November 2006

LOG-BOOK:

News about the Bird-flu is printed in red !

November 1st:  in any case it was dry early this morning. The bad weather of the past days was the reason that no post was delivered > neither ferries, nor planes. The Short-eared Owl had gained and was 505 gram. The wing-injury of Sparrowhawk II is clean. There is coming some movement in the toes of the broken leg.

Meanwhile we are in a far advanced negotiation with a Dutch couple, what in future will come to here to “take over” our business. A study for “veterinarian nurse” is started meanwhile, while the Greek language is next to come.

November 2^nd:  the Short-eared Owl was 497 gram, but the baby-tortoise had gained again 1 gram and was 16 gram now. Sparrowhawk II is trying to stand straight. We could continue with the jointing of the cage of the Scop’s Owls. Around half past twelve the blind cat “Mispoes” (03-018; February ’03) saw her chance and escaped from the court-yard of the House-next-door and only after hours we had found her back. That we got a fit of nerves should be clear. At a quarter past six our former neighbor (from the House-next-door) entered our court-yard with a Pigeon with a severe swelling on the throat > see further by PIGEON.

November 3^rd: all patients were still alive this morning. The Short-eared Owl was 504 gram. We could remove the hanging cast from the wing of the Peregrine > now let’s have a look how she will go using the wing. It looks like if Sparrowhawk II is eating on her own !! The juvenile Golden Oriole had eaten well from the given figs. Problem: how can we manage to have enough figs for the coming months ??

November 4^th: the Short-eared Owl was 497 gram. We could remove the splint from the leg of the Pigeon from Thessalonica. From the throat of the Pigeon of November 2^nd again a lot of “cheese” could be removed. At 8.30 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne (our board-member Micháil Kapiotás) that at thát moment 2 coaches should leave from there and that one would pass-by for an excursion . . . . if that was possible ?? And such a visit couldn’t be applied for before  . . . . !! Thanks to a yesterday bought good battery-charger the Surgery-lamp can be used, even by a power-cut. And from those 2 coaches at last 10 people from all over Greece came to visit us. In between all those we could finish the jointing of the cage of the Scop’s Owls and in our neighbor’s garden we could pluck lots of big, blue figs !! We can’t leave our White Stork alone in the court-yard anymore, because at the end of the morning we had to pluck him from the top of the Central Heating-kettle > had flown upon it !!

From the Internet:

Cold snap

The first half of November is developing into the coldest in many years, weather experts said yesterday, while predicting a fall in temperatures and snow in some parts of the country. Tomorrow (= November 5^th) is expected to bring frost to many areas, while snow is forecast for mountainous areas of Crete and the Cyclades. Yesterday snow fell in the border town of Orestiada and in Florina, where drivers were obliged to use anti-skid chains on their vehicles.

In the evening-hours we contacted Mário (from our colleague-hospital on Páros)  about our Stork. Referred us to Philíppos (from Aegina). According to him the bird can be released without problems, because on this moment there are still storks present in Bulgaria (more north than we are). So will be done in the coming days. We’ll have to lodge the Hobby and the Kestrel temporarily in the cage in the House-next-door > their aviary we need for the Peregrine for flying-practices.

November 5^th:  the Short-eared Owl was again 504 gram and the baby Marginated Tortoise had gained again and was 17 gram. In the cage of the Scop’s Owls a thick, fat rat was discovered (had been locked-in ??) > first penetrated with a .22-bullet and afterwards (started to be aggressive !) crushed under the shoe. As well Foúrno had caught one before our house. So the score for today is L.W.H. +2  -  W.R.P. –2. Our oldest computer (from November 1999) didn’t want to start this morning > so temporarily switched to the other one to store all the data. Straight at 7.30 a.m. started with collecting all the tortoises > a part was stuck (by frost) in the sand that was still wet yesterday and even one was stuck in the ice in the water basin > an ice-layer of about 1 cm (at a level of 2,5 meter above the street). Luckily all have survived. So those animals were as well surprised by the cold wave. All together 21 tortoises could be caught and “stored” for their hibernation: 18 Spurr-tighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca ibera), 2 Marginated Tortoises (Testudo marginata) and 1 Greek Tortoise (Testudo hermanni). In the “deserted house” we luckily discovered some left-over hay for “furnituring” their sleeping-boxes. The taken-back Little Owl could be transferred back to the Little Owl-aviary in “The Keep”.

