November 2009

LOG-BOOK:

News about Greece is in blue.

November 1^st: it was only 8° Celsius last night, so the tortoises must be gathered for hibernation today !! From the 5 outdoor-cats, till now on all present every morning, only 2 were present this morning: “Poekie” and “Little Friend”. “Ollie” has, for the first time since he is here, made water outside during the collective “morning-round” . . . . !! The Kestrel was 179 (-5) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (+2), green was 303 (-2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 338 (-3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 419 (+10) gram. Tortoises: number A was 148 (+1), number I was 59 (=), III was 94 (-4), IV was 102 (-1) and V was 74 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 35 (+2), nr. 2 was 33 (+1), nr. 3 was 29 (-1), nr. 4 was 30 (-3), nr. 5 was 30 (=) and number 6 was 15 (-1) gram. The Hedgehogs had hardly eaten. At 7.50 a.m. we had all tortoises caught and transferred to the hibernation-place in the old fire-place in the Apothíki of the House-next-door. The injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise (09-194; October 24^th) however we have brought-back to her cage in the Sick-Bay. Her body-weight was at that moment 1769 gram. Meanwhile the floor-covering (after cat-claws had damaged it badly) in the hall of the 2^nd floor in our house was given by Joren some face-lifts as well. Due to the bad weather we have placed the central-heating again in the winter-position, so we can enjoy at some moments a somewhat more comfortable house. At 11.45 a.m. a phone-call from Julie in Eftaloú: the kitten, we have written about yesterday has a kind of strange “bulb” on the backbone (postponed vertebra ??). Will be brought during the day tomorrow for a “last opinion” . . . . The outdoor-cats “Pappa” and “Earl Grey” have shown-up meanwhile for their meal, but from “Pinky” till now on not a single sign. And he came back half an hour after we had written the above as well to eat. We received 2 Greek visitors from Mytiléne. At a certain moment the temperature this morning wasn’t above 5° Celsius !! At 3.15 p.m. all 5 outdoor-cats were present again for their food. And the first thing “Pinky” did when he had the chance at 4 p.m. was squattering an empty cat-cage in the Sick-Bay and sitting over there with a mug like “I’m fine here. Don’t you think you’ll get me out another time in those shit-weather . . . .” So we have placed a litter-box, water- & food-bowl. But at 9.20 p.m. freedom was calling again !!

November 2^nd: three of the five outdoor-cats were present again early this morning. The Kestrel was 179 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 288 (-1), green was 300 (-3), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 335 (-3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 431 (+12) gram. The last two mentioned were sitting very close next to each other on the roost early this morning !! Tortoises: number A was 147 (-1), number I was 57 (-2), III was 95 (+4), IV was 101 (-1) and V was 74 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 34 (-1), nr. 2 was 34 (+1), nr. 3 was 29 (=), nr. 4 was 32 (+2), nr. 5 was 29 (-1) and number 6 was 16 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t eaten at all; most probably it was too cold for them !! Because the crow-aviary couldn’t be cleaned yesterday due to the bad weather, this is done this morning. And the same was the case with the water-bowls at the Peregrines and the Buzzards. Th the House-next-door Joren has at two floors performed some “face-lifts” at the floor-covering over there. We received a phone-call from Eftaloú that the kitten could arrive here around midday; Julie doesn’t know if it’s a Tom-cat or a Cat; she knows it’s born in August and that it had rhinotracheitis as well . . . . !!

Ferries moored

Passenger ferries and other vessels remained moored at the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina yesterday as winds intensified. Some ports in the Aegean were also affected, though strong winds were expected to ease off overnight. Meanwhile light snow fell in mountainous parts of northern and central Greece and on Mount Parnitha, north of Athens.

And while we were waiting for the little cat to arrive, suddenly there was a man at our doorstep with, well wrapped in his heavy leather-coat, a SHORT-EARED OWL > so see over there. And we were still busy with this patient, when the little cat was brought > see at KITTEN.

November 3^rd: all patients were still alive early this morning, but the little kitten isn’t so well !! The Kestrel was 178 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 291 (+3), green was 306 (+6), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 337 (+2) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 428 (-3) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 345 (=) gram. Tortoises: number A was 157 (+10), number I was 58 (+1), III was 96 (+1), IV was 101 (=) and V was 75 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 36 (+2), nr. 2 was 36 (+2), nr. 3 was 30 (+1), nr. 4 was 34 (+2), nr. 5 was 30 (+1) and number 6 was 15 (-1) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t eaten at all again. We have stopped the antibiotics for the elder Peacock; the younger one still has one blocked up nostril and so we’ll continue the antibiotics.

Migrant center on Lesvos shut down

As an international conference on migration opened near Athens yesterday, the government said that an overcrowded and much-criticized reception center for illegal immigrants on Lesvos would be replaced by a military unit on the eastern Aegean island.

According to sources, the military unit to start operating on Lesvos will be one of several that Deputy Citizens’ Protection Minister Spyros Vougias and Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos are to agree on.

Addressing the Global Forum on Migration and Development, which concludes today in the coastal suburb of Vouliagmeni, Vougias said that the rights of migrants would be respected, heralding the creation of Muslim cemeteries and prayer sites. He added that the ministry would set up committees of experts to examine migrants’ claims for asylum.

As for some 900 migrants released from the center on Lesvos, some were reportedly given ferry tickets to Piraeus while others are expected to be transferred to reception centers on other islands, many of which are also overcrowded.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR, one of several nongovernmental organizations that had lobbied for the center’s closure, welcomed the decision but said that new centers had to be built to accommodate a surging influx of immigrants that continue to enter Greece from Turkey.

From 1.56 p.m. the whole of Greece has an orange weather-alert due to expected storms, rain and thunderstorms !! The little Kitten was fading away slowly during the day > at last we only could give some water !! In the week-end newspaper “Politiká” was reported about we had written already October 29^th under the header:

“Bird-watching” not so harmless after all

It showed to have been a Danish couple, which owned a house in Plomári. Although both occupants were wearing safety-belts and the air-bag had functioned, as the most important cause of the accident the speed was mentioned. The published picture is enough evidence . . . .

A later performed P.M. showed that the driver, a 70-years old man, had suffered from a cardiac arrest and ended on the left carriageway. The driver of the concrete-mixer had tried to avoid a collision by turning to the left, but . . . .

November 4^th: at 5 a.m. the little kitten was discovered completely cold and stiff; was breathing difficult and showed to have pain. Decided to stop the suffering, because this had no sense anymore. At 5.15 a.m. she had passed into another world . . . . !! The Kestrel was 178 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (-2), green was 301 (-5), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 338 (+1) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 435 (+7) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 384 (+39) gram. Tortoises: number A was 157 (=), number I was 59 (+1), III was 99 (+3), IV was 105 (+4) and V was 77 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 36 (=), nr. 2 was 35 (-1), nr. 3 was 32 (+2), nr. 4 was 32 (-2), nr. 5 was 30 (=) and number 6 was 15 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs again hadn’t eaten at all. All stitches in “Ollie’s” eye have slipped again > so we’ll continue only conservatively.

At 7.30 a.m. it started really thundering and at a certain moment it was soo dark and it was raining soo hard, we couldn’t see the Table-mount any more. And of all moments in such a kind of weather a.o. meat had to be bought; doing so the clutch-pedal of the car got stuck . . . . Only at 10 a.m. they were back, in the car of Douglas and Janice, because our car was on the bridge in the garage !! In total they had with them 21,576 kilo of dead-cow-in-pieces (for 123,35 Euro; in total now this year 752,197 kilo for 4668,33 Euro) which was processed by Joren & Ineke and Douglas & Janice.

