October 2007

LOG-BOOK:

News about the Bird-flu is in red and about the environment in blue

October 1^st: the Hobby was 298 (+5) gram, while Honey Buzzard I was 716 (+11) gram. Honey Buzzard II was 802 (+7) gram. Today again it was “meat-cutting-day” and together 10,680 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (71,46 Euro) was processed. Total this year now 458,479 kilo for 2952,03 Euro. At 5.30 p.m. some women with a Canary-bird, which should have “something wrong with the eye” > showed to be a small abscess in the eye-brow > opened and pus was removed. Not in the statistics.

October 2^nd: the Hobby was 296 (-2) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 716 (=) and Honey Buzzard II was 798 (-4) gram. As well yesterday as today we were time and again phoned about a little doggie in our village, which should be in a “lousy condition” > al last we let the trainees go and have a look > see further at PEKINESE.

October 3^rd: the Pekinese “Máo” had a good night and has eaten as well. Only piddling and relieving till now on without results. The Hobby was unchanged 296 gram. Honey Buzzard I was 740 (+24) and number II was 814 (+16) gram. At 7 a.m. the first water was made by “Máo” > he almost tumbled, but the “pressure is from the kettle”. From 8.15 till 9.10 a.m. we were busy removing grass-seeds from all over the body (deep, deep holes . . . !!) and under a local anesthetic changing the bandages from three legs and clipping away dirt etc. From the right rear-leg, of which we thought that this one was “free” we removed a thick gras-seed out of the meat in between the callus on the foot-sole > started bleeding at once !!

October 4^th: the Pekinese “Máo” is peeing in the meantime normally. The Hobby was 297 (+1) gram, Honey Buzzard I was 739 (-1) and Honey Buzzard II was 812 (-2) gram.

ANIMAL ABUSE

Group condemns killing of dogs

Animal rights organizations yesterday condemned the unidentified individuals behind a blaze last week in Amaliada, central Greece, that killed 25 dogs. Ahead of today’s World Animal Day, the Saint Francis of Assisi Association said it has offered 3,000 euros to whoever can identify the culprits. “Some people have already communicated with us,” association president Marina Petropoulaki-Kollia said. The dogs burned to death in a pen in the village of Roviata, Amaliada, last Wednesday when a fire started on some dry hay nearby and spread to the pen. It is unclear whether the incident was intentional or due to negligence.

October 5^th: “Máo” has produced his first droppings !! The Hobby was 299 (+2) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 734 (-5) and Honey Buzzard II was 817 (+5) gram. Still we must remove grass-seeds from the right front-leg of “Máo” !! Today the three trainees left for Holland . . . . At 10.03 a.m. a phone-call from our Secretary, María Karapolíti, with the plea of could lodge a little stray Tom-cat, she had rescued, for one week because she had to go (again) for the same span of time to the island of Mílos (the same she asked last year for the she-dog “Mítsi” and she is still here . . . !!) > in spite of the risk we answered positively. Was here at 11.40 a.m. > see at TOM CAT. We could hear from the village-loudspeaker-system that next Sunday (October 7^th) we’ll be without electricity from 5 till 10 a.m. > so the planned eye-extirpation of “Máo” is temporarily delayed.

October 6^th: the Hobby was 298 (-1) gram and is fed for the last time (?). Will be transferred to the falcon-aviary later today. Honey Buzzard II was 815 (-2) gram; however, number I was discovered sitting on the bottom of his cage and showed to have a lamed left leg . . . . (??). Body-weight was 748 (+14) gram. The Hobby was transferred to the falcon-aviary at 7 a.m. The huge bulge in the right eye of “Máo” is diminishing and is hardly producing puss anymore > maybe it isn’t necessary after all to remove the eye. Because spontaneously holes were appearing in the house-door of the House-next-door, this morning this door was replaced by a new one. Some parts of the old wood were described by the carpenter as “just Baklavá” (a dripping from oil, but very porous kind of cake)!! At 5.40 p.m. a phone-call from a Belgian rep. from Mólivos, about a small cat of which she thought it was bitten by another animal > was here at 7.45 p.m. See at CAT.

October 7^th: we had to rise later, because we couldn’t do anything in the inky darkness. Honey Buzzard I was 776 gram (+28) and II was 819 (+4) gram. Electricity didn’t come back at 10 a.m. but only at almost 11 !! We have collected the money-boxes which were placed in Hotel Pasiphae, and after we had emptied them, we were 313,93 Euro (and 0,10 GBP) richer.

October 8^th: “Máo” has spend for the first time the whole night (perfectly, and without supervision) inside our house; could hardly be persuaded going out for the morning-pee. Is now and then even lifting his rear-leg doing so. Walking is still difficult, although he is capable climbing the stairs. Honey Buzzard I was 772 (-4) gram and II was 849 (+30) gram. Today again “meat-cutting-day” and both ladies have processed 9,970 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat (66,20 Euro). Total this year now 468,499 kilo for 3018,23 Euro. Two Dutch visitors. We have started repairing the “mess” in the wall of the House-next-door, which was left by the carpenter after the hanging of the front-door over there.

