October 2009

LOG-BOOK:

News about Greece is in blue.

October 1^st: all were still alive in the Sick-Bay and the knocked-down little Tom-Cat screamed loudly to show so !! He is already walking around a bit, has made water and is eating by himself. If this is continuing, he will be named “Douglas” (after the man who called for our help for him). The Kestrel was 197 (=) and the Buzzard was 731 (+9) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 298 (-2), green was 311 (-2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 264 (+36) and the brown Dark Barn Owl was 392 (+10) gram. The Little Bittern was 105 (+13) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 51 (-1), -0903 was 84 (=), -0904 was 89 (+2) and –0905 was 69 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 23 (-1), nr. 2 was 23 (=), nr. 3 was 22 (=), nr. 4 was 21 (-1) and nr. 5 was 20 (+1) gram. Both Hedgehogs had forced themselves in between the netting and the old houslet, where the two of them were sitting together at 6.45 a.m.; eaten was hardly done !! During the morning-hours the little knocked-down Tom-Cat started eating kitten-biscuits, so his name is official no.

Since the moment that the Little Bittern (09-177; September 13^th ’09) is going out from 8 a.m. until 3.30 p.m., the sudden gaining of weight had started, while the amount of feeding-rounds isn’t enlarged !! The Dark Barn Owl, we had taken back from the barn owl-cage in “The Keep” September 21^st, because she started to be at the end of her life after having been here as an invalid for so long, was discovered at 5.30 p.m. not alive anymore > however was still kept warm by the snow-white !! It was 08-027, which March 9^th 2006 (so after the hunting-season) was picked-up shot in Troulótti Thermís and which was transferred as an invalid June 21^st ’08 to the barn owl-cage in “The Keep”. At 7.20 p.m. little “Douglas” produced his first turds.

October 2^nd: little “Douglas” has recuperated in that way that already (hesitatingly) is played with a cat-toy-mouse !! The Kestrel was 197 (=) and the Buzzard was 738 (+7) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 288 (-10), green was 310 (-1) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 238 (-26) gram. The Little Bittern was 107 (+2) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 51 (=), -0903 was 85 (+1), -0904 was 89 (=) and –0905 was 67 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 23 (=), nr. 2 was 22 (-1), nr. 3 was 22 (=), nr. 4 was 22 (+1) and nr. 5 was 20 (=) gram. In the hedgehog-cage there was eaten better, but observing what was left-over still only by the male. At 6.57 a.m. the shot Buzzard (09-173; September 16^th) was transferred to the buzzard-aviary as a “keeper”. We have discovered that the Little Bittern has a “hot spot” (with a hole) in the palate and that the tip of the tongue isn’t as well like it should be . . . . !! So we started with Pyralvex. At 11.45 a.m. we had put in and connected the electricity for the big terrarium; something what didn’t happen without problems !! The this morning transferred Buzzard has been seen already several times in top of the aviary and he/she couldn’t have come over there without the use of the wings.

October 3^rd: all outdoor-cats were present again this morning, only they were all 5 present at the same moment. And in spite of that all happened without problems worth mentioning !! In the Sick-Bay we were greeted by a loudly miaowing and playfully jumping (catching flies > jolly !!) “Douglas”. The Kestrel was 195 (-2) and the Little Bittern was 119 (+12) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 292 (+4), green was 312 (+2) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 256 (+18) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 52 (+1), -0903 was 86 (+1), -0904 was 88 (-1) and –0905 was 69 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 24 (+1), nr. 2 was 25 (+3), nr. 3 was 23 (+1), nr. 4 was 20 (-2) and nr. 5 was 21 (+1) gram. In the cage of the Hedgehogs there was evidently eaten better than the night before, but it’s still not like it should be !! The big terrarium is working now; only light must be put in. We received 2 Dutch visitors.

October 4^th: Worldwide Day of the Animals and in a not super animal-friendly country like Greece as well Parliamentary Elections: so everything will be closed. Maybe the ecological parties will get a casting vote !! The Kestrel was 195 (=) and the Little Bittern was 126 (+7) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 296 (+4), green was 309 (-3) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 245 (-11) gram. Tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 was 50 (-2), -0903 was 85 (-1), -0904 was 89 (+1) and –0905 was 69 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 24 (=), nr. 2 was 25 (=), nr. 3 was 23 (=), nr. 4 was 22 (+2) and nr. 5 was 21 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs still hadn’t eaten optimally. The shot Rock-Dove (09-182; September 28^th ’09) was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” with an orange and a red footring > was flying immediately and well. Should now by taking several baths and cleaning the feathers trying to get rid of the blood-clogs on the feathers. We have “renumbered” the 4 older tortoises: “competitor’s number” 0901 became I, “competitor’s number” 0903 became III, “competitor’s number” 0904 became IV and “competitor’s number” 0905 became V. When at 10 a.m. we wanted to feed again the Little Bittern, this wasn’t necessary anymore, because he was floating quite stiff in the bath of the outdoor-cage . . . . !! Except that the two of us have done the whole Sunday’s cleaning of the Aviaries (and doing so we really hadn’t finished so much later than the weeks we had “helpers”), the light for the big terrarium is made and connected. Now only the fastening and making the “shade”. And that was after the siesta within a quarter of an hour at 3.45 p.m. ready as well. So when the weather will change, both “risky-cases” can be lodged at once.

Because the weather was quite threatening this morning and due to that we had at the back-side of our houses to remove the wire-gauzes and to shut the blinds, we noticed that the window where both volunteers first had spent a whole morning doing one side, and later again one volunteer a whole morning to finish it, that this window isn’t finished at all, because the whole top-side still has to be done . . . . !!

After 6 p.m. still 4 Dutch visitors.

October 5^th: little “Douglas” has since yesterday-morning 7 o’clock spent the whole time inside our house and he is behaving if this has ever been the case: is running, playing eating and shitting like the best !! So after all his mother had made a wrong calculation just after the accident !! The Kestrel was 195 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 297 (+1), green was 315 (+6) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 251 (+6) gram. Tortoises: number I was 53 (+3), III was 87 (+2), IV was 91 (+2) and V was 67 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 24 (=), nr. 2 was 24 (-1), nr. 3 was 22 (-1), nr. 4 was 22 (=) and nr. 5 was 21 (=) gram. This time there was eaten quite well in the hedgehog-cage !!

Within 3 quarters of an hour we have in the House-next-door the whole top-side (but as well the bottom-side, because that one was done really “shit” !!) of the window on the first floor, and the left-over cement used for the bottom-side of the window in our house in the Library as well !!

Meanwhile a huge amount of meat was processed by four ladies (Ineke & Janice, assisted by Jane and her cousin Lita): 19,516 kilo (for 127,90 Euro; total now this year 669,661 kilo for 4146,23 Euro). And because the single 8-Watt strip-lightning was not enough for the big terrarium, we have doubled it which was ready at 11.45 a.m. Now only the new shade. And that one was ready at 3.40 p.m. At 4.30 p.m. still 2 Dutch visitors. We have received the message from Holland that the bird we had booked last month as an Icterine Warbler most probably is a Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) in 1^st winter-dress > so comprehensive our library isn’t yet we could know. But the definitive confirmation we’ll receive in the time to come.

October 6^th: the Kestrel was 197 (+2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 301 (+4), green was 313 (-2) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 265 (+14) gram. Tortoises: number I was 53 (=), III was 87 (=), IV was 90 (-1) and V was 69 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 26 (+2), nr. 2 was 25 (+1), nr. 3 was 23 (+1), nr. 4 was 22 (=) and nr. 5 was 22 (+1) gram. There was eaten passable well by the Hedgehogs. Catching our sub-adult male Kestrel (09-032; April 21^st ’09) at 5.20 p.m. from the falcon-aviary we have discovered that at last he is moulting the tail-feathers !!

October 7^th: the Kestrel was 195 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 299 (-2), green was 307 (-6) and the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 277 (+12) gram. Tortoises: number I was 52 (-1), III was 88 (+1), IV was 93 (+3) and V was 68 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 25 (-1), nr. 2 was 25 (=), nr. 3 was 20 (-3), nr. 4 was 21 (-1) and nr. 5 was 22 (=) gram. There was eaten quite well by the Hedgehogs. From the Pigeon with the two fractured wings (09-143; August 4^th ’09) which was transferred as an invalid to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” September 2^nd and which we could catch by accident quite easily, we could remove a bit dead tissue from the left wing and a lot from the right wing > injuries are at last clean now !! We have the topmost of the two trees in the crow-aviary, which had cracked the concrete basement quite a lot and needed urgently repair (something which should have been done as well by the “gentlemen-volunteers”), repaired with reinforced concrete. Busy doing so, at 10.41 a.m. the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne phoned that she intended to send with the 11 o’clock-coach a pigeon, which in any case should be injured on the head. And exactly at the minute 1 hour after the phone-call we had the bird in our hands (and we ourselves hadn’t been able doing this quicker !!) > see further at PIGEON. At 12.05 p.m. a phone-call from Ándissa about (probably) a Barn Owl. So that one we picked-up as well and had her in our possession at 1.10 p.m. > see further at DARK BARN OWL.

