Graphs Week 8

February 21st

At 7.51 a.m. we discovered in the crow-aviary drowned in the water-bowl our disabled Jackdaw, nickname “Down-syndrome”. He/she was with us from before 2001 and was one of the few animals discovered by ourselves. We have counted again the whole amount of patients and we have now 143 of them !! Two Greek visitors from Kallonís: one from the greengrocer’s shop over there and the other from a terrace in that municipality. Continued was with the cutting of the meat, where yesterday already was started with. The Lapwing was transferred for some hours to an aviary in the open air to enjoy some sunlight and to have the opportunity taking a bath. We have received a phone-call that tomorrow a school from the island of Límnos will come to visit us. We had to trim the beak of the only Buzzard which is releasable. Showed to be 08-154, which had come-in as a climate-victim August 14^th 2008 and which, before we could think about a release in 2009, had damaged the most important flight-feathers and rectrices in that aviary. Is now ready for release next month.

Amount of present patients is now (at least) 143 until February 22^nd ; 6:45 a.m.)

Total amount of visitors this month: 003 (total this year: 0014)

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 014 (total this year 0390 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 001 [wild ones: 01; others 00, (total this year 024: wild ones 017, others 007; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4333).

February 20th

We could remove some dead tissue from the wing of the Pigeon, taken-in the day before yesterday, and the injury covered again with Dermisol-cream. Today in Mytiléne there could be bought some pairs of green thick leather gloves (meanwhile adapted to be carried hanging) whereafter there was bought meat in Kallonís: 24,090 kilo (for 156,59 Euro; total now this year 165,534 kilo for 1081,83 Euro); this will be processed in the coming days. Our friend Mílto, who is demobbed now, came to see if we had some Pigeons for him, because he now had time again for his hobby:

Re-homing:

17 Pigeons were re-homed with the mentioned above Mílto. We hadn’t the time writing down all the ring-colors, but in any case the two juveniles (10-018; January 26^th & 10-019; January 27^th) from last month were present.

February 19th

We succeeded in making two pouches for our “harnesses” in which we can use the Walkie-talkies. They are made from thrown-away army-tents and are fastened with Velcro-strips. The red Buzzard is still not eating on his own: we’re feeding early in the morning a bit and the rest of his portion he’s receiving in a bowl in his cage. But more than a bit playing with the meat isn’t happening !! Further more almost all the owls we have to feed are eating badly; something which one can read in the graphics. Because the customs-officers are striking, already some time no petrol has been cleared due to which in the Dodekanesos and in Thessalonica no super-led free is available anymore; over here by Tuesday a shortage is expected, so we’ll try after each trip to bring the car back “full”. That’s why after 5 p.m. we made a “quickie” to the Shell-station to fill him up.

February 18th

At 8.10 a.m. “Monster” got her injection, whereafter she was “delivered” from some parts mentioned for reproduction a short while later > see further at CAT. At 10 a.m. a man from Mytiléne was at our door with a Pigeon he had found already February 11^th > bird couldn’t fly. See further at PIGEON. At the Post-office we could pick-up a box with all kinds on medicines we can use for our patients, sent to us by the “Animal Medical Care Foundation” in Holland !!

February 17th

In the House-next-door the she-cat “Monster” (09-051; May 13^th ’09) paid a tribute to her name by keeping the whole “congregation” over there awake last night: she is in heat. So this will be keeping her sober tomorrow-morning and taking away the reason for her screaming. As far as we have seen the yesterday transferred Buzzard has done well her first night again in the open air. The Collared Dove, which had a tumor on the back (10-015; January 24^th ’10), could be brought back to the Aviary this morning. And indeed we had to buy a new sewing-machine, but we were very astonished when this new bought machine . . . . wasn’t working at all !! There was such a huge mistake in the “intestines” that trying to sew only resulted in splashing around broken needles !! So back again to Kallonís, where a working machine (after long times waiting in vain) was given to us. And this machine was working well. We have tried it in making a feeding-apron for Irah, which she will use in the Bird-shelter “The Sandpiper” in Holland, where she is a volunteer. She has seen over here the benefits: even proof against the tallons of Goshawks !