October 9^th: Honey Buzzard I was 763 (-9) and Honey Buzzard II was 842 (-7) gram. This morning we have micro-chipped the cat “Gonda” (06-196-B; September 22^nd ’06). She will be rehomed in Holland October 16^th. We could continue with the restoration of the porch of the House-next-door. In the evening we could rescue 3 Green Toads (Bufo viridis) and lodge the safely for the night in the terrarium.

October 10^th: Honey Buzzard I was 757 (-6) and II was 846 (+4) gram. At 8.30 a.m. we could release at a safe spot the three, rescued yesterday evening, Green Toads.

Mt Parnitha ready for the rains

Work to build anti-flood barriers on the slopes of Mount Parnitha, ravaged in a huge fire in June, is virtually complete, forest authorities said yesterday. “In a few days, we’ll be done,” said the president of the organization overseeing Mount Parnitha, Dimitris Spathis.

Some 3,000 kilometers of trunks – from the trees burned in the blaze – have been laid out on the mountain’s slopes to protect residential areas beneath them from flooding when the first rains come.

Despite the preparations, residents of nearby residential areas are awaiting the first heavy rainfall nervously. “That will be the first test, if the mountain handles that then we can relax,” a resident of Aspropyrgos told Kathimerini.

Meanwhile, re-growth on the forest’s charred land is progressing well, environmentalists say. “The return of the vegetation has been spectacular,” said forestry expert Panayiotis Latsoudis, who has been monitoring the regeneration of Parnitha on a daily basis since the fire. The first sign of re-growth was the sprouting of wild asparagus a few weeks after the fire. Since then shrubs growing at low levels on the mountain have reached half a meter in height, Latsoudis said. Cyclamens and other hardy bulbs have resurfaced very quickly. “We’ve got a foothold now and things are improving steadily,” Latsoudis said.

One unfortunate development in the Parnitha area is the killing, by illegal hunters, of more than 50 red deer, a protected species. According to environmentalists, illegal hunters have eluded arrest by seeking their prey at night and using silencers on their guns to avoid attracting the attention of forest rangers. The deer have become more vulnerable to hunters as their natural protection – the forest itself – has disappeared.

In a bid to heighten public awareness about the protection forests need, but also to promote ecotourism, a trek is being organized this weekend in the Virgin Forest in western Rhodope, northern Greece. The 108-kilometer “trail” – crossing through pristine forestland accommodating several protected species – is being promoted “so people can understand the significance of protecting such an area,” organizers said.

Cyprus falcons

Gunmen in Cyprus have killed 46 threatened red-footed migrating falcons simply for target practice, bird conservation officials on the Mediterranean island charged yesterday. Birdlife Cyprus Manager Martin Hellicar said farmers on Friday found the pellet-riddled birds lying in a tight cluster on a citrus farm west of the coastal resort of Limassol. Another six birds were found shot but still clinging on to life. Hellicar said exacerbating the killings was the fact that the red-footed falcon was recently upgraded from “vulnerable” to “globally near-threatened.”

We could continue again with the porch of the front-door of the House-next-door. And for everyone who ever lived there, here two pictures: situation till October 6^th ’07 and thereafter.

October 11^th: Honey Buzzard I was 764 (+7) and Honey Buzzard II was 853 (+7) gram. The fracture of the leg of Honey Buzzard I is healing slowly, but he isn’t yet using the leg. Wd continued with the porch of the House-next-door: we jointed, but as well the electricity-meter (which only was hanging on the cables . . . !!) was fastened again. At 1 p.m. suddenly (and without any warning) the electricity disappeared and such lasted till after 2 p.m. So lots of translation-work was done for nothing. At ± 9 p.m. a medium-seize Green Toad was discovered by “Axel” in the court-yard of the House-next-door > was lodged for the night in the Terrarium.

October 12^th: Honey Buzzard I was 770 (+6) and number II was 886 (+33) gram. However, the last measurement (although done twice) is looked at with some scepticism. The yesterday-evening discovered Green Toad is released at a safe spot at 8.15 a.m. We have bought 1 box (30 pieces) of tiles to repair the doorstep of the House-next-door (which was completely ruined by the carpenter) watertight. The joints in the porch of the House-next-door were emptied with the angle-grinder and filled again with good concrete. At 10.10 p.m. we were able to rescue 2 Green Toads out of the bite- & play-happy mouths of our doggies > lodged for the night in the Terrarium.

