A New BH In Rawang, Selangor !!!

Two weeks ago I help a friend in Juru, Seberang Prai to launch his new BH.

After more then three weeks I finally managed to be at site to set the sound in operation. Before doing that he got his workers to clean the floor and ensure not a speck of dust on those floors.

The owner cleaned the nesting planks himself and waited for me to drive up to put his new BH in operation.

Last weekend launched a new BH in Sungai Rambai, Melaka. This new BH was a stand alone three stories high and the owner took about 5 months to get it up.

He was lucky that he found me via my blog. If not the whole project must have been put on hold.

I did the necessary and got everything in place. Apply the new BH aroma, the passionate and played my GoldPot external sound combined with the famous Black Cloud.


This weekend I have a special date with a newbie name Steve from Kuantan Pahang. A very young man who was given the task by his father to look after a 1.5 years old BH plus a new unit under construction.



"Pak Harry, I need to learn as much as I can from you. I am hopeful that the new unit, a standalone will perform better as compared to the other shop house unit."

I was in Kuantan about 10 days ago. Inspected the low nests density BH and make some serious recommendations.

I told Steve to follow my recommendations and call me back when it is ready.

Yes he called for me to be up there this Friday July 17th, 2009.

I am hopeful that all those list of things to do were done as per my recommendations.

This Friday will put the revamp BH into operation mode.

Well well well .....

I forgot to mention about the Rawang new BH in the making. My Brother who suddenly fell in love with swiftlet farming have gone ahead to convert a shop house too.

He got the owner to agree for a long term lease at a very reasonable price. I have good look at the place and I told him to go ahead. Main reason being there were lots of birds flying above the roof top both in the evening and morning.

The location was in between a few successful BHs.

He just finished talking on the phone. The converted unit is also ready for launching this weekend.



A busy months. It looks like every week there will be a new BH taken into operation gear.

I am glad with the development.

All these new BHs will become my center for my R&D on new products, sounds and aromas.

If they are are proven then the benefits will be my blog readers ......

When To Paint Your House Black, Internally !!!!

You might be one of those who take things for granted.

Yes leave everything to the contractor to do what he like with at least RM250,000 to RM500,000 of your live saving.

My advise: Sometime it is advisable to sit with your faithful contractor and exchange some ideas or what additonal things that will be good for your BH.

Remember this is going to be your BH and not his.

You need to give some inputs on those things that will make your BH more enticing to those wild "walet" before the house is ready.

Once the BH is ready you have very little choices but to accept everything that the contractor did for you.

Good example the room must be very dark.

The nesting planks are well mounted, no gap and the box must be around 30cm by 100 cm minimum.

The corner covers are covered in the middle and not at the sides close to those partitioning.

There are some fake nests being installed on the plank close to those tweeters and corners.

The number of tweeters must be adequate and properly mounted.

The guards to the LAL must be high enought.

The pool must be water proof.

The wiring must be split into various floor and labelled.

There will be a separate wiring for external sound at the back of the house.

The partitioning must be at the right place and the right size.

The house humidity and temperature must be monitored for at least a few days to check on the house microhabitat.

The water piping and electrical points are well located.

If you let the contractor to do everything with no input from you then you will later regret for not doing so.

Even if you are not sure what to talk with the contractor, you should call a friend of someone that you know that he is good, like Pak Harry, to drop by for his comments.

He might gives you some bullets to talk or instruct your contractors to add some of those important things.

I was at one of the new BH some time back.

The house was not 100% ready and about to install those nesting planks.

What I saw was something interesting.

The contractor got his laborers to paint the floor totally black.

Normally people paint after the installations of those planks but this contractor paint before he install those nesting planks.

His reason being, when he paint them black, he usually paint everything inclusive of the wall, ceiling, pillars and beams.

If the painting is done after the nesting planks installation, the paint might smear onto the wood.

I think this guy got a very strong point. If your Red Meranti wood is smeared with black paint it might not be very attractive to those "Walet".

I thank him for a simple yet very effective steps in making your BH dark and yet will make the nesting planks clean.

Follow his step and I am sure you will benefit from "Smearing of nesting planks syndrome".

Pak Harry Now Is Recognised By Time Magazine !!!

Little did I know that my contribution on the net was recognized by The Time Magazine.

I received a friendly call from someone who introduced himself as Andrew Marshall. He told me that he is a correspondence for Time Magazine and would like to write an article on Swiftlet Farming in Asia.

In the beginning I thought he wanted to pull my leg but I went along providing him with some write ups on things that he requested.

One day he called and wanted to have a good chat before finalising his article.

Well as usual I answered all that he asked for.

Two days later he wrote something simple like this:


Harry,

Here it is:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1909458,00.html

Many thanks again.

Andrew

I took it lightly and very little notice on the matter until I received a comment from a blog reader who wanted me to launch his BH in Bentong, Pahang.

Read this:

Harry,

Your noble work has gain International recognition though TIME magazine. Enclosed pdf.

Btw, when are you in Bentong? me BH is 95% complete and now pending installation of a couple electrical, humidifiers, exhausts and it is good to go.

Will be in Bentong on Thu and hopefully it all can be switched on and locked up....

Let me know when u r up to Raub/ Bentong next hence we can have a walkabout at the BH and perhaps gain some useful pointers from you.

Stay well

I told my son and wife about this new twist of even and both of them were glad with such a recognition.

Well to me I did not asked to be recognized but if I do then that will be sweet.

My objective is still the same. I wanted to do my utmost best in helping to reduce those failure rate (60-80%) in swiftlet farming. They are just to high.

I need to give more time in investigating things that used to be very secret and confidential.

I want to make sure that everything that can help those newbiews to know in depth in this field is exposed and opened for discussion.

This business is not difficult to do but due to lack of information we see more and more people are loosing their life saving.

I am here to contribute and I hope my little investigations plus daring reports are taken with positive attitudes.

There are many more things out there and they need to be investigated. I need to get as many as I can and write about them in this special blogspot.

Y a a a h o o o o, I am inside the Time with Micheal Jackson (MJ) on the front page. A historical landmark and I am very glad on this new milestone......

Oops he (MJ) just died. May he be in heaven entertaining those who miss his songs so much. .......

New BH In Sungai Rambai !!!!

I was invited to launch a newly build BH in Sungai Rambai during the weekend.

The owner took about 6 months to finish the three stories building and it was erected on an piece of agriculture land at the back of the owner's home.

The dimension was about 20 feet width with 65 feet in length. Each floor was about 12 feet high.

I was called in somewhere in the middle of the constructions operation and the owner was very glad that he found me. His "consultant" ran away with the initial payment and left the project hanging.

He found my blog and was very brave to call and meet up in Kuala Lumpur.

I gave him my point of views on many wrong things that I saw during the first visit.

I got him to use the top entry entrance hole system.

Got him to use the hexagonal tweeter tower.



Recommended the installation of roof covers to avoid direct sunlight.



Most of those gaps between the nesting planks and the ceiling were sealed with wood.



The fungus that were found on the nesting planks were removed.

Safety barriers protecting the LALs were installed using steel pipes.



Those ventilation holes uses long PVC pipes to divert the air intake to the floor.



Assembled all those items that he needed to complete the new BH.

Got all the items installed as per a good birdhouse construction practises.

Inspect the installation works on a regular basis and last weekend the house was put into operational mode.

He was relieved to reach the final stage and I felt the same.

At last his first and long dreamed BH was on track. It was nearly abandoned.

Before starting the bird call sounds, I help plus show the caretaker on how to apply those new BH aroma and the passionate. Those fresh bird shits were also place inside the house at the back of the nesting room.

I told the owner to check the house on a regular basis for the first few days to ensure those water pipes are not leaking and the sound are played at the right volume.

I will be calling the caretaker on a regular basis to check the BH status....

He is now a better person as compared to before the BH was ready.

He make a number of mistakes and using the wrong person to built the BH was the biggest.

He ordered too much of the nesting planks and now keeping them for his next project.

The best was to have meet Pak Harry.

"It was arranged by Allah and if not I will not be meeting you Pak Harry."

I told him that I am glad to be involved and let us works toward getting the birds inside and build their nests.......













PS: The caretaker told me that on the morning of July 14th,2009, there were at least 8-10 birds entered the BH. How wonderful.....

Birdhouse In A 40 Footer Cabin !!!

Every time I meet a new friend who got themselves involved in swiftlet farming I tend to ask:

"How do you get into this crazy business of swiftlet farming?"

You will be surprised if you collect all their answers. Some were by pure accident, some when their father build one and failed, and some stumbled on my blog.

This new guy's story is interesting.

"Harry I never believed in swiftlet farming and I always told myself that those who got involved in swiftlet farming are a bunch of idiots".

"One day I came across a closed friend who was operating his swiftlet farming secretly, in his agricultural land. This guy operate his BH using a fourty footer container. I was dead sure that he was pulling my legs. One day I went to see myself and checked what my friend was talking about. When I entered the cabin, the roof was fully occupied. Oh my god, unbelievable.

He confessed to me that he was harvesting about rm 1,700 of nests a month for almost 2 years then. You know what? He just called me and told me that he has constructed a BH beside the cabin".

"From that day I never look back. I become very crazy on swiflet farming and each unit that I owned is about RM650,000 excluding the land and piling works."

I plan to own or co-own nothing less then 8 units. Currently have two and my next unit shall be in Minado, Indonesia.

So next time when you meet anybody crazy about swiftlet farming just ask him how he got into it in the first place ........

Dual Entry Holes BH Concept !!!!

I was never given a chance to visit any BH using dual entrance holes before.

The recent visit to Pekan Nenas, Johore makes me a new person. It changes my mind set and the way of answering any questions related to the type of entrance holes that I will recommend.

"Pak Harry, which entrance hole is better. The top entry or dog kennel type?"

My usual answer used to be:

When you build a new BH you will greatly dependent on those young birds generated by your neighbors or those successful BHs around you. Go and check their entrance types and use the same type.

What if there are both types in your area?

If you choose the top entry then you will not be able to harvest those youngsters from the dog kennel or side entry type of house.

Likewise if you choose the side entry, you will also loose those that prefer top entry.

The only way out is to have both types in your design. No big deal about loosing additional ceiling spaces because you can now have a 100% chances as compared to only 50%.

I was in Kota Bahru during one of my trip. One of the most successful BH I saw belongs to John Chen. I am cock sure the unit I saw was with dual entrance holes.



This might be one of those confidential design systems which John must have adopted.

In Setiawan,Perak, I saw the same phenomena. One of John Chen's BH seem to ooze those birds from the top and not the side entry like before.

I was wondering why? Now I think I got the answer.

I am excited over this new finding and I hope it will helps to reduce our swiftlet's BHs failure rates in Malaysia.

Those who wanted to know more please call me for further elaboration.

How To Choose The Type Of Corner Covers !!!

Been flooded with question about how to choose the right type of corner covers.

When I was in Pekan Nenas, inside a new BH with the owner, the same question was posted to me.

I think before we discuss about corner covers we should ask ourself why people use corner covers?

Let me relate a true story happened about three months ago:

I have one very bad experience selling raw nests to a processing center.

I took with me about two kilograms of raw nests to this processing center and the owner happened to be my good friend. I asked him to evaluate how much he was prepared to purchase all of them.

What he did was simple.

First he weight the total quantity of nest in the plastic bag. He then poured all of them on a clean piece of plastic mat.

Okay he said. I am going to segregate the nests based on their shapes.

He segregated the consignment into four: those with 180* shape,130* & odd (according to him), 90* and broken nests.

What's next?

He then weight each of them separately. Once he got the weights he will calculate the cost based on the four shapes.

At that time, the prices, based on shapes,were 180* was RM3,800, the 130*& odd was RM,3,200, the 90* was RM3,000 and the broken nests were at RM2,800.

Which mean to say if my consignment was all with 180* shape I will get almost 700 riggit higher then those odd shapes nests (roughly).

Which mean if I wanted to make more money I have to minimise all the other shapes except 180*. I need to avoid nest being easily broken too.

So which will type of all those corner covers will help me to minimise the odd shapes except the 180*?

Is it the excess nesting planks cut into a rectangular shape?

It is the one made of wood that fits nicely into the 90* corner or how about those steel plates?