February 16th

All animals and birds in and on top of “The Keep” had eaten very well > no crumb was left-over. The female Buzzard (silver) was transferred with a full crop as disabled to the buzzard-aviary at 7.47 a.m. And while a great part of Europe is suffering due to the snow and cold weather, we could enjoy our morning-coffee sitting in the street in the bright sun-shine . . . . !! For the 2^nd time the sewing-machine broke-down, so this time it most probably it will be buying a new one . . . . Even for us there are limits what we can and what we can’t repair.

February 15th

After the sewing-machine stopped working Saturday-afternoon during the “construction” of a bag for special tools, we could repair the problem yesterday and as well could finish the bag almost completely. We received the message that “Emily” will be taken-back today in the morning; for examination a Tom-Cat (in the past castrated over here) will be brought as well > seems to have problems with making water. Waiting for the arrival from Skála Eressoú the branches of the grape on both locations are trimmed on both locations (so Joren balancing high on a ladder) and is continued with the bag for special tools till both ladies arrived at 10.30 a.m. So “Emily” was taken-back (with “directions for use”) and we could concentrate on the ex-Tom-Cat “Garfield”, which was neutered over here some years ago. He carried his name with honor, because we have seldom seen such a huge and fat cat (12 kilo !!). (N 1) The belly hardly could be palpated, so in any case the advice was given he should diminish (however, will be difficult with 70 cats roaming around !!). A cleaning-fluid for the penis was given and told how to handle. Further not in the statistics. At 5.55 p.m. the bag for special tools was ready for use.

Graphs Week 7

February 14th

The Hedgehogs had eaten again very well> almost nothing was left-over. Within a good hour the female Buzzard had swallowed the whole bowl with given meat; however the red Buzzard still isn’t eating yet himself. Except the weekly cleaning of Aviaries and cages, we could fin some time for searching for pictures which will be used for a new film which can be seen in the coming time on our website, and the rest (11 kilo !!) of the meat could be cut, measured and packed.

Amount of present patients is now (at least) 169 until February 6^th; 4 p.m.)

Total amount of visitors this month: 001 (total this year: 0012)

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 014 (total this year 0390 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 001 [wild ones: 01; others 00, (total this year 024: wild ones 017, others 007; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4333).

February 13th

Evidently the new lock on the cage of the Dog-Fox worked !! We had to protect the leg of the female Buzzard with a piece of sport-tape, because the new ring had damaged the skin a bit. Prophylactically this was done as well at the red Buzzard. Because coming Monday everything is closed due to the beginning of the Lent, today already meat is bought; this will be processed the coming days in portions by Irah, Ineke & Joren. And it was 26,740 kilo (for 176,48 Euro; total now this year 141,444 kilo for 925,24 Euro). As well we could continue with the perfectioning of our equipment. The female Buzzard showed having eaten well on her own at the end of the day.

February 12th

After a very restless night the hail-stones clattered around our ears when we wanted to take the doggies out at 4.35 a.m. > they were back-in as quick as a devil. The Dog-Fox hadn’t had the opportunity to remove all “securities” and so he still was in. The Hedgehogs had eaten super well !! For 8,50 Euro (without petrol) we could secure our night’s rest, and as well those of the patients in the Sick-Bay, by buying some screw-eyes with metric speed and nuts and fixing them on the doors and the central-post of the cage of the Dog-Fox and the one next to it. Will be locked with a padlock (N 3). Meanwhile we have started perfectioning our equipment, which will be used for big rescue-operations: all must be carried “on the body”, so the hands stay free for climbing and all those kinds of activities. We’ll carry (2 persons): 40 meter mountaineers-rope (breaking-strength 400 kg), metal anchor-pin, geo-hammer, binoculars, GPS, multi-tool, 2 extended army-knives, 2 pair of thick leather gloves, bite-proof transport-bag, 2 walkie-talkies, 2 waterbottles and 2 flash-lights.