The Pigeon from Thessalonica (06-220; October 22^nd ’06) was transferred to the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” for practicing. Sparrowhawk II is completely eating on her own now. A visit from a Dutch couple from Pétra to discuss volunteering this winter. Meanwhile as well started with the jointing of the cage of the Barn Owls.

November 6^th:  the car is complete white from the white frost > let’s have a look if we cat start him, because he isn’t yet made “ready for the winter”. The Peregrine was 503 gram. We could remove the splints from the leg and the wing from Sparrowhawk II > let’s have a look how the use will be. But just after the removal she was sitting on a wooden roost. The computer was brought-away and for 5 Euro everything was cleaned and a “back-up” was made. What had been the problem we’ll probably never know. And after all this we still were able to joint some pieces of the wall in the cage of the barn Owls and thereafter we tried to update the repaired computer.

“Re-homing”:

At 12 o’clock the Chicken, we discovered in the streets September 22^nd ’06 (06-194) to her new owners: our “meat-cutting-crew-for-the-winter-months” Douglas & Janice from Parákoila.

November 7^th:  we could remove again a lot of “cheese” from the throat of the Pigeon with the old abscesses over there. Meanwhile we are asking us questions if this all makes sense. From the 2^nd-hand car that our volunteer from 2005, Ineke Baarsma, had left is the battery removed; the head-lights will follow. This all will be used in the Surgery. The number-plates are removed as well, so the car can be demolished. After some jointing in the cage of the Barn Owls (about 1,8 x 1,8 meter are done now) we removed the head-lights. At about 6.15 p.m. 3 village-children with a, by them with loving care adopted, stray bitch > they wanted to know if she was pregnant. We could congratulated them and at the same occasion we “overfilled” them with all kinds of good advices. Not in the statistics.

November 8^th:  Liberation of Mytiléne from the Turkish Occupation (1912) > ALL shops are closed again. At 6.30 a.m. we discovered dead in the Pigeon-cage in “The Keep” the Pigeon which came in September 9^th with a broken wing (06-184). Had been transferred to the Pigeon-cage September 16^th. We were able to remove again some “cheese” by the already mentioned Pigeon. Because however the stuff is fastened in the tissue, we’re starting to think positive about Trichomonadiosis > so 1 Spartrix was given.

“Back to the care-takers”:

the taken-in October 22^nd young Tom-cat (06-219) with the problems on the left rear-leg went back today to his care-takers in Eftaloú, without anything was done to him. The situation had developed só well, that a surgery wasn’t necessary.

Meanwhile we have started with the installation of the 2 head-lights as extra surgery-lamps (for emergency-cases). And that was ready at 6.15 p.m. > in the coming days the old battery should be “brought to life again” and the lamps must be directed exactly.

November 9^th:  after refueling the old battery with bought distilled water we’re trying to charge it. And that showed to be in vain, because there was no “resurrection” !! In the morning and afternoon we were visited by Sir Les Stocker MBE (thé founder of the Wildlife Hospitals) and his wife Sue from Haddenham, Bucks, England. And those just had left when a villager was in front of the Hospital with a severe injured Blue Peacock > see further by that name.

November 10^th:  our White Stork (06-174; August 22^nd ’06) was clear visible marked in purple colors with the letters LWH on the right wing. And that color will remain till the next mould. After we bought a new battery, the emergency-lights in the surgery are working well.

Release:

after driving with the White Stork free on our lap to the Salines, the bird got his/her freedom again at 10.24 a.m.

From 2.15 p.m. till 3.15 p.m. a meeting with the State-Vet Panagióta (from Pétra) and the Dutch Vet-Nurse Karen (from Mólivos) about the sterilizations-program in next January. It showed to be that there are many pitfalls before this can happen. But we’ll find something about that.

November 11th:  the place were the cage is in the House-next-door is made wind-free. We were phoned by Douglas & Janice about a little cat with (probably) a leg-fracture > they came to borrow a bench to transport the cat. Násja came with a little Cat with belly-problems > see over there. And Doug & Janice were here at almost half past twelve with a little Tom-cat > see over there.