And the following is happening in a country where the health care was so to say about “invented”:

Greece still EU health laggard

Greece has one of the least patient-friendly state healthcare systems in Europe, ranking 25th out of 33 countries assessed for this year’s European Union’s Health Consumer Index (EHCI), it emerged yesterday.

The EHCI, compiled on the basis of assessments by citizens in EU member and candidate states, showed that Greece had slipped from 19th place last year, amassing just 600 points out of a “perfect” total of 1,000. The country was deemed to be particularly behind in the area of e-health (the online provision of health services) and the quality of state dental care, with additional bad marks for the practice of under-the-table payments to state doctors. “Greece has remained in the same position, while healthcare systems in other countries have displayed signs of improvement,” one of the authors of the report remarked.

The Netherlands, Denmark and Iceland topped the index, while Bulgaria, Romania and Latvia sat at the bottom.

And we haven’t written for a long time about this issue, but Turkey is even chasing airplanes flying above inhabited Greek islands:

Aegean tensions

Frontex aircraft baited again

Greek defense officials yesterday complained to authorities in Ankara after a Swedish aircraft participating in a patrol of the eastern Aegean organized by Frontex, the European Union border-monitoring agency, received a series of warning signals via Turkish radar, the fourth incident of its kind in the past month. A Turkish radar station contacted the aircraft three times as it flew over the (Greek !!) islands of Kos and Léros in the eastern Aegean, the officials said, adding that the pilots ignored the signals and continued the patrol.

October 8^th: all were still alive in the Sick-Bay early this morning. The Kestrel was 196 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-5), green was 307 (=), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 274 (-3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 259 (+13) gram. Tortoises: number I was 51 (-1), III was 90 (+2), IV was 94 (+1) and V was 71 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 26 (+1), nr. 2 was 26 (+1), nr. 3 was 23 (+3), nr. 4 was 22 (+1) and nr. 5 was 23 (+1) gram. There was eaten quite well in the hedgehog-cage. The juvenile Collared Dove, which in the past was badly damaged in the Aviary, was discovered laying on it’s back at 7.30 a.m. > couldn’t turn back. After examinations there showed to be a strange thickening of the right side of the thorax/abdomen . . . . ?? The little knocked-down kitten “Douglas” (09-183; September 29^th) is already the whole day not like we were used from him: is sleeping a lot, isn’t running anymore, doesn’t want to eat (whatever we tried) and is vomiting !! So we started again with beef-tea; like in the first hours after his arrival here. The Collared Dove was discovered again laying on its back at 7 p.m. . . . . !! Because “Douglas” started having a severe sniveling nose during the evening, we started with antibiotics !! We don’t want to loose again an animal, which we have dragged away from before the doors of the underworld !!

October 9^th: as well inside the house as in the Sick-Bay all was still alive at 4.30 a.m. !! The Kestrel was 194 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 301 (+7), green was 312 (+5), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 280 (+6) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 298 (+39) gram. Tortoises: number I was 54 (+3), III was 87 (-3), IV was 95 (+1) and V was 70 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 25 (-1), nr. 2 was 26 (=), nr. 3 was 23 (=), nr. 4 was 23 (+1) and nr. 5 was 23 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten enough. We have to hurry quite a bit, because at 7.30 a.m. all necessary things should be done: at that moment we’ll leave for the airport to pick-up “Joren” who is coming to work here for a whole year !! And he arrived at the home-base at 9.45 a.m., together with his dog “Duvel” (= Devil) and the, in the past taken with him to Holland (09-051; May 13^th ’09) little cat “Jorén’s Monster” (so short “Monster”).

October 10^th: all animals put under our care were still alive at 4.30 a.m. !! The Kestrel was 192 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-7), green was 313 (+1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 284 (+4) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 329 (+31) gram. Tortoises: number I was 54 (=), III was 88 (+1), IV was 93 (-2) and V was 71 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 27 (+2), nr. 2 was 26 (=), nr. 3 was 24 (+1), nr. 4 was 24 (+1) and nr. 5 was 23 (=) gram. Both Hedgehogs had eaten quite well and were still active at 6.45 a.m. From the right wing of the Pigeon with the two broken wings (see as well October 7^th) we could rub a little piece of dead tissue; left wing is completely closed now. We have made an Internet-connection with Joren’s room. The not so long ago made bolt on the door in between the Barn Owls and the Goshawk in “The Keep” is changed by a less nail-breaking and finger-damaging other one. We don’t get little “Douglas” over the “dead-point”, whatever we try !! At 7.42 p.m. a phone-call from Arianá (in between Kallonís and Skála Kallonís) about two Peacocks, which are causing severe problems by “destroying” everything. The owner seems not being capable (or doesn’t want) catching them. “If we could . . . . !?!?” So negative. Because what can we do with those birds, which after all have an owner ?? Because over there they were threatening to shoot these free roaming birds, we could contact the owner and he’ll try to locate them and to catch them during the night !! During the evening little “Douglas” started having some interest in food again.

October 11^th: not a single victim early this morning !! The Kestrel was 191 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 302 (+8), green was 318 (+5), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 294 (+10) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-35) gram, but she had produced quite a huge (and dirty) pallet, of which the content was still from before she was taken-in over here. Tortoises: number I was 54 (=), III was 87 (-1), IV was 93 (=) and V was 69 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 27 (=), nr. 2 was 26 (=), nr. 3 was 23 (-1), nr. 4 was 24 (=) and nr. 5 was 24 (+1) gram. There was eaten very well by both Hedgehogs !! The right wing of the Pigeon with the 2 broken wings is clean and closed now. However, we had to “trim” both wings: because both wings are hanging from the wrist-joint, he is constantly dragging with the feather-tops in the droppings, with all kind of manure-clogs as a result. But because he is unable to fly, this is no problem. The splint from leg of the injured Pigeon in the Sick-Bay is removed. The injured Collared Dove (09-180; September 26^th ’09) is with colored foot-rings transferred to the Aviary at 8.25 a.m. Because of the expected heavy weather coming next Tuesday (13^th) and following days, we already now have removed from the tortoise-pen both toddler-tortoises (09-180; September 21^st ’08 and a cross-breed Spurr-tighed x Mediterranean Tortoise, and 08-185; September 22^nd, thoroughbred Spurr-tighed Tortoise) and lodged them in the big terrarium. The first mentioned will be marked with A and the 2^nd with B. The body-weight of A was after a whole summer out 145 gram and of B 234 gram; so the cross-breed is growing evidently slower. Could this be the result of quite a small father ??

October 12^th: little “Douglas” is still present and is sometimes a bit more active !! The Kestrel was 193 (+2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 297 (-5), green was 321 (+3), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 297 (+3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 310 (+15) gram. Tortoises: number A was 144 (-1) and number B was 242 (+8) gram. Number I was 53 (-1), III was 82 (-5), IV was 95 (+2) and V was 69 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 26 (-1), nr. 2 was 26 (=), nr. 3 was 22 (-1), nr. 4 was 24 (=) and nr. 5 was 24 (=) gram. There was badly till hardly eaten by all animals & birds in and on top of “The Keep” > the dogs and cats enjoyed it !! We could remove a huge scab from the head of the pecked Collared Dove > is closing nicely. The winter-cage for the blind Rook was prepared in case he must be taken-in due to the expected bad weather. Today meat had te be processed again: 24,220 kilo (for 157,24 Euro; total now this year 693,831 kilo for 4303,47 Euro) and this happened by Joren, Ineke & Janice, assisted by Jane. Now already there is a yellow weather-alert for tomorrow for the whole of Greece due to expected heavy thunderstorms and quite strong winds. And this will probably be “upgraded”. And at 11.26 a.m. it had changed into orange !!

Toxic waste in Ionian Sea?

Greece needs to start checking the Ionian Sea for radioactivity, local experts told Sunday’s Kathimerini, after it emerged that the Italian Mafia was allegedly involved in sinking ships carrying toxic waste.