February 11th

We have been lucky last night, because the Dog-Fox had bitten the iron wire (which was closing his cage better) into pieces. Luckily he hadn’t been able to open the door of his cage !! Heavy thunderstorms early this morning, so the disabled birds will stay-in temporarily till the weather improves. In spite of the bad weather the Hedgehogs had eaten well. We had to take-back from the Aviary our Hawfinch (06-038; March 21^st ’06): was sitting flabbergasted on the bottom and the left eye is immense swollen. We have started the treatment with Cavasan-cream. By eight o’clock the weather had improved in a way we could take the disabled birds out; however we’re ready taking them back-in again as soon as the weather worsens. Our two Buzzards were ringed with the yesterday re-discovered aluminium rings; the “red” Buzzard received (of course) a red ring, while the female got a silver one. Doing so we discovered that the mentioned last one has as well skin-problems in the left leg !! Both birds got a bowl with meat in their cage and so won’t be fed at midday. At 4 p.m. it showed none of the two had eaten > so tomorrow lesser feeding and again a bowl with food in the cage. The door of the cage of the Dog-Fox was fastened this time with an extra iron wire. And already at 9 p.m. we had to safeguard the cage again; one of the two iron wires was cut and disappeared . . . . what we’ll find early tomorrow ?? At 10.30 p.m. all was still OK.

February 10th

The juvenile Pigeons, yesterday transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” were both present alive and kicking early this morning. We have looked in vain for more than one hour for a plastic bag with aluminium bird-rings (worth almost 250 GBP), which hadn’t disappeared but from which the present location was unknown > at last discovered and sorted. Now we can ring the birds, which have lost meanwhile their plastic foot-ring, witch a colored ring with an number before they will be released. On a long ago succumbed Pigeon (which had been frozen till yesterday special for these occasions) we have demonstrated the opening, emptying and again stitching of the crop, whereafter there was a diligent practicing to have a perfect command of this. As well the “binding” of the bird before treatment was showed. All this was performed more than sufficient, so Irah received the certificate “trained stitcher”. We have seen this morning, the first time since she is here, the Spurr-tighed Tortoise “Stoffel” eating on her own !! At 12.02 p.m. a phone-call from María Karapolíti about a Tomcat with ear-problems; she will pass-by with him today or tomorrow.

February 9th

With a “tinned” Dog-Fox it was early this morning quite a better feeling than yesterday. At 7.53 a.m. we have transferred the two juvenile Pigeons (10-018; January 26^th from Mytiléne, and 10-019, January 27^th from Kallonís), with respectively a double green ring and a double red ring, to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”. The first the doublered did, was . . . . taking an extensive bath. It seems if the tendons of the right leg of the female Buzzard are lasting damaged. She has now a kind of “club-foot” which is an obstruction for a release next month. From the wing of the red Buzzard we could remove a scab with thereunder dead tissue; the created clean hole was “pointed” with Dermisol-cream. In the right eye a “corpus alienum” remains present, which is partly in front of the pupil; this however shouldn’t be an obstruction for release next month. Was the Spurr-tighed Tortoise “Stoffel” (09-194; October 24^th) 1787 gram on January 1^st; this morning she was 1846 gram. Irah has had the chance to practice her stitching on an animal: a dead rat, which was used herefor before. Tomorrow she’ll practice stitching the crop of birds. At 3.30 p.m. we discovered some feathers in the cage of the Lapwing: showed to be the hand-part of the right wing which had died-off and had come loose today.

Greek News

Evia quake

An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck the Psachna area of Evia shortly after noon yesterday. There were no reports of injuries or damage.