I am sure you are smart enough to choose the right type if you look at these photos.

Choose the one that will result in the least percentages of broken and odd shape nests.

Remember if the corner covers you choose gave use the odd shapes you will continue producing the odd shape every harvest or perhaps forever. Just calculate the looses incurred just for being so unintelligent.

The lesser the odd shape nests the higher will be the value of nests you produce from your BH.

For me I will go with the steel plate type but my friend you must install them correctly. Look at the two pictures below and ask yourself if you harvest those nests will they be 180* shape?

Drove All The Way To Nenas, Johor To View A New BH !!!

This morning decided to make a trip to view a newly constructed BH in Pekan Nenas, Johor.

The owner is a group of Singaporeans who engaged a local contractor who specialises in building BHs using his latest techniques in accelerating the building constructions.

One of the owner happened to be my blog reader and he wanted my opinion on the building design.

The building looks nothing extravagant from the outside but the moment I entered the house, I was amazed with the ingenuity of the contractor.

He did something that I have seen before.

He put in both the top entry and dog kennel into one house. Very smart,impressive and genius. Unbelievable I thought to my self.

The two methods were constructed side by side but he focused the LAL construction more towards the dog kennel entrance hole.

Very very impressive and his design makes a lot of senses.

If you choose one entry type, you might not be able to attract the other group of young birds that are familiar with the one type.

To meet their preferred entrance holes you build both. Let them choose which entrance hole they love to enter.

I was very lucky to have met the contractor. I asked his reasons why he put the two together.

His answers were:

1) I have constructed many BHs Harry. Some dog kennels and some top entries. There is nothing to compare with this new design. One similar unit in Desaru brought in 800nests in less then 14 months. Frankly I hit a jackpot.

2) From my personal observation those young birds prefer the dog kennel entrance but once they settled down and become a parent they prefer the top entry. The top entry allows them to enter the BH at higher speed.

3) This combined design seem be able to populate all the floors. Before this only the top and second floors of a three stories building are populated. They tend not to populate the lowest floor which is cooler and damp. This new design encouraged those birds to populate the whole house especially the lowest floor.

4) I choose this design based on experiences. This is my best design ever. The most important in how many birds enter and not how beautiful the BH is.

I am very honored to be allowed to enter and I feel that this dual entrances concept is something that we need to push to all new BH builders/owners.

The design should be given a 6 stars.......

How To Avoid Noise During Swiftlet Returning Hours !!!

I saw this simple but effective method in preventing the humidifiers from operating from 6.00pm till 9.00pm (quite time hours).

You must remember this will be the time those birds starts to return home to roost.

What the owner did was to place a digital timer onto the three ways plug on the Hygrostat and then connect it to two of his BH humidifiers (two cables).

The digital timer was set not to block the supply of electrical current from 6.00pm till 9.00pm.

In this way, if the house humidity falls below the lower limit set by the owner, say 80%RH, both humidifiers will not operate.

By adopting this simple arrangement the two humidifiers will not operate and thus there will be no noise disturbances within the quite time.

Once the birds were already in the house and the outside lights were dark, for this case at 9.00pm, the system will operate to push the humidity to the required level.

After 9.00pm even the noise were there the birds will not dare to leave the house anymore. This is because the darkness outside will force the birds to stay in the house.

A marvellous idea which you might want to follow.

There is nothing like sharing.

Air Cooler Unit At A Seafood Resturant In Kuantan, Pahang !!!

While having seafood lunch in Kuantan, Pahang I was seated beside this huge air cooler.

At first it does not bother me very much.

After feeling the coolness from the air that were blowing to our table I just could not resist to have a closer look.

Hmm....may be this can help those BH with high internal temperature???

I thought to myself but I am not very happy with the sound that it generated.

The other problem is the water to top up the water in the main reservoir. If you use in a place that you enter once every month you need to modify the water supply to it.

Perhaps the fan speed should be run at the lowest speed facing the wall.

By this method the sound will be at its minimum.

Well no harm in trying something new but be careful to place the unit away from those bird nest areas. Those shits might be all over the cooler unit.

Enjoy the picture taken......

Juru New BH: Two Days They Have Stayed In !!!

Last week I was surmon to launch a new BH in Juru Seberang Prai.

I remembered helping the owner to deliver all his BH sound equipment.

He took more then three weeks to complete the convertion plus fixing the sound system.

The moment he finished he call asking me to be up there to activate the system.

Well since I promised to help I came up in the morning and arrived in Juru at about noon from Kuala Lumpur.

I brought a few more items that he wanted and once fixed I activated the BH.

For the sake of testing I deployed the Tongkat Ali external sound.

Applied one bottle of"New BH" aroma and "the passionate".

I tweak the sound and blast the sound a bit louder.

I stayed with the owner for almost two hours observing the reaction of those wild birds. Many came and many also left.

The owner was satisfied and I left the house to SPatani.

Two days after opening I received a call from the owner.

"Harry, just wanted to inform you that the Juru BH is okay. I entered to check on the humidity and temperature. Everything were within the required range. One good news for you is that there are a few markings on a few tweeters. The one at the entrance window and the one at the door."

He sound very happy and who will not if just two days after launching those birds have started to occupy a new BH????

I am happy for him and I promise to check with him on a regular basis.

Sibu Brothers Came To Town !!!

Last week the "Sibu Brothers" from Sarawak came to town. Among so many who wrote about swiftlet farming on the net they choose me. Why !!!. I need to ask them.

The four consisted of a would be retiree plus his brother (a contractor) and their close friends (both having their own busineses). I have never met any of them in person prior to this.

Their main objective was to build one BH each on four pieces of agricultural land located in Mukah, Sarawak.

They just wanted to minimise their risk of making blunders and wanted a person to guide them.

Among the many people available in Malaysia they choose Pak Harry. I wanted to know from the organiser, why me?.

"Pak Harry, among so many blog writer I think you are completely different. You are the best since you adopt the sharing attitude. You are willing to give more then what we deserved."

I picked them up at KL Sentral at about 8:30 am and I let them enjoy the bird call test in operation at Rawang Country Home.

This seem to be their first time doing a bird call test using "Duress". I told them that this is the best method to check for swiftlets.

"Wow Pak Harry this is interesting and we have never seen this new technique. Within a few short minutes those birds were drawn towards us. Magnificent way of making sure that there are birds. Thank you for showing us."

We then proceeded to Batang Berjuntai, Selangor. We stop by at my favourite location where there were six to 10 BHs and lots of swiftlet flying in and out of those entrance holes. Very fascinating and they give lots of attention on the shape of the entrance holes and where those tweeters were located.

We then moved towards Sungai Rambai Yu He Swiftlet City located about 5 kilometers away towards Kuala Selangor. This will be their first visit where they can enter a BH and have a good look on the internal built up of a successful BH. Key areas of interest were the nesting planks orientation, those corners, the staircase and the LAL, the position of those supporting beams and etc.

"Very interesting Pak Harry. This is better then attending a talk or a seminar. You are actually teaching plus practical into one."

Well after the swiftlet city I quickly pushed towards Sekinchan stand alone BHs located on those padi fields. There were many with different designs especially their entrance holes.

"Pak Harry, how come each BH have their own entrance design?"

Well each building have their own contractor who happened to be the "Consultant". Each have their own way of attracting those wild birds.

By late noon we were in Sabak Bernam for late lunch.

After finishing the lunch I took them straight to Setiawan, Perak. This will be the real action.

The moment we reached Kg Koh I swerve my car to a popular junction to take a peep at the most successful BH in Malaysia. I told them that the monthly output of this house, I was told, was nothing less then 100Kg. Wow that was fantastic.

We went to check ourself in a small hotel and rest for about 10 minutes.

"Well what's next Pak Harry?"

We are going to enter a BH full of nests. How about that?

All the four could not wait a minute longer. We went straight to the BH belonging to my good friend who volunteer to open his BH doors.

Upon reaching the owner greet us happily and have a long chat with all the four. He was using my "Black Cloud" external sound at that time. The weather was marvellous and cool. There were lots of birds in the air above his BH and his neighbors. Many dive in and out of the intended BH.

We entered and the internal view of this BH was mesmerising. Lots of birds in the rooms and many were in their nests. Some might be babies but many keep flying in and out. The roving area was in the middle of two nesting floors.

We stayed inside for almost 20 minutes. Visited two floors and the Sibu brothers were so fascinated and wanted see more.

While they were engrossed with the owner I took the opportunity to snap pictures for my blog. I observed those corner covers, the anchor hangers, the nests positioning on the corner covers, the most preferred nesting areas and so on.

After more then 20 minutes the four came out and told me that the view was fantastic and thank me for arranging with the owner. It is not easy to have this kind of opportunity in getting the permission of any BH owners to enter their successful BH.

"Thank you and thank you Pak Harry"

We than was taken to another BH, a new but not in operation, by the same person.

"Pak Harry what's next?"

Well let us visit an electrical shop at Sri Manjung who supply interesting gadgets for BHs.

I gave them a break so that they can see something that this shop owner have to offer. The "PVC" pipe Bazooka. We tested the item and it was very interesting.

After the short break, we moved to John Chen's BH about a few blocks away. The view was refreshing. They were curious about the open roof entrance system.

We also managed to visit meet a popular BH owner who operated a optical shop in Setiawan town. He happened to be the President of BH owners association in Perak.

Then I make sure the brothers enjoy the evening view of birds coming home to roost.

The next day I told them to be up as early as 6:30am. I took them to have a look at the morning view at Kg Koh BH. The birds just beginning to ooz out when we arrived. They were glued to the floor viewing those magnificent event of birds coming out of the entrance hole.

"Very very interesting and unbelievable. They keep flying out for more then 2 hours Pak Harry. Maybe we should have something to fill our stomach."

After 9.00am we proceeded to Ayer Tawar, Perak to take a closer look at a BH which was under my care. I told them that I need to do some maintenance and the owner wanted to check the BH for any new birds marking inside.

They do their investigating while I was busy checking any signs of those birds. Yes there were a few new markings.

I took them back to KL and stop for lunch at Bidor and tea at Tanjung Malim.

Overall the trip was very successful and the four were thankful for all the efforts.

I wish them the very best and with high hope they will invite me to come over to Mukah to launch their new BHs.

If you wish to do the same please email your interest to harryswiftlet@yahoo.com.
You need at least two days for the tour.

Cost is marginal but the benefits are tremendous. You learned while you visit real BHs.

More Pictures On Nesting Planks Hangers Birds Preference !!!

I wanted to re affirm my observations about the effectiveness of using rusty nesting plank hangers.

During my recent trip to Setiawan I focus my attention on them.

Just review these pictures and try to accept the fact that they love to build their nest on or close to these hangers.

If they love them, why don't you install rusty bars?

Use your logical thinking and do what you can to lure them into your BH.

Remember you have nothing to loose. Each of those rusty bar might be two ringgit but if you get one nest on them it will be 1000 ringgit worth.

The Black Cloud External Sound Strike Again !!!

I am still baffled on why my external sound I so named "D'Black Cloud" is so effective in pulling those wild birds into many BHs.

The sound is so effective and special that when properly played the birds will become very much 'frenzy' and 'high'. When they become 'High" they will behave very weired. They will start entering into any openings within a certain range of the sound source.

I am still not very sure the actual make up or message in this powerful sound.

I tested it in Kuantan, Pahang yesterday. Immediately when the sound was played all the birds in the vicinity flocked onto the roof top and most of them will enter the hole straight into the roving areas.

Unbelievable and it is true. All within say 500 meters will vacate their house rooftops and response to the Black Cloud.

Even after the sound was switched off for almost 10-20 minutes those birds still hang around and refuse to leave the house. Incredible and weired.

Last night got a special call from another user who stayed in Singapore and operating one BH in Johor.

"Pak Harry, I need to thank you for letting me have the "Black Cloud". After less then 4 months my new BH now have at least 500 nests. Also thank you for the little advise about installing those additional tweeters at the back of the house. Pak Harry, I used those CCTV cameras to monitor my BH. I saw those birds flocking to the tweeters every time I switch the CCTV on. Really fantastic and it works very well with me."

"My own Sifu cannot understand how I did it and he refuse to accept the simple advise that you gave on the additional tweeters. I quietly did the installations myself without telling him."