October 13^th: Honey Buzzard I was 791 (+21) gram and number II was measured well after all yesterday: now 883 (-3) gram. We had to remove the right eye of “Máo”. Was neutered as well in the same surgery. See further at PEKINESE. After the surgery we have released at 9.15 a.m. both Green Toads. At 10.35 a.m. a phone-call from our friend Gonda (who had brought-in last year the little cat “Gonda” and who will take care of her during the trip to Holland next week), that she had been witness yesterday late of the knocking-down of a little cat > one eye should be in a bad condition. She passed-by with the little one. See further at CAT. We could point a bit in the porch of the House-next-door. After twelve o’clock it started (at last) raining a bit and we heard some loud thunders !! At 5.40 p.m. a phone-call from Mólivos about a gull, which should be injured. One is going to see how and when the bird can be transported tomorrow to our Hospital. At 7.30 p.m. again a phone-call about the gull > one should try to deliver the bird this evening at the Shell-Station (hasn’t happened). At 9.25 p.m. we could rescue 2 Green Toads and again two at 9.40 p.m. There is one quite fat one amongst them ! Never ever we had to rescue toads so many days after each other !

October 14^th: it has been reining the whole night quite a bit > some water was coming-in under the new door in the House-next-door, because the door-step isn’t yet finished. “Máo” is doing fine and is quite a bit less querulous !! The little “Snipper” meanwhile knows the way in her cage (and as well outside) quite well. Honey Buzzard I was 795 (+4) gram and number II was 895 (+12) gram. At 8.15 a.m. we have released the 4 Green Toads (1 female > the fat one, and 3 males). We started with the tiling op the door-step of the House-next –door, but we were disturbed at 8.50 a.m. by the carpenter (but it started as well raining again) who wanted to bring the new door of óur house and he needed the lock of the old door. We had to fasten the old door for the time being with some screws, because otherwise it should be quite cold inside. At 9.45 a.m. we received the message from Mólivos, that the announced gull meanwhile had chosen to go up-wards without using his/her wings . . . !! With quite a lot of problems the new door was on its place at 12.30 p.m. That we could (and had to) replace this door was because we had received a more than generous gift from someone who wanted to be anonymous and we were allowed ourselves to decide where we should use it for. Now even with a power-cut we can see what’s happening in the hall (because there is glass in the top-part) and the chance we’ll step unprepared in the shit or pee is gone . . . . !! However, as well the door as the door-frame were quite far on their way into wood-powder > so we were in time.

October 15^th: both little cats in the Sick-bay have spend the night nicely in one cage and in each other’s arms. “Ámmos” is fathering them well and is giving (sometimes somewhat rough) big washings. The good eye of “Snipper” is becoming more and more clean. Honey Buzzard I was 786 (-9) gram and Honey Buzzard II was 904 (+9) gram. We’re expecting today a half-stray cat from Lisvóri where, before the care-takers are leaving for the winter-months for Holland, the joy of an eventually motherhood should be taken away. And she, named “Deborrah” was here at 7.50 a.m. > see at CAT. Today again meat-cutting-day and in total 19,490 kilo of meat, liver & minced meat was processed (70,17 Euro). Total this year now 478,939 kilo for 3088,40 Euro. The “de-mothered” cat was taken back in perfect condition at 10 a.m. We started already with the tiling of the door-step in the House-next-door, but we were forced by the cold weather to stop early . . . !! Our hands couldn’t feel anything anymore !!

Warning about fire emissions issued

Greece's recent deadly wildfires emitted more dioxins than Germany's industrial sector does in a year, a local environmental scientist claimed amid wider calls by field experts for emergency action to prevent longer-term consequences that would be detrimental to the economy, environment and public health.

Experts warned that swift action was needed to locate where the emissions had settled, test regional soil, livestock and water samples, and then implement safety measures. Scientists criticized the government for focusing entirely on anti-flood works.

“Research determining the extent of the pollution's effect on the environment needs to be conducted along with the flood-protection works,” said Yiannis Koumantakis, a professor of geology and hydrogeology at the National Technical University of Athens. “Immediate proposals are needed to deal with this extremely serious issue, because if things remain as they are, this will lead to a second, perhaps bigger, catastrophe with consequences on the economy, environment and, above all, public health.”

Describing the fire tragedy as unprecedented and particularly complex for the nation, Polyxeni Nikolopoulou-Stamati, an assistant professor at Athens Medical School, warned that “the dioxins emitted are capable of storing themselves in animal fat, as well as that of humans, prompting mutations and birth defects.”

Nikolopoulou-Stamati also warned that the emissions contained carcinogenic elements.

Tiger mosquitoes on the prowl in Serres

Scientists have revealed that the Asian tiger mosquito, which can carry deadly viruses, has been discovered in the prefecture of Serres in northern Greece. The findings were made public after a conference in Serres last week when local experts revealed they had caught some Asian tiger mosquitoes in July. This type of mosquito is normally only found in the forests of Asia, Africa and South America. The insect is about 5 millimeters long with distinctive yellow stripes. Asian tiger mosquitoes can carry the West Nile virus, which was responsible for nearly 300 deaths out of more than 4,000 cases in the USA in 2002.

However, the head of Greece's center for combating mosquitoes, Efthymios Rambotas, said that the find in Serres was an isolated incident and that the public need not worry.

