Lesvos Wildlife Hospital news - some very sad

This female Eagle Owl was taken in to the Lesvos Wildlife Hospital on 21 February. It had a broken left wing. On arrival she weighed only 1456g (healthy weight for a female is is between 2300-3000g). By the end of the month she'd managed to get up to 1814g which is good news.

The hospital remains one of the most reliable sources of Eagle Owl records. Nearly all are foudn during the winter, including shot birds. With very few records outside the winter period this perhaps suggests moving on to the island from neighbouring Turkey (as little as a five mile sea crossing). Until someone spends some time in the west of the island in Februayr and early March we wont really know if any territorial birds are present, but judging by the complete lack of records from April onwards when birders are around the island, the presumption must remain there aren't.

Just look at the size of this bird in the hand compared to the Long-eared Owl below!

This Long-eared Owl was brought ito the hospital with a wing injury already several days old and it died.

This sub-adult male Sparrowhawk was brought in the same day as the Eagle Owl above. It too was badly underweight at only c.100g. By the end of the month it was up to full weight at 152g and the injured wing recovering well.

A more unusual patient, this Common Snipe arrived along with the Eagle Owl and Sparrowhawk above on the 21 Feb (what a busy day that was!). It was brought in by another vet who had attempted to bandage the fractured right wing but who had just caused more problems! The bird died later and a post mortem found the bird was emaciated (to the bone).

Finally, some very sad news. Runa, daughter of the hospital owners Joris and Ineke, was taken ill in Holland on 24 Feb and sadly passed away on 27 Feb. Its amazing how life events can suddenly put life itself into context. My thoughts are with Joris and Ineke.

Other birds taken in to the hospital in Feb included Common Buzzard, Starling and a Willow Warbler on 21 Feb.

All photos courtesy of Lesvos Wildlife Hospital. More news on their website here.