Wet spell causes floods, damage

Heavy rain and strong winds yesterday caused problems across much of the country, resulting in widespread flooding and damage to crops, wreaking chaos on the roads and even ripping the roofs off some buildings in the Peloponnese.

The rain also led to the flooding of several basement and ground-floor homes and stores across Attica and the provinces. The fire services in the prefecture of Attica, Ileia and Aitoloakarnanía received dozens of calls from shopkeepers and homeowners asking for water to be pumped out of their flooded premises.

The problems caused by the bad weather in the Peloponnese were more serious. Parts of the peninsula were hit by small tornadoes which damaged farmland and whipped the roofs of some homes and a school in Ileia, a prefecture that was badly affected by the catastrophic forest fires of August 2007. Residents whose homes were damaged told Kathimerini that they were using plastic sheeting as temporary roofing.

Strong winds also caused disruptions in coastal shipping, leading to the mooring of passenger ferries at Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina and also of some vessels at ports in the Aegean and the Ionian. In some areas winds reportedly reached 9 on the Beaufort scale.

There was even some snow yesterday, chiefly in mountainous parts of northern Greece. The snowfall was heaviest in the prefectures of Florina and Kastoria.

Meteorologists said that the bad weather was unlikely to abate in most parts of the country over the next few days, noting that strong winds would probably cause more problems at sea.

Strong tremor

A powerful undersea quake, measuring between 5.6 and 5.9 on the Richter scale, struck between the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia at 7.25 a.m. yesterday. The quake, whose epicenter was approximately 10 kilometers below the seabed, was felt on both islands but there were no reports of any damage or injuries.

At 4.20 p.m. we have transferred to the barn-owl-aviary in “The Keep” the new Dark Barn Owl (09-185; October 7^th ’09) for flying-practices and wildering. The car only was back at 3.15 p.m. At 4.20 p.m. we have transferred to the barn-owl-aviary in “The Keep” the new Dark Barn Owl (09-185; October 7^th ’09) for flying-practices and wildering. During the afternoon our other computer (the one that’s connected with the outside world) blocked completely !!

November 5^th: all patients were still alive this morning. The Kestrel was 178 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 290 (+1), green was 305 (+4) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 340 (+2) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 388 (+4) gram, and that one should diminish because has grown too much. Tortoises: number A was 153 (-4), number I was 60 (+1), III was 96 (-3), IV was 102 (-3) and V was 76 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 36 (=), nr. 2 was 35 (=), nr. 3 was 31 (-1), nr. 4 was 33 (+1), nr. 5 was 29 (-1) and number 6 was 16 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs at last had eaten a bit. The yesterday transferred Dark Barn Owl was spotted undamaged in top of the aviary, in one of the bedroom-houslets. We have stopped the antibiotics for the younger of the two Peacocks; is almost 100% OK now. During the very necessarily cleaning of (a part) of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” it showed that a] there are now more than 30 birds over there, b] there were 7 eggs present in the “apartment-block” (given to the crows) and 2 nests with young ones (of which one nest both had just left the nest and the other still very small) and c] we couldn’t clean a part of the aviary because there was a nest with half-grown youngster. So that part will be done in a week or so. Because we have quite an “outbreak” of a fungal infection in as well dogs as cats, we have taken the “Ivermectin” and wanted to start with measuring in injecting. On our way to the house however we noticed a badly pecked European Turtle Dove in the Aviary > so the plans were changed and the bird was caught. Showed having at least 3 huge holes in the body > those were stitched and sprayed with “Negerol”. Bird was taken-in. Thereafter with a risk for body and limbs we have caught 4 cats and 1 dog, measured them and injected. More blood was flowing on our side than at the side of the animals, because they really didn’t enjoyed it. At 10.25 a.m., on our way to the municipal landfill, there was a phone-call from Lársos about a (already last Monday) knocked-down fox > so we went for a ride to pick it up. Showed laying in a field at the other side of the main-road and we needed the dog-grasper to get it into the bench. See further at VIXEN.

Flight struck

An Olympic Air flight that took off from Athens International Airport for the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos early yesterday was forced to return after the aircraft was struck by lightning. The passengers aboard the plane were not hurt and boarded a later flight to the island.

The injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise (09-194; October 24^th ’09) has today eaten for the first time since intake !!

November 6^th: all patients were still alive this morning and the Vixen is quite bite-happy !! The Kestrel was 177 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 288 (-2), green was 306 (+1) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 339 (-1) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 390 (+2) gram. Tortoises: number A was 155 (+2), number I was 60 (=), III was 95 (-1), IV was 102 (=) and V was 76 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 36 (=), nr. 2 was 36 (+1), nr. 3 was 33 (+2), nr. 4 was 33 (=), nr. 5 was 30 (+1) and number 6 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten a bit. We started already very carefully (she still can’t penetrate thick leather gloves, but the blue spots are visible on our fingers) giving the Vixen physiotherapies for both rear-legs. When after one week we don’t see any improvement, we unfortunately must have to decide to . . . .

A, discovered by us in between the rubbish, working-trousers (real XL) is meanwhile washed, repaired and made ready for use. Doing so the whole crotch had to be opened and restored. An as well discovered over there body-warmer annex detachable lining for a trench-coat (first washed twice to get rid of lots of gasoline) was repaired as well and made fitting for use. Our board-member Medie passed by to discuss with Ineke the lessons to give in the primary school (about animal-treatment).

November 7^th: no victims this morning, although the condition of the Vixen isn’t optimal. The Kestrel was 178 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (-2), green was 305 (-1) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 335 (-4) gram. The Short-eared Owl is diminishing and was 389 (-1) gram. Tortoises: number A was 156 (+1), number I was 60 (=), III was 98 (+3), IV was 100 (-2) and V was 74 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 38 (+2), nr. 2 was 38 (+2), nr. 3 was 32 (-1), nr. 4 was 34 (+1), nr. 5 was 33 (+3) and number 6 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten a bit from the offered pears. The new Dark Barn Owl, which was transferred November 4^th to the barn owl-aviary in “The Keep” with a bodyweight of 435 gram, had been flying over there, but not eaten: was 396 (-39) gram. So first trying to get her on weight again and thereafter a release via the deserted houslet. Is now lodged together again with the other three in the Sick-Bay. During the work-discussion from 7 till 7.20 a.m. the Vixen was one of the items to discuss. We have decided not to continue further and to put her down due to an extreme “Prognosis Infaust”. At 7.28 a.m. she got the preface-injection and when she was quite deep asleep at 7.58 a.m. the definitive one. At 8.05 we had transferred her into Other Hands . . . .

At 1.17 p.m. a laddy was at our doorstep with in a blue plastic bag a pitiful screaming kitten > see further at KITTEN.

November 8^th: all were in radiant health at 5 a.m. and the poisoned kitten was loudly screaming proving so !! When his young owner is back towards 9 a.m. from his 300 (sic !) sheep he will be taken back home. The Kestrel was 178 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 287 (+1), green was 304 (-1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 341 (+6) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 397 (+1) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 384 (-5) gram. Tortoises: number A was 158 (+2), number I was 59 (-1), III was 95 (-3), IV was 102 (+2) and V was 77 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 38 (=), nr. 2 was 39 (+1), nr. 3 was 30 (-2), nr. 4 was 34 (=), nr. 5 was 32 (-1) and number 6 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten only a bit from the offered pears. The poisoned kitten was taken back by the grateful owner at 8.50 a.m. We have performed a P.M. on the Vixen, which as well was an anatomic lesson for Joren > see further at VIXEN.