"From now I will get more advise from you then from my Sifu of whom I contracted the building constructions. You performed better then him even without meeting you face to face yet."

A strange comment but I accepted it as a blessing.

I too wanted to have 500 nest within four short months. I wanted to know more about this "Black Cloud". How I wish I can turn to be a swiftlet and understand the real meaning of this wonderful sound.

In Ayer Tawar, Perak, I installed the sound in one of the many BHs. This was what the owner told me during my last follow up visit:

"Pak Harry before you come here there were not many birds. Now, I think that birdsound you played (black cloud), seem to attract many birds to come not only to our house but all the rest to. Our next door neighbor told me that his BH now have more birds as compared to a few months back. He is very happy with the new development."

Those who have yet to add this sound into their collection please have a go.

Before using them please talk to me for some important tips to ensure that the birds will enter you house properly to the back of the house and not infront.

Give me a call (017 755 1318) and I am sure I will be very happy to assist your wish.

What Went Wrong With A BH in Kuantan !!!

Today I visited a BH in Kuantan Pahang that seem to be vacant for almost 12+ months in operation.

The owner&son wanted my advise/service to turn-around his sick BH. He cannot determined what went wrong with the house. More then 12 months and there were only 12 nests.

I feel very honored to be invited and I told him/son that I will do my best to determine the reasons and perhaps provide with the possible solutions.

In the beginning, I thought the main reason might due to its wrong location.

To my surprised the location was marvellous. There were a few successful BH in the same row, one at the back and one more in front.

There were at least 200+ birds flying around the area when we arrived .

The owner wanted to show me what he got but I suggested to play the "Black Cloud" external sound that I am very proud of.

Immdietly after we played the BC, those 200+ birds flocked over his roof top and they were jumping into the BH.

I told him that the "Black Cloud" seem to be a perfect solution for his house.

Uncle, there is nothing wrong with the location and the birds seem to be entering your BH. There must be something terrible in the BH that is causing the birds not wanting to stay. Let me enter the house and carry out my inspection.

Before entering I told them about the right procedures before they enter their BH.

Do not enter the BH without shutting down the sounds plus switch on the light for at least two minutes. The idea was to train those birds that the owner is coming in. Please be prepared and do not jump out the nests. They might kick their eggs out of the nests.

I made a very closed observation on the BH lay out, the entrance areas, the LAL, the tweeters positioning, the room darkness, the partitioning and took note on some of those things that were not right.

Started from the ground floor then moved to the upper floor.

When we were on the upper floor there were at least 20 birds still flying around in the roving room. I believed the "Black Cloud" external sound seem to make them crazy and do not want to leave the house. After the sound was off, the light were switched opened and we were downstairs they still do not want to leave the house.

This might be the power of my "Black Cloud".

I paid special attention at the roof opening section and keep a very close eyes on those tweeters.

The LAL area were not adequately placed with those pull tweeters. The petitioning were not properly done and the nesting planks were not to my satisfaction.

No fake nests and not goodies to attract those wild birds.

After more then 45 minutes I told them that I was ready to sit somewhere to discuss their BH problems.

Listed to him at least 20 correction items that he needed to carry out. Most of them were basic however the biggest issue was the nesting planks wrong installations.

If I can I would like to bring down all the nesting planks and reattach them onto the ceiling.

With my sincere approach I can see the glow on their face.

I told them boldly that their BH have a very very strong possibility of becoming a successful unit.

Due to their lack of knowledge plus the fact that the contractor they earlier engaged did a horrible work those birds simply refuse to stays.

If they follow the recommendations they will get them back into the house, I promised them.

I drove back to KL happily and got home by 9.00 pm.

Glad on what I have done and I told him to call me to activate the BH once all the correction works were done.

I am sure there are many more sick BH that need my attention.

To those who faced the same delima,ie empty BH, just call 017 755 1318. You might get the answers that for years you have been waiting for.

Corner Covers Installation: Right And Wrong !!!

I was granted an open ticket to enter a BH in Setiawan, Perak, with 3000 nests in them.

My main reason this round was not much to show the BH to my visitors but my target was to learn as much as I can from a perspective of a blog writer.

I told myself while in the car towards the BH that I have a responsibility to report things that are not easily observed by many.

This time I focus on corner covers method of selection and installation.

This 5 years old BH is producing about 1000 raw nests a month.

The owner told me that he adopted the approach of covering those corners once the birds used the corner for at least two cycle.

He prefer the use of steel, to be exact stainless steel plate, as to others who prefer wood.

His main reason was minimising nest that will be 130* shape. Using a thin stainless steel plate will actually remove the 130* shape nest in total.

This is true if you look at these pictures:






Well there some that were not installed properly. Look at the wide gap at the back of the plates. It is better to lengthen the plate and make sure the plate sit flat on the surface of the nesting plank.







The gap at the back can be nuisance when those birds still prefer to sneek at the back of corner as this picture shown:



One other thing that I was a bit unhappy is to have those screw head on the steel plate.



This petrusion, if covered by the nest on the top will get your harvesting knife bend or spoiled. He should have used a countersunk screw type.

What I can say to him was that since the number of nests exceed 300 he should cover all the corners with the plate but use a countersunk screw head.

I mike suond busy body but he knows I mean good. He trusted me and alway make a point to allow all my friends to enter his proud BH.

"I will always let Harry and his friend to visit my BH. All in all he is a true friend who is always constructive and never hide something which can help me to improve my BHs."

I am truely honored. So far I have entered the house at least 5 times and brought with me at least 10 visitors, all were my blog readers, who were lucky to enter this BH.

Thank you my dear friend from Setiawan, Perak.

Bidor Perak: How A BH Owner Cool His Birdhouse !!!

While taking around those Sibu Brothers (four newbies from Sibu Sarawak) I stop in Bidor, Perak for our late lunch.

Before filling our tummy I showed them a BH who came out with this method of preventing direct sunlight onto his BH side wall and roof.

This BH is about 20'X70' located above a three stories building in Bidor town center. If you are coming from Setiawan or Telok Intan you can see the building on the left hand side of the road when you are crossing the town.

The ground floor is a mobile phone shop. The second floor is occupied by some tenants. The highest floor is a BH.

The owner came out with a very well designed cover using those black plastic mat with a steel frame.

The steel frame uses steel square rod (3/4"x3/4"). The gap between the mat and the wall was about 1.5 feet.

The plastic mats used were those used for orchid plantation farm. He secured the mat using those black plastic ties. They look very secured and tight.

If you move about 5 meters away you can also view the roof also covered with the same plastic materials.

The entrance opening is the top entry type and this seem to be the best BH in Bidor.

You might learn something from this article and I am sure the internal temperature is better then those BHs with direct sunlight hitting their side walls and roof top.


THE SIDE VIEW



THE FULL SIDE VIEWS (LOOK AT THE SOLID FRAME TO HOLD THE MAT)





THE GAP BETWEEN THE MAT AND THE WALL WHICH IS 1.5 FEET.

Have You Ever Thought About Nesting Planks Condition After You Finish Those Renovation Works ???

I was with a friend and he owned many BHs in Perak and Prai.

"Harry right now I have about 10 BHs in Perak (7) and Penang (3). How I wish I can retire and earn income doing nothing but the birdnests harvesting."

Well you have to be a bit patience and I am sure within the next three years you can be. (I answered).

"Well right not only getting about 3 kg a month and is growing. The only problem is that I owned only half of these BHs. All are JV with my siblings and a friend."

I am sure the kg per month will increase soon. You just need to do a bit more fine tuning. Get those that are under your care fill up with as many nests as possible.

See the unit we visited today is doing fined. You did make the changes I advised you sometime back.

"Yes after about 6 months I got more then 50 nests plus. I am happy to have met you and giving me those instructions on what to do. I did closed the entrance door a bit and place water containers and so forth. They do works and now need some new sound from U Pak Harry."

This was some of the important conversation between me and him.

"Pak Harry I would like to share this interesting findings that you might want to share with you blog readers."

What do you have in mind?

"Well I discovered that one of the thing that we tend to neglect is to clean those nesting planks after we finish our renovation works. The other day after I complete the conversion works I mop the nesting planks. You know what? The water in the pail turned black. I just could not believe my own eyes."

Yes this is something new and I hope all my blog reader learn something from this experience.

You need to clean the plank with filtered water with no chlorine smell and the last wipe , if you can, get a pail of water soaked with raw nests (2-3 pieces of raw nests soak for 24 hours).

Dry the plank after the last application, if you can.

New Type Of Hollow Bricks To Cool Down Your New BH !!!

While in Sekinchan, Selangor, I saw this newly constructed BH on a piece of agricultural land.

The BH seem to be the red clay bricks construction. In the beginning I thought they were using the standard brick but the size seem to be larger then normal.

Upon closed inspection I saw this hollow brick on the floor around the side of the building. These might be the extra leftovers.

Have a good look at the materials and sorry that the picture taken were not very sharp.

The air trapped in those hollow gap makes the house cooler in the inside. The thickness of the brick seem to be a major contributor too.

The more you read my blog the more you learn about new things ......

Video Clip of The week !!!

This video clip was taken on Thursday July 2nd at Sri Manjung Perak.

The BH is just beside Joh Chen's BH at Sri Manjung township.

If you look very carefully the entrance hole is with steel bars. Their gap of each bar is about 10 inches apart.

You can see very well that those birds take no notice of the bar. They still fly in and out without showing any resistence.

The bars might be good to prevent burglars or those owl.

Be my guess for any comment

More Sounds In My Collection !!!

Today increased my sound collection by another two.

One of my blog reader was very kind enought to allow me to have his collection for me to analyse and perhaps share with others.

Last two weeks I got more then 5 new sounds that were new and interesting. Normally once I got them into my collection I will analyse the sound using Sony Forge 9 software and also do field trials. The good one will then be distributed among those blog readers that are helpful to conduct some tests and provide their imput.

If the sound is tested and proven to be very good then I will distribute them to those who are new and need to improve their library.

My very sincere advise to all my blog reader about sound will always be as follows:

1) You need to start a sound library as soon as you can, You cannot operate a BH with only one sound for the external and one sound for the internal. This will not be good to you and your BH.

2) You need to start small and slowly built a set of sounds. What you need are those good sounds. Sound that will attract the birds to response to the frequency and most important is for them to enter your BH.

3) You need to be able to differentiate between bird call test, the external and internal sounds. They are different and using them wrongly will cause your BH to be sick or empty.

4)You need to get your bird sound from someone that you know or trust. If you pick them up from someone whom you do not know the sounds might chase your current tenant away. Soon all those birds in your BH will run away to your next door neighbors. Trust me.

5) The best is to own at least three effective external sounds. You need to locate,, test and proof that these will be the most effective for your BH location. Once you have them play those sounds on rotation. Play the 1st for at least 3 months and once their effectiveness are no longer there, you need to switch to the next sound in your collection. Do the same after the next 3 months or so.....

6) You can reuse the sound after you finish the cycle playing the 3 sounds. Do not throw them away. Those birds might like the first sound back after you stop playing for almost 3 months.

7) Try not to use the bird call test sound as your external sound. The call sound is said to be a baby bird giving sos calls. Those birds will hoover over your roof top but will be very scared to enter your BH.

8) If you want to start you sound library, the best is to get at least 5 external sounds, 3 internal sounds and one the bird call test sounds. This will be good to act as a starter library. Try to make sure that one of those external sounds is the Black Cloud.(You can get them from Pak Harry if you wish to).

9) Upon having this set you might want to get more by buying them from shops or friends. My advise here is be very careful. Some sound might chase you birds away.

10) To get a good buy is to buy one set of ten at a price of say 5. You can actually buy in bulk. Buying one by one will cost you more and if you buy them from someone whom you trust, all might be effective.

11) I believed that if you want the external sound you played will last longer you need to play the sound for not more then 2 hours in a day. Good example the Black Cloud. I always recommend that you play this sound only from 6.00 pm till darkness say 8.15 pm. The rest of the time you play other melodies that are slightly less effective then the Black Cloud. Yes use separate amplifiers with timers.

I have a collection of about 200 sounds. Some of these sounds are good but you need to test them if you wanted to start your own collection.

For more details please call Harry at 017 755 1318.

