > so the father had been hunting quite well for his wife and children !! Hereafter the “air-conditioning-man” came for cleaning and repair of that apparatus in “The Keep” > had been busy for more than 2 hours for 35 Euro (but unfortunately it still was leaking afterwards > so will come back tomorrow !). At 5 p.m. (so a “shit-time”) two Greek visitors: one from our village and the other from Thessaloniki. At 7.45 p.m. we heard from Mytiléne that the Tom-cat “BroBa” with lots of troubles had lost some droppings, but with the help of infusions they’ll try “emptying” him a bit more. The intestinal problems are most likely the train of the knocking-down last year !! May 31st: the little Swift was 27 (+4), the Little Bittern 93 (+2), the juvenile Little Owl 170 (+3), the Long-legged Buzzard 11728 (-12) and the Shearwater 681 (-12) gram. The juvenile Pigeon (08-065; May 24th ’08) was transferred-back to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”: the first what was done over there was taking a bath !! We did a test-incision in the left foot of the Long-legged Buzzard: nothing like pus could be detected. However, the whole foot is “infected” by a connective tissue disease !! In the nest-box of the Little Owls the last egg still hasn’t hatched, but we were able to take a picture of the four babies. The wing-injury of the White Stork could be stitched today (wasn’t smelling soo badly !!), creamed with Dermisol-cream and again splinted. This all after we had ourselves protected well against a pecking bill !! At 12.12 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos about an owl, which should be injured in a wing > so we went for a ride and picked it up. See further at DARK BARN OWL. Water-rationing idea floated Less than half of Greece’s underground water reserves are safe to drink, local authority officials heard yesterday during a conference in Kalamata, at which a number of ideas to limit waste, including water rationing, were discussed. The Institute for Local Administration produced a study that suggests 47% of water in underground reserves is of “excellent or good quality.” Another 27% is of “variable” quality. The remaining 26% is not safe to drink. Speaking at the conference, the head of the Union of Prefectural Authorities of Greece (ENAE) highlighted that at current rates of water use, a number of areas of the country, including Attica, would soon be running dry. Among the proposals put forward for the better management of water resources was the idea to set a basic limit for water consumption for each household and to then impose financial penalties on any family using more than their fair share. It was suggested that the limit could be set according to the water resources in the area. So, families that live in parts of the country where there are decent reserves would be allowed to use something like the current average, which is 200 liters per day. (note L.W.H.: that level we don’t reach at all !!) Households in areas where there is a greater shortage of water would be set a lower limit, it was suggested at the conference. This system of rationing would need each local authority to have a precise figure of its water resources, which is not the case at the moment. A number of officials who spoke at the conference admitted that they did not have this kind of information at their disposal. The debate in Greece comes as Cypriot families face further cuts in their water supply due to the drought on the island. Nicosia Water Board director Nikos Zampakidis said that plans to start shipping water to Cyprus from Greece in late June would not be enough to solve the island’s problem. Cyprus began imposing restrictions in March after seeing its reservoir levels dwindle drastically. The “Air-conditionings-man” . . . . of course didn’t arrive and we had so much leakage we could start breeding terrapins !! At 7.05 p.m. was discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” one of the male pigeons (with a typical forelock on the head) laying dead on the bottom. Of course this had nothing to do with what was written before about the leakage !! Total amount of visitors this month: 037 (total this year: 230) 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 320 (total this year 1336 kilometers) Total amount of intakes this month: 21 [wild ones: 16; others 05], (total this year 078: wild ones 053, others 025; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3889) of which: KITTEN (Felis catus): 3; the first was an ± 4 months old ginger and white long-haired Tom-Cat; discovered in the village of Petrí. Received firstly the same name, but this was later changed into “Joris”. Is missing the top of the tail, part of the right ear and the complete foot of the right rear-leg. Is walking on the limb of this leg, so this should be corrected. At the same moment the ear can be “remodeled”. But first he must gain some strength. The 3rd the leg was inspected again and the use of it. He isn’t walking on this leg and so we started treating the (old) injury with Dermisol-cream. Maybe an amputation higher-up won’t be necessary. By the way, it’s an immense sweetheart. The 2nd was an about 3 weeks old greywhite little Tom-Cat, one had “dumped” in our court-yard. So . . . . ?!?! The 3rd was discovered, loudly crying, by Tjarda: a tortoise-shell of about 3 weeks old with the eyes glued together with puss. Eyes were cleaned and treated with Cavasan-cream. The care for this little one was boarded out to the discoverer, because another one we can’t take anymore !! At 8 p.m. we heard that a mother-cat was looking for her child and was sitting in Tjarda’s court-yard. So mother and child are re-united again and this case was closed. COMMON HOUSE MARTIN (Delichon urbicum): 2 adults; the first from Eressoú. Wing-injury left side: at the pulse-joint the wing had a torsion of 360 degrees, died-off due to lack of blood-circulation and was glued to the rump. So prognosis infaust and put down. The 2nd came from Dáfia; was discovered the 19th. Probably chased by a cat: is missing several big feathers from the left wing. So to see no fractures. (see May 21st & 22nd). PUPPY (Canis familiaris) 1 about 4 months old little he-dog; was quite covered with ticks. Half an ouzo-glass full was removed and showed how to do this themselves. Tweezers were given to the bearers. The pup received at the spot “drops” against flees and ticks. Hereafter he was taken back again, because we couldn’t take him in. HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 2 juveniles; the first came from/via Mytiléne. Was announced as “injured” but we haven’t discovered any injury !! So trying to rear this one. |