November 9^th: the Kestrel was 179 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 288 (+1), green was 313 (+9), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 342 (+1) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 403 (+6) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 385 (+1) gram. Tortoises: number A was 161 (+2), number I was 61 (+2), III was 99 (+4), IV was 102 (=) and V was 77 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 38 (=), nr. 2 was 39 (=), nr. 3 was 31 (+1), nr. 4 was 37 (+3), nr. 5 was 33 (+1) and number 6 was 17 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten quite well from the offered pears. The Pigeon (09-184; October 7^th) which had entered the L.W.H. half-scalped and with as well a fracture of the right tibiotarso, and which was transferred October 22^nd without colored footrings (legs were too thick), is transferred this morning at 7.40 to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. Hardly anything could yet be detected from the head-injury. The injuries of the Short-eared Owl aren’t leaking anymore. Today again meat-cutting-day and because Douglas & Janice couldn’t come due to the remedy of incoming rain-water (because the municipality has wrongly placed a wall !!) this happened only by Ineke & Joren together. All together this was 12,825 kilo (but because “something” was wrong with the meat [isn’t the neighbor’s wife of the butcher missing for a day or so . . . . ??] we had it all for free, which was a benefit of 84,45 Euro for the L.W.H. Total now this year 765,022 kilo for 4668,33 kilo).

State Vets

And how wonderful things are going with the institute of State-Vets in Greece, is proven by the following: at 10.19 a.m. a phone-call from the State-Vet-practice in Kallonís. Just opposite the practice a doggie was knocked down and they asked us to come, because “they had no medicines or other materials . . . . !!” Yeah-yeah, and that’s paid by the State too !! Transferred to the Agrotikí Stégi.

One dead, another missing in rainstorms

For the second time in two weeks, heavy rain in various parts of Greece has caused a loss of life, as one person was killed and another two went missing yesterday.

A man was found dead in Grevena, northern Greece, after his car was swept away by onrushing water as he was driving between the villages of Trikokia and Karpero. The man was not named or further identified.

Rescue teams were yesterday searching for a 42-year-old man after the car in which he was traveling with his wife and daughter was also swept away when they attempted to cross a river swollen by rainwater in the Aridaia municipality in Pella, northern Greece.

The unnamed man’s 35-year-old wife and 17-year-old daughter managed to get out of the vehicle and swim to the banks of the river but he has been missing since the incident, which occurred at about 4 a.m.

Firefighters and locals were yesterday helping in the effort to find the vehicle and the missing man.

A search-and-rescue operation was also taking place yesterday off the coast of Chania, Crete, after reports that a boat with one person on board had capsized.

On October 24 and 25, storms around the country had also led to one man drowning off the coast of Volos and another being swept away in Pieria, northern Greece.

The rough conditions at sea yesterday also prevented the Blue Star ferry with 325 passengers on board from docking at the port of Rhodes.

Air space warning

In the latest incident of its kind, an aircraft of the EU border patrol agency Frontex received a warning from Turkish radar while flying in Greek air space on Sunday, Greece’s National Defense General Staff said. The Estonian airplane had been helping to spot illegal immigrants and was flying over the tiny island of Farmakonisi when a Turkish radar operator warned the pilot he was in Turkish air space.

November 10^th: all were alive and kicking early this morning. The Kestrel was 183 (+4) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (-2), green was 307 (-6), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 342 (=) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 403 (=) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 379 (-6) gram. Tortoises: number A was 162 (+1), number I was 63 (+2), III was 98 (-1), IV was 104 (+2) and V was 77 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 39 (+1), nr. 2 was 38 (-1), nr. 3 was 32 (+1), nr. 4 was 37 (=), nr. 5 was 33 (=) and number 6 was 17 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten quite well from the offered pears and as well from the Pállas-food. According to information we have received from Holland (Mr. Ben Steinfort) it is absolutely not necessary the Short-eared Owl should diminish, because the body-weights are quite variable during the year. In any case it’s not allowed to be more than 425 gram, so we’re going to change the food-scheme again.

In spite of the fact we’re almost overcrowded with cats in both houses, we still have mouse-problems !! In our house in the space under the stairs (which is closed !!) where we have stored our candles, we discovered lots of mouse-droppings and the candles were quite damaged by mouse-teeth. There showed to be a passage in between the wall and the end of the floor > this was closed with a piece of galvanized iron. In the House-next-door at least two mouse-holes were discovered: the places where electricity-cables in the wall are coming out. So those holes should be closed with plaster mixed with glass. And after al it happened with an reinforcement of aviary-netting. As well some other “hot-spots” in walls were filled. At 3.15 p.m. the owner of the Peacocks arrived to pick-up his birds. Showed as well a just-bought male Peacock, which was bone-thin (with the keel on the sternum one really could shave oneself !!). Examinations showed a green thread, tied around the tongue and disappearing into the gullet . . . . !! This only could be done deliberately !! Thread was cut and removed. Further not in the statistics. And while we just had discussed the working-scheme for tomorrow (two little Tom-Cats from the House-next-door will be neutered) there came at 6.31 p.m. a phone-call from Skála Eressoú about a cat which should be walking around with an abscess in the face > will be brought tomorrow in between 10 and 11 a.m. In the evening it was such a heavy weather with glaring flashes and rumbling thunders, that at a certain moment (after a struck close by) the whole building was shaking !! Not even with a stick we succeeded getting the doggies out, but we ourselves were wet until the bones !!

November 11^th: luckily it was a bit dry during the taking-out of the doggies at 4.50 a.m. !! The Kestrel was 183 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 285 (-1), green was 307 (=), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 341 (-1) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 405 (+2) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 382 (+3) gram. Tortoises: number A was 164 (+2), number I was 59 (-4), III was 99 (+1), IV was 106 (+2) and V was 82 (+5) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 41 (+2), nr. 2 was 40 (+2), nr. 3 was 33 (+1), nr. 4 was 35 (-2), nr. 5 was 34 (+1) and number 6 was 18 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs had, in spite of the bad weather, eaten quite well. At 7.55 a.m. were brought from the House-next-door both, born March 31^st ’09, Tom-Cats (09-016c, “Meriadoc” and 09-026d, “Gandalf”) for defathering. See further at TOM-CAT. The first was done by the traumatologist from the L.W.H. while the 2^nd for 98% independently was done by Joren. Thereafter we went to the road-cross with the main-road to have made for two stainless steel boxes for instruments (received some time ago) the fitting lids > should be ready tomorrow afternoon. The cat with the abscess was here at 10.12 a.m. > see further at TOM-CAT. And while we were busy with the tom-cat, there came a delegation from the Gymnasium in Kallonís (15 students) to visit us. Those children could tell us there was still roaming around a tortoise in the tortoise-pen > so we went for a look hoping finding an afterthought. However showed to be a young female Spurr-tighed Tortoise from 2007, which already had digged herself in and had appeared again. Cleaned and placed with the others in the hibernation-place. At 11.56 a.m. on the whole island there was a power-cut, which lasted till 12.18 p.m. Towards 5.30 p.m. a nice bunch of dark clouds came again in our direction.

At 8.05 p.m. yet a phone-call from Pérama about a huge bird-of-prey with in any case leg-problems; should as well not being capable to fly. Will be delivered at a well-known café over there, where in the past we had to be always for the pelican “Máki”, and over there someone will be present from 8 o’clock.

November 12^th: the Kestrel was 181 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (+4), green was 303 (-4), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 338 (-3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 404 (-1) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 381 (-1) gram. Tortoises: number A was 166 (+2), number I was 64 (+5), III was 102 (+3), IV was 105 (-1) and V was 78 (-4) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 39 (-2), nr. 2 was 40 (=), nr. 3 was 34 (+1), nr. 4 was 36 (+1), nr. 5 was 34 (=) and number 6 was 18 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten very well. At 7.25 a.m. there was departed for Pérama, where the arrival was due to lots of rain on the road and a low sun only was at 8.05 a.m. Bystanders could tell that it (most probably > color & seize) was a Common Buzzard, which should have in the leg-injury lots of maggots. When at 8.15 a.m. nobody had appeared, a boy on a bike was sent to get the bottom of it. He came back with the information that the bird had died quite late in the evening and that the mortal remains had been dumped . . . . !! Giving us a call hereabout is something which isn’t appearing in a Greek mind.