November 12^th:  the baby Marginated Tortoise was 18 gram early this morning. Great “Migration of the Nations” today: first Sparrowhawk II was transferred to the Cage in the House-next-door > let’s have a look if is will be capable to fly a little bit. Hereafter followed the disabled Kestrel and the ditto Hobby from the Falcon-cage on top of the kitchen of the House-next-door > as well to that cage. Then Sparrowhawk I > as well over there. She wasn’t yet eating on her own, but maybe when she sees other birds eating, she’ll follow. If not, we are sorry > with one wing and a half she can’t be released anymore. The last one to be transferred was the Peregrine > to the Flacon-aviary on top of the kitchen of the House-next-door. It will be tense how things will develop now. It showed to be that the abscesses in the Throat of the Pigeon indeed was Trichomonadiosis > the swellings are diminishing.

Re-homing:

At 9.45 a.m. the village boy Mílto (a good pigeon-fancier) came and wanted to know if we had some pigeons for him: he took 7 and we still have the same amount over here.

November 13^th:  the little black Tom-cat (see November 11^th) can leave for where he come from > there is no reason to keep him here any longer. ALL yesterday transferred birds were still alive; let’s hope they are eating indeed today. We could remove again some huge parts dead tissue from the throat of the Pigeon. In the cage of the Barn Owls we could joint more than 1 square meter; the “rural garden-gate” however we had to remove first and the screws were quite rusty and difficult to remove !! The little black Tom-cat departed around midday for Parákoila again. We have seen that in any case the Peregrine and Sparrowhawk II were eating.

November 14^th:  at 6.30 a.m. we discovered Sparrowhawk I drowned in the water-bowl. The baby Marginated Tortoise was 19 gram this morning. We sifted the whole breeding-jug from the Meal-worms > it showed to be we had more than we had expected. And again more than 1 square meter was pointed in the cage of the Barn Owls, after we first had to remove an old stucco-layer (mud with horse-manure). Maybe there is coming a Pigeon via the Vet Myrsíni Tourvalí from Mytiléne. And that was cancelled later. Tomorrow we’re expecting 2 dogs from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú 2 Dogs for castration and on the same trip 2 kittens will be brought for examination > should have some problems. At 5.45 p.m. some village-children came with a young Tom-cat they had found in the streets > see further over there. And at 5.55 p.m. we received a call from Pétra from a certain Christine Parkinson (not ill, we hope . . . . )that she had a falcon (?), probably shot; broken leg and injury under the wing. At 7.05 a call from our “winter-volunteer” Melanie that she had the bird in her hands and will bring him/her tomorrow-morning. So it’s going to be a busy morning !!

November 15^th:  the dogs were here at 7.55 a.m. and left at 9.30 a.m. > see further over there. The hadn’t been able to catch the kittens. At 8 a.m. a phone-call from the Shell-Petrol-station that the “falcon-like” had arrived over there > Ineke went for a ride to pick-up both Melanie and the bird. Meanwhile was started with the castration of the 2 dogs. The bird showed to be a sub-adult male Peregrine > see over there. After breakfast we tried the reposition of the front-leg of the little Tom-cat > see over there. At 2.10 p.m. a man arrived who said he had a turkey with (probably) Rhinotracheitis > will come back with the bird after 3.30 p.m. Was over here at 3.37 p.m. > severe Rhinotracheitis > see further by Turkey. At 4.30 p.m. a phone-call from Keramiá that a bird of prey had fallen from a tree. So turned out at once and arrived over there at 5 p.m. While accepting the box, the discoverer opened the box and . . . . away flew the bird (and very well). Showed to have been a juvenile Sparrowhawk. So a trip in vain, but better this way than that the bird had been dead in the box. And at 5.05 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos that close to Hotel Delfíni a dead Dolphin had flushed ashore. We have informed the Coast Guard-station over there and the head-office in Mytiléne and they are going to measure the animal. We had no spirit anymore to do so . . . . !! So this was a day again !!

November 16^th:  all new taken-in patients were still alive this morning. One can see Peregrine I regularly above in the aviary > so can use the wing in any case. We could continue with the jointing in the cage of the Barn Owls. A part of that cage will be separated to become a cage for the (probably invalid) Short-eared Owl. A lot of snot could be removed from the sinus’ of the Turkey; this time mostly from the right side. The agreed castration of the stray Tom-cat “Silver” from Paleochóri couldn’t happen, because probably he saw what was coming and had disappeared. But he’ll show-up in the coming days for food, and that will be the beginning of the end of his “productive life”. The owner of the Pigeon with “Frounce” (or “Canker”) passed-by to know how his bird was doing > he was told what was the problem and what kind of medicines he should use for the other birds (this disease took last year the lives of tens and tens of his pigeons !!)