October 16^th: Honey Buzzard I was 794 (+8) gram and the other 902 (-2) gram. At 6.40 a.m. a huge Green Toad was brought into safety by Axel and temporarily lodged in the Terrarium, and 20 minutes later “Gonda” was given an injection with something to keep her more quiet during the transport to Holland. At 7.59 a.m. she was handed-over to her namesake and rescuer. The Green Toad (a male) was placed on a safe spot at 8.57 a.m. We could continue with the tiling of the door-step of the House-next-door (it is true, with woolen gloves !) Because both front-doors had the same lock (and we had only one key !), we have received (for free) from Yiánnis’ wife (and we’re feeding their chickens with our left-overs of fruit and salad) out of a dusty box another key, we could with some labor made fitting for that lock. Outside from our own new door we have already done some plastering. We are contacted by e-mail by a Dutch woman, who after her holiday here was very concerned about a little blind tom-cat, which should stay at the Hotel “Panselinos” in Eftaloú. After we had the assurance that she should take care of the care, lodging etc. in Holland, we’ve contacted our friend Julie in the same village and meanwhile she has spotted already the little one. She’ll go and see how quick she can deliver him here. At 5.55 p.m. our Greek friend Mílto was at our door with a little cat, which just was knocked-down in the Agorá > shouldn’t be able to walk. After we had tried to take it out of the cardboard-box (was biting through thick leather gloves !!) there was a run through the surgery (a bit flappy, but still), so it might have been worse. Advised to set him/her free on a quiet and safe spot. Not in the statistics. However, it’s indeed a “dogs- & cats-month” till now on . . . !! During the evening again 2 Green Toads were secured by Axel.

October 17^th: Honey Buzzard I was 789 (-5) and the female was 923 (+21) gram. The two yesterday-evening rescued Green Toads (m) were released at 8.24 a.m. again at the same safe spot. The doorstep of the House-next-door is almost ready (tiled on three sides) > tomorrow the last part. We have received the message from Eftaloú that the little blind tom-cat will be brought next Saturday.

A big fat rat, the disabled Tom-cat “Ámmos” had been hunting for the whole morning, was spotted by our doggies at 1.45 p.m. and was given air-condition . . . . !! We received a message from our Vice-Chairman, that from the severe protected Corn Crake (Crex crex) there were 32 dead ones confiscated September 22^nd in Agiássos . . . . after being caught in nets with the help of decoys !! Of course this is forbidden in Greece, but . . . . !! At 4.30 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne from the Vet Lina Tendoma, that she had an injured on one wing “geráki” (bird of prey). So we went for a ride and picked-up the bird at 5.20 p.m. > see at BOOTED EAGLE. This was the 193^rd animal-species we treated since the beginning of the registration. Again Axel could secure a Green Toad. At 7.50 p.m. a phone-call from Násja, that she should pass-by with a little cat > see at TOM CAT.

October 18^th: all were still alive this morning at 4.55 a.m. !! We received the message from Holland that the Booted Eagle is a male. That one was this morning 565 (+5) gram; Honey Buzzard I 795 (+6) and Honey Buzzard II was 915 (-8) gram. At 6.25 a.m. a little Green Toad was discovered by Runa in the midst of the road > so temporarily secured. At 8.20 a.m. both Green Toads were released on the safe spot. We have discovered a shot-hole in the body of the Booted Eagle; just above the left leg. At 10.15 a.m. the door-step of the House-next-door was completely ready; from tomorrow the main-entrance can be used again normally. The yesterday-evening taken-in little Tom-cat went back at 12.25 p.m. (in quite a better condition) to Násja’s mother who will further take care of the little one. The woman, who had visited us October 1^st with her canary-bird and where we had removed some pus above an eye-brow, was now at 5.15 p.m. back with her birdie > now there was a real immense bulb around the eye. While we had the bird in our hands, suddenly breathing stopped > stress ?? This time as well not in the statistics.

October 19^th: at 4.50 a.m. this time by us a Green Toad was lifted from the street and rescued from the sharp teeth of our doggies > transferred to the Terrarium. The Booted Eagle was 611 (+46) gram; Honey Buzzard I had diminished with 15 gram (780 gram) and Honey Buzzard II had gained 13 gram (928 gram). The this morning rescued Green Toad was released on the safe spot at 8.40 a.m. The doorstep of our own house is tiled now from the outside. Just after 3 p.m. we were roughly disturbed in our siesta by 2 Luxemburgian tourists, who came to ask for help by unacceptable situations with dogs and donkeys > transferred to the animal-lovers societies in Mytiléne. At 10 p.m. two Green Toads were brought into safety by Axel.

October 20^th: the Booted Eagle was 635 (+24) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 782 (+2) and Honey Buzzard II was 930 (+2) gram. This morning we closed the left eye of the little cat “Snipper” (removing the eye-lids & stitching). Both Green Toads of yesterday-evening are set free at 8.50 a.m. (in the rain).

Seal rescuer calls for action

The director of a small tourist enterprise on Tinos, who earlier this month dived off a pier in gale-force winds to save a newborn seal from drowning, yesterday appealed for a concerted campaign to preserve the Mediterranean monk seal, one of the world’s most endangered mammals.