Remember start your library and get the best sound for your BH. You cannot depend on those "Consultants" but yourself. Think carefully and make the right decision.

Smart Dust Technology For Swiftlet Farming House !!!

How small do you think a sensor can be?

Well most probably a 5 cent coint size. Hmm maybe the size of a rice grains.

The right answer is 0.05 X 0.05mm size.

It is more like a dust.



I was fascinated with this new technology and I hope one day we can apply the technology in our BH to monitor the temperature, humidity, darkness, vibration and so forth.

The best would be to detect those predators or perhaps water leaking from those water hose.

Read this article found at: http://www.acfnewsource.org/democracy/smart_dust.html

Tiny wireless computers can monitor hard to reach places.


In early 2004 eight tiny sensors were dropped from a plane near a military base in Twenty-nine Palms, CA. After hitting the ground, the sensors – also known as smart dust sensors – organized themselves into a network and quickly detected a fleet of military vehicles on the ground. They determined the direction, speed and size of a series of armored vehicles traveling along the road and later transmitted the data to a laptop at a nearby base camp.

Smart Dust sensors are mini computers – as small as a grain of rice in some cases -- that can monitor and evaluate their physical environment and can relay the information via wireless communication. Commonly known as microelectromechanical systems or MEMs, these sensors were developed by UC Berkeley electrical engineer professor Kris Pister who coined the phrase “smart dust.” Smart dust sensors can monitor elements such as temperature, moisture, heart rate, energy use, vibration, light, motion, radiation, gas, chemicals, current humidity, and pressure. According to Professor James Demmel, Chief Scientist CITRIS (Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society) these devices will soon be ubiquitous and have many real-world applications, such as use in emergency rescue, or monitoring redwood trees from high in their branches.

Software has been developed to run these mini computers called TinyOS (OS = Operating System). A key feature of TinyOS is the ability of the sensors to automatically organize themselves into a communications network when placed in the physical environment. This allows the sensors to talk to each other via wireless radio signals by sending and receiving data along the path of placed sensors, sort of like a fire bucket brigade. If any one connection is interrupted, the sensors self-correct and pass the information on to the next available sensor.

Each sensor has a chip that does the computing work – recording things like temperature and motion at its location. Each sensor also has a tiny radio transmitter that allows it to talk to other sensors within 100 feet or so. With a single network of 10,000 sensors – thought to be the biggest array of sensors currently possible -- you could presumably cover 9 sq. miles and get information about each point along the way. The data ultimately works its way to a base station that can send the info to a PC or to a wireless network.

The scientists who are working with this technology say smart dust sensors can be used to detect the location or movement of enemy troops in areas too dangerous or remote for soldiers to operate. Scattering hundreds of self-networking sensors from a plane or unmanned drone onto the battlefield, in theory, could produce critical information and lead to strategic advantage. Sensors could also be used to detect the presence of chemical weapons and could give troops the time needed to put on protective gear.

The same technology used to detect the location and movement of military forces could also be used for more peaceful purposes. Professor Demmel says that energy efficiency is one of the areas where smart dust sensors are poised to really make an impact. The sensors could be used to determine the cost of running appliances so homeowners could regulate their use. Home appliances could have a sensor that would inform the user, through a kind of high tech thermostat, how much it costs to run the appliance at that particular time. When demand for energy is high (for example, during the middles of the day) people could chose when to use energy. Another possibility is to use sensors in conjunction with fire departments to develop a sensor-based system for responding to disasters.

Smart dust sensors are being used to understand more about the interplay between plants and their environment and how the loss of redwood forests might affect local climate and water resources. Redwood expert Todd Dawson is using the sensors to gather data on pressure, relative humidity, photosynthetic bands of light and total solar radiation from areas of the forest that would otherwise be almost impossible to measure.

How about this: http://www.pinktentacle.com/2007/02/hitachi-develops-rfid-powder/

Hitachi develops RFID powder
14 Feb 2007

Hitachi’s new RFID chips (pictured on right, next to a human hair) are 64 times smaller than their mu-chips (left)

RFID keeps getting smaller. On February 13, Hitachi unveiled a tiny, new “powder” type RFID chip measuring 0.05 x 0.05 mm — the smallest yet — which they aim to begin marketing in 2 to 3 years.

By relying on semiconductor miniaturization technology and using electron beams to write data on the chip substrates, Hitachi was able to create RFID chips 64 times smaller than their currently available 0.4 x 0.4 mm mu-chips. Like mu-chips, which have been used as an anti-counterfeit measure in admission tickets, the new chips have a 128-bit ROM for storing a unique 38-digit ID number.

The new chips are also 9 times smaller than the prototype chips Hitachi unveiled last year, which measure 0.15 x 0.15 mm.

At 5 microns thick, the RFID chips can more easily be embedded in sheets of paper, meaning they can be used in paper currency, gift certificates and identification. But since existing tags are already small enough to embed in paper, it leads one to wonder what new applications the developers have in mind.

[Source: Fuji Sankei]

Comparison Between Swiftlet Farming And Other Breeding of Animals !!!

Oh please don't chop the duck head yet. Just hold a few more seconds. Let my blog readers finish reading this article !!!!


I was invited to give a small presentation yesterday to a Co-op, in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur.

After about 45 minutes of Swiftlet Farming introduction I was taken for a sea food dinner at Jln Klang Lama.

While discussing about swiftlet farming breeding method, one of the enthusiast described on how he was fascinated with Swiftlet Farming. (He must be a pious Buddhist)

What he told me, his reason on why he is vary fascinated with Swiftlet Farming, was the comparison he made between other forms of animal breeding and swiftlet farming.

"Harry, when you carry out swiftlet farming you actually do not kill any of them. You look after those birds like a very precious animal. Sometime I think much better then your own family. You do not harm them at all. You let them stay in a specially made farm, cool, humid, safe and allow them to come and go. They can come and go from the day they can fly until they die. What you earned is by harvesting their precious nests. That also after those young babie flew away.

You harm nothing. The parent,after about 10 days, will come back to the same spot to build another nest for their next breeding cycle. No killing, no harm done, no injection, no slaughtering and etc.

But if you look at other types of breeding of animals, example sheep, cattle, fish, chicken, duck, pigs and many others, you actually look after them for a certain period of time and when the times come you sent them to the slaughtering house.

"Harry, I don't think I can do that. Just imagine you see them growing from small baby to adults and then you slaughter them just to earn an income. That is cruel, very cruel."

"Because of that I feel very comfortable in swiftlet farming. You do not harm them at all. You do not sent them to any slaughtering houses. That's the biggest different."

Hmm ....this guy got a very good point. I have never thought about this comparisons and he got a very strong case.

So those who are vegetarian you might want to be a swiftlet breeder or farmer. He he he.

No harm done to those swiftlets.....

Look at these pictures and imagine you look after them from young. You take care about them like your own child and then you slaughter them just to make some money. Yuk it just sound not right ....

In Sibu A Caretaker Turned Swiftlet Farmer !!!

This swiftlet business have no boundaries. I came across so many people with different background and they try swiftlet farming.

Some are engineers, architects, contractors, hardware shop owners, tyre shop operator, insurance agents, print shop owners, motorbike shop owners, petrol station shop owners and so forth.

While in Sibu, Sarawak I saw this unusual view which I think you will find amusing.

A caretaker of the dead, selling casket/coffin also have a BH on the top of his shop.

This is something interesting and this again confirmed that the swiftlet business have no boundaries.

I don't think I will ever accept his invitation to view his BH no matter how good it is. I am sure some of those dead souls follow him home and stay up there with the birds ????

He he he .....

Everybody can be a BH owner and you might be the next guy in line.

Home Made Wooden Fake Nest !!!!

Something which I have never seen before.

A home made wooden fake nest.

This picture was taken in Pontianak, Indonesia.

The fake nest consisted of three pieces of plank about 1.5 inches by 2 inches.

They were nailed together and tied to the nesting plank using screw.

What amazed me is that the fake nest do have a tenant.

These wild birds seem to be not choosy where to built their nest. As long as there is a protrusion on the nesting plank which make their life easy to start building a nest they will take it.

The Rakyat Bank And Air Asia !!!

I was about to board my plane from Kota Bahru to Subang, Kuala Lumpur.

While walking towards the Firefly I saw this blue colored plane on the tarmac.

I was very impressed with the logo on the plane body.

It was Bank Rakyat on Air Asia plane.

Impressive and very enterprising. I never thought that Air Asia was so innovative.

By venturing into advertising of their plane I am sure they will earn a handsome yearly fee for that.

It become like those bill boards along side the highways.

Very innovative and is a win-win situation for both the Bank and air asia.

Syabas ....

The Use Of Medium Size Piezo As Internal Sound Tweeters !!!

This was something rare but I saw it being used by one BH owner and it works.

The owner uses medium size piezo tweeters as his internal sound tweeters.

As far as I know normally we recommend the use of small size tweeters either the 4"X4" square of the 2"X5" size. However this BH owner uses the 3"by 7" tweeters.

I was very taken back with his approach but then it works.

He placed the tweeter on the wall far away from the nesting planks (about 1.5 foot below). What happened was those birds build their nest on the cement wall about a few inches away. They seem to like the sound so much and prefer to be closed to the tweeter.

I was taken back and feel very surprised. Well as I always says that the more you know them the more you need to know about their mysterious behaviours.

I am sure I will make this as an option or goodies for any new BH. What the hack, if they like it then we just try.

My recommendation is to install a few at some strategic locations, not more then 4-6 of these medium size tweeters per floor (20'X70'). Play internal sound on them.

You have nothing to loose as long as your internal sound is perfect.

Four Sarawakian Will Be On Swiftlet Tour Starting Tommorrow !!!

"Pak Harry, we have arranged our flight and your helps taking us around showing more about swiftlet farming will be appreciated and of course compensated."

I received the above message from a blog reader from Sarawak. A few days ago he was pleading with me about his wish to come over to Kuala Lumpur for a Swiftlet Tour.

I told him that if he can he need to allocate 2 days of his time and I will quickly prepare an itinerary to full fill his dream.

I told myself that if I can bring them into an operating BH with thousands of nests will do wonders to these guys. He got three other friends with him.

The first day will be a short familiarisation in Rawang Country home. I will show them how to conduct a bird call test.

Then will proceed to Batang Berjuntai for a closer look at another interesting shop houses with lots of swiftlets.

Once that is done, I planned to take them to Sungai Rambai Swiftlet City. This will be the highlight of the morning. Will take them into a BH to see those birds in action. I am sure this will be a great thing to those who have never enter any BH that are in operation.

After Sungai Rambai, planned to visit a number of stand alone BHs in Sekincan. There are at least 10 of them located in the Padi field and the town areas.

My next plan after this is to drive up to Setiawan Perak. I got my good friend who has confirmed allowing me to show his highly populated BH somewhere at a junction in Setiawan.

Will take a good rest in Setiawan hotel for next day adventure.

The next day I already have some works to be carried out in a BH in Ayer Tawar. I will get these visitors to work with me in applying those aromas and fix a new set of external and internal sounds.

Once done I will proceed to Bidor where a very successful BH is totally covered with those plastic netting.

My idea is to let them take some photos and enjoy the view.

When in Tanjung Malim will stop by at Yik Mun pau shop to meet one of my friend who owned a few BH in the town. Who know he might allow us to visit his very successful BH.

Hopefully by 4.00 pm will reach Kuala Lumpur.

Will take lots of photos to prepare for a short report for all my blog readers.

BH Cooling System: Foam Spray Application

Click the arrow icon and listen to the information given.

The use of this new technology on BH might be a possible solution to your BH heating problem.

I am sure this technology is already in Malaysia.

If you have come across the contractor please let me have his contact number.

Let Us Look At Those Markings Carefully !!!

Double Click On The Photo For Clearer Viewing.


Look at this photo carefully and let us try to evaluate everything that you can see on them.

Perhaps if you are very the observant you might see more then what I can see.

Our main reason is to understand what the birds are trying to do the moment they started their nest building.

1)The wet markings on the wood.

You might be able to see some kind of wet layer of saliva or glue on the nesting planks. Both sides have the same wetness.The distribution looks very much balanced on both side of the nesting planks.

These might be the base of a newly built nest.

2)The black feathers.