November 17^th:  last night at 00.02 o’clock we were wakened-up by a phone-call from a woman in Petrí who’s dog was poisoned > as good as possible (at that time of the night) advices were given. The baby Marginated Tortoise was 21 gram this morning. Both terrarium-colleagues (came-in April 24^th ’06) are respectively 166 and 180 gram. We received the message that the poisoned dog of last night seems to do better now; only the breathing is still a bit difficult. A huge stray dog from Mólivos, which should have been here already before for castration, will come now this morning. The care-taker couldn’t before, because and the weather and her health didn’t allow so. The dog, a real whopper, was here at 9.21 a.m. > see further by DOG. We could remove again snot, but as well “cheese” from the sinus’ of the Turkey. We could continue with jointing of the wall in the cage of the Barn Owls. The little Tom-cat, which was brought-in November 14^th, is definitively transferred into our hands. We already have a good home for him. Via the “Village-Loudspeaker-System” we were informed that next Sunday (so the 19^th) we’ll be without electricity (so as well without Central Heating) from 6 a.m. till (at least) 1 p.m.!!!!

November 18^th:  we have removed again lots of dead tissue from the throat of the Pigeon; the holes were so huge, we had to stitch them with 2 agrafes !! From the sinus’ of the Turkey lots of snot is removed. Ineke succeeded in Mytiléne to buy 3 aluminium-water-basins for the aviaries and afterwards some plants for in “The Keep”. With the jointing in the cage of the Barn Owls we’re now so far, that the part which will be separated for the Short-eared Owl is almost ready. At 3.23 p.m. a phone-call from Pétra that one had poisoned the dog of Patricia > they’ll pass-by. And they were here at 3.57 p.m. > see further by BITCH.

From the  Internet:

BIRD FLU  “Ekatimerini News”

H5 strain found in wild duck in central Greece; measures demanded

A veterinary laboratory in Chalkida, Evia, said yesterday that it had discovered the H5 strain of bird flu in a wild duck that was found in Fthiotida, central Greece. The H5 virus is only lethal to birds but samples from the duck will be sent to England to determine whether the virus is the H5N1 strain which can also kill humans. Authorities in Fthiotida have been instructed to adopt emergency bird flu measures, such as ensuring that poultry is kept indoors.

At 5.15 p.m. 2 boys were in front of our door with a discovered Dalmatian-puppy > transferred to the “Animal-lovers Society of Lesvos”.

November 19^th:  the baby Marginated Tortoise was 22 gram this morning. At 6.03 a.m. the electricity disappeared (like announced) and came (with hitches) totally back at 12.23 o’clock !! We had to force-feed Peregrine I this morning, because yesterday there wasn’t eaten at all and this morning at 12.15 o’clock the bowl was still untouched. Hereafter the bowl is placed on top of the tower in stead of on the floor and see . . . . there was eaten again ! So is a “branch-eater” and no “bottom-eater”. We now know definitively that the little Tom-cat (see November 14^th) will leave next Wednesday (the 22^nd) for Pétra. Should have been taken already this evening, but the weather-conditions weren’t optimal for a long trip in a bench on a scooter.

November 20^th:  we changed the splint from Peregrine II > injury is not smelling good !! He now has a bandage with Dermisol-solvens. We opened & flushed both sinus’  from the Turkey. The jointing in the Aviary of the Barn Owls needs only one hour to have the part of the roof for the Short-eared Owl for a 100% rat-tight. The Golden Oriole started today eating on it’s own (as well after the feeding-bowl was placed on another spot) > let’s have a look if this trend will continue tomorrow.

November 21^st:   at 9.15 a.m. the part of the roof for the Short-eared Owl was closed. After breakfast we went to buy wood for the separations-wall in between the two parts of that cage. Hereafter the made concrete was used for jointing the part of the Barn Owls and thereafter 6 rafters (4 meter, 5 x 7 cm) were planed. The wood-chips were gathered and stored (cage-covering for e.g. a Turkey). One bucker with dry sand was put separate for tomorrow (however: with 1 sterilization and 2 castrations for the Shelter in Skála Eressoú there will be not so much time/energy left-over !).