An informant from the Calabrian Mafia told Italian authorities last month that he helped sink a ship carrying toxic waste on purpose, as part of an operation to bypass local laws. An Italian environmental organization, Legambiente, said as many as 30 vessels may have been sunk in this manner, seven of which supposedly went down close to the Ionian Islands of Paxoi, Cephalonia and Zakynthos.

“There needs to be a concerted search for radioactive material,” said the head of Greece’s Atomic Energy Committee, Christos Chousiadis. “The Greek side has to be informed about the exact spots were the ships sank, so that we know what action to take.”

The process of measuring for radioactive energy will involve submersibles diving down to the wrecks. Previous radioactivity readings in the Ionian were only taken on the sea surface and had been within the expected range.

At 12.31 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about an injured Squirrel > will be brought by Manolis. And exactly 12 minutes later a phone-call from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú with the question if we still performed eye-surgeries ? As well in a dog as in a cat an eye should be removed > so they are coming tomorrow. The Squirrel was here at 1.45 p.m. > see further at PERSIAN SQUIRREL. At 9.07 p.m. still a phone-call from Dimítri (from the Animal-lovers Society Kivotós in Mytiléne) about a Fox, which was brought as his place. No injuries are visible, but is walking difficult. Maybe tendon-damage due to a snare ?? Will be brought tomorrow early in the evening.

October 13^th: as well inside the house as in the Sick-Bay all were still alive !! The Squirrel is quite active and was 303 (-3) gram. Today we’re starting with thick porridge by syringe. The Kestrel was 192 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 299 (+2), green was 327 (+6), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 305 (+8) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 317 (+7) gram. Tortoises: number A was 146 (+2) and number B was 238 (-4) gram. Number I was 55 (+2), III was 90 (+8), IV was 97 (+2) and V was 71 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 28 (+2), nr. 2 was 26 (=), nr. 3 was 23 (+1), nr. 4 was 26 (+2) and nr. 5 was 24 (=) gram. On top of and inside “The Keep” there was in any case eaten better than yesterday, but still not enough !! At 8.27 a.m. arrived the delegation from Skála Eressoú: they brought with them 1 little he-dog (recently neutered) from which the eye was destroyed by children and one cat, which had a lost eye already closed (was done badly !!), but which had problems inside the mouth. So see further at HE-DOG and CAT. Both animals left again at 10.55 a.m. Due to unknown reasons electricity disappeared on the whole island at 2.57 p.m., returning just at 4.10 p.m. In the rain we received 2 Dutch visitors. At 6.25 p.m. Dimítri arrived with the little fox > see further at VIXEN.

October 14^th: and again all were still alive early this morning. Little “Douglas” has for the first time eaten again little crackers (a little bit) !! The Squirrel was 278 (-25) gram, but is becoming more and more active. Has started eating pieces of given nuts. The porridge is eaten well. The Kestrel was 191 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 293 (-6), green was 320 (-7), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 309 (+4) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 302 (-15) gram, but had produced again such a strange pellet. Tortoises: number A was 148 (+2) and number B was 250 (+12) gram. Number I was 53 (-2), III was 88 (-2), IV was 93 (-4) and V was 72 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 26 (-2), nr. 2 was 27 (+1), nr. 3 was 23 (=), nr. 4 was 23 (-3) and nr. 5 was 25 (+1) gram. The Vixen hasn’t eaten yet. Due to the heavy weather of last evening/night the Hedgehogs had eaten absolutely nothing. Did the Vixen behave quite clam yesterday during examinations and treatments, we had expected a reaction. Joren wondered aloud, if a fox was quicker than a dog ?? This was proved obviously . . . . “Holy shit !! I was scared like hell. I’m still shaking . . . . !!” Penetrating the thick leather gloves the teeth-marks could be seen in the catching hand !! This morning we had the possibility, energy and mind checking all boxes with materials we had received in the past months, and sorting the given goods. Now only a logical and workable manner to store it. As well quite an amount of materials could be placed beside for the Shelter in Skála Eressoú. In the Surgery meanwhile there is started checking all the medicines and what’s become too old, to dump it. Suddenly there was a lot of free space !! On the right side of the entrance-door of the House-next-door Joren has shown his muscular strength by smashing a piece of the rocky ground with a pick-axe and to remove the pieces. A donated Bougainvillea has been planted in the created hole. Little “Douglas” at last has eaten well.

Ferries moored

Passenger ferries remained moored at the port of Piraeus yesterday due to strong winds. It was unclear whether scheduled routes today would be canceled too. According to the National Meteorological Service, winds will reach between 5 and 7 on the Beaufort scale in Attica but will climb to 8 and even 9 Beaufort elsewhere.

Forest blaze . . .

A firefighting aircraft is seen yesterday flying over the island of Evia as a large cloud of smoke emerges from a forest blaze. Six water-dropping planes were trying to help ground forces fight a blaze that broke out in Lichada, in the island’s northwest, but their efforts were severely hampered by strong winds. The fire forced the evacuation by ferry of all 426 French nationals from the Club Med hotel near Aidipsos. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear but some reports attributed it to sparks from an electricity pylon. The fire, fanned by strong winds, was approaching the village of Gialtra but homes were not under immediate threat.

It seems that the Squirrel, although the pupil-reflex in the left eye is functioning indeed, can’t see anything !! And the smelling as well seems to have disappeared.

October 15^th: all patients were still alive in the Sick-Bay at 4.30 a.m. Little “Douglas” for the first time has eaten independently !! Till now on the Vixen hasn’t eaten yet !! The Squirrel was 260 (-18) gram and was quite lethargic. Food and/or fluid was refused !! The Kestrel was 192 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 295 (+2), green was 319 (-1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 325 (+16) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 313 (+11) gram. Tortoises: number A was 148 (=) and number B was 247 (-3) gram. Number I was 54 (+1), III was 89 (+1), IV was 93 (=) and V was 69 (-3) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 28 (+2), nr. 2 was 26 (-1), nr. 3 was 23 (=), nr. 4 was 26 (+3) and nr. 5 was 25 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs hadn’t eaten quite well. The Persian Squirrel was still alive at 6.45 a.m. At 8.43 a.m. a phone-call from our well-known Cuban Maria, that one of her cats was (probably) poisoned > “what she had to do ?” Told her to come here like an arrow with the cat. She arrived not by foot (2 minutes), but by her husband’s pick-up (7 minutes). See further at TOM-CAT. He showed to be one of the five kittens, we had reported about September last year: (from a mail from Tjarda: One kind of a . . . . bastard has poisoned the cat-population over here. Milton dragged me into his garden and started telling the story roaring in a vague combination of English, Greek, Spanish and Portuguese. He will cut the throat of the guy who did it if he knows who has done so, and he has my blessings.

One of the cats was a mother, but he couldn’t reach the kittens, because they were hiding quite deep in a pipe or something like that, but he should try it another time and went away quite angry, to come back beaming after some time with five kittens. At once he started milking the goat and smashed a bowl with milk in the box wherein the kittens were shaking with fearful eyes.

Carefully, because I loved him so much for his rescue-operation, I have told that I should go and find a syringe and thereafter should feed them one after the other. Thereafter the other neighbors arrived, because their cats as well were poisoned; so it became a huge cacophony, due to which the little ones became completely crazy from fear.

So I have taken kitten after kitten to a quiet place in the courtyard and after some time they all have drunk, luckily. They are about 4 – 5 weeks old and are looking healthy. At 8 o’clock I’m feeding them again. “My” 2 kittens are poisoned as well. What a . . . . no words for those people !!!!!!)

At 12 o’clock the poisoned Tom-Cat as well as the Squirrel were still alive.

Fire out

Firefighters on the island of Evia said yesterday that they had contained a large forest fire that had broken out on Tuesday in the northwestern resort of Edipsos. The efforts of more than 230 firefighters, assisted by 53 fire engines and eight water-dropping aircraft, were hampered by strong winds but the blaze was reportedly under control by early yesterday afternoon. Earlier more than 400 tourists, mostly French nationals, were evacuated from their hotel after the blaze cut off road access to the building.

Via the village-loudspeaker-system we were warned for expected very heavy rainfall to come, and that owners of parked cars should take measurements that their cars wouldn’t be swept away . . . . !! So we’re securing all windows of both houses completely !! We have taken back-in all tortoises and birds, which are in danger of drowning during very heavy rainfall. At 1.20 p.m. the Squirrel was discovered not alive anymore. Till late in the evening the amount of fallen rain was small.