You can see at least 6 to 7 strands of black colored feathers. There are the thin feathers from the abdomen or body of the birds and not the wings.

Why must they pull their own feathers and stick them to the base?

I think that must be something like their technique to identify their nest especially when they fly in the dark.

Their sense of smell plays a very important role when flying in the dark to locate which nest is mine.

3) Those saliva strands.

They looks very much like those glue strips. They are not always straight from one plank to the other but some are up and down.

Some are thin bit some are quite fat.

I wonder why they build from top to bottom. If I were the bird I will concentrate on one spot. Less saliva and less hassle.

I believed the builder is a very new couple who have never built a nest before. Not enough saliva or perhaps too busy taking some shot with the partner.

4) How Old Was The Nest?

This is something that you need to predict yourself. For me the nest looks like being very recent. I would say not more then one week.

The birds takes about 3 weeks to complete their nest before laying their first egg. Two days after that the second egg will be laid.

5) Why They Choose Corners.

You can see that this is a corner nest markings.

Due to the close proximity of the nesting plank (90*) the birds can easily place her saliva on both planks. This will form as the base anchor.



Well those are the things that I can evaluate from looking at the way the markings are being made.

You might want to add any new things that you felt I have missed.

Beside Tweeters, Corners and Fake Nests They Love Nesting Planks Hangers !!!

If you are given the opportunity to visit BHs with nests in them just be observant.

There are some important pattern where those swiftlet loves to build their nests in any new BH.

Their list of preferences are:

1) 90% nesting planks corners.



2) Above internal sound tweeters.



3) Fake nests.



4) Nesting Planks Metal Hangers.


5) Nesting planks close to walls or petitionings.

My advise to all of you who are about to start your new BH try to give all those things that the swiftlets preferred. Treat them like toys or chocolate to lure them to stay.

Give them those corners. Do not cover them with corner covers until such time that the total number of nests hit 300. If you are clever cover those corners once they have used the corners for two times.

Place more internal tweeters and some try to place twin at one spot. Encourage them to settle on those tweeters. Once the have used the tweeters placement for two time, relocate these tweeters to another place.

There are many types of fake nests in the market. You should choose the right one and install them close to those internal sound tweeters. Make sure they can be recycle once being used, at least twice. Also do the same two time usage and remove or relocated these used fake nests.

The best is the nestling plank hangers. It seem that these hanger gives those birds a kind protrusion allowing the birds to cling on them while starting their nest. If your BH design have very little or no hangers then you should cut those metal bars and screw them onto the nesting planks.

You can put as many as you can but make sure once they served their purposes you remove them in stages.

They also love to build their nests near walls and pertitions. If you want to construct those pertitionings please make sure the room you created is at least 4 meters X 4 meters to allow them to fly in cycle.

The idea here is to know what they likes and encourage them to be your permenant tenant.

Once they become your permanent tenants you can make the necessary plans to achieve the target number (300) to produce new batch of youngsters to fill your house (internal generated).

When that figure is achieved you might want to remove or cover these fixtures.

You Might Want To Try This Twin Tweeters Technique !!!

Something that you might want to try in your BH !!!

The Twin Tweeters Technique.

While in Muar, Johor, I visited a newly build BH with very little nests after 1.5 years in operation.

The owner showed me all that he has.

Something unusual that he wanted me to gives him some explanation was why the birds love the twin tweeters that he installed in the roving area.

What he did was to fix two tweeters, both the 2"X5", in one place close enough to the nesting plank corner.

The result was that the birds prefer to built their nest on the top of the twin tweeter even though it was in the roving area.

This might be due to dual sound which mean two nests with babies. The birds feel more safe and secured.

The twin tweeters will also form as a back up. If one tweeter was out of order the second will take over.

The only disadvantage is the cost. You need to spent more for each location.

To minimise the cost I proposed to him to install a few, say 10 to 20 sets, and see how the birds will react.

If within a few months all the twin tweeters are with nests then why not buy more tweeters and increase the numbers to perhaps 50 or 100 sets.

You might want to go on stages.

No matter what you opt for it is you who can decide.

I am just exposing something that I came across with no guarantee that it will work all the time.

Hope you have learn something new today.

Some Interesting Observations While In KB !!!

These might be of interest to all my blog readers.

While entering the three BHs in KB I found the followings that might teach you something:-

1) The owner uses only two sounds. One external sound at the entrance window and the entrance tunnel and one internal sound (mating sound) inside the BH. I took a copy of each sound as my collection.

2) The type of tweeter used at the entrance hole were those made of metal and coil type. As usual the sound from these metal tweeters are loud and with lots of echos. Internally the owner use the piezo medium size tweeters.

3) In one of the houses, the internal tweeters were not on the nesting planks but mounted on the cement walls. The birds obviously built their nest near the tweeters, on the cement walls and not the nesting planks (very often).

4) There were many nests that were build on the metal hangers used to hold those nesting planks to the ceilings.

5) Most of the nests were build very closed to the walls or those wide beams. Their preference of the wall can be due to feeling of more secured or the wall provide them with additional darkness.

6) The owner never believed in using any humidifiers. He believed that they are too noisy. Due to this believe all his bird houses and very dry and most of the nests were thin, dry and with cracks. Humidity were below 68% RH. I guess similar to the outside air. That is not a good thing to believe in. He should at least use other methods like water spray or mist generator type of spray by using water hose during the monthly visit.

7) The sight of bat in one of the BH was not a very good sign. I told the owner to quickly use those fish net to catch and kill the bat. If not there will be more that will colonies the house. Once this happen the house is doom.

8) The owner never apply insecticide on a regularly. There were lots of cockroaches in one of the BH. They seem to on the floor, the walls and the nesting planks. Their hide out were the gap between the nesting planks and the walls. My advise to the owner to use Fendona on a more regular basis.

9) One of the BH was once attacked by those owls. They stay for almost three weeks and nearly two third of the birds population were gone. They managed to kill the owl but there were no measures taken to ensure that the same attack will repeated.

10) The birds seem to love to take a morning drink. It seems that they prefer to turn towards the river when they comes out of the house. Upon reaching the river most of them will swoop down and touches the water surface taking their morning sip.

Report On Trip To Kota Bahru!!!

I arrived Kota Bahru airport at about 8.45 am using Firefly via Subang airport.

Mr Eng, my close associate, was at the airport with his old antique Merz. Not bad being fetch and driving around in a Merz, a very old Merz. I told him as long as it does not stall I will be okay.

The first stop was Nasi Berlauk for breakfast. After the short meal he took me to a three stories shophouse somewhere in KB town center.

I was not sure who he got in mind to see but an elderly man was there smiling as if been waiting for me for a 100 years.

"My name is Mr L and how are you?"

I am okay and I hope I can be of help.

"Yes I really need your expert advise. On the top of this shophouse I have a bird house and recently we have extended one floor up. Been in operation for almost 6 months now but there are little nests and residents."

Okay what else can you tell me? I asked with a short smile on my face.

"The entrance hole is side entry and facing the back lane. There are many birdhouses around us and every day there are thousands flying above our roof. However they seem not to stay permanently."

Can I know are there any successful BH around and how many kg are they producing a months?

"Oh yes just at the back there is a BH with 16kg a month. Just about 15 feet away from our BH. On the other lane, there is one more successful BH and I think they produce at least 20kg a month. But how come we have little success?"

In my head I keep analysing the situation plus the high expectation of MrL.

I then asked, Who is your "consultant'?

"We do everything ourself. However we did get some advise from some local guy but nothing happened"

Hmm....interesting and I am very amused with what I am hearing. I might be the next person in the book with "nothing happened" page.

Okay let me have a close look and let me digest the situation.

He quickly took me up from the lower floor up and until the top most floor. The best incident was a reasonable sized bat with whitish wings flew by and out of the entrance hole.

That might be one of the reason why you have not many birds Mr.L.

Okay the entrance hole is facing outside but with no proper objective, the room seem to be very bright, the ventilations holes were all on opened mode, a few stars from the walls, the light from the ventilation holes were bright, the tweeters were those medium size and all were on the internal sound and so on .....

Mr.L how many tweeters are then in the BH? I asked.

"Not many. About 15 or so. Why?"

Can you inspect one by one and tell me are there any birdshit spots on the floor just below them?

"Okay. Yes Harry all of them are with birdshits."

Well the first thing if I were you is to increase the number of internal sound tweeters. Each tweeter, say will allow a set of birds so the more you put the more will be those birds. How many birds do you want? If you want 200, you put in 100 tweeters. Simple and perfact solution. What do you think?

"You might be right Harry. I think they like to roost on these tweeters. That is something which I will carry out immediately, Harry. Thanks for the interesting observation and interesting tip. Anything else?"

Where are the external sound tweeters in the roving and nesting rooms? I was curious.

"Nope we never place any tweeters playing those external sound in our nesting and roving. Only at the entrance."

I was smiling and shook my head and I keep telling myself that these people have very little ideas on why those external sound in the rooms are as important as the sound at the entrance hole.

Mr.L if you are the bird, let us assumed, you heard the external sound and you fell in love with it. SSo you tracked where that soothing melody came from and yes at that BH window. You flew towards in and you suddently enter the entrance hole. When you passed the tweeter what happen? You loose the sound. That beautiful melody is gone. So what do you do? You will turn back. So do you expect the bird to enter the nesting rooms if he suddently loose the sound?

"Hmm you might be right there. If I were the bird for sure I will reverse my gear and make a U turn back to the tweeter where the sound was coming from. You are damn right. Logical and make lot of senses."

"What should I do pak Harry?"

Well the best is to instal at least one tweeter at the far back of the nesting room that will play the external sound similar to the sound you played at the entrance holw. If you have the resources why don't you put more, perhaps two at the back of each floor and another two in the middle of the room. Focus also on those doors where you isolate the nesting rooms and the roving areas.

Well the above were a few things that we talked while in the BH and I do not want to desribe too much. I will be making a full report and submit to MR.L. If you wish to learn something about every trip that I make you should try to subsribe to all these reports. They will not only pinpoint those common mistakes but also give you the ideas how to tackle them.

What you need to do is to sent an email requesting for a copy plus a token fee for it.

What I know is that he was very impressed with my professional explainations and reasons for some revamps.

The entrance hole positioning, the closure of ventilation holes, the humidity, the temperture, the petitioning, the sound system, the additional tweeters and a few more will be in the report.

The best part of the day was when I played the Black Cloud. It was so marvellous. The birds were drawn to the tweeters and at one time there were 20 birds cuing to enter the hole. A marvellous view and Mr.L was smilling like someone who have never smile before.

I felt so good to see those charming smiles.

"Okay Harry, good, good and good. Let us have lunch and move to another two more BH outskirt of KB"

I very sure he was happy to have me around.......

The two BHs was gigantic. Wow four stories high minimum 60 feet by 80 feet.

My goodness what are they trying to do. ....

Will tell more in the next article .....




My summary on the whole trip is "Interesting Indeed."

Trip To Kota Bahru, Kelantan Visiting 3 BHs !!!

"Pak Harry the ticket for your to come to KB is confirmed and please be at Subang airport at 7.00am."

This was the message from my good friend in Kota Bahru.

Hmm ... excuse me can I know why you want me to be up there in Kota Bahru?

"Oh ya, I have lined up three BHs for your to inspect and make the recommendation for those birds to come in and stays."

This is something that I never expected and I hope I can give some helps.

The owner seem to be badly in need of help from a third party.

I will do my best and I hope whatever I recommend will help to turn the BH back to its original state.

Will take as many pictures and shall bring a new high powered torchlight to be "The Birdhouse CSI".

Let see what I can tell all of you about this new adventure......

Why People Do Not Share Their Findings In Swiftlet Farming ???

I met one new blog reader yesterday and he was amused with what I talked about.

His intrigue question to me was:

"Pak Harry, how come people are not willing to share the knowledge in this swiftlet farming?"

He went into details about his friend in Kuatan who reside in KL. According to him this very close friend went into swiftlet ranching sometime back and now he is harvesting about 2 kg a month.

Remember they are closed friend for donkey years.

When he wanted to go into the same business he approached the so call "good friend for donkey years".

The answer received was " Sorry I cannot help you. I am under strick instruction not to allow anybody to enter my BH."

There goes a good friend. "A good friend for Donkey years."