February 8th

Starting the preparing of the food at 5.15 a.m. we heard “strange sounds” coming from the Sick-Bay: very carefully there was peeped around the door and the mess showed to be complete. The Dog-Fox was standing on top of the terrarium on the Tortoises, had bitten through some electricity-cables (with the full 220 V connected), due to which the terrarium was without heating and light, the cage of the disabled Little Owl “Pállas” was standing upside down on the floor (was thrown a good meter downwards > waterbowl was broken) and “Pállas” was sitting quietly (but looked flabbergasted) on a roost, bags with litterbox-sand were scratched-open, the garbage-sack was half empty and the contents were spread over the whole floor, food-supplements were everywhere on the floor, a thick feeding-apron (made from a new army-kitbag) was teared to pieces and so on. The worst was the thick leather gloves couldn’t be discovered in the whole mess . . . . !! But in spite of that we succeeded getting the Dog-Fox back into his cage and at that moment it showed he first had tried to enter the cage of the disabled Long-legged Buzzard “Granny” > the made opening was in any case big enough to let him pass-through. Wonder above wonders there were no victims !! Joren had to wake up early to help cleaning and reorganizing the whole mess to make it “workable” again and Irah as well, because she had to take-over Joren’s jobs. So it was a morning not to forget !! The removable separations-wall in between the cage of the Dog-Fox and the cage of “Granny” must completely be replaced by one, which will be covered with iron. Our disabled birds we only could take them out at 7.30 a.m., because at that moment it started to be a bit dry. Today again meat-cutting-day and the same “crew” as Monday a week ago has processed 20,050 kilo (for 133,32 Euro; total now 114,704 kilo for 748,76 Euro). Meanwhile at the other side materials were bought to lodge our “breaker” a bit more safe > for 7 Euro (without petrol) this was done. At 10.30 a.m. an “emergency-call” from Joren: “FOX IS FREE !!” Almost an even large mess as early this morning and our little “Pállas” was sitting and watching in his again fallen-down cage. So the Dog-Fox had to be caught again, while “Emily” was sleeping quietly on top of the terrarium and he was sitting at half a meter distance !! Forced by the rain we had to take-in our disabled birds again at 11 o’clock. At 12.15 p.m. our Dog-Fox was again locked-in behind iron.

Graphs Week 6

February 7th

And it’s raining continuously since yesterday-evening 7 o’clock and today it will be heavy weather > so the disabled birds will stay in !! In spite of the rain the Hedgehogs had eaten well. Today we got assistance with the weekly cleaning of cages and aviaries from Eléktra from Stípsi. She had offered us a.o. this assistance during her visit February 2^nd (see over there). The “hot spot” on the wing of the red Buzzard was treated with Dermisol-cream, and so as well the leg of the other Buzzard (fem). In the afternoon Joren has discovered that the tumor on the back of the Collared Dove (10-015; January 24^th ’10) is coming back > so we’ll have to perform again a surgery.

Amount of present patients is now (at least) 169 until February 6^th; 4 p.m.)

Total amount of visitors this month: 001 (total this year: 0012)

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 014 (total this year 0390 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 001 [wild ones: 01; others 00, (total this year 024: wild ones 017, others 007; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4333).

February 6th

In any case the Dog-Fox didn’t break-out last night !! The Hedgehogs had eaten well and as well did the Barn Owls in “The Keep” > nothing was left-over. Because the stretching-tendons of the “good” foot of the Yellow-legged Gull (10-017; January 24^th ’10) definitively are “gone”, there was decided to put down the bird, which was done at 7.40 a.m. Irah was taught again in the “noble art of injury-stitching”. At 4 p.m. we discovered in the crow-aviary in the court-yard of the House-next-door, sitting very dead in a corner, the “nest-misfit” Hooded Crow (09-067; May 29^th ’09). So the cold weather was at last fatal for him/her.

February 5th

No victims early this morning. We have discovered a second shothole (penetrating) in the fractured leg of the Greater Flamingo > so in total there were at least 3 penetrating shotholes in this leg. Further the bird was complete intact. And of course this bird was the exception of the sex, because seeing the over-ripe ovary it was evidently a female > see for the picture at GREATER FLAMINGO. We started teaching Irah the “noble art of stitching”. Our Dog-Fox is starting more and more being vivacious and is trying to open the door of his cage.

February 4th

And again it was –0 ° Centigrade early this morning and the water bowls in the aviaries were covered with ice !! The Hedgehogs had eaten only a bit. Today the disabled birds are allowed out again. The shot Pigeon, which had come-in January 18^th (10-009), was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” for flying-practices. Received colored foot-rings. The head-injury of the Dog-Fox has no need anymore to be treated with Dermisol-cream: is clean and only some minor scabs are present. So a statue for the inventor of this stuff !! (N 2). At 3.42 p.m. a phone-call from a María from Mytiléne, who next to the salines over here had spotted a Greater Flamingo which was sitting on the ground and which wasn’t able to fly away > so we went for a ride to pick-up the bird. It really was a “bloody nervous” trip, because we had to drive through almost a foot thick mud and unknown-deep puddles. The bird we could catch at 4.02 p.m. > see further at GREATER FLAMINGO. On the pictures Irah has made from the bird, it seems if there are a lot of inshot-holes in the legs > we’ll check-out tomorrow. Is that the case, the bird is indeed “ shot from the air”. Our contact in Holland could tell us it almost sure is a male, but asked if we tomorrow could verify this by internal examinations > and so we’ll do.