October 16^th: the poisoned Tom-Cat was still alive at 4.30 a.m. and the eyes were better as well !! The Kestrel was 187 (-5) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-1), green was 321 (+2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 326 (+1) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 324 (+11) gram. Tortoises: number A was 146 (-2) and number B was 236 (-11) gram. Number I was 53 (-1), III was 89 (=), IV was 89 (-4) and V was 70 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 28 (=), nr. 2 was 27 (+1), nr. 3 was 23 (=), nr. 4 was 27 (+1) and nr. 5 was 25 (=) gram. The poisoned Tom-Cat has drunk well the given broth, so after the first 10 cc Ringers s.c. we stopped with this > will only be fed per os. He has walked-around already and perfectly made water in the litter-box. Due to the bad weather the Hedgehogs had hardly or nothing eaten. However we must create at the old houslet over there a place were food will stay dry. The Vixen has in any case eaten the, yesterday killed by Joren, mouse !! At 8.43 a.m. our Vice-Chairman was at the door with in her hands a Quail, which was badly injured by one (or more ??) of het cat(s). So see further at QUAIL. We just came back from emptying Tjarda’s house (after Jane, who didn’t only has helped us with the meat-processing, but as well with the treatment of worn out back-bones and other “aging-complaints”) had departed again for Holland. We could “rescue” for the L.W.H. some cables, earthed double- and triple-plugs but as well a fridge and a cooking-place for the kitchen of the House-next-door. So back-dated still “Thank you, Tjarda !!”. The poisoned Tom-Cat has meanwhile started eating fast food and drinking water !! The old hedgehog-houslet has got a huge cover, so the given food will stay dry. Joren started with the cover of the houslets in the hedgehog-cage and with the gathering of hay for the hibernating-place for the tortoises in the old fire-place in the Apothíki of the House-next-door. The heavy weather we were warned for went northwards just west of our village at the end of the morning. It was a continuously thundering without an end and which must have given the impression of what could be heard during the Battle of the Somme in WW I . . . . !! But we kept it almost dry. At 6.39 p.m. a phone-call from the same guy who had “delivered” us March 29^th the Pigeon with the two broken legs (09-024). He had now again one of the same kind, but this one seems to have a.o. a crop-injury. Dimítri was contacted and he is taking care the bird will be sent tomorrow by coach (time ??).

October 17^th: all patients were still alive at 4.30 a.m. !! Little “Douglas” seems to be definitively over the dead point and even wanted to have a 2^nd bowl of food, after he had tried to pinch everywhere !! In the Sick-Bay we were saluted by a loudly-for-food screaming Tom-Cat, which seems to have survived the poisoning quite well. The Quail is lively enough and is constantly escaping out of our hands during feedings > is flying well !! The Kestrel was 188 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 309 (+15), green was 318 (-3), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 326 (=) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 333 (+9) gram. Tortoises: number A was 146 (=) and number B was 239 (+3) gram. Number I was 52 (-1), III was 91 (+2), IV was 94 (+5) and V was 70 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 28 (=), nr. 2 was 30 (+3), nr. 3 was 21 (-2), nr. 4 was 27 (=) and nr. 5 was 25 (=) gram. Number 3 we don’t trust at all > is running backwards quite fast !! In the hedgehog-cage was, thanks to (??) the new shed, definitively eaten better. At 7.50 a.m., when we wanted to catch-out “Granny” Marginated Tortoise for the (eventually ??) excursion of this morning, we discovered a yesterday hatched baby SPURR-TIGHED TOIRTOISE > so see over there. At 9.20 a.m. the poisoned Tom-Cat (which by the way was named “Negrito”) produced his first droppings and so was taken back at 9.33 a.m. We received a whole delegation of all kinds of teachers from all around the island: 39 people. And while they were “entertained”, there was a phone-call from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú, that the he-dog “Ollie” had removed some stitches from his eye > Gerbien will pass-by tomorrow for overstitching. For the time being she has covered the injury with a bandage. At 11.43 a.m. s phone-call from Dimítri with the message that meanwhile he had the pigeon in his possession, but that he couldn’t detect any injury. As wall at/around the crop nothing should be wrong: bird was eating normally, was walking normally and was flying normally. According to him the old man, who had discovered the bird, was very good for animals, only meanwhile it seems he started being “a bit . . . . , well, yes . . . ., you know . . . . ” Dimítri himself is keeping pigeons and will keep this bird in his “stable” until there is certainty about the yes or no of an injury. At 11.55 a.m. a Greek couple came with quite an old dog (he had from puppy-age): dog was covered with fleas (specially around the tail, but elsewhere on the body as well) due to which he had bitten the skin till it was bleeding; 400 mg Imidaclporid (Anvantage 400) on the skin was given and as well advices how to treat further the dog. Dog had as well a grown into the skin a 5^th nail from the rear-leg, which was shortened (not without risk for our fingers !!). That nail by the way was first detected by Joren. Further not in the statistics. Later they came back to pay, like they called it, their “dept”. Received at that moment a tour around. The Quail is quite difficult swallowing the given food. At last we could with a trick (because since the intake October 13^th she hadn’t eaten more than the mouse killed by Joren and a drowned Zebra-finch) feed the Vixen a bit: first carefully with tweezers a piece of meat was pushed through the netting (and angrily there was bitten herein, but later tastefully eaten), and somewhat later even pieces of meat and pear could be fed without tweezers through the netting !!

October 18^th: all patients were still alive early this morning; even the Quail !! Little “Douglas” has eaten very well !! The Kestrel was 187 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 298 (-11), green was 314 (-4), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 336 (+10) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 322 (-11) gram. Tortoises: number A was 145 (-1) and number B was 223 (-16) gram. Number I was 53 (+1), III was 88 (-3), IV was 95 (+1) and V was 71 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 29 (+1), nr. 2 was 26 (-4), nr. 3 was 23 (+2), nr. 4 was 26 (-1), nr. 5 was 25 (=) and number 6 was 11 (-1) gram. The Quail must indeed been fed scanty measure, because otherwise the given food will be stuck in the throat > so an esophagus-stenosis due to the injuries. Further it’s wet; even quite wet and is has been raining all night. Let’s see which consequences this have given for the eating of the Hedgehogs, but we only can see this in an hour or so when it’s light. And after all those rain it might have been worse. The little bowl with cat-biscuits was discovered “somewhere” in the cage, completely emptied !! From the head of the injured Pigeon (09-184; October 7^th ’09) we could remove all the old stitches and a dirty scab of dead tissue. The now clean injury could be closed with 3 small agrafes. Cleaning the cage of the Vixen we thought we saw some little droppings in the sand . . . . > however it were pieces of a black electricity-cable connecting the socket on the sealing for when we need again heating and/or light over there . . . . !! We have given now some dog-toys to play with !! The young he-dog “Ollie” was here at 10.43 a.m. > indeed he had succeeded to remove all stitches with his paws. Under a total anesthetic he was re-stitched with thicker stitches and advised to give him a collar for the time being !!

Meanwhile the General Meeting had begun, in which new Board-Members had to be chosen. Only because most of the enfranchised are living outside Greece, the meeting could be opened and at the same moment closed, because the quota of members couldn’t be reached. Hereafter the votes could be counted, which had arrived by e-mail, post or personally. There were present 74 valid voting-papers from 8 countries: Greece, The Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Portugal and even Kenya and Australia. The Executive Committee will exist of Ineke Peeters-Lenglet (71 votes; remains Chairman), Eléni Galinoú (55 votes; remains Vice-Chairman, Michaϊl Kapiotás (52 votes, member), María Kallipolíti (49 votes, remains Secretary), Medie Meijer-Kounί (35 votes, member), Eva Traumann (25 votes, member) and Mário Simos-Smits (20 votes, reserve-member). Joris Peeters (who qualitate qua is member of the Board) remains Treasurer. We used the opportunity asking 2 of our Greek Board-Members to work for a lasting subsidy for personnel from the EU or a similar organization.

We have heard from Gerbien that she on her way to here with “Ollie”, in Agra had to park her car besides the road, because it was such a heavy weather, and as well from Eva, who came from Mólivos, who had the same problems !! So we have been lucky again !! The Quail started being more and more lethargically during the day; was at 9.25 p.m. still alive, but . . . .