“Authorities should emphasize the importance of protecting the monk seal,” Victoria Drouga told Kathimerini.

Of some 500 monk seals left in the world, around half live off Greek shores but they are endangered by overfishing and pollution.

“If we all become sensitized to this issue, maybe some good can be done,” said Drouga, who on October 1 leaped off a pier at Kolybithra in northern Tinos and rescued a seal pup that had been floundering in the choppy waters. “The sea was so rough that I had problems getting to the seal which was being tossed about by the waves,” Drouga said, noting that winds had reached 9 Beaufort.

Drouga, who jumped into the water fully clothed to get to the seal in time, said she was shocked to see that it still had its umbilical cord attached. According to experts from the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (MOM) the pup was just four days old when it was found. MOM officials could not travel to Tinos on the day of the seal’s rescue, due to a ban on ships sailing in bad weather, so they gave Drouga instructions over the telephone to ensure that the pup would survive the next 24 hours.

“They told me not to feed her, to keep her warm and in view of the sea, as her mother might be looking for her,” Drouga said. Sure enough, another seal turned up in the same spot half an hour later but disappeared before it could be caught by Drouga, who dived into the water again. “I thought it might have been another baby,” she said.

The next day, MOM officials arrived and took the pup, which they named Victoria after its rescuer, and are now caring for it at their base on the island of Alonissos. Drouga said MOM workers regularly brief her on the seal’s progress. “They told me that they tried to put her in the water but she didn’t like it,” she said, adding that the seal would be released back into the sea in four months’ time if all goes well.

Weather warning

The Secretariat for Civil Protection issued a warning yesterday about severe weather conditions expected to hit the country today through Monday. Heavy rainfall and storms are expected to strike parts of northern and western Greece along with the eastern Aegean islands (and that includes as well Lesvos !! > note L.W.H.).

The announced little Tom-cat from Eftaloú arrived at 5.25 p.m. > see at TOM-CAT.

October 21^st: it’s such a bad weather that our doggies (except for a single exception) pertinently are refusing to leave the house for a wee . . . !! The little Tom-Cat from Eftaloú is named “Stevie” (after Stevie Wonder) on request of the people in Holland. The Booted Eagle was 653 (+18) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 796 (+14) and the other 971 (+41) gram. We discovered at 7 a.m. the Hobby (07-173; August 27^th), which was transferred to the falcon-aviary October 6^th, laying on the back and soaking- and soaking-wet. Showed to have diminished since the 6^th with 120 gram > so hardly anything had been eaten !! We performed a huge “service-turn-out” to the neutered dog “Máo” > the injury on the belly was cleaned and re-stitched (4x), right eye was cleaned, stitches removed and one new one. Under the left eye there were 2 deep holes > cleaned and stitched (3x). Left rear leg a grass-seed was removed and closed with 1 stitch. Left front leg a huge bulb was opened > lots of bloody fluid was removed and still one grass-seed > 1 stitch. Further nails were clipped. The Coffin’s Cacatua (07-194; September 26^th) was transferred to our living > we had to remove first an arm-chair because otherwise id didn’t fit . . . !! The disabled ex-tom-cat “Ámmos” (07-145; July 29^th) is transferred to the House-next-door. The Hobby, which almost the whole day had been half-sitting, half laying with the head bowed backwards, was sitting straight again at 3 p.m.

September 22^nd: the Hobby was sitting perfectly straight this morning and hadn’t diminished anymore > 178 gram. Has as well produced some droppings !! The Booted Eagle was 658 (+5) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 773 (-23) and number II was 963 (-8) gram. It was súch a heavy weather this morning at eight, that the school-children who weren’t brought to school by car (under which our grandchildren) had to return for changing their soaking-wet clothes for dry ones . . . !! The streets in the village looked like rivers . . . !! In spite of the heavy weather there had to be bought meat etc: 11,235 kilo of meat, minced meat & liver (64,06 Euro; total this year now 490,174 kilo for 3162,46 Euro) > so mother-in-law & daughter-in-law occupied themselves with this. Meanwhile the weather had cleared up a bit and so the carpenter came to place the last window of our house: the most difficult one because of the “gothic shape”. And the two of us were just standing in the hacked out window-opening when it started to rain again and of course the rain came straight into our faces !! And fitting into each other and a good measurement is something “special” in Greece, because of course . . . . it wasn’t fitting !! And so lots of hacking and smashing was necessary, and this in such weather-conditions !!

RAIN PROBLEMS

Firefighters receive calls for help

Firefighters received tens of calls of help for flooding from residents in the broader Attica area after heavy rainfall on Saturday. Homes and roads flooded on the nearby island of Salamina, Spata, Pallini and Elefsina. In Kato Patissia, Athens, the heavy rainfall resulted in a garden wall collapsing onto nearby parked cars. There were no reports of injuries. The first snow of the year fell on Saturday in the mountainous regions of northern Greece’s Florina and Kastoria. Weather experts expect conditions to start improving as of this afternoon.