The only way out for him to gather more information was via the web.

He stumbled onto my blog and found an interesting piece of article about how I spend three full days of my precious time with two Vietnam Brothers.

Read this: http://swiftletfarming.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-lucky-these-cambodians-brothers.html

"Pak Harry, nobody in this field will do what you did. You spend three days with people whom you have never met to teach them about Swiftlet Farming. You even take them into some BHs that were in operation. Marvellous and unheard of now days"

"From that article, I know you are kind and simply better then my "friend for donkey years" friend of mine. That was why I decided to call you today."

Okay what do you actually want from me?

"I need to get a copy of the Black Cloud and some internal sounds. You see I and a partner started a new BH on the top floor of a shop house. We started running the operation for about three weeks already. Our close neighbor, just at the back of us, started his about three months ago. He seem to have many birds flying in and out while ours nothing. What can be the problems?"

It might be many reasons. Remember your BH is new. Usually in any new BHs the cement smell will be very strong. You need to air the house with a few fans for at least one week. You also need to apply suitable aromas for a new house. The aroma can mask the smell and make the house more pleasant. Apply the aroma only after you have aired the house. Apply on the walls and the floor but focus on those walls that you constructed and plastered with cement layers.

What else?

I told him again about the flying path design. You did your BH by DIY. Do you really know what the birds likes and dislikes? Are the entrance into the roving areas and to the nesting room properly designed? Do you give adequate space for them to turn the moment they enter the house? Do you know that these AF need a minimum of 4 meters by 4 meters room size to be able to turn in a circle?

Since I am not there to check your house internal configuration I would like to stay away from making any comments.

What about the installation of those goodies. You see if you enter a golf tournament you normally will be given a bag full of goodies (towels, golf balls, tees, markers and sometime free drinks). These goodies for those birds are the corners, fake nests, tweeters, aromas and many others. You need to temp them to stay the moment they enter your BH for inspection.

What about the external sound tweeters in the nesting rooms? I believed that placing external sound at the back of the nesting room is something that you should consider. Why? You need to pull the birds to the back of the BH. There is no used if they only entered the front rooms and make a U turn back. Remember the moment the birds passes the external sound tweeters at the entrance hole, and if there are not tweeters inside playing the same external sounds inside, the birds will be at a loss. They loose the frequency of sound that they were attracted to so they will turn back to the original tweeter. So place those external sound tweeters at the right locations until the back of your house.

What about your set of targets in starting a new BH.

I have this formula or should I says a philosophy about how to be a successful BH.

You need to set a target. "I want to work hard with my BH until I get a total of 300nests. I will provide everything that the birds needs and once I reach the target number I will get on with my target on how to make the new babies stays."

You see when you start a new BH you are very much dependant on those wild birds flying in the air. They can be from your next door neighbors or from the caves. So at the beginning you have nothing coming out from your BH. However if your BH reached a target of 300 nests (you can lower this number if you want) there will be 300 X 2=600 babies per cycle. Internally generated. One year you have 1,800 young chicks or in percentage 300%. If you can work you butt to make 100% of these birds to stay then you have won your swiftlet farming game. Yes every year you increase two folds of the number of nests. What happen to the balance 200%? Well let them go but you have 100% with you.

If you have 300 nest and increases by two folds you will get 600 nest for the 12 months period. The next 12 months you will have 1,200 nests, the next 2,400 nests and so on. In no time you will fill up the whole nesting planks.

So the issue here is to place a target. Yes works towards an achievable targets and not doing something haphazardly.

After the one hour meeting he felt so fresh.

"Pak Harry your kind words are like breathing fresh air with lots of oxygen. I felt so good and happy to have met you in person. You have so much to share and I know there are not many like you. Thank you and thank you again."

There you go another happy soul.

Even though I still have the back paint I felt that I have at least helped someone in distress. Hope he will remember me for a long long time......

A Bit More On Long Range Acoustic Device System !!!

This special article is perfect to read.

It gives you an interesting ideas on what you can do with LRAD.

I believed it is good and should be applied to swiftlet farming industries.

We need to work with the American Firm and perhaps make them applicable and affordable.

Found at: http://www.gizmag.com/lrad-long-range-acoustic-device/11433/

The Long Range Acoustic Device: pirate deterrent, crowd controller or soft drink seller?

By David Greig

01:14 April 10, 2009 PDT

When Somali pirates armed with RPGs attacked the luxury cruise ship Seaborn Spirit in November 2005 it wasn't armed troops or the threat of artillery that deterred the attack, it was sound waves. The ship was fitted with a clever bit of tech called the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), a system which can emit painfully loud sound frequencies that are concentrated in a narrow beam and easily direct them at a target, not unlike using a spotlight.

The American Technology Corporation, led by its founder Woody Norris, developed the LRAD following the bombing of the USS Cole in October 2000. Designed to enforce safe zones around US military vessels, the device can be set at a frequency up to 120dB to first warn any craft approaching a military vessel to change course. If the craft doesn’t comply, then the frequency can be cranked up to 151dB, producing a loud, irritating and potentially painful noise. The idea is to act as a deterrent and avoid employing lethal force.

The technology also has been incorporated into another piece of military hardware – a nifty communication tool called the Phraselator. The implement is designed to give specific instructions and warnings in a range of languages. Again, if they aren’t followed, the Phraselator sounds a loud and, if necessary, painful warning.

The LRAD has found civilian uses, too, in controlling crowds and evacuating buildings. The New York Police Department City used the LRAD during protests at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Georgian police also used the technology on protesters in Tbilisi in November 2007. The LRAD is also being tested in areas of Iraq and prison camps, such as Camp Bucca.

In February, this year, Japanese whalers controversially used a sonic device against anti-whaling activists. Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society claimed that such a weapon was used against one of its helicopters, forcing it to back off and injuring an activist. Activists aboard the conservation ship, The Steve Irwin, supported these claims with photographs of the incident.

Police and US military are using the LRAD to provide warnings from up to 300m away and, in some cases, are using smaller versions, such as the MRAD and LRAD500. However, it is its use as a non-lethal weapon to quell civil disturbance and disobedience that has attracted criticism from human rights groups, who argue that sounds louder than 90dB potentially damage hearing.

The LRAD’s success in warding off attacks has also come under scrutiny. In November 2008, an LRAD failed to deter a pirate attack on the Liberian vessel MV Biscaglia. Additional concerns about its effectiveness have been raised with detractors arguing the device can be rendered harmless by simply wearing hearing protection.

On a more positive front, the technology may have some applications for consumers. By amplifying sound – whether it be voice, music or some other kind of recording – clearly over a long distance without causing pain or irritation, it’s possible for companies to target individuals. For example, a stream of sound can deliver a specifically tailored message to a person, based on some kind of sensory response. If a sensor, say, detects a person’s raised body temperature in a crowd, a message can be sent to that person pointing to a soft drink vending machine nearby.

LRAD technology may also be used to direct music, according to people’s preferences, to individual tables in a restaurant or bar, or perhaps pass messages directly to an individual without letting others know.

Talking tech: how the LRAD works
According to American Technology Corporation, the LRAD uses capacitive transducers requiring modest power requirements of less than 200 to 400 watts to achieve full output. The high directivity of the LRAD device reduces the risk of exposing bystanders or people in the vicinity to excessive audio levels. Sound behind the LRAD unit is more than 40dB, less than the on-axis forward output. The LRAD also incorporates multiple highly efficient switch-mode power conversion systems. The LRAD uses an array of piezoelectric transducers to produce sound. A transducer is simply a device that changes energy from one kind to another. In this case, it changes electrical impulses into sound. The transducers under charge rapidly change their shape and create sound waves. All of these transducers are attached to a mounting surface and staggered to allow more of them to fit into a smaller space. Identical waves emerge from the transducers and their amplitudes combine to help the LRAD create very loud sounds.

The LRAD uses the phase of the sound waves, the size of the device and the properties of air to create more directional sound. Essentially what you have is a loudspeaker that can receive input from a range of devices and amplify the signal, enabling the operator to send the target a clear message – painful or not. There's a good overview of the technology at “How Stuff Works” .

LRAD in brief:

The LRAD has a range of 984 feet (300m or about three city blocks) over land or 1640 feet (500m) over water
It has a beam width of about 30 degrees

The devices is 33 inches in diameter, five inches thick and weighs 45 lbs

Input signals can be anything from a microphone, laptop, MP3 player, CD player, Phraselator or translation device

The LRAD has maximum volume of 120dB at 1m in normal operation, 146 dB sustained or 151 dB burst at 1m with override.


David Greig

Sound Technology That Might Help BH Owners !!!

The noise polution from those external sound tweeters is currently the main disadvantage to the swiftlet industries in Malaysia.

The number of complains are rising and I believe we need to find new technologies that might help both the Industry and the people staying beside our BH.

If you are determined to find the solution you should listen to this talk by a self style inventor Mr Woody Norris.

Click on the URL: http://www.ted.com/talks/woody_norris_invents_amazing_things.html

What Mr Norris have invented is something that allows the sound that we played be beam to a selected object.

If you are not in line with the sound beam you will not hear anything.

Just imagine you beam the sound to the sky and your neighbors will not hear a thing. Silence until you can hear a pin drop?




His technology is being enhanced into various other products. Go to this URL :http://www.atcsd.com/site/content/view/38/51/

Among the three product that uses Norris technology is the Hypersonic Sound Technology (HSS).

The HSS can actualy target the audiance. The idea is that you will only hear the sound if you are within the sound beam generated by the sound blaster.

More details found at: http://www.atcsd.com/site/content/view/13/104/

Read this:

The HyperSonic Sound® technology gives you the ability to direct sound exactly where you want it.

Now your target audience can hear exactly what you want, exactly where you want them to. Designed to target a specific area, HyperSonic Sound technology (HSS) uses a tightly focused directional beam of sound that is heard only by those in the selected area.


The high-precision targeting of HSS significantly minimizes the levels of noise pollution in both open and confined spaces and anywhere else ambient noise is an issue. HSS also ensures that your intended audience receives the messages conveyed through the system clearly and intelligibly.

The HSS Advantage:

HIGHLY DIRECTIONAL
Ultimate control in audio placement
Minimizes noise pollution
EASE OF INSTALLATION
Built-in amplifier
Compact form factor
Lightweight
COST EFFICIENCY
Least expensive hardware to purchase
Least expensive hardware to install
Lowest maintenance cost
Total cost of ownership
PROVEN TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION
Leading provider of directed audio solutions for the digital signage industry
This ability to direct or focus sound into a tight beam has a wealth of applications.

Museums, aquariums, zoos, monuments and other self-guided or tour-led facilities can enhance the visitor experience through targeted communication about artistic displays, historical documents, artifacts, animal and marine life, without the need for headphones.
In high ambient noise environments such as airports, rail lines, busses, commuter train stations, or port terminals, HSS can intelligibly target traveling information and local area tourist information to a specific area.
Retailers of all types can provide targeted, unobtrusive advertising directly at the point of purchase.

Safe And Sound After 5 Hours Drive From Endau, Pahang !!!

Back breaking, tired and need a good bath.

I finaly arrived home from Endau. I took about 5 hours on those small roads until Kuantan.

The journey was damn tiring but happy that I have contributed something in advising three of my blog readers.

The one in Muar, Johor was the toughest. I told him to revamp BH's flight path in total. I don't feel good but that was the only way to get more birds into his sick BH. My intention was to find a solution. I don't want to lie and said what he wanted to hear.

My decision was final and I hope he will think deeply on the suggession.

The one in Mersing, Johor was easier. The unit was beside a very successful BH and the method to pull the birds can be pretty easy.

What he needed is to do minor adjustments, add a few new items or gadgets plus adopt the aroma selection works. If he can find a suitable aroma, I told him that all those young birds generated from his neighbors will move camp. I am not suprised that even those adult birds might follow the same path.

The third unit, in Endau, Pahang, have water leakage problem and internal sound not working.

The BH was a stand alone unit located in a Dragon Fruit's farm. When I was there he was playing my Black Clouds external sound.

After more then half an hour waiting for him to finish giving instruction to his Indonesian farm workers I was allowed to enter his BH.

Huge and high. He uses wood as the staircase to climb from one floor to the other. Good work.

There were a sizable number of birds inside the house.