October 19^th: like expected the Quail was discovered not alive anymore at 4.30 a.m.. No P.M. will be performed, because the cause of death is 100% clear. The Kestrel was 185 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 297 (-1), green was 311 (-3), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 346 (+10) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 344 (+22) gram. Tortoises: number A was 145 (=) and number B was 227 (+4) gram. Number I was 54 (+1), III was 87 (-1), IV was 93 (-2) and V was 72 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 29 (=), nr. 2 was 28 (+2), nr. 3 was 24 (+1), nr. 4 was 28 (+2), nr. 5 was 26 (+1) and number 6 was 14 (+3) gram. There wasn’t eaten well by both hedgehogs. After we in vain had tried to recharge one of the batteries of the emergency-light in the surgery, we asked our garagist to do so. Showed that our battery-charger was OK, but not the battery !! Almost brand-new and hardly used !! So a new battery had to be bought, because we have so often power-cuts that one can’t without in a surgery-room !! At 9.43 a.m. a phone-call about “Ollie” > he had removed again all stitches, in spite of collar and bandage !! The injury is seriously infected as well. So will came back and will be taken-in. We received a relative of our former Mayor (the man who in the past had organized that we had the field to build the Wildpark; he has died a short while ago, whereafter the whole house should be emptied by stealing !!): the man had liven his whole life in South-Africa, so the conversation was in Afrikaans. Today again meat-cutting-day and Ineke & Joren, enforced by Janice & Douglas have processed 23,225 kilo (for 152,10 Euro; total now this year 717,056 kilo for 2255,57 Euro). “Ollie” was here at 11.52 a.m. and the was “flattened” at arrival. The injury was indeed immense infected, but the stitches were still intact !! Allergic reaction on the used Ethilon ?? Mucous membranes were as well very swollen. Injury-toilet was done and the injury was now stitched with Linen nr 4 (6 stitches). Injury sprayed with Hansaplast-injury-spray and covered with a piece of gauze. This was fixed with Sporttape (after the skin was clean-shaven). 1,5 cc Baytril i.m. was injected (for at least 5 days).

When at 1 p.m. Gerbien came for a short look at him on her way back to the Shelter and held him on her lap, we could see that there was indeed as well reacted “strange” on the stitches of the castration. Towards 5 p.m. we noticed the Vixen was less alert and hardly till nothing wanted to eat. Could be touched as well without damage to our fingers. So a tranquilizer was injected as preparation for further examinations. Had several decubitus-spots, the left knee was grown in a position bending 90° outwards, the fracture of the right humerus was an open mess; in a word: prognosis infaust, With pain in our hearts we had to put her down and at 5.54 p.m. she had passed-over to another (we hope better) dimension . . . . !! When we could see her teeth better, it showed that she wasn’t so young at all as we had thought (left under eye-tooth was dead and all eye-teeth were complete blunt).

October 20^th: “Ollie” has spent the whole night in our house without causing problems, but in spite of that he saw his chance at the extra letting-out by escaping via the field of our neighbor Yiánnis. And we thought that field was dog-tight !! As soon as it is light we’ll announce his disappearance via the village-loudspeaker-system. The Kestrel was 188 (+3) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-3), green was 319 (+8), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 349 (+3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 347 (+3) gram. Tortoises: number A was 145 (=) and number B was 226 (-1) gram. Number I was 54 (=), III was 89 (+2), IV was 92 (-1) and V was 71 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 29 (=), nr. 2 was 29 (+1), nr. 3 was 24 (=), nr. 4 was 28 (=), nr. 5 was 25 (-1) and number 6 was 12 (-2) gram. There was eaten very well in the hedgehog-cage !! After Joren had prepared a mountain-bike at 7.15 a.m., we received some minutes later a phone-call that he had localized “Ollie” > was hiding at the other side of Yiánnis’ field in the road and was scared like hell. We have hurried in that direction, but when a heavy pick-up was rattling tearing in the same direction it became too much for him and “Ollie” took to his heels, pursued by “Action-man” Joren who downhill tearing in his highest gear had problems keeping up with this visually handicapped little one. So we had an empty downhill-street in front of us and have returned to base. “Ollie” had reached almost the old Wildpark of the L.W.H., till his escape over there was hold up by some larger dogs in that street, due to which he ran back. Joren had the chance grapping one rear-leg, but that leg slipped out of his fingers. At last “Ollie” had found refuge at the terrace under the old plane-tree, where he was guarded by some villagers, who the running-up-and-down had watched with bewildered eyes, so Joren could catch him. We have picked-him up by car. Back on base he got his antibiotics and half an hour later we have changed the dressings: was smelling pretty well and wasn’t pussing. So our daily dozen we had had and Joren knows he still can join the World-Championship Mountain-bike-cross. In the kitchen of the House-next-door we have created a place where the, inherited from Tjarda, gas-cooker could be placed. The old oven (still from Amsterdam) had found an honorless end last Friday at our local landfill. Doing so we have discovered a still good wire-brush (in the scrubber-seize) and that one has done it’s job already last Sunday for the cleaning of the corridor in “The Keep” where the Goshawk is constantly spouting around her droppings !! Via the Village-loudspeaker-system we could hear that tomorrow we’ll be without water from 8 a.m. until (at least) 1 p.m. because the water-mains must be cleaned. This morning we could continue with the sorting out and storage of received materials. Today we did the bandages, sheets etc. Luckily we had waited with the stitches, because towards 12 o’clock we could pick-up at the post-office a whole box full of stitches from England. Because after 5 p.m. we noticed that our female Goshawk (09-162; August 29^th ’09) already for some days hardly or nothing has eaten, we have decided to release her tomorrow. It’s choosing between two evils, because when we keep her here, she’ll die, while when we release her she has the risk being shot (down) again.

October 21^st: the whole situation was evidently less stressful this morning, compared with 24 hours ago !! “Ollie” did wonderful last night, although it’s starting becoming a bit “cramped” with 5 doggies on our bed !! The Kestrel was 182 (-6) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 291 (-3), green was 320 (+1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 351 (+2) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 351 (+4) gram. Tortoises: number A was 145 (=) and number B was 225 (-1) gram. Number I was 54 (=), III was 87 (-2), IV was 91 (-1) and V was 72 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 30 (+1), nr. 2 was 30 (+1), nr. 3 was 25 (+1), nr. 4 was 29 (+1), nr. 5 was 26 (+1) and number 6 was 12 (=) gram. There was again eaten very well in the hedgehog-cage !! Changing the wound dressing at “Ollie’s” it showed that it was a bit pussy, but that the general situation was quite quiet. So we started with the beyond praise Dermisol-cream.

Release:

at 9.27 a.m. we have released well in the hills above the Mylopótamos-river the shot female Goshawk (09-162; August 29^th ’09). Was flying away majestetically, landed in a tree and disappeared low flying over the sandy road.

The rest of the morning was used to sort out all stitches. The problem now will be where we could store it decently but as well well-organized and workable. At 4.45 p.m. still two village-laddies with their knocked-down little Tom-Cat > the little one urinated everywhere from fear !! Had a “hot spot” on the belly, we treated with Negerol-spray and Hansaplast-spray. Further not in the statistics. At 10.40 suddenly a black-out, which not only caused problems for the last works of the day, but as well several apparatus’ were totally unsettled. Power came back only towards midnight !!

October 22^nd: our computer connected to the Internet in any case is unsettled !! “Ollie” did well last night again and at last he has given back to us (in changed shape) all he had eaten and drunk the last days. Only a pity this happened inside the house, so the hall on the 2^nd floor was transformed into a dung-pit from a cow-stable . . . . !! The Kestrel was 185 (+3) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 296 (+5), green was 312 (-8), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 346 (-5) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 357 (+6) gram. Tortoises: number A was 143 (-2) and number B was 224 (-1) gram. Number I was 55 (+1), III was 87 (=), IV was 90 (-1) and V was 72 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 30 (=), nr. 2 was 27 (-3), nr. 3 was 25 (=), nr. 4 was 28 (-1), nr. 5 was 26 (=) and number 6 was 13 (+1) gram. The hedgehogs hadn’t eaten just like yesterday. The scalped Pigeon (with as well a leg-fracture) was relieved today from 3 agrafes, placed on the head October 18^th. Thereafter he is transferred without colored rings (legs were too thick) to the Aviary for wildering. The little Tortoise from last year (marked B) we have brought back again to the tortoise-pen. He became “crazy” in the terrarium. So let’s hope for the best when hibernation is starting. While two third of our crew was busy shopping the most necessarily things in Mytiléne (a.o. tinned cat-food), the other part was busy with the repair and making in working order of some clothes discovered a short while ago. So long trousers (for a more corpulent person) were repaired, a belt was given and the laces in the hems of the trousers were replaced. At a winter-inlay for a jacket one of the sleeves had to be fastened completely again. A cardigan was repaired and we still have a jacket (seize XXS) which is so damaged that we only can use it as a stock for buttons and/or reserve-material for repairing other clothes. After the siesta 2 Dutch visitors. At 5.17 p.m. a phone-call from Olga in Mytiléne about a Thrush, which should have brain-damage > will be sent tomorrow by the 11 o’clock-coach.