October 23^rd: the Hobby was 195 (+17) gram and the Booted Eagle 671 (+13) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 784 (+11) and the 2^nd was 968 (+5) gram. We started with the plastering inside the houses of all chinks around new windows and doors placed in the last weeks by the carpenter. The streets in our village are changed after yesterday in huge sloughs, and on some places it’s perilous to drive because one had removed the gratings of the sewer-system (so the water could run-off more quickly) and no-one has replaced them yet. Today our grand-daughter had to be taken home from school by car due to the bad weather . . . !!

Rain leaves minimal damage

Many parts of the country got as much rainfall over the weekend as they do in a month, according to meteorologists, but the summer’s fire-ravaged areas were not hard hit by the downpours.

The heaviest rainfall was in Attica, Pyrgos, Paros (where our colleague-hospital is) and Thessaloniki (where our First-Aid-Station is). In Attica, the fire service received dozens of calls from citizens reporting flooded homes or stores. In the central district of Kolonos, a hole opened up in the road, causing traffic problems. In Thessaloniki, many areas experienced power cuts.

Athens Prefect Yiannis Sgouros is today due to visit the northern suburb of Vrilissia to oversee the implementation of 2-million-euro anti-flood works. “Vrilissia is more vulnerable since the fires on Mount Pendeli this summer,” Sgouros said.

A few minor landslides occurred on roads in Arcadia, Messinia, Laconia and Corinth. But there were no major problems in most fire-ravaged areas such as Ileia and Mount Parnitha where recently built anti-flood barriers averted mudslides. Meteorologists warned of more rain and thunderstorms today and tomorrow.

After 4 o’clock 2 Greek visitors (1 from Athens and the other from Thessalonica), who are studying environmental “stuff” on the University here and who offered help for the future. At 5.45 an acknowledge of us came with quite a special kind of chicken > see at CHICKEN.

October 24^th: it was really heavy weather last night . . . !! All patients were still alive this morning and the Phoenix-chicken was looking around quite vivid. The Hobby was 201 (+6) gram and the Booted Eagle 897 (+26) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 799 (+15) and number II was 984 (+16) gram. Today we continued with the plastering of all chinks: the last placed (“gothic”) window is finished from the inside > standing on a stair in a spiral staircase (is wobbling nicely !!) plastering above one’s head . . . !! At 6.55 p.m. two crying and panicking women were at our door with a young Tom-cat which was evidently poisoned > see at TOM-CAT.

October 25^th: all patients were still alive at 4.55 a.m. (even the poisoned Tom-Cat !!) The Hobby was 211 (+10) and the Booted Eagle was 708 (+11) gram. Honey Buzzard I was 801 (+2) and the other was 991 (+7) gram. At 8.30 a.m. the poisoned Tom-Cat from last night was taken back by the over-grateful owner. The cat was a memory to het, passed-away a month ago in a car-accident, husband who had rescued the little one and taken home. The neighbors were evidently not so pity-full . . . . !! We have transferred the Booted Eagle (because he wasn’t so “fitting” anymore in his sick-cage and started te be quite wild there as a result) to the buzzard-aviary, over where he was sitting in the sun and in the top of the aviary within a nanosecond. Now only wait and see if he is starting to eat there. The “gothic” window in the staircase is meanwhile completely cleaned on the inside from spilled and overhanging plaster. At 8.18 p.m. two Green Toads could be placed on a safe spot for the night. When we were just asleep, there was a power-cut for more than a quarter of an hour; so not so spectacular but only difficult for the waking-up (electric alarm-clocks !!).

October 26^th: we could wake-up in time after all. The Hobby was 213 (+2) gram; Honey Buzzard I had gained 7 gram (808 gram) and the female was just one gram below one kilo (+8 gram). The Booted Eagle had a good night and was sitting on a roost above in the aviary at 7 a.m. Now wait and see if he’ll start eating !! We stopped the registration of the ex tom-cat “Ámmos” > a further leg-amputation isn’t necessary anymore and he is running & climbing throughout the House-next-door. We could remove the stitches from the eye of the little cat “Snipper” > some fluid was removed as well and the rest-hole is closed with a small agrafe. Both Green Toads from yesterday evening were set free on the safe spot at 8.20 a.m. Bothered by the condition of the back-bone only quite little could be done in cleaning and plastering of the new windows.

Boars and bunnies in hunters’ sights

The hunting season has been extended on Lemnos and Lesvos so that locals can attempt to cull the population of wild rabbits and boars on the islands. Rabbits have caused farmers on Lesvos problems for a number of years. A number of measures have been taken on the northeastern Aegean island, including the release of sterile polecats but they do not seem to have had an impact. Now, the Agricultural Development Ministry is allowing hunters to hunt the bunnies even at night.

The ministry has also extended the hunting season on Lesvos to tackle the growing number of wild boars that are roaming the island. It is thought that someone released a few animals into the wild around five years ago, possibly in the hope that they would breed and provide decent prey for hunters.