I think they like the Black Cloud sound.

"Harry, I have installed the Black cloud for almost three weeks. Yes there are quite a sizable numbers. I think there are more nest as compared to before using the Black Cloud."

Good for you, I told him.

The biggest problem he faced was the water leaking. He installed those black PVC water pipes on the wall to cool the house plus to increase the humidity. The trouble is that when they wet the floor the water tend to seap through those small cracks on the floor.

A number of nesting planks below those flooded areas seem to be very wet and stimulate the fungus growth. He wanted to clean all of them.

One very interesting observation were the new petitioning walls which he recently constructed.

"Pak Harry, ever since I installed these patitionings the birds number seem to increased. They like to built their nest close to the petitioning areas."

I fully agreed with him. What he did was to install the petitioning from top to bottom but he leave the last cement board opened. (He missed one layer of those 4'X4' Cement boards). Brilliant ideas and the birds were not bother with the arrangement.

He open another entrance hole on the lower floor. Though smaller then the main door on the roof top, the birds seem to enter from this new hole too.

Before opening the new hole, there were no birds on the lower floors.

One repeat observation that I saw was the effect of internal sound.

While doing the inspection I observed that the birds seem to be crowding in one of the room at the back.

"Pak Harry, why they seem to like staying in this room and not the opposite room?"

Just like before I carefully listen to the internal sound from those tweeters.

Come let me show you why.

I pulled him to the opposite room and I asked him to listen to the internal sound.

"Oh ya Pak Harry there are no sound here. The other room with lots of birds are loud and clear with the internal sound."

So it seem that I answered his question without giving any verbal answer. I am just too good. Frankly I have observed similar phenomena in Bukit Pasir Johor BH. Exactly similar and I am glad that what I make known before is again right. Remember about those zoning suggestions?

"Pak Harry, I really appreciate your observation. I will get my electrician to quickly fix the sound problem."

Well I have enought of looking at BHs and I need to head home.

"Pak Harry please help yourself with the harvested Dragon Fruits in those buckets. Take as many as you want. I feel very proud to have you visiting my BH. Short and beneficial. Hope to meet you in KL to discuss in more details about how to increase the nest population."

I left Endau feeling very contended. The three owners have learned a few tips from me and I got them the visit reports for them to do the needful.

Though my back is hurting but inside me I feel great.

Yes great to help those who are in need of some advise........

My Trip To Muar, Mersing Johore and Endau Pahang

I was invited by two of my blog readers to visit their BHs. One in Muar and the other in Mersing.

While driving towards Muar I remembered to call a new blog reader who owned a BH in Endau. Since I will be in Mersing I should try to make full use of my time.

Got hold of him and as usual he was more excited then me to let me have a look at his BH.

The day before I started my journey received a call from Mr.S who is building a BH in Sungai Rambai, Melaka.

"Pak, I am short of external sound tweeters, about 18. Can U help?"

Mr. S since I will be passing your house tomorrow I will drop by and hand delivered the tweeters. Is that okay with you?

"Oh yes pak Harry that is marvellous. Will see U at my House. Thank you and thank you"

Well managed to solve one problem.

Also on the same day, I received another call from a BH owner in Muar but currently reside in KL.

"Pah Harry my BH seem to be flooding. I can see the water flowing via the CCTV cameras. Can U advise what to do?"

Well get someone to shut the water immediately.

"The trouble Pak Harry there is no one in Muar. All of them are in KL right now until Monday."

Oh shit. Okay I will be in Muar tomorrow. Why don't U let me have the keys and let me stop by to shut the water and perhaps resolve the leaking?

"Oh yes that's good. I will let U have the keys first thing tomorrow morning."

I took the keys and manage to solve the leaking problem while in Muar. Got myself into a mess when the door have another lock that I cannot locate. Immediately when I pull the door to open the alarm system went off. Oh shit this is not a good thing to happened. All those neighbors were looking at me unsure if I am the owner's friend or a burglar. Luckily managed to phone the owner and told him about the tight door.

"There is another lock inside that you can open with your bare hands. Just try to find that and pull upward."

Okay managed to do as per advised and stop the alarm immediately.

Went upstairs to check why those water water were oozing from. Yes the water hose was disconnected from the humidifier inlet pipes.

Got it fixed and off I go. Second problem solved.

"Pak Harry did you observed those new corners that you recommended to install?

Many of them are now with markings. Yes in just less then three weeks they are making new nests. I would like to thank you for your generous ideas. U are really great and thanks for the tips."

Well I did saw some of the new markings and I am happy for you. Please remember I am nothing more then a blogger who love to share knowledge.

I wish you will cherish all the things that I have taught you. Remember there are thousands more newbies and BH owners who need our helps.

If you learned something, tried and it works, can please spread the ideas to those who wanted to improve their nest population.

My sincere wish to you is that every time you carry out the harvesting, try to allocate about 3-5% of the total to any charitable organisations. Just do that like your token of appreciation on what Harry have done for you?

That was what I told him and I'm glad to have make someone happy.

The next was Mr. M in Muar.

"Pak Harry, I took over this BH from my father, about a year ago and the BH has been with very little success. Can U have a good look and recommend the best solution?"

Hmmm........ The house is not strategically located. Not very closed to any successful BH and I am not sure if I can see the birds flying path.

Went to the back of the BH and asked him where are the successful units around the house.

The moment I entered the BH, I was very disturbed on the flying path from the outside into the roving towards the nesting rooms.

They are a bit awkward. If you are the bird flying in, don't you think you hate to come home? (I asked him)

I told him to perhaps consider realigning the flight path and make the roving areas slightly bigger.

Currently the roving room is less the 10'X10' in size. I recommended to open to at least 15 'X 15'. In doing so he need to sacrifice the two nesting rooms with some nests.

"Pak Harry, I was thinking of doing it as my last resort but since you said that I would like to thank you for your sincere recommendations.

Okay there are many more things that I would like to recommend but the best is to let he draw up the report and email to you soonest.

You need to re look at the nesting planks, the internal sound, the use of black cloud, the aromas and etc.

Hey .... you seem to have adopted my idea about installing tweeters at the back of the rooms playing the external sound?

"Yes Pak Harry, immediately after I inserted two tweeters I got three new nests. Before that there were nothing. You idea works and I am happy to say that I learn so much from you and other bloggers."

Well we have a good assam fish lunch and I promised to submit a full report soonest.

I then started my long journey to Mersing, Johor.

Wow .... it was so far with winding roads and crossing some virgin jungles. Might see some wild elephants !!!

Upon reaching Mersing, Mr L and his partner were there waiting below their BH.

Since the time was getting late I told him let me quickly survey his BH and do the needful.

Wow.... There were about 50 birds in the house.

He learned something new. When carrying the neon light he accidental switch it off temporarily. The birds will automatically switch to using the echolocation sound. The sound was amazing.

Do it again I told him. He did more then three times. Swithed on and then off.

"Oh yeh pak Harry you are right. Those birds switch from no noise to those echo location noises. Very interesting and I am very impressed with this new findings."

Okay let have a good look and see what can be done to improve the situation.

I was asked to climb to the roof top.

Wa leow, so many birds hovering above and the neighbors birds were there too.

I told him let us finish the inspection and let the birds comes in to rest. It was closed to 5.00pm.

The best about this BH was that it is located closed to a successful BH. In fact on the opposite site there were a few more.

Avery morning and evening the number of birds circling above the house is in the thousands.

Mr.L you make a good choice and I am very happy for U. What you need to do now is to work towards a program to maximise the number of new tenants generated from your neighbors.

I shall prepare a full report on what I observed and make all the applicable recommendations for you to consider.

Remember you are beside a swiftlet young generators. Just pull them in and make sure they reject their original home where they were hatched.

I in fact finished my report this morning and sent to him via his email address.

Hope he likes it.

Now waiting for another blog reader who is keen for me to inspect his stand alone BH located in Endau.

Hmmm.... I hope I will not be tired enough to drive back to KL after this........

It's Hard To Keep Everybody Happy !!!

No matter how much you do and how much you have done you just cannot pleased everybody.

Today, again, I received a call from a good friend who told me that there are still a few people who are out to demoralise my effort in writing this swiftlet farming blog.

It is the same group of people who love to see me surrender to them and stop writing this blog.

I simply do not understand their intention and may be they can call me and talk to me.

My phone number is always on my blog site and if they do not have take this number 017 755 1318. My email address is harryswiftlet@yahoo.com.

Yes I do help so many of my blog readers about their bird house problems and some time I am so engrossed with them I tend to forget I got a family to look after.

Today received three calls and one was from Mukah, Sarawak. He was on the phone with me for almost 1 hour and my battery nearly went flat. I entertained him with the best answers without any fee levied.

Just an hour ago, a blog reader called me and asked me to drop by at his BH in Muar to check the water leakage. I happened to be driving to Muar tomorrow and told him that I might be able to deliver the BH keys to his partners in Muar but he said all of them are up in KL. So what is his best option? Okay I told him that I will stop by and shut the pipe. Again at no charges.

On the way back from Rawang Country home another blog reader called. "Harry I need your help. There is something wrong with the BC which I used last week. The sound seem to be jerking. Can I get a fresh copy" Oh yes I am about to reach Sentul, why don't we meet at the Petrol station for the fresh copy. I did all the thing that I can and stop and waited for him to reach there to give him a new copy. Free of charge.

There are many many more activities that I did just for the sake of this swiftlet farming things and I am very tired of hearing people saying bad things on my back.

I can admit that every single order that was placed with me were delivered and no one complained so far.

I do the packing myself and post laju within 24 hours after they cut the orders and make payments. I was given warning by my wife that those aromas are making her sick so I moved out to a rent a room to store them.

I hope my contribution in writing the blog, my ideas, my suggestions , my findings and etc do contribute many sensible ideas to all newbies in the field.

Not many out there are willing to share all the information about swiftlet farming.

They are normally good in criticising others so that they will become the hero and making other people's life difficult. Everything that I do seem to hurt their ego and some are my good friends (sometime back).

There is no use of stabbing other people back. The best ways to prove that you wanted to help others is to start your own blog. Try to do better then me. The best advise is be my friend and do not stab my back.

If they wanted me to sell their aromas please let me have a sample.

If they need me to advertise about their new electrifying external sounds please email a copy to me.

I have no specific reasons to reject their offers. All in all I want to continue helping those who need someone to advise them about their swiftlet farming problems.

Please be honest and help those newbies with their problems. They need our guidance and knowledge. Do not teach them to hate others.

Tun Mahathir Was Born And Raised At This House !!!

While in Alor Star I visited a wooden house somewhere in the town areas.

It was said that former Malaysian PM, Tun Dr. Mahathir was born and raised at this house.

Nice to see the birth place of a person with exceptional gift.

Enjoy these pictures and if you happened to be in Alor Star just drop by.

Sorry was not allowed to take photos inside the house.

You May Want To Record Those Birdcall Sound Using Your Digital Camera !!!

I did a test and it works. Well this was how it happened.

I downloaded "Sony Forge 9" trial copy for Audio mastering a few days ago. While writing my blog about a BH in Tanjung Malim I decided to use the trial Forge 9 to see if it will download the avi clip.

Oh yes it did. When I click the play button, the sound did comes out and the row of pictures of the top move one by one depending on where the moving line is at. Hmm .... very interesting.

My conclusion is that you can capture those sound plus pictures using your digital camera.

Bring them home and download into your computer. Once that is down you activate the "Forge 9" and open the file. Once that is done those sound is in your custody. You may want to copy and insert into a new folder that have stereo charecteristics. If you are not sure sent them over and I know what to do.

Brilliant and nobody have ever told us about this new findings. Trust me you always learn something new when you read my blog.

Not many out there who are willing to share these kind of new things but dont worry you have Harry to learn from.

Someone Is Inside this BH !!!

Someone seem to be inside this BH.

I was passing Tanjung Malim during the weekend and stop by at the back of this building.

I took a vedio clip just to see how those birds fly around and not entering the BH.

I think there is someone in the house doing some inspection or maintenance or "curi sarang". Anyway enjoy the clip.

Crucial : Flight Path Into Your BH !!!

A very crucial aspect of any BH is how those birds, from the outside, needs to fly into the roosting areas inside the BH. How many obstacles they need to pass before reaching their prefer ed nesting areas.