Zakynthos quake

Island hit again, by 5.4 tremor

A moderately strong undersea quake, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, occurred off the Ionian island of Zakynthos just before noon yesterday but no injuries or damage were reported. The epicenter of the quake was located on the seabed off the southwestern coast of the island, seismologists said. A stronger tremor, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, occurred last Tuesday, between the islands of Zakynthos and Cephalonia, again causing no damage or injuries.

At 12.15 p.m. we could pick up in the shop at the road-cross with the main-road our two, now each with a lid, stainless steel boxes for instruments for a total amount of 20 Euro (no receipt !!). One box will be used tomorrow, after we have sterilized the cat “Arwen” from the House-next-door, as special and only for sterilizations.

November 13^th: after Joren had prepared for the first time on his own the morning-food, he came at 6 a.m. bringing little “Arwen” for sterilization later in the morning. See further at CAT. The other cats in the House-next-door could have their breakfast in this way undisturbed and “Arwen” remained sober. The Kestrel was 181 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (+5), green was 305 (+2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 338 (=) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 402 (-2) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 385 (+4) gram. Tortoises: number A was 165 (-1), number I was 62 (-2), III was 101 (-1), IV was 107 (+2) and V was 80 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 41 (+2), nr. 2 was 42 (+2), nr. 3 was 33 (-1), nr. 4 was 37 (+1), nr. 5 was 35 (+1) and number 6 was 18 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten quite well from the given Pallas-food; from the pears there was hardly eaten. And while over here the new sterilizations-set was completed (and suddenly a new holed-linen had to be made because the quality of the tissue had worsened after all those times of sterilization), Ineke & Medie were at the primary school in Kallonís to give a test-lesson to two classes 4^th grade about the L.W.H. and how to behave with animals. And just like the “hard laborers” in the L.W.H. are doing their job dressed in animal-friendly (and human-safely) woodland-camouflage-dressing, our Director was dressed in quite a nice “service-dress” . . . . !!

Mild quake

A mild quake, measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale, struck the town of Chalkida, northeast of Athens, shortly before 9.30 a.m. yesterday. The tremor was felt by many people in the capital but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

November 14^th: The Kestrel was 180 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 293 (-1), green was 309 (+4), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 336 (-2) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 406 (+4) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 385 (=) gram. Tortoises: number A was 154 (-11), number I was 65 (+3), III was 105 (+4), IV was 107 (=) and V was 84 (+4) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 43 (+2), nr. 2 was 41 (-1), nr. 3 was 34 (+1), nr. 4 was 38 (+1), nr. 5 was 36 (+1) and number 6 was 18 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten quite well from the cat-biscuits; the other offered food was untouched. We could remove both stitches from the wing of the Short-eared Owl (injuries are closed) and as well the double hanging cast. Now only a hanging cast for the left wing is present. After having emptied half the Apothíki in our house and thereafter quite a lot of acrobatics from both male members of our team, we have discovered over there 2 mouse-holes (and more than one bucket and a half of loose sand, because those rotters had digged themselves through under the concrete bottom !!) and those filled with pieces of glass & concrete, and that was covered again with a layer of ± 5 cm of concrete with as well pieces of glass. We hope now (for the time being) being delivered from this problem. The whole storage of candles was emptied as well and cleaned from mouse-droppings > the used piece of iron from some days ago seems to have functioned well. In between all this 2 people from our village came with a dieing, discovered in the streets, kitten > see further at KITTEN. When we wanted to start with the midday-feeding-round (11.35 a.m.) we discovered “Pinky” sleeping quietly in an empty cat-cage in the Sick-Bay > see further at TOM-CAT.

November 15^th: the Kestrel was 181 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 296 (+3), green was 299 (-10, but had refused yesterday-evening to eat), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 338 (+2) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 408 (+2) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 384 (-1) gram. Tortoises: number A was 157 (+3), number I was 64 (-1), III was 103 (-2), IV was 107 (=) and V was 84 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 42 (-1), nr. 2 was 41 (=), nr. 3 was 34 (=), nr. 4 was 37 (-1), nr. 5 was 36 (=) and number 6 was 19 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten so-so. Except the weekly cleaning of all aviaries in the courtyard and in “The Keep”, Joren has finished the last part of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” as well, while we from our side have started making the “interior wrappings” (sterilisable cotton) for the instrument-boxes. The first (prototype) is meanwhile finished and we have learned a lot how the others should not be made. In total we need 10 interior wrappings. After having been out again since yesterday-evening 9.20 (canceling dates ??), “Pinky” was back again at 2.15 p.m. and was only interested in eating . . . . (and who was the one who said that men are only interested in sex ??). The surgery-field looks nice and quiet and we’ll try to keep him inside again tonight, but we haven’t the faintest idea if his whole note-book is informed meanwhile . . . . !!

November 16^th: “Pinky” has stayed the whole night perfectly in, even without making the Sick-Bay dirty !! The Kestrel was 180 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 295 (-1), green was 300 (+1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 341 (+3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 412 (+4) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 389 (+5) gram. Tortoises: number A was 157 (=), number I was 64 (=), III was 103 (=), IV was 110 (+3) and V was 82 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 42 (=), nr. 2 was 43 (+2), nr. 3 was 34 (=), nr. 4 was 37 (=), nr. 5 was 36 (=) and number 6 was 18 (-1) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten quite well. The juvenile Collared Dove (09-166; August 31^st ’09), which we had transferred twice before (September 17^th & 27^th) without a good result to the Aviary, was transferred today at 8.07 a.m. again, hoping for the best. We received a phone-call from Ineke, who was in Kallonís buying meat etc, that she at 8.25 a.m. had taken-in at the greengrocer’s a little tortoise > so see further at SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE. The bought meat was 20,055 kilo (for 142,90 Euro; total this year now 785,077 kilo for 4811,23 Euro), and was processed by Ineke & Joren, assisted by the meanwhile “flooding-free” Douglas & Janice. At 10.05 a.m. we had to take back from the Aviary the juvenile Collared Dove > was laying on it’s back and wasn’t able to turn.

Flood victim

Body of missing man found

Rescue workers in Pella yesterday discovered the corpse of a 42-year-old man missing since last Sunday, when his car was swept away by a river swollen by heavy rainfall. The body of the unidentified man was found on the banks of the Belitsa River, near the spot where he had gone missing. The man’s wife and daughter, who had been in the car with him, had managed to get out of the vehicle and swim to the bank of the river.

Animal abuse

Animal rights activists in the northeastern city of Alexandroupolis were up in arms on Saturday after it emerged that a 71-year-old man from a nearby village had killed a stray dog by shooting it twice before hitting it on the head with a hammer. The 71-year-old reportedly killed the animal because it had been eating his chickens.

Frontex harassed

In the latest incident of its kind, an aircraft of the European Union border patrol agency Frontex yesterday received a warning from Turkish radar while flying in Greek air space east of the islet of Farmakonisi, Greek military sources said. The pilot ignored the Turkish warning and continued with the patrol, the sources said.

Due to the meat-processing nothing could be done today in making the “interior wrappings” for the instrument-boxes. In the evening we were “enjoyed” by an e-mail from both volunteers who were here in September, in which we were summoned to remove their names from the Log-Book of that period, because otherwise a complaint against us should be lodged because of indignity . . . . !! We have re-read that part, and what was written isn’t yet half of what had happened over here. Ergo: “quod scripsit, scripsit” !!