October 23^rd: the Collared Dove in the Sick-Bay was discovered again laying on it’s back at 5.30 a.m. The Kestrel was 186 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 292 (-4), green was 319 (+7), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 358 (+12) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 360 (+3) gram. Tortoises: number A was 144 (+1), number I was 54 (-1), III was 88 (+1), IV was 94 (+4) and V was 72 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 31 (+1), nr. 2 was 30 (+3), nr. 3 was 26 (+1), nr. 4 was 28 (=), nr. 5 was 25 (-1) and number 6 was 13 (=) gram. The Hedgehogs had eaten tolerable. We have delivered birds-sounds-producing-poachers-tools, some time ago discovered in the night by Dutch friends of us in Skamnioúdi, at the Dasonomeío (Forest-Patrol) in Kallonís. Meanwhile the message arrived at base that the announced Thrush wasn’t alive anymore. Via the village-loudspeaker-system we were informed that next Sunday there will be a power-cut from 5 till 8 a.m. (winter-time or summer-time ??). Meanwhile we have started with the window on the 2^nd floor of the House-next-door: first the blinds had to be taken off, and thereafter foam (which was bulging) had to be removed and the still present holding-pegs we had to try to remove. From the inside at 10 meters above ground level we have been pointing. At 11 o’clock we had to stop due to a shortage of mortar, but at that moment the under part and one side and a half were done. All together 1 hour of work. Tomorrow we’ll continue.

Weather warning

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection yesterday issued a warning to local authorities that heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are likely to affect much of the country today and tomorrow. The Ionian Sea is expected to be the worst affected with southerly winds forecast to reach 8 or even 9 on the Beaufort scale. Winds are likely to intensify in the central and southern Aegean on Sunday and could affect scheduled passenger ferry itineraries.

At 11.47 a.m. we were phoned from Polichnítos that they wanted to pass-by with some Peacocks to know if they had a chance to be cured. Will arrive after the siesta. Changing the dressings from “Ollie’s” face, we have removed the last still present stitches. Injury is clean now and should, with the help of Dermisol-cream, generate on it’s own. At 4.05 p.m. the Peacocks arrived > what we had expected, became true: Rhinotrachitis. All three were taken-in > see further at PEACOCK.

October 24^th: The Kestrel was 184 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 297 (+5), green was 317 (-2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 349 (-9) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 367 (+7) gram. Tortoises: number A was 148 (+4), number I was 55 (+1), III was 90 (+2), IV was 93 (-1) and V was 71 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 29 (-2), nr. 2 was 29 (-1), nr. 3 was 26 (=), nr. 4 was 26 (-2), nr. 5 was 25 (=) and number 6 was 13 (=) gram. There was eaten well by the hedgehogs. The three Peacocks had a good night sleep over here and started at once pecking at the offered lettuce. The given “Fírama” is only kicked through the cage. Injecting the Baytril we could hear the simmering has diminished !! At 8 a.m. there was started with the finishing of the last window in the House-next-door, which was done at 8.25 a.m. And still enough concrete left over for filling some rat-/mice-holes in the Aviary !! The last bit of concrete was used for pointing a piece of the wall of “The Keep” at the street-side. At 9.49 a.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne about a tortoise (??) with an injured rear-leg > will be sent by the 1.15 pm-coach. We received 2 Dutch visitors. The tortoise we had in our possession at 1.52 p.m. > see further at SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE. And see what could be reached with only 2 days of antibiotics: at 5.50 p.m. none of the Peacocks could bee seen on the bottom !! The elder cock was sitting on the roost at a good two meters above the floor and the other two were sitting on top of the houslet and the tree-trunk !! Because for the whole of Greece for today and tomorrow there is an orange weather-alert due to expected rainfall and thunderstorms, we have removed already everywhere the wire gauzes.

October 25^th: beginning of the wintertime, but we have risen at the “normal” time, because the animals of course don’t understand anything about these strange customs. During the day we’ll switch as well. The Kestrel was 182 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-3), green was 322 (+5), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 352 (+3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 381 (+14) gram. Tortoises: number A was 148 (=), number I was 58 (+3), III was 90 (=), IV was 97 (+4) and V was 72 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 31 (+2), nr. 2 was 31 (+2), nr. 3 was 28 (+2), nr. 4 was 28 (+2), nr. 5 was 27 (+2) and number 6 was 13 (=) gram. There wasn’t eaten well by the barn Owls in “The Keep”. The Hedgehogs on top of “The Keep” had eaten so-so. There was another Peacock sitting on the roost in top of the cage early this morning. Already at 4,52 a.m. (wintertime) the black-out started, and exactly at that moment we were hurrying on this computer taking over all data > so all was gone. Luckily we’re still working with a piece of scribbling paper !! We used the power-cut to replace the, bitten into pieces by the (deceased) Vixen, cable in that cage > so the injured Tortoise will have light as well. There seems as well to be something wrong with the right foot of this lady > we can see red colored sand over there. But the ins and the outs we still don’t know. We could fill the hole in the left rear-leg with Dermisol-cream. Electricity came back at 7.37 a.m. We received 2 Greek visitors from Mytiléne. At 9.50 a.m. suddenly unexpected and unannounced electricity disappeared again, coming back only at 10.31 a.m. We used this power-less period checking further the rear-legs of our injured tortoise: the right rear-leg as well had a (smaller) hole with as well maggots > maggots removed and the hole as well “primed” with Dermisol-cream. Just before the siesta we received a quite mixed company: 2 Greeks, 2 people from Mallorca (Cataluñia) and 2 from Bulgaria. Meanwhile “Máo” has suffered quite a severe nose-bleeding > everything, but indeed everything inside the house was covered with blood !! After the siesta the bleeding had stopped.

October 26^th: we really had to get used again to the changed situation concerning the order of the works that must be done, because everything is different now. “Máo” hasn’t had new nose-bleedings last night !! The Kestrel was 184 (+2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 298 (+4), green was 312 (-10), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 347 (-5) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 380 (-1) gram. Tortoises: number A was 151 (+3), number I was 57 (-1), III was 92 (+2), IV was 99 (+2) and V was 72 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 31 (=), nr. 2 was 30 (-1), nr. 3 was 28 (=), nr. 4 was 29 (+1), nr. 5 was 26 (-1) and number 6 was 13 (=) gram. In “The Keep” we were saluted by all three Peacocks, sitting together on the high roost !! The Barn Owls over there had eaten better last night. This was as well the case with the Hedgehogs. The Kestrel is having more and more new tail-feathers. No maggots could be detected anymore in the rear-legs of the injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise; however, we’ll continue with the treatment with Dermisol-cream.

And again this cup has passed from us:

One dead as rain sweeps country

Two cars float in a flooded section of the Athens-Corinth national road yesterday. Heavy rain led to a section of the highway in Kinetta, 65 kilometers west of Athens, being closed to cars traveling toward Corinth as the water on the road became 1-meter deep. This section of the highway was closed for five hours as firefighters pumped out the water.

Storms in northern and southern Greece led to one man drowning and another going missing over the weekend, roads closing and dozens of homes and businesses being flooded.

Heavy rainfall moved from the north of the country on Saturday to Attica yesterday, leading to the fire brigade being called to pump out water from some 40 basements in and around Athens by yesterday evening.

The showers also led to a section of the Athens-Corinth national road in the area of Kinetta, west of the capital, being closed due to flooding, which caused several kilometers of traffic jams.

A 41-year-old amateur sailor drowned off Volos in central Greece yesterday when he and his friend were caught in a storm while out on a yacht at about 6 p.m. The sudden change in conditions led to the vessel capsizing. The second man was able to swim ashore and notify the coast guard. An air force helicopter found the body of the unnamed sailor.

A 46-year-old man went missing during a storm in Pieria, northern Greece, on Saturday. The SUV he was driving at the time was found in the Aisonas River yesterday. The missing man, a father of three, has not responded to calls on his mobile phone.

Members of the fire service, police and EMAK rescue teams as well as local residents were taking part in a search for the 46-year-old yesterday.

Eight people had to be rescued by boat after they were trapped in their cars on a country road in Pieria on Saturday.