I have seen many types of BH designs and a lot of my time I focus on how the owner designed the entrance hole areas. To me this is one of the most important part of any BH.

You will be surprised that every BH entrance areas are not the same. Each person who DIY have their own design criteria. Different consultants have different ways of coming with the entrance hole.

Some are too small while others are too big.

Some with so many corners and curves while others are straight in.

Some block those lights with petitioning here and there but some never bothered to do any light blocking and so on.

The issue here is that which design gives a smooth path for the birds to enter the house with ease and do not need to maneuver to the left and then the right and again downward and upward.

A few BH I saw was with this design where the birds need to make a U turn (360*) in order to find their nesting areas. Do you think this is the right design?

I wonder why there is no standard design that are proven and well liked by those wild birds.

The Muar BH, with more then 400 nests, which I recently visited seem to be the simplest and I think the birds have the least difficulties in entering.

The top entering design allow the birds to snoop in and quickly enter the house via a door about 4 feet width by 10 feet high.

Upon entering the door the birds enter a roving area about 18 feet by 20 feet (shop length).

While in the roving area the birds can either fly to the bottom floor via the staircase or into nesting room number one or number two on the upper floor.

The owner construct a small petitioning to block those sunlight from entering both rooms.

What surprised me was that the birds, a few, have no problems in building their nests even in the roving room which was quite bright.

I hope that I will continue to make close observation on all BHs that I visited.

Most successful BH have a very simple entrance design with very little obstacles while flying to their roosting areas.

If you wish to have a sketch of the Muar BH entrance design please call me at 017 755 1318. Remember the house currently housed not less then 400 nest and growing rapidly.

I visited the BH a few months back and advised the owner what need to be done to increase the nests population every cycle.

He took my advised and within two weeks he installed all the needful and is enjoying a good growth.

Be Prepared If You Wanted To Trade Those Raw Nests !!!

You might think that trading of raw nests can be a very lucrative way of living.

Yes you just buy those nests and sells them at a handsome profits.

Before you think of engaging yourself in this new line be careful on the followings:

* You need to be sure that what you bought can be disposed at a decent price that you can make a profit. Each kilogram you need to make at least 200-300 rm.

* You need to sort those nests in accordance to their shapes. The full half cup nests (180*) fetch more as compared to those angled (90* and 130*) and the broken nests.

* Get to know from where the nests were harvested. If the nests comes from a new BH you can roughly predict that there percentage of angled nests will be more as compared to those from old BHs. This can be as high as 90 percent.

* The nests will loose weight due to water evaporation. Once you purchased you need to quickly sort, pack and keep them in a cool place. Perhaps spray with some clean water.

* Apply some water. Spray with a little water before you keep them in a cool place.

* Make sure you bring along those portable digital weighing machine. Sort the nests in accordance to their shape and weight them separately.

* Inform you seller before weighing that you are prepared to purchase the nests at what prices for different shape. 180* is say 3,700 rm, the 130* is 3,300 rm, the 90* shape is 3,000 and the broken nests at say 2,400 rm. You only weight them only if your seller accept your offered prices.

* Handle those nests carefully. If they are very dry there is a very strong chance that they will breaks if something is placed on the top of them or smashed by some heavy items. Remember broken nests fetch the least price.


Well if you are not careful you will loose your pants.

Be careful and do not assume that they are easy to make money from.....

Dermacyn: A Miracle Salt Water Wound Care!!!

First I was facinated with EM, the Effective MicroOrganism, which helps to remove odors and help to turn your kitchen garbages into fertilizer.

But wait what about Dermacyn?

This unique product, invented by an Iranian residing in USA, is said to be the best cleanser for any open wounds on your body. Good for those who have a family or friends with diabetic or bed ridden with bed sores.

It actually breaks the outer skin of those microbes that attack your wounds, and kill them.

I found this product a few years ago and always keep in touch with the new development for the sake of helping people who needs to cure their wounds.

Go to:http://www.oculusis.com/us/news/





What suprises me was that both the EM and 'Superwater" technologies came from Japan.

The inventor, an Iranian origin, of the superwater confirmed that he got to know the technology from Japan and he took another four years to come out with a method to produce the superwater in large volume.

Accepted by FDA and now you can buy them from the shelf.

Well as for the EM you know who was the inventor Dr Teruo Higa, a Japanese.

Mist Humidifier in Operation

A vedio clip showing you the operation of a mist humidifier using mist maker.



The model can produce 1500 ml of water per hour.

The Star Metro: Swiftlet Farmers Cry Foul Over Lisences !!!

Friday June 12, 2009

Found At: http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/6/12/southneast/4081431&sec=southneast

Swiftlet farmers cry foul

By PHILIP HII


SWIFTLET farmers in Sarawak are crying foul over what they claimed as “double standard” in the authorities not issuing licences to them.

There are an estimated 1,500 swiftlet farms in Sarawak.

Only two, one in Kuching and the other in Mukah, have been given licences to operate. The rest of the 1,498 are operating illegally.

They want to know why when several West Malaysian states can give out licences and provide guidelines for swiftlet farming, Sarawak cannot do the same.

“Even our new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak openly supports swiftlet farming. I just don’t understand why Sarawak cannot follow,” lamented a bumiputra swiftlet farmer from Mukah.

When contacted and pressed on this “double standard” issue, an officer from the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd (SFC) who wished to remain anonymous, said Sarawak will not blindly follow all the guidelines and rules which have been implemented in West Malaysia.”


Inspection: Officials at one of the bird houses in Sarawak.

“We have our own rules and we will not implement those rules which clearly contravene our own state rules” hesaid.

Under the 1998 Wild Life Protection Ordinance, no one is permitted to carry out swiftlet farming within the town areas. Under the rule, the edible birds nest of the species aerodramus fuciphagus and aerodramus maximus which are protected animals, are only permitted to be bred in agricultural areas in the outskirts other than its original habitat like the natural caves.

The officer, however, added that the state government always supports legitimate swiftlet farming on agriculture land as it recognises that it is a highly profitable industry.

As for the guidelines, he said this will take time as it involves several ministries and departments.

Malaysia is now the world’s third largest producer and exporter of edible birds nest, producing about 150 to 200 tonnes of birds nest worth RM1bil annually.

The top producing states are Perak, Pahang, Kelantan, Penang and Sarawak is catching up fast if not for the recent raids on illegal swiftlet farms throughout the state.

After several warnings to demolish the farms on their own failed, enforcement officers from SFC sprang into action in October last year. The small coastal town of Mukah was their first target.

Fourteen farms, all converted from the town’s shophouses were raided. In the operation carried out by SFC officers from Kuching and aided by police personnel, the farm owners claimed that hundreds of eggs and young swiftlets were killed, either dropping to their death when their nests were removed or starved to death after their parents were forced to flee.

After several days of protests from swiftlet farmers in Mukah as well as other towns and the intervention of politicians and ministers, the operation slowed down.

Several months have since passed.

There have been a few dialogues between SFC and representatives from the state’s several swiftlet farmers and swiftlet merchants associations.

Most members of the recently formed Sarawak Birdnest’s Suppliers Association (SBSA) are very optimistic that the state government will soon work out a win-win solution for this “smokeless industry.”

SBSA appeals to the authorities concerned to urgently solve the current impasse as any further delay will only contribute to greater financial losses to the farmers as well as the nation.

Meanwhile, the number of swiftlet farms continue to increase all over Sarawak. Sources said that each day at least two new farms are added to the growing list and many of the new swiftlet farmers are bumiputra farmers and fishermen living in the coastal regions.

Mist Fogger Acting As Humidifier For BHs !!!

While writing the mist maker and humidifier using similar technology, I stumbled into a beatiful product at one of my friend's shop. The product is fit for a high end humidifier requirement BH.



I saw it and could not resist to see how it works. I have attached in this article with some clips and pictures.



Very quite and the size of the water mist is so small like those clouds at Genting Highland.



This might be one of the best alternative to using those chicken house humidifier. It gives very little noise except when you put the blower fan at a high speed.

The only disadvantage is the steep price. Nearly five times the price of a normal humidifier.

I think if you DIY it will not cost that much.

Birdhouse El Nino Buster !!!

Hotter days are here for the next three to four months.

This was what being announced by Natural Resources and Environmental Minister, Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas.

According to him the return of the El Nino phenomenon will last for three to four months. Those water reservoirs will slip in depth and if we are not careful there won't be enought water coming out of our kitchen taps.

Well how will this effect our BHs?

I am scared that many of our birds will run away far north. If you take no actions to cool your BH down they will soon be emptied. The moment the internal temperature hits above 32*C you will regret for not doing anything.

Try to do something to cool down the BH at least for the period.

You might want to cover your BH with those plastic sheets preventing direct sunlight hitting the external walls and roof area?

You can start to spray your BH external walls with water at a noon and everning?

Or perhaps you can try this interesting cooling technique that I call "El Nino Buster".

You can actualy DIY to keep the cost down.

Go to this you tube address and learn how to cool down your BH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR9CA8lJGvs

Once ready try to time the operation at the right time of the day where the heat starts to climb (from 10am till 9.00pm) but avoid the time when those permanent residents are coming home (6.00pm till 8.00pm).



You have nothing to loose but I am sure those birds will treasure your effort.

Frankly if I am the birds in your BH I will kiss your cheeks.

Well you might want to use yourself !!! How about try one and see how your kids admire your inginuity.

"Daddy you are damn smart. I want to be like you Daddy."

Remember you copy the idea from me. I should be the smarter guy.

"No son this was what I learned from the smart Uncle Harry."

He he he he ......

An Interesting Meeting With A Blog Reader With Three Failed BHs !!!

Last night I met a blog reader who told me that he admired me for all the articles that I wrote in those few blogs on swiftlet farming.

We met at Bangsar Village Coffee Bean just to get to know more about each other.

What I found out about him is something that I would like to share with every body out there.

He is a Civil Engineer and currently in the construction business.

He got himself into swiftlet farming about three years ago by building his own BHs on two pieces of land in Mersing, Endau Rompin and a shop house in Nilai.

He thought that by building a building plus plugging in those sound systems the birds will enter and stays.

While building the first unit he met a 'Sifu' who showed him his credentials in colored photos. So he accepted him as his 'Sifu'.

Once the building was completed he let the 'Sifu' to install all the internals equipment.

After 2 long years there were nothing. Not a single birds in all the three BHs.

Every time he called the 'Sifu' he will gives all kind of excuses to delay his visit for weeks.

In the end he decided to do by himself. So he started to search all the information from the net.

He got hold of my blog and read nearly everything. With the little knowledge plus reading my blog plus some others he managed to turn around the three BHs. Now after one year under his wing the birds enter with no problems.

He thanked me for being so kind with the information and he indicated that I am his "idol". He called me " Bird King".

I told him that I am not a "Bird King" but just a kind blogger who love to share knowledge. There are many out there who are "Bird King". To me people like Dato Beh and John Cheng are the real "Bird Kings".

What he learned he applied to his three BHs and now there are very strong signs of birds coming in and populating the houses.

His secrets were in the installation water spray systems using pipes and spray nozzles ,four feet below the nesting planks, and a few petitions to block those light. He keep the floor wet all the time. They works well according to him.

Well I told him if he wants more birds he need to continue with something new like finding the right aroma for each BH.

He agrees with my ideas and wanted to try try with three samples.

I wish him good luck and hope to meet him again. I hope to continue talking to him or perhaps visit all the three BHs and learn more on what he did. In this way we can share his small secrets with the rest of my blog readers.

Mist Fogger Have Many Uses !!!

I was talking to some one the other day about mist fogger/maker and he exposed some interesting comments.

"Harry do you know that the humidifier manufactured my Nest tech deploy two of the mist makers and a small blower?"

Hmm ..... a very interesting information and I am sure you are as surprised as I am.

Since I have never open the said humidifier I reserve my comment.

What I am pointing out to you all is that these mist makers can be useful to your BHs if you know how to use them.

By accident some one is using it as a humidifier.

I am sure there are many other ways in using these mist makers beside as aroma deployment and humidifier.

Maybe for cooling in the entrance areas.



If you plan to buy one call Harry at 017 755 1318

What If We Use The Mist Maker in a Container of Good Aroma?