November 17^th: the Kestrel was 181 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 295 (=), green was 302 (+2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 340 (-1) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 406 (-6) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 392 (+3) gram. Tortoises: number A was 160 (+3), number I was 66 (+2), III was 106 (+3), IV was 110 (=) and V was 81 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 43 (+1), nr. 2 was 44 (+1), nr. 3 was 35 (+1), nr. 4 was 36 (-1), nr. 5 was 36 (=), number 6 was 18 (=) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten reasonable. At 7.40 a.m. we discovered laying dead on the bottom of the pigeon-cage Pigeon (09-157) which had entered the L.W.H. August 20^th with a rubber band around it’s body because it should tumble constantly. Was transferred to the Aviary September 6^th and September 25^th from there to the pigeon-cage. No injuries could be detected and he wasn’t diminished as well. But we forget that animals can die of course in a “natural way”. So has promoted himself into fox-food. At 9 o’clock arrived Maria (a member of the student-group who was here in April/May), who wants to assist us for about 3 weeks. We could continue with the sorting out and cleaning of the Apothíki in the House-next-door > we needed a trip to the local landfill to get rid of the stuff. And as well another “interior wrapping” for an instrument-box was made.

November 18^th: it took a lot of efforts this morning convincing the little Tom-Cat “Deurne” he should stay sober this morning; something he showed loudly !! The Kestrel was 175 (-6) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 290 (-5), green was 304 (+2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 340 (=) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 412 (+6) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 390 (-2) gram. Tortoises: number A was 161 (+1), number I was 65 (-1), III was 105 (-1), IV was 112 (+2) and V was 85 (+4) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 43 (=), nr. 2 was 44 (=), nr. 3 was 38 (+3), nr. 4 was 41 (+5), nr. 5 was 38 (+2), number 6 was 19 (+1) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten well; especially from the cat-biscuits. At 7.52 a.m. “Deurne” (was 09-165; August 30^th ’09) could be collared and he disappeared direction Surgery. See at TOM-CAT. The following we could read on the Internet (it should be forbidden keeping such rare birds in captivity):

Eagle Owl escaped in the north of The Netherlands

In the north of the country is looked for a tame Eagle Owl. The huge, rare owl escaped last week-end out of his cage at a private bird-dealer in Westernieland, a village in the province of Groningen close to the Wadden Sea. The owner of the owl is on holiday. The bird is sitting about one meter high.

And again one “interior wrapping” for an instrument-box was made and the 2^nd for this box is cut meanwhile. The trouble is that all 5 boxes have a different measurement, so nothing is exchangeable. The hanging cast around the left wing of the Short-eared Owl is removed as well now. We have discovered that a part of the foot of the right rear-leg of the injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise (09-194; October 24^th) has died > a gangrene is developing here. However the leg she is using normally.

November 19^th: the Kestrel was 182 (+7) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (-1), green was 304 (=), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 341 (+1) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 416 (+4) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 393 (+3) gram. Tortoises: number A was 162 (+1), number I was 66 (+1), III was 108 (+3), IV was 110 (-2) and V was 82 (-3) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 44 (+1), nr. 2 was 45 (+1), nr. 3 was 37 (-1), nr. 4 was 39 (-2), nr. 5 was 38 (=), number 6 was 19 (=) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten well; this time especially from the pallas-food. The bowl with cat-biscuits we discovered upside-down in the cage. “Earl Grey” came at 7.35 a.m. loud screaming asking for food > in stead of this he was lifted-up and placed in an empty cage, whereafter 2 minutes later a needle was pinned in him. So see further at TOM CAT. Thereafter we discovered at 8.10 a.m. in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” a born over there white Pigeon, which was laying very quietly, very cold and very dead under in the nesting-flat. So will become a companion for the Dog-Fox tonight.

Release:

after being well fed for the last time (we hope), the new Dark Barn Owl (09-185; October 7^th ’09) was transferred to the deserted houslet at 4.18 p.m.

Tomorrow-morning we’ll have a look if she is still present.

November 20^th: although under protest, “Earl Grey” remained quietly in his cage the whole night and received his 2^nd injection early this morning. The Kestrel was 180 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (=), green was 307 (+3) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 348 (+7) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 399 (+6) gram. Tortoises: number A was 161 (-1), number I was 68 (+2), III was 108 (=), IV was 110 (=) and V was 80 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 44 (=), nr. 2 was 42 (-3), nr. 3 was 39 (+2), nr. 4 was 41 (+2), nr. 5 was 37 (-1), number 6 was 19 (=) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten immense well. The bowl with cat-biscuits we discovered again upside-down, but hardly anything was left-over. At 6.37 a.m. we discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” laying dead on the bottom Pigeon (09-143), which had entered the L.W.H. August 4^th with 2 broken wings. At 6.50 a.m. the new Dark Barn Owl was still present in between the rafters of the deserted houslet. We carefully started cleaning the skin of “Earl Grey” > on our lap he didn’t like it so much, which could be seen on our hands . . . . !! Free on the floor, and play-like, this happened a bit better.

AEGEAN TENSION

Greece files official complaint with Ankara about overflights

The Greek Embassy in Ankara yesterday lodged an official complaint with the Turkish Foreign Ministry after Turkish fighter jets that had been participating in a NATO-supervised training flight abandoned their formation and violated a region that had been reserved by the Greek armed forces for a forthcoming exercise. The transgression occurred at around 1.30 p.m. when four Turkish F-16s flew at a low altitude between the islands of Chios and Samos (and we had the Greek planes, which were chasing them, low flying over our heads !!).

According to Greek diplomatic and military sources, the incident is seen as a fresh questioning by Ankara of Greece's right to conduct search and rescue exercises in the Aegean.

In spite of all our efforts to have the Apothíki in our house mouse-free, we could remove two of those from mouse-traps and we have discovered where they have gnawed themselves again through the wall. Such is the case quite under the stairs from the ground-floor to the 1^st floor, and from our side this space is completely tiled. The only solution should be placing poison in that free space, but thát risk is too high with all those animals we have walking free in the house. As well in “The Keep” where the Peacocks were lodged are mouse-holes. Over there in any case we can use mouse-traps. At 6.08 p.a. a phone-call from Athens (!!) an injured geráki (bird-of-prey) here on the island !! Via Google they had discovered our phone-number and will pass it to the person who has the bird. That woman phoned at 8.07 p.m. from Dípi and could tell us that the bird had the seize of a Pigeon (she thought it was a young Buzzard), that he had yellow eyes and was injured in one wing > but that wing wasn’t hanging !! So most probably a male Sparrowhawk. Early tomorrow-morning we’ll pick him up at the cross-road direction Géras.

November 21^st: the Little Owl was 232 gram and has to diminish !! The Kestrel was 182 (+2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (+5), green was 311 (+4) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 346 (-2) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 407 (+8) gram. Tortoises: number A was 165 (+4), number I was 66 (-2), III was 105 (-3), IV was 113 (+3) and V was 86 (+6) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 43 (-1), nr. 2 was 44 (+2), nr. 3 was 40 (+1), nr. 4 was 42 (+1), nr. 5 was 37 (=), number 6 was 19 (=) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten well. At 7.02 a.m. we received the phone-call from Dípi that there was no need anymore to come, because the bird was discovered not-alive anymore just some minutes before > was still warm. Showed to be shot !! The new Dark Barn Owl was discovered at 7.35 a.m. still in top of the rafters in the deserted houslet. And again (at 7.40 a.m.) a dead pigeon was discovered in the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” > again no injuries could be detected, again not diminished and/or an obstruction in the pharynx. This bird as well had no foot-ring > so could have been a “home-bread”. With force-feeding we could put in some pallas-food into baby-tortoise number 6. With number 7 we weren’t yet so lucky. At the end of the morning at last we could make some time to stitch together the already cut “interior wrapping” for the Sterilization-box.