The heavy rain caused widespread damage to homes, businesses, farms and infrastructure in Pieria as well as nearby Imathia.

Meanwhile we have had as well from Greek side the confirmation that the Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina), booked by us September 28^th is not this kind of bird, but a Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) in 1^st winter-dress. So we changed the booking !! Today again meat-cutting-day and by Joren & Ineke, Douglas & Janice was processed 13,565 kilo (for 89,41 Euro; total now this year 730,621 kilo for 4544,98 Euro). By the way, we have a part of our stock of frozen fishes (we must have for emergency-cases) transferred to the cats in the House-next-door, because we had to make place for the immense amounts of meat which we’re using these days !! From the three Peacocks we had only to clean the nostrils of the eldest two from clogged mucus; the youngest had a fine dry nose. Only all three are still simmering when they are caught. At 10.55 a.m. a phone-call from Pérama from our first-aid-station over there, that someone had discovered in his house an Iguana > so we went for a ride and picked it up (NOT in our hands, but in a smelly tin with old olive-leaves etc !!) > see further at GREEN IGUANA. By the way, they had again a young Pelican over there, as a replacement for the deceased “Máki” (see herefor May 20^th ’06).

October 27^th: all patients were still alive this morning. The Kestrel was 182 (-2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 295 (-3), green was 311 (-1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 352 (+5) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 389 (+9) gram. Tortoises: number A was 148 (-3), number I was 58 (+1), III was 92 (=), IV was 101 (+2) and V was 72 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 32 (+1), nr. 2 was 31 (+1), nr. 3 was 29 (+1), nr. 4 was 29 (=), nr. 5 was 27 (+1) and number 6 was 15 (+2) gram. In “The Keep” nothing special to mention this morning. The Hedgehogs had eaten well. Treating the leg-injuries of the Spurr-tighed Tortoise there appeared bloody fluid in the left rear-leg, and such is quite a better omen than the stinking, gangrene-fluid at intake !! So we’ll continue hard with the Dermisol-cream. Meanwhile we have contacted Yiánnis, owner of the big Pet-Shop in the Agorá in Mytiléne, about the Green Iguana: he can take the reptile so we’re going to find a “loop-hole” next week to deliver the Iguana over there. As well he have started cleaning and cleansing the apothíki in the House-next-door: the first car-load old windows, empty boxes etc. was already brought to the Municipal Landfill.

Search continues for man missing in flood

The search for a 46-year-old man who went missing on Sunday in Pieria, northern Greece, when a storm hit the area, was to continue today, as rescue workers had failed to find him by nightfall yesterday.

Members of the fire service, police teams and volunteers are expected to converge at first light to resume their search for the father of three whose car was found in the Aisonas River on Sunday.

Storms that hit much of northern and southern Greece over the weekend are believed to have damaged some 500 hectares of farmland, according to initial estimates. Deputy Agricultural Development and Food Minister Michalis Karchimakis said state inspectors would be dispatched to carry out an assessment of the damage so that compensation can be granted. Dozens of basement and ground-floor homes and stores were damaged in the flooding.

At 2.13 p.m. we were disturbed in our siesta by a villager with his doggie > see further at SHE-DOG.

October 28^th: we heard on the News at 5 a.m. that around our island lots of illegal migrants seems to have drowned . . . . !!

The Kestrel was 184 (+2) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 302 (+7), green was 310 (-1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 355 (+3) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 390 (+1) gram. Tortoises: number A was 144 (-4), number I was 57 (-1), III was 94 (+2), IV was 100 (-1) and V was 74 (+2) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 33 (+1), nr. 2 was 33 (+2), nr. 3 was 29 (=), nr. 4 was 31 (+2), nr. 5 was 26 (-1) and number 6 was 15 (=) gram. About the other patients nothing special to mention. Treating the injuries of the injured Spurr-tighed Tortoise we discovered that on one of the seams of the belly-shield there were some blood-drops . . . . > ??? Couldn’t have come from one of the legs !!

Because it’s today a National Holiday (“No-day”) the English edition of Kathimerini isn’t appearing. In the Greek edition we could read about the drowned people that they were 3 women and 5 children, that the Turkish boat-owner is in custody and that one 33-years old man and a boy aged 6 have survived. This all happened close to Skála Sykaminiás, east of Mólivos.

We’re quite busy with “arts and crafts”: because “Jókko’s” cage evidently has had its better days (was still a transport-cage for our two own parrots, taken with us to Greece in 1991 !!), Joren has started derusting and cleaning of the quite huge parrot-cage (from 1986 !!) which has served already in Holland, as well in the old location in Loutrópolis Thermís and which has lodged in the beginning here the Little Owls, till we had a better lodging in the Wildpark. Rotating wire-brushes and angled grinders are used, but as well the old-fashioned sand-paper. An old cup-board, discovered by us (after 20 years of not-in-use) in the old kitchen (now bathroom), in which a gas-bottle had it’s place and on which a gas-cooker was placed, is now improved as a cup-board for the room of trainees. In the beginning it was in use in the houslet in the Wildpark (food was stored herein), later with the same function in “The Keep”, and more later as a dresser (when our daughter still lived here with her children) and the past umpteen-months it had it’s original function again in Tjarda’s kitchen-part. Now all self-adhesive plastic is removed, a bottom was made in the ex-gasbottle-department and as well a board halfway. Now people can decently store their clothes etc. Only needs to be repainted on the out- & inner side. Removing the food-bowls from “The Keep” at 4 p.m. the youngest of the three Peacocks was discovered dead and with already a rigor mortis > tomorrow a P.M. will be performed. During the evening-feeding-round three of the four Barn Owls refused to eat !!

October 29^th: no further victims this morning; not as well with the Peacocks !! The Kestrel was 184 (=) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 294 (-8), green was 308 (-2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 345 (-10) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 400 (+10) gram. Tortoises: number A was 142 (-2), number I was 58 (+1), III was 93 (-1), IV was 101 (+1) and V was 74 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 33 (=), nr. 2 was 33 (=), nr. 3 was 31 (+2), nr. 4 was 30 (-1), nr. 5 was 28 (+2) and number 6 was 15 (=) gram.

“Bird-watching” not so harmless after all:

we have heard that the day before yesterday a car with 2 tourists (Dutch ?? There are no other tourists on the island anymore) on the main-road Mytiléne – Kallonís (close to the Shell-Petrol-Station) has collided head-on with an oncoming, to the left turning truck, due to which both occupants were killed on the spot. Allegedly the Flamingo’s were the last they saw when they hit the wrongly turning concrete-mixer with 120 km/h .

Re-homing:

at 8.37 a.m. is transferred into the hands of Pet-Shop-owner Yiánnis (in Mytiléne) the Green Iguana (09-195; October 26^th). He just had sold one and the cage was still free.

And here is the complete story about the drowned immigrants:

Eight immigrants drown off Lesvos

The government on Tuesday insisted on greater support from the European Union and Turkey in efforts to curb a relentless influx of undocumented migrants after eight would-be immigrants – five minors and three women – drowned off Lesvos in the eastern Aegean when their smuggling boat foundered.

Coast guard officials on the island were alerted to the incident by a fisherman in the early hours of Tuesday and immediately dispatched two vessels and a Super Puma rescue helicopter to the area. They managed to rescue 10 people, including the suspected smuggler, but also recovered the bodies of five children and three women. According to coast guard officials, choppy waters had swept the boat against a rocky outcrop and the migrants had been forced to swim to shore. The 45-year-old Turk detained as the group’s suspected smuggler is believed to be a murder convict recently released from a Turkish prison. The surviving migrants had no documents but claimed to be from Afghanistan.

Later the same day, a coast guard vessel rescued another 45 would-be migrants from an islet near the island of Anafi, in the southeastern Aegean. According to defense officials, Turkish authorities sent a radar warning to a Super Puma helicopter dispatched to the rescue operation.

Commenting on recent developments in the Aegean later on Tuesday, Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said Greece needed greater EU support to avert such tragedies in the future. “Every day, Greek authorities have to handle the security of 300-400 people seeking a safe refuge in Greece,” he said. “We lack sufficient infrastructure, funds and cross-border cooperation,” he added. His deputy, Spyros Vougias, was more explicit in his criticism of Turkey. “We need a solution to the problems Turkey causes by tolerating the actions of human traffickers,” he said. “There must be an end to this slave trade.”

The wooden cupboard meanwhile is painted on the outside; the interior will be done tomorrow. From the big cage for “Jókko” some parts are already derusted and covered with a protection-coating. We are striving after transferring the bird next Monday to its new home.