From the Internet:

Avian flu steps swing into action

Authorities are implementing safety measures in parts of Fthiotida, central Greece, where a migrating duck was found to be infected with the H5 strain of bird flu last week. The sample has been sent to a laboratory in London to determine whether it is the H5N1 strain which can also kill humans.                                                                                                        Safety measures include local farmers keeping all poultry in enclosed areas where they cannot come in contact with wildlife possibly carrying the virus.                                                                                                                                    Authorities have called for calm, saying that all the necessary steps have been taken and that the area where the migrating duck was found, on a riverbank close to the town of Anthilis, is not located near any poultry farms.              “The initial plan for monitoring the bird flu was to take 1,580 samples during 2006. However, following measures adopted last winter, the number of samples taken have already reached 5,000, of which 33 were found to be positive with the virus,” said Panayiotis Triantafyllou, head of the Agricultural Ministry’s department for bird diseases.

At 5.40 p.m. 2 children were in front of our door with a discovered COLLARED DOVE > see further over there. In the evening a phone-call from the shelter in Skála Eressoú: one had been capable to catch only one tom-cat.

November 22^nd:  we discovered that those lousy rats had gnawed a hole through the concrete bottom of the cage of the Scop’s Owls . . . !! Plucking the Collared Dove we discovered that the creature was much and much too thin > so no fox-fodder after all (risk is just too high). At 8.13 a.m. the tom-cat “Satori” arrived > see further by TOM-CAT. With the help of Melanie and her mother Anja  we could through a sinus-puncture remove again a lot of thick snot. Hereafter we could joint again a huge part of the wall in the owl-aviary, after we first had removed (with lots of problems) a breeding-box for the Barn Owls. We could remove the agrafes from the Pigeon with Trichomonadiosis and he/she can leave now > is OK !!

Re-homed:

the taken-in on the 14^th little Tom-cat had left us at 1.40 p.m. to be re-homed with Melanie & her friend Jeroen in Pétra.

November 23^rd:  we’re ready with the jointing in the owl-cage; only the connection to the undulated roof-parts must be finished (Barn Owl-part). At 5.07 p.m. the Pigeon was taken-back by the happy owner.

From the Internet:

BIRD FLU

Tests confirm wild duck did not have strain that kills humans

A strain of bird flu detected on a migratory duck found in Fthiotida, central Greece, last week is not the deadly disease that has killed 152 people in the Far East, the Middle East and China since 2003, authorities said yesterday. Tests at the EU Reference Laboratory for avian influenza in England found no trace of the H5N1 strain of the virus, the Agricultural Ministry said. As a result, protective measures enacted in the area where the infected duck was found have been lifted.

November 24^th:  at 8.30 a.m. arrived a stray cat from Pétra for “de-mothering”. At entrance of the surgery the door fell out of the bench and the cat panicked in such a way, that she rebuilt half of the surgery. At last we could jam her and “flatten” her with an injection. See further by CAT. We could remove again with a puncture lots of slime from the sinus’ of the Turkey. Meanwhile we have changed the antibiotics, because the first given Baytril didn’t do what we had expected. In the owl-aviary we had to remove, in connection with the making of a second water-bowl, the “rural garden-gate” with feeding-place for the Barn Owls. As well the hanging roost (a pine-trunk) was shortened and replaced. From the Van Veelen-family from Holland we received yesterday and today a total of 148 pair of sterile surgical gloves, especially mend for the coming sterilization-program. At 12.47 o’clock a phone-call from the Dasarcheío (Forest-Patrol) that within one hour a “Geráki” (small bird of prey) should be brought. And at 1.52 p.m. a SPARROWHAWK arrived > see over there.

November 25^th:  the juvenile Sparrowhawk had gained weight with 4 gram since the intake yesterday (124 gram now) and the baby Marginated Tortoise was early this morning 23 gram. At 8.15 a.m. we had to take back from the Cage of the Little Owls in “The Keep” the Little Owl which had foot-problems in the past. This time severe “bumble-foot” in the better of the legs. See further over there. With the help of Jeroen we had the whole wall rat-tight at 11.10 a.m. and  the breeding-box was replaced on a new spot. Later this morning the breeding-box in the part for the Short-eared Owl was removed, cleaned & stored. And we are very glad that at last we have a good food-mélange for the Golden Oriole (e.g. today a complete bowl was eaten, without any help from our side). We’re using as a base the mixture we have developed for the members of the crow-family, completed with small pieces of Edam-cheese and each day half a fig (in pieces). And who wants to know the exact composition, can always send us an e-mail.