EU rap for Greece

The European Court of Justice yesterday slammed Greece for its poor record on wildlife preservation, saying that many rare species of birds are unprotected. In a ruling made public yesterday, the court called on Greece to characterize 25 percent of its countryside as “protection zones” for 12 endangered species of birds, including certain vultures and hawks.

The European Commission has also rapped Greece over its failure to clean up Lake Koroneia, the country’s dirtiest body of water, despite receiving more than 20 million euros in EU funding for the task. Hundreds of dead birds and fish were found around the lake recently despite alleged improvements since 2004 when 30,000 local birds, including flamingos and ducks, died due to the high levels of toxins in the water.

October 27^th: the Hobby was 216 (+3) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 813 (+5) and II was 1025 (+26) gram. We have removed from the blind tom-cat “Stevie” from both eyes the eye-lids and the holes stitched, In the same surgery he lost as well his crown-jewels. We were able to remove again 2 grass-seeds out of the body of the Pekinese “Máo”: in the face under the left eye and from a hole under the removed right eye. Some holes, which are refusing to close (so there must be something inside) are in vain surged for corpora aliena. In the afternoon 2 visitors from Mólivos: 1 Dutch and 1 German. The Hobby started to eat on his own !!

October 28^th: beginning of the winter-time > so for us no extra hour of sleep (because the animals had wakened-up of course at the normal time) but an extra working-hour. The Hobby was 224 (+8) gram. Honey Buzzard I was discovered with blood on his right foot > we weren’t able to see where it came from. Was 812 (-1) gram. Honey Buzzard II was 1020 (-5) gram. “Máo” is using the rear-leg (where a strange hole was discovered) normally again. We have used the extended working-time before breakfast to drill two holes in the separation-wall between our house and the House-next-door for the extending of the Central Heating-system > the wall showed to be more as 60 cm thick and completely build of rocks. Drilling happened at an height of 2,5 meters and so completely above the head !! Thereafter we continued with the plastering of the new windows > we have completed now one window and a half. In the same room still the same must be done, and thereafter another 2 windows. And after that the outside . . . . !! We started socializing the three cats/kittens, which are now in care in the Sick-Bay: “Stevie”, “Moor” and “Snipper”. The last one is the most frightened.

October 29^th: the Hobby was, after yesterday not been fed anymore, 225 (+1) gram. Honey Buzzard I had diminished: 803 (-9) gram and the other 1030 (+10) gram, and such after they are fed both with the same amount of food !! Today was “meat-cutting-day” again and in total 12,145 kilo of meat, minced meat & liver (78,46 Euro) was processed. Total till now on this year 502,319 kilo for 3240,92 Euro. The whole morning busy with electricity in the House-next-door: a.o. with environment-friendly night-lights for the children. Afterwards it showed to have been disastrous for our back-bone . . . . !!

Greeks told: Go green

President urges country to develop environmental conscience

Greeks have been encouraged by President Karolos Papoulias to develop a “new social conscience” with respect to the environment just hours after the country was informed it may be taken to the European Court of Justice for allowing the River Asopos to become heavily polluted.

Papoulias made the comment on Saturday while visiting Lake Koroneia, near Thessaloniki, which has also been plagued by pollution problems in the last few years.

“I am here today to underline that the protection of the environment is a national matter,” said the president. “We need a nationwide effort to protect the environment. We made mistakes in the past, ignoring some things that we thought would turn out better than they have. We have not been able to protect the environment in this way,” said Papoulias, who was also outspoken about Greece's failings following the devastating wildfires this summer. “Today, I think we need to create a new social conscience with respect to the environment. This new conscience has to start from nursery schools, from small children to the eldest.”

Hundreds of birds died at Koroneia last month after a buildup of harmful bacteria that was caused by pollution and the excessive use of the lake for irrigation purposes.

“We have been indifferent,” admitted Thessaloniki Prefect Panayiotis Psomiadis. “The mistakes began some 20 years ago and the president is very wise to talk about the indifference of the past and that we will only save the lake if we are united.” Psomiadis said that a project to protect the lake, which was drawn up after the most recent ecological disaster at Koroneia three years ago, would begin next year.

Meanwhile, Greece was notified by the European Commission at the end of last week that it faces being taken to court over its failure to clean up the Asopos River north of Athens.

The Environment and Public Works Ministry unveiled plans earlier this month to clean up the river, which contains highly toxic depleted chromium, and provide local people with clean drinking water.

However, the European Commission's warning is likely to keep the pressure on the government to ensure that the works are carried out.

October 30^th: the Hobby should have twice a day a full bowl of food, and with this he had gained 7 gram (232). Honey Buzzard I was 820 (+17) and number II was 1032 (+2) gram. So the body-weights of both birds is beating us. In spite of the back-bone-problems we were able plastering again one window.