November 22^nd: the Kestrel was 182 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (-8), green was 308 (-3) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 346 (=) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 405 (-2) gram. Tortoises: number A was 166 (+1), number I was 69 (+3), III was 108 (+3), IV was 114 (+1) and V was 85 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 44 (+1), nr. 2 was 43 (-1), nr. 3 was 38 (-2), nr. 4 was 43 (+1), nr. 5 was 39 (+2), number 6 was 19 (=) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten well. The new Dark Barn Owl was still present at 6.50 a.m. in top of the rafters in the deserted houslet. The Pigeon, which was discovered dead yesterday, was indeed one of the two (not yet hatched) young Pigeons, for whom we couldn’t clean the whole pigeon-cage some time ago > the other is sitting now somewhat “forlorn” on the spot where once was their nest. At exactly 10 a.m. “Ollie” received his 5^th (!!) anesthetic to close the eye. First we have placed a huge “support-stitch” (Ethilon 1), which wasn’t yet closed. The skin over there was due to all kinds of scars (the original trauma, surgeries thereafter) só tough, that a “poker-kind stitching-needle” completely was bended !! Hereafter injury-toilet was made and the injury closed with 4 stitches (Prolene 2/0). Thereafter the supporting-stitch was brought under tension. That one should keep the injury closed while it’ll have tensionless the chance to heal. A little under a quarter of an hour after the surgery he started looking around again. At 5.58 p.m. a fellow-villager was at our door with a dirty, old canarybird-cage in which rumpled-up a shot Sparrowhawk was sitting. The guy had heard shooting-down the bird. It took lots of troubles getting the bird out > almost a delivery (getting it in was easy, but out . . . . !?!?). So see further at SPARROWHAWK. Was at 10.40 p.m. still alive and was laying quietly.

November 23^rd: the Sparrowhawk was standing straight perfectly at 5.50 a.m. !! “Earl Grey” received at 5.55 a.m. his last antibiotic-injection and was allowed back into free nature. The Kestrel was 183 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 289 (+3), green was 313 (+5) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 357 (+11) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 420 (+15) gram. Tortoises: number A was 166 (=), number I was 63 (-6), III was 107 (-1), IV was 112 (-2) and V was 88 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 46 (+2), nr. 2 was 44 (+1), nr. 3 was 40 (+2), nr. 4 was 43 (=), nr. 5 was 38 (-1), number 6 was 19 (=) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had hardly eaten. The new Dark Barn Owl was still present at 6.50 a.m. in top of the rafters in the deserted houslet; if this is tomorrow still the case, we’ll catch her and measure. A whole bunch of “creep-through, sneak-through-holes” in the wall of the craw-aviary were filled with stones and concrete by Joren. As well some corresponding holes in the Aviary were filled. The “entrance” under the stairs in our house, through which the mice came into the living-part got a netting-with-concrete-filling. The last two days we can remove lots of dead mice from the traps in de Apothíki; something which is enjoyed quite well by the Barn Owls and the Dog-Fox. Today again meat-cutting-day and by Joren & Ineke, Douglas & Janice and with assistance of Maria 19,096 kilo (for 124,99 Euro; total now this year 804,173 kilo for 4936,22 Euro) was processed. A thrown-away pair of trousers, some time discovered by us (seize 40, but “ROBE DI KAPPA” !!) which, after being washed was checked yesterday for repairable defects, showed having a defect zipper (> reason for throwing it away !!). Old zipper was removed and a replacement was placed (we thought . . . . !!) Showed we had replaced the old, defect zipper !! So this morning, while downstairs meat was cut, yesterday’s mistake was mended. We received today from the AMCF (Animal medical Care Foundation) a box with food-supplies and medicines for reptiles and amphibians, but as well some instruments which are very useful for as well the Eye-set as the Castration-sets (he-dog & tom-cat).

November 24^th: the Kestrel was 187 (+4) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 291 (+2), green was 316 (+3) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 346 (-11) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 424 (+15) and the Sparrowhawk was 281 (+2) gram. Tortoises: number A was 166 (=), number I was 64 (+1), III was 113 (+6), IV was 114 (+2) and V was 89 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 47 (+1), nr. 2 was 45 (+1), nr. 3 was 42 (+2), nr. 4 was 40 (-3), nr. 5 was 39 (+1), number 6 was 20 (+1) and number 7 was 16 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t eaten at all. When we wanted to feed the Pigeons in “The Keep” at 6.40 a.m. a young bird tumbled out of the cage > showed having a disorder in the left eye. Taken and taken-in > see further at PIGEON. The new Dark Barn Owl was still sitting at 6.50 a.m. in top of the rafters in the deserted houslet > will be caught today. And that happened at 8 a.m. > body-weight was now 367 gram and when we had brought her to the deserted houslet November 19^th this was 416 gram > so minus 49 gram. Re-taken in and fed. Changing the bandages of the wing of the Sparrowhawk the injury was nicely dry and not smelling badly !! We received the message from the shelter in Skála Eressoú that the Tom-Cat with the skull-damage (09-203; November 11^th ’09) is doing well: injury is closed well and no symptoms of infection are present any more. We have changed “Ollie’s” bandages and till now on the stitches are still present without a reaction of the skin !! Joren has discovered when she was laying helpless on her back that our injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise (09-194; October 24^th) has another hole in the left rear-leg: exterior side of the knee. Both holes “pointed” with Dermisol-cream. In the right rear-leg this isn’t the case. At 4.35 p.m. the father of the this morning taken-in young Pigeon was discovered sitting languid in a corner and this one as well had “thin shit”. Caught and taken-in. See further at PIGEON.

November 25^th: both yesterday taken-in Pigeons were discovered not alive anymore at 6 a.m. > so we’ll have to take special measurements for the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. The Kestrel was 183 (-4) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 292 (+1), green was 314 (-2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 356 (+10) and the taken-back Dark Barn Owl was 389 (+22) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 430 (+6) and the Sparrowhawk was 290 (+9) gram. Tortoises: number A was 164 (-2), number I was 65 (+1), III was 111 (-2), IV was 116 (+2) and V was 88 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 44 (-3), nr. 2 was 44 (-2), nr. 3 was 42 (=), nr. 4 was 45 (+5), nr. 5 was 39 (=), number 6 was 20 (=) and number 7 was 17 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten very well. The “special measurements” for the pigeon-cage meant, that covered in plastic bags the whole cage had to be emptied and disinfected; a job which was taken by Joren on his shoulders (as experienced expert in this field and a lot more pliant as the other two of the team).

There was started at 7.40 a.m. and all was ready at 10.30 a.m. !! For the first time since intake (November 16^th) we have seen the baby-tortoise number 7 eating !! Two hot-spots on the wing of the Sparrowhawk, where fluid was leaking, we could empty by pressing and a new bandage was given. This computer suddenly had problems, due to which we couldn’t paste any picture anymore, but as well in already existing documents we couldn’t see any picture anymore > we were hovering between hope and fear !! Luckily Will Tieleman in Plomári could solve the problem from a distance > our gratitude is IMMENSE !! In those fidgety circumstances we took the opportunity fixing-together another (yesterday-morning as well one) “interior wrapping” for a sterilization-box; something which dis problem-less (in spite of all !). At 4.05 p.m. was discovered dead on the floor of the Falcon-aviary the only male Kestrel which still was from the old location in Loutrópolis Thermís. Had entered after March 2000, but the intake-book of that period was in the past completely destroyed by doggies. Body-weight was only 117 gram (should have been 190 – 240 gram).