November 26^th:  the Sparrowhawk had gained weight and was 134 gram. With lots of trouble the two of us had to remove again (with the help of a long piece of thick rope) the yesterday replaced breeding-box > to less space to fly should remain in the reduced cage. We already know what should be the replacement, but here for first the separation-wall should be constructed. The basement for the water bowl for the Short-eared Owl is build from bricks and filled with concrete. Thanks to some, discovered at the dust-bin, cuttings of a Yucca (they already had some roots) and several pieces of Ivy we already could start with the planting-up of the cage for the Short-eared Owl. We’ll try as well to use the Ivy in as well the cage of the Eagle Owl as in the cage of the Barn Owls. We could remove again more than 10 cc of bloody slime from the sinus’ of the Turkey.

November 27^th:  the Sparrowhawk was early this morning 139 gram. At 7.55 a.m. arrived 2 stray cats from Parákoila (brother and sister), which themselves (?!?) had decided not to cooperate further more with the enlargement of the cat-population on the island. After breakfast we went to the rubbish-dump to pick-up quite a huge tree-trunk; luckily the owner of the Turkey was present over there and so this “heavy-weight” could be lifted into the car. Back on base Douglas (from the “Monday-meat-cutting-crew”) could help to get the trunk at last in the cage and on its place. Al together more than a hundred kilo of wood !!

The Sparrowhawk is flying quite well we discovered when he escaped out of his cage. At 1.40 p.m. 2 children from our village were in front of our door with a Pigeon which should (possibly) been caught by a dog > see further by PIGEON. And a quarter of an hour later the “village-loudspeaker-system” announced us that starting tomorrow we’ll be without water; one doesn’t know when it will be restored. Towards the evening we could through puncturing remove again 6 cc slime from the right sinus and 7 cc bloody slime from the left sinus.

November 28^th:  the Sparrowhawk was 143 gram. The “bumble-foot-leg” from the Little Owl is improving. After a visit to the dentist (who by the way isn’t hunting any more with so much “fun” after 5 “colleagues in this sport” were pounced in cold blood) started with the separation-wall in the owl-cage. As a door an old window (discovered . . . . in the rubbish) will be used. Per courier we received from England (Sir Les Stocker MBE > see November 9^th) Animal Rescue Equipment (Rescue Net, Animal Stretcher, Extending Pole and 2 Restraining Straps. The extending poles will act as stretcher poles). So it will be more easy for us transporting Turtles. Through puncturing we removed again 5,5 cc slime from the right sinus and 7 cc bloody slime from the left sinus. As well we injected in every sinus Otrivin 0,1%

November 29^th:   the Sparrowhawk was 149 gram this morning. We were able to work till 10 a.m. in the owl-cage, constructing the separation-wall. At that time the carpenter came to replace a window in the living and we had to help him doing so. At 4.02 p.m. a phone-call from Parákoila about an injured little bird of prey > so we went for a ride. Was a female Sparrowhawk > see over there. Through puncturing we removed again 5 cc bloody slime from the right sinus and 7,5 cc bloody slime from the left sinus. And again we injected in every sinus Otrivin 0,1% .

November 30^th:  Sparrowhawk I had reached the target-weight of 150 gram but we couldn’t weigh Sparrowhawk II > was too wild. The baby Marginated Tortoise was 25 gram. At 12.10 o’clock the skeleton for the separation-wall in the owl-cage was ready, including an extra double “bedroom” for the Barn Owls. Towards the evening we could remove again lots of slime: 6,5 cc from the right side and 8 cc from the left side. The slime is becoming more clear.

Total amount of visitors this month:  013                      (total this year: 640)

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 116 (total this year 3528 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 20 [wild ones: 05; others 15], (total this year 289 > : wild ones 157, others 132; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3532),  of which:

PIGEON (Columba livia dom): 2; the first from the forests around our village > had a severe swelling on the throat (under the skin and not on the inside > so no ”Pigeon-cancer”) . opened and several huge lumps of “cheese” could be removed. According to the owner the bird could have been “snatched” by a smaller bird of prey, but escaped > sounds logical. Put under Antibiotics and in sessions the “cheese” will be removed. (see as well November 2^nd till and unto 23^rd).The 2^nd belonged to 2 laddies from our village and should be (possibly) caught by a dog: blood inside the right eye and the right shoulder is no joint any more but a collection of bone-pieces > no external injuries by the way. Hanging cast was given.