February 3rd

All patients were still alive early this morning; as well in the Sick-Bay as in the aviaries !! The Hedgehogs hadn’t left at al their nest-box and so their food was completely frozen. Outside it was –0 ° Centigrade !! Mindful of yesterday we have kept all birds inside today. We have found that most probably from the “good” leg of the Yellow-legged Gull tendons are cut and/or dried-up > is this really the case it will be “end of training”. The strange bulb on the left wing of the “red” Buzzard we could make free and we have emptied it > lots of blood-clogs and pieces of tissue appeared. We have started treating the leg of the other Buzzard (so the female) with Dermisol-cream > maybe the growth of new scales will be stimulated. The head-injury of the Dog-Fox is becoming cleaner and cleaner. Meanwhile “Emily” has eaten again. Joren has given her an enlarged bath: she was trying to wash herself before that bath, but with a dirty mouth from the difficult eating the mess on her legs only enlarged !! We received the message from rep Elvira in Mólivos that she’ll pass-by with a little puppy with eye-problems. As well “Moritz” will be taken-back today: they will take as well lots of surplus instruments from here to the shelter to be of use for a Dutch vet who is coming to neuter strays over there. And that happened at 12.12 p.m. Elvira was here at 12.45 p.m. > little puppy which she had rescued and is rearing now. Left eye indeed was “gone”. Cavasan-cream was given and showed how to use it. We’ll follow how this will develop in the future. Further not in the statistics.

February 2nd

The whole night we had thunderstorms and pouring with rain, so we’ll keep the invalids inside today. “Emily” had to stay sober for her 2^nd surgery today. And she received at 8.07 a.m. her “sleeping-injection”, whereafter we could check 5 minutes later the whole situation. First we have removed the old steel stitches, whereafter behind the eye-teeth a hole was drilled through the mandible.

With the help of a long straight needle a steel stitch (2/0) was brought through the drilled hole. At both sides of the drilled hole the gums was opened carefully, whereafter with a curved needle, passing under the gums, from the left side of the mandible the steel stitch was brought via the front side of the mandible to the right side. Hereafter the two ends were twisted together and cut short. The small twisted-together part was bended backwards and the gums-injury at the right side was stitched with 3 stitches (PSDII - 4/0). The left side could be closed with 2 stitches. Started at 8.19 a.m. and finished at 8.28 a.m. The mandible was fixed together at that moment !! We received a Greek visitor from Stípsi, who wants to help us with the translation from the English into Greek for our website; in between the squalls she was quickly showed around as well. At 2.45 p.m. the rain had changed into hail and sleet, and at 3.05 p.m. the Table-mount couldn’t be seen anymore due to a blizzard of real snow ! Towards 4 p.m. we had to take back cito-cito the disabled Long-legged Buzzard “Granny” from the buzzard-aviary: she was completely hypothermic and lethargic and so far “gone” that she refused to eat !! We wonder if she’ll survive this.

February 1st

In the Sick-Bay all patients were still alive early this morning. Bringing the food-bowls to “The Keep”, we discovered in the pigeon-cage over there a white Pigeon, hatched over there, which was hardly capable of walking normally > used the wings to walk. Was “promoted” into fox-food (after having stopped the suffering. Today again the weekly meat-cutting-day, and Douglas & Janice, Joren & Ineke, with assistance of Irah have processed 21,015 kilo (for 136,59 Euro; total now this year 94,654 kilo for 615,44 Euro). Beginning today Joren has taken-over the job of Webmaster of our site www.wildlifeoplesbos from the former webmaster Marco; we want to thank Marco very much for the many hours he has spent for our site !!