November 26^th: the Kestrel was 186 (+3) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 292 (=), green was 319 (+5), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 347 (-9) and the taken-back Dark Barn Owl was 399 (+10) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 436 (+6) and the Sparrowhawk was 290 (=) gram. Tortoises: number A was 169 (+5), number I was 69 (+4), III was 113 (+2), IV was 114 (-2) and V was 88 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 49 (+5), nr. 2 was 45 (+2), nr. 3 was 41 (-1), nr. 4 was 42 (-3), nr. 5 was 42 (+3), number 6 was 21 (+1) and number 7 was 18 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t eaten at all. At 6.50 a.m. we have transferred the Short-eared Owl for the morning-hours to the free cage in “The Keep” (after first secured the mouse-traps over there). See for the picture at SHORT-EARED OWL. Because we can’t manage the mouse-plague in our Apothíki, we have this morning the whole wall-part next to the stairs to the first floor covered with laminated iron > clever boys when they can penetrate that !! And in spite of all that plodding: cutting, bending, drilling and screwing, we have made some time making one new “interior wrapping” !! And while the two men were busy with all this, Ineke was together with Medie in Kallonís at the Primary School to teach 40 children of the 3^rd class a lot about animals and how to behave with them.

November 27^th: the Kestrel was 186 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 291 (-1), green was 318 (-1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 353 (+6) and the taken-back Dark Barn Owl was 400 (+1) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 441 (+5) and the Sparrowhawk was 294 (+4) gram. Tortoises: number A was 171 (+2), number I was 66 (-3), III was 114 (+1), IV was 117 (+3) and V was 87 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 49 (=), nr. 2 was 45 (=), nr. 3 was 43 (+2), nr. 4 was 44 (+2), nr. 5 was 41 (-1), number 6 was 20 (-1) and number 7 was 19 (+1) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t eaten at all. We have removed from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” the remnant young one from the nest on the bottom (due to which we hadn’t been able cleaning the bottom earlier this month). The brother/sister was discovered dead the 21^st and “determined” the 22^nd. See further at PIGEON. Even before breakfast we had finished again an “interior wrapping”. After breakfast we continued with gathering, straightening and removing of materials which had heaped-up in the last 8 years in the House-next-door > a nice blaze could be made !!

And the Law may be THE LAW, Greeks remain GREEKS, so . . . .

Bear bounty

Municipal authorities in Stavroupoli, in the northern prefecture of Xanthi, yesterday offered a 5,000-euro reward for information regarding the perpetrator of the mutilation and killing of a young brown bear in the area earlier this week. The bear, believed to have been about 2 years old, was found earlier this week in the region of Rhodope, where dozens of the protected species live. The animal had had its limbs cut off.

November 28^th: the yesterday taken-in juvenile Pigeon has produced last night good droppings. Was still alive at 5.50 a.m. and was sleeping; at 6.15 a.m. this had changed into eternal sleep . . . . !! The Kestrel was 183 (-3) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 286 (-5), green was 322 (+4), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 358 (+5) and the taken-back one was 401 (+1) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 437 (-4) and the Sparrowhawk was 299 (+5) gram. Tortoises: number A was 170 (-1), number I was 72 (+6), III was 117 (+3), IV was 116 (-1) and V was 94 (+7) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 50 (+1), nr. 2 was 47 (+2), nr. 3 was 45 (+2), nr. 4 was 46 (+2), nr. 5 was 42 (+1), number 6 was 22 (+2) and number 7 was 19 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t again eaten at all. And as well the Barn Owls as the Eagle owls in “The Keep” had eaten badly. We have changed the double hanging cast of the Sparrowhawk into a single one. On the wing are several “bulbs” with fluid > first have a look if this is drying automatically; if not we must perform some punctions. By the way, this is a sign of a disturbed blood-circulation in that wing. During the morning-hours we could finish the last two “interior wrappings”; hereafter we’ll make some new holed clothes and sterile clothes.

November 29^th: the Kestrel was 187 (+4) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 290 (+4), green was 319 (-3), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 361 (+3) and the taken-back one was 407 (+6) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 438 (+1) and the Sparrowhawk was 283 (-16) gram. Tortoises: number A was 173 (+3), number I was 67 (-5), III was 112 (-5), IV was 116 (-1) and V was 93 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 50 (=), nr. 2 was 46 (-1), nr. 3 was 45 (=), nr. 4 was 44 (-2), nr. 5 was 42 (=), number 6 was 20 (-2) and number 7 was 18 (-1) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten well this time; so as well the Eagle Owls and the Barn Owls. From the leg of the injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise (see herefor as well November 18^th) we could remove from the injury at the knee lots of maggots; both holes are filled again with Dermisol-cream. If Tortoise number A has diminished tomorrow-morning, this will be due to 10.5 cm of manure which was hanging from under his little tail which we discovered cleaning the terrarium . . . . !! The first four holed clothes for castrations are almost ready now > only the holes must yet be made. Two are meant for tom-cats and the other two for he-dogs. Joren has continued with the sorting out of materials in the storage in the House-next-door. At 5.20 p.m. two German friends of us from Skála Polichnítos were at the door with two German people from Freiburg, who had discovered in the streets in Gavathás a (most probably) knocked down sparrow < so see further at HOUSE SPARROW. All four had a little tour around in the Sick-Bay.

November 30^th: the yesterday-evening taken-in Sparrow was still alive at 4.55 a.m. The Kestrel was 186 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 287 (-3), green was 320 (+1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 358 (-3) and the taken-back one was 411 (+3) gram. The Short-eared Owl was 439 (+1) and the Sparrowhawk was 273 (-10) gram. Tortoises: number A was 62 (-11 > so indeed !!), number I was 70 (+3), III was 115 (+3), IV was 115 (-1) and V was 93 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 49 (-1), nr. 2 was 48 (+2), nr. 3 was 43 (-2), nr. 4 was 48 (+4), nr. 5 was 42 (=), number 6 was 21 (+1) and number 7 was 18 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten reasonably this time. In the frame-work of the rat- & mouse-fighting we had marked last night some “hot-spots” in the sealing of our Apothíki, and so we started with that this morning. Showed to be old tin-plates (completely rotten and rusted), which were hammered over holes just after 1926, and on which had gathered rat-shit mixed with ditto piss-in-dust since that time > we got it all in our faces . . . . !! A whole wash-tub full came from there !! So now measuring, making the drawings, laminated iron cutting and fasten that all over the holes. So we’ll be busy the whole morning with that, while Ineke & Joren, Douglas & Janice with the assistance of Maria will be busy processing 19,135 kilo of dead cow (for 125,38 Euro; total now this year 823,308 kilo for 5061,60 Euro). After 3 hours of drudging in all possible (and mostly impossible) positions the three openings were complete closed. For this was used half a square meter of laminated iron. Meanwhile of course this job was interrupted for feedings: doing so the knocked-down sparrow was almost “gone” at 11.10 a.m., to be not counted anymore under the quick at 11.55 a.m.

Total amount of visitors this month: 021 (total this year: 1124)

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 157 (total this year 1623 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 018 [wild ones: 09; others 09, (total this year 248: wild ones 171, others 077; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4295) of which:

SHORT-EARED OWL (Asio flammeus): 1 (seeing the body-weight) female; discovered “somewhere” in the fields by a man looking for mushrooms. The bird arrived wrapped in a heavy leather coat. Had open fracture left humerus; just above the elbow. Fracture was put back on it’s place and injury was stitched. Splint was given. Will have 5 days 20 IU Baytril i.m. Body-weight at intake was 341 gram (with splint 345).