October 31^st: the Hobby was 235 (+3) gram; Honey Buzzard I was 816 (-4) and the other was 1044 (+12) gram. Again we have finished one window > still two to go (inside). We started re-organizing the ground-floor of the House-next-door: next Saturday (if everything is according to plan, because it’s Greece here . . . !!) more than 60 square meter 6 mm thick board will be brought. With that we can separate the work-shop from the hall (no pissing cats over there anymore), the hall can be re-shaped into a “heavy-weather-entrance” and the former room of “Mispoes” can be transformed into an “Apothíki” for as well the inhabitants of the House-next-door as for our food-storage (mainly seeds in 300-liter-barrels !!). At 5.50 p.m. the owner of the “special chicken” came to pick-up his bird, but he brought at the same moment a Peacock-cock: as well bone-thin. All kinds of tests were done and thereafter feeding-advices were given. See further at PEACOCK. Hereafter at 9 p.m. “the devil was loose”: grand-son Axel came-in panicking that his mother (Runa) was dieing . . . . !! She was lying on the floor with lots of blood around her, was inapproachable , ice-cold and wasn’t reacting anymore. Pupils were wide-open. Because of the blood around and from the mouth our first thoughts were “epileptic insult” > ambulance was called. Was here within 10 minutes. At arrival at the first-aid-station in Kallonís it showed to be a “quite run out of control” diabetic coma. She was pepped-up over there and the injury on her chin was stitched (on her request) by her father, with assistance of 2 Greek doctors. Home-coming a Green Toad could be placed for the night on a safe spot. Meanwhile there had been a phone-call from Mytiléne about a Thrush which should have problems with both wings; will probably be send by coach tomorrow.

Total amount of visitors this month: 006 (total this year: 442)

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 101 (total this year 2446 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 11 [wild ones: 01; others 10], (total this year 232: wild ones 146, others 086; total since the start of registration in 1996: 3775) of which:

PEKINESE (Canis familiaris): 1 male from our village (??) had quite a damaged and goggling right eye and seemed to be knocked-down, so to see from the leg-injuries. At last it showed to be that the poor soul was covered with penetrating razor-sharp grass-seeds, which had caused the most horrible injuries: 3 feet damaged, penis damaged and the scrotum was “a bit punctured”, face full of seeds and they were even in the mouth and in the gums . . . !! Before we can do something with that damaged eye, he must first regain a bit more strength, because now it’s a “fishbone-store-house” !! Is for the time being named “Máo”.

October 7^th we took again a picture from the eye, but as well from the injured legs:

October 13^th we had to remove the right eye > showed to be inside only puss. Was neutered as well (via the belly). Checking the legs we could remove still three grass-seeds, of which one had entered the body in the foot and was removed from inside the elbow . . . . !! (see as well October 21^st & 27^th)

TOM CAT (Felis catus): 4; the first was an about 6 weeks old coal-black little one; probably from our village. In principal he is lodged here for one week, but . . . . ?? Is named “Moor”, because the discoverer has after 23 days (28-10) not yet returned from Athens . . . . !! The 2^nd was brought-in by Násja, had probably eaten “something wrong” (sic!), but had already vomited and produced diarrhoea. So an injection doesn’t work anymore > taken-in for one night for observation. (see as well October 18^th). The 3^rd came from Eftaloú and lived over there around Hotel Panselinos > has lost both eyes (rhinotrachitis ??). So the eye-lids must be removed and the holes closed, but the whole must become firstly more clean, because now it’s quite pussy. So first antibiotics. (see as well October 27^th). Number 4 came from our village and was evidently poisoned. Atropine and Apomorphine were injected, but the pupils were very large and remained light-stiff. So we didn’t give a dime anymore for his chances. He was checked constantly and around 11 p.m. there seemed to be a little improvement. Was the next morning quite vivid (see as well October 25^th).

CAT (Felis catus): 3; the first one was a small one from Mólivos. Should be bitten or something like that. However, showed to be knocked-down (quite a time ago), due to which as well the upper jaw as the lower jaw were complete deformed: remnants of little incisors were discovered behind the eye-tooth and as well there was quite a dislocation. Because of prognosis infaust put down. Was the first animal in our history which passed away purring !! The 2^nd was as well quite young (just shedding the teeth) from Kallonís; was knocked-down the day before intake. One eye should be seriously damaged. Showed however to be ór an inborn eye-defect, ór the eye is damaged due to rhinotrachitis. First we’ll start with giving antibiotics and try to pep her up, and afterwards we’ll close the eye-lids. Was named “Snipper” (= Shred), because she is so small.

(see as well October 20^th & 26^th). Number 3 was a semi-stray from Lisvóri > we removed the joy of a future motherhood for ever.

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus): 1, delivered at a Vet’s place in Mytiléne > injured on the right wing (hand-piece; probably shot). Hanging cast was given.

(see as well October 25^th).

CHICKEN (Gallus gallus dom): 1 from Mytiléne > she is quite a special race; is named “Phoenix”. The cock has a tail of about 1 meter . . . !! She should walk difficult and eating badly > so observation. (see as well October 31^st).

PEACOCK (Pavo cristatus): 1 cock from Mytiléne; was bone- & bone-thin. There was no obstruction in the gullet by which this could be explicated. Showed how to feed in an artificial way.