October 30^th: the Kestrel was 185 (+1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 296 (+2), green was 307 (-1), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 349 (+4) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 415 (+15) gram. Tortoises: number A was 144 (+2), number I was 59 (+1), III was 94 (+1), IV was 105 (+4) and V was 73 (-1) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 35 (+2), nr. 2 was 34 (+1), nr. 3 was 29 (-2), nr. 4 was 31 (+1), nr. 5 was 30 (+2) and number 6 was 16 (+1) gram. Because the injuries of the Spurr-tighed Tortoise are closed now, we have transferred her (as long as the weather will last) to the tortoise-pen at the House-next-door. At 8.40 a.m. the cup-board was painted at the inside as well. At 12 o’clock all parts of the new cage for “Jókko” were painted, bought upstairs and again fixed together. The food- & water-bowls were made fitting for this cage. Now the three roosts must me bade fitting, two pieces of thick glass must be bought for the sides (against messing on the floor) and the bottom-plate must have a polyestrene protections-cover (as well easy during cleaning). So according to plan we’re on scheme. The temporarily transferred to the tortoise-pen Spurr-tighed Tortoise has enjoyed the sun the whole morning. At 1 p.m. the top-roost was ready and on it’s place; the other two (at the food- & water-bowls) are partially ready and can only be made fitting when the glass is placed.

October 31^st: the Kestrel was 184 (-1) gram. Barn Owls: the old Dark Barn Owl was 287 (-9), green was 305 (-2), the snow-white Pale Barn Owl was 341 (-8) and the new Dark Barn Owl was 409 (-6) gram. Tortoises: number A was 147 (+3), number I was 59 (=), III was 98 (+4), IV was 103 (-2) and V was 76 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: nr. 1 was 33 (-2), nr. 2 was 32 (-2), nr. 3 was 30 (+1), nr. 4 was 33 (+2), nr. 5 was 30 (=) and number 6 was 16 (=) gram. The elder of the two Peacocks has a decent dry nose now; the younger however still has a mucus-secretion. After we had bought glass and trimmed the sharp sides, the last two roosts could be made fitting. Hereafter the bottom got its polyestrene protections-cover and we used the remnants of this “stuff” to give two leaking water-bowls from “The Keep” as well a water-tight cover. All this was ready at 9.10 a.m. At 10 o’clock “Jókko” was transferred to his new cage. In the House-next-door the painted cup-board is on its place and the room is further prepared for the coming of guests/trainees/volunteers. The damaged floor of the Library (office-chair with wheels) will have a “face-lift” by Joren’s good care and mastership. Meanwhile “Ollie” underwent his (we hope) last surgery to get the final stitches. At 11.45 a.m. a phone-call from Julie in Eftaloú that one of the dogs had “played” (read: shaken) with a 3-months old kitten > kitten couldn’t use the rear legs anymore now. Advices were given how to act, because at this age this can recuperate. Further not in the statistics.

Total amount of visitors this month: 066 (total this year: 1103)

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 272 (total this year 1466 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 15 [wild ones: 07; others 08, (total this year 230: wild ones 162, others 068; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4277) of which:

PIGEON (Columba livia dom): 1 from/via Mytiléne. Head quite badly scalped and as well injured on the right wing. Right leg as well doesn’t seem to be all right. Head was stitched with Vicryl 2/0 nonstop. Will have 15 IU Baytril i.m. for 5 days. At a further examination the right Tibiotarso was indeed fractured. Was splinted after the siesta. (see as well October 11^th, 18^th & 22^nd).

DARK BARN OWL (Tyto alba guttata): 1 adult female from Ándissa. No injuries could be detected. However: body-weight was much too low: only 246 gram i.s.o. 330 – 460 gram. So trying to boost her up.

PERSIAN SQUIRELL (Sciurus anomalus): 1 adult female from Mytiléne. Body-weight was 306 gram. Observing the holes everywhere on the body caught by a bird-of-prey. Right eye is quite badly damaged; by the vet Palaiológos there has been bungled here around with some kind of “shit”, but the eye was not cleaned !! Eye will be treated furthermore with Cavasan-cream. As antibiotics 15 IU Baytril every day will be injected. Further observation.

At 5.15 p.m. at the intake-day, thanks to (??) the constantly given Ringers-solution, there was already a bit of walking-around !! (see as well October 15^th).

CAT (Felis catus): 1 adult female from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú. Had lost in the past, due to cat-flew, one eye which was ugly closed by an Austrian Vet. Had now problems with chewing the food and they suspected dental-plaque. However, hardly any plaque could be detected, but indeed a razor-sharp grass-seed which had damaged the gum everywhere in the mouth quite a lot. Seed was removed, from one premolar a bit of plaque was removed (that was all !!) and one incisor (which was threatening the left under eye-tooth) was extracted.

HE-DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 quite young specimen, as well from the Shelter in Skála Eressoú. In the past the right eye was destroyed by children and the eye-lids were completely deformed. The third eye-lid (as well deformed) we had to remove, eyelids as well partially removed and the skin was made free from the underlaying tissue in such a way the opening could be closed. Injury closed with 6 stitches.

(see as well October 17^th - 19^th).

VIXEN (Vulpes vulpes): 1 quite young specimen from/via Mytiléne. Observing the injuries she had been injured as well by dog(s) > left knee had a luxation and there was a fracture of the humerus just above the elbow. The Knee could be restored quite easily (but is luxating as well again quite easily !!). Fracture of the humerus couldn’t be splinted for the time being due to bite-injuries with maggots.

(see as well October 17^th & 19^th).

TOM-CAT (Felis catus): 1 from our village. Was one of the five little kittens of which the mother was poisoned September 3^rd last year (together with “VlekOór”) and which had been reared with the bottle by the Cuban woman and her husband. He himself was now poisoned as well: pupils wide-open and marks of vomiting around the mouth and in the face. 1 Ampoule Filtalon and 1 ampoule Atropine were injected. As well started with every 2 hours fluid subcutaneously. However, the prognosis is . . . . ?? Stared towards 2 p.m. at the intake-day to be a bit more lively. At 5.45 p.m. there was quite a little start of a pupil-reflex. (see as well October 17^th).

QUAIL (Coturnix coturnix): 1 adult female, discovered in Ágia Paraskeví. Was rescued from in between cat-teeth. A good question was where there were no holes: was half-scalped and the trachea came out. Huge hole in the back, huge holes on both sides of the thorax and a smaller hole on the breast. So was a kind of “Emmenthal-Quail”. After the first-aid (during which Jorin assisted perfectly) she had become a “Collared-Beef Quail”. Will have 15 IU Lincocin i.m. for 5 days. (see as well October 18^th & 19^th).

SPURR-TIGHED TORTOISE (Testudo graeca ibera): 2; the first was a baby, * October 16^th ’09 in the tortoise-pen of the L.W.H. Has quite a special deformation of the shell

Bodyweight was 12 gram and received number 6. The 2^nd was a full-grown female from Mytiléne. Left rear-leg is injured with maggots therein. Exactly we can’t see what’s wrong, because “madame” isn’t soo cooperative. In any case some maggots could be removed.

In any case the locomotion is ok. With the help of an old trick we could persuade her stretching the legs, by which a huge hole at the exterior of the left foot became visible. This hole was filled with Negerol-spray.

(see as well October 25^th & 30^th).

PEACOCK (Pavo cristatus): 3 from Polichnítos; 1 almost full-grown cock, 1 juvenile cock and 1 still-unknown-what-it-will-be. All three severe Rhinotrachitis > shimmering like three coffee-machines. Nostrils were cleaned and emptied and all three at least 1 week 1 cc Baytril i.m. (see as well October 28^th & 29^th).

GREEN IGUANA (Iguana iguana): 1 strapping fellow, which was discovered by a man in Pérama in his house . . . ?? So whether escaped, or dumped and thereafter lost the road. Was placed in quite a smelly huge tin with olive-remnants and he stayed therein during the trip back.

Is almost ready with casting the skin. With gloved hands we have taken him carefully out of the tin and checked: Joren could tell it was a male. Taken-in for the time being till we have a solution for him, because they can grow till they are 2 meters long !!

(see as well October 29^th).

SHE-DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 five months old little one, which had jumped out of the running pick-up of her owner and was overrun > clear red blood was coming from the vulva. No fractures could be detected, but inside evidently something was damaged. The only thing we could do was injecting 1 ampoule of Konakion i.m. and hoping for the best. The owner should visit a vet after the siesta; they were all closed now !!