The day after intake we had to stitch as well an injury at the upper side of the fracture. Both wings are fixed now together to have a good position. (see as well November 9^th, 14^th ,18^th & 26^th).

KITTEN (Felis catus): 3; the first was a young Tortoise-shell from Eftaloú, borne “somewhere” in August. Is shaken by a huge dog and due to that she has a dislocation of a low thoracale vertebra, with a functiolaesie of the lower part of the body. Dislocation could be pushed back easily (but will come back as well easily). Should have rhinotracheitis, but is only pulmonal shimmering a bit. So first observation and trying some physio-therapies. The name is “Frummel”. (see as well October 3^rd & 4^th). The 2^nd was a bit older and came from our village. Had come home again with foam around the mouth (poisoned) and the young owner himself had already given milk with olive-oil to get him vomit. However, this had happened but if that had been all ?? Over here Filtalon (Apomorphine) and Atropine was injected. A warning “belly-feeling” did decide us taking-in the little one and this showed to have been right > after some minutes he had symptoms like chorea. This had diminished a bit after half an hour. An one and a half odd hour later he could be approached and even taken in the hands. And after another hour he was eating already. In spite of this he’ll stay till tomorrow-morning, so we’ll know everything is OK. (see as well November 8^th). Number 3 came as well from our village; was a Tom-Cat of about 3 – 4 months old and came in in quite a deplorable condition after being found in this way in the streets: pupils were immense small, heart-beat was almost a “complete bloc”, was incontinent, had an anemia as huge as the whole day of tomorrow, was bone-thin and quite supercooled. Further there was present a huge rhinotracheitis and the poor little one was almost certain poisoned. Because of the whole complex of conditions we have decided (after a short examination) not to try anything anymore but to stop the suffering. But because in any case something will be left over from his young and short life, we have placed his picture over here . . . .

EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE (Streptopelia turtur): 1 from the L.W.H. Was badly pecked by other birds > injuries had to be stitched.

VIXEN (Vulpes vulpes): 1 quite young one (never has given birth) from Lársos. Was knocked-down over there 3 days before intake (November 2^nd) on the main-road. Left front-paw a dirty, open fracture of the metacarpalia. There was a transverse myelitis (but still some counter-pressure in the left rear-leg). Because there is still some counter-pressure, decided giving her a chance. Left front-paw was splinted with as well Dermisol-solvens.

(see as well November 7^th). P.M. November 8^th: before the internal P.M. we have had first a good look at the left front paw: multiple fractures were present in the metacarpus > the V was fractured close to the digit, the IV & III were broken in the middle and the II was broken close to the wrist and close to the index. As well there was a deep injury above the wrist in the underarm. There was an injury as well in the right rear-leg (musculus femoris), just under the knee. In both rear-legs no fractures could be detected. Hereafter incision over the thorax and the abdomen > abdomen was opened. At once free blood in the abdomen was visible. Urine-bladder had small bleedings in the capsula; was not ruptured and quite well filled. Free blood showed to have come from a ruptured left liver-lob. Intestines no other disorders and were removed. Uterus was good visible and she was not (yet) pregnant. Lungs with bloody fading (but this can be caused by the euthanasia-injection). We could detect the fracture in the backbone: showed to have been quite a low (V or VI) lumbale vertebra, which was pressed inside. Even without the euthanasia this absolutely should have been a lost case.

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 6; the first two from the L.W.H.; born March 31^st ’09 out of “Prummel”. The first was “Gandalf” (was 09-026d) and Joren was watching. He performed (except for a minor problem) independently his first castration on “Meriadoc” (was 09-026c).

They were “back home” again at 9.45 a.m. Number 3 came from/via the Shelter in Skála Eressoú. Should have an abscess on the head, they had tried everything to cure it. Because we loved our hands a light complete anesthetic was given. First the right eye was cleaned > showed to have a little hole just above the upper eyelid. Pussing injury on the head was as well cleaned carefully from dirt.

A huge loose piece of bone (18 mm from the left to the right

could be removed. Injury in the eyelid closed with 1 little stitch. Injury on the head (after cleaning) almost complete closed with 3 stitches, leaving one hole for discharge. Now the piece of bone had disappeared, a quick healing can be expected. By the way, almost 100% sure the trauma was caused by a collision. Went back at 12.15 again with his grateful caretakers. (see as well November 24^th). Number 4 was our outdoor-cat “Pinky” > was sleeping quietly in an empty cat-cage when suddenly a syringe was pinned into his body . . . . When he’ll awake his trust in people will have suffered a huge blow (as well his scrotum . . . . !!) > in exactly 8 minutes he was defathered. He left the Sick-Bay quite shocked at 1.40 p.m. . . . .

but was “sans rancune” back again at 4.30 p.m. !! The 5^th was “Deurne”, which had entered the L.W.H. August 30^th this year with a severe pneumonia. In 10 minutes the chance to enlarge the world-cat-population was taken-away from him for ever. Number 6 was the outdoor Tom-Cat “Earl Grey”. In stead of the food he came begging for, his crown-jewels were tilted . . . . !! He was very quick conscious again and received afterwards his food. Because the last time he is very snotty, we’re going to try giving him (at least) three days of antibiotics. As well lots of fighting-injuries on his whole body have to be taken care of.

CAT (Felis catus): 1 from the L.W.H. : “Arwen”. Was 09-026b and was born on top of the shoe of one of us in the food-hall March 31^st ’09. In between 8.07 and 8.31 a.m. the joy from motherhood in the future was taken away from her. Showed to have ear-mites as well and had a “hot-spot” (fungus) on the right upper-lip. While she was still sleeping 8 IU Ivermectin were injected.

SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE (Testudo gracea ibera): 1 baby from in any case a twin and probably just as old as our number 6; the anatomy and physiology of the other was “somewhat changed” already. This one had a body-weight at intake of 16 gram. Received number 7. Could never have survived the hibernation-period.

(see as well November 25^th).

SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus) 1 female, which was shot shortly before intake. The top of the bill was crushed and due to this shot probably hat hit the bottom (or something else) very hard. Huge open fracture left humerus, close to the elbow. Injury was stitched continuously (Vicryl 3/0) and splinted. Double hanging-cast was given. Bill-top was coagulated. 30 IU Konakion was injected (once-only). Will have 7 days 15 IU Baytril i.m. Body-weight at intake was 279 gram (norm is 280 – 320 gram).

(see as well November 24^th& 28^th).

PIGEON (Columba livia dom): 3 the first was a juvenile from the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. Father is a brown Cock-Pigeon with a hanging wing. This youngster had hatched not so long ago and we hadn’t noticed anything special till today. Fell through the door-opening of the cage on the floor. Left eye seems to be blind. Was quite thin as well and produced “thin shit”. So observation. We started with Cavasan-cream for this eye. Was given 1 tablet of L-Spartakon (against internal parasites) the day of intake. The 2^nd was the mentioned-above father of number 1: was sitting languid in a corner and had as well “thin shit”. Was thin as well. Was given as well 1 tablet of L-Spartakon. (for both birds see November 25^th). Number 3 came from the nest on the bottom of the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. Brother/sister was discovered dead already the 22^nd. This one has no “thin shit”, but is quite thin. Was probably hardly fed and didn’t dare (or hardly) eating independently. So observation and feeding. At a further examination “thin shit” was produced > small tablet of Norit was given. (see as well November 28^th).

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus): 1 female, discovered in the streets at Gavathás. Almost 100% sure knocked-down or “swept away” by the air-stream of a car. In any case is limping with the right leg. Observation internal injuries, cerebral and right leg. (see as well November 30^th).