BLUE PEACOCK (Pavo cristatus): 1 cock from our village; severe injured on the right flank. Should be bitten by a fox (according to the owner), but after examination (and cleaning) of the injury it showed to be that thát was impossible. It looked more like a sharp object had penetrated the skin & muscle below and in his efforts to get loose of this, a whole piece of skin had come loose. We needed 70 cm of stitches to close the injury !! The bird was very supercooled as well (shock). Antibiotics were injected and covered in a warm towel. Was breathing quite difficult and was discovered dead at 8.20 p.m.

KITTEN (Felis catus): 1 female from the village here; brought-in by Násja. Shouldn’t have eaten/drunk for days, but as well no droppings etc. Treated against worms and the “magic fingers” of Ineke made her to start eating again. So observation. Produced later a “huge turd”; only a little bit weak. Could return to the owner around half past four.

MALE-KITTEN (Felis catus): 2; the first came from Parákoila > a goat should have stepped upon him or kicked him. Right rear-leg stays behind. No pelvis-fractures > so a damage of the spinal cord. Observation & rest. (see as well November 13^th). The 2^nd was discovered by village-youngsters over here > injury right front leg (2 digits) and a luxation of the left front leg. Will be treated under complete anesthetics. And so we tried, but the whole joint was só deformed  that it was impossible. The thumb-nails and thumbs of both legs are as well deformed. (see as well November 22^nd)

PEREGRINE (Falco peregrinus brookei): 1 sub-adult from the forests in between Kallonís and the deserted village of Klopádos; indeed shot. We could remove 1 shot-pellet from the left foot. This foot is quite “penetrated”, but the function is still there. Right leg has a high fracture in between the knee and the heel > impossible to splint. In the left wing there was an open fracture of the humerus close to the elbow > injuries stitched on both sides and splint was given. However, the prognosis for a release are almost nihil.

DOG (Canis familiaris): 3; the first 2 from the shelter in Skála Eressoú > left not tail-waggling, but lots of grams lighter. Number 3 came from Mólivos and could hardly be lifted upon the surgery-table. Was lifted from there 35 gram lighter.

TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo): 1 hen from our village (the owner had thought it was a cock . . . . !). Severe Sinusitis due to Rhinotracheitis with huge swollen sinus’. Both sinus’ were opened and indeed “flushes of snot” came out. Bird was taken-in and antibiotics were injected. We should repeat this in the coming days.

BITCH (Canis familiaris): 1 quite young specimen from Pétra > poisoned by the neighbor’s wife with “prepared” fish > 2 injections could be given in time and all the mess came out (luckily).

COLLARED DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto): 1 adult from our village; discovered in the midst of the streets. Couldn’t fly and was tumbling. Observation brain-damage (flown against something ?). The same evening at 8.30 p.m. discovered dead; so had himself “promoted” into fox-fodder. (see as well November 22^nd)

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 2; the first was a quite hairy specimen from the shelter in Skála Eressoú > was “released from 2 oppressive problems” in exactly 5 minutes. Assistance was given by Melanie. The 2^nd was as well quite hairy and came from Parákoila. The same therapy was used as by his predecessor, and as well in exactly 5 minutes.

CAT (Felis catus): 2; the first was a stray from Pétra. A beautiful, half long-haired tortoise. Has sacrificed a part of her “interior” for the welfare of the country . . . . Her departure was evidently more quietly than her entrance !! The second came from Parákoila and as well this animal wanted to contribute to the food for the Peregrine.

SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus): 2; the first was a juvenile male from a little forest above the ΔΕΗ-power-station in Mytiléne. So to see no fractures and/or injuries > observation. Body-weight was only 120 gram in stead of 150.

The 2^nd was discovered in Parákoila (a female) and was shot high in the breast > fracture of the right shoulder. Body-weight was only 244 gram in stead of the 280-320 what is normal for a female. Hanging cast was given. By the way, it’s quite a sharp one.

LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua indigena): 1 adult from the Little Owl-cage in “The Keep” > was taken-back before with foot-problems. This time severe “bumble-foot” right foot > opened, cleaned and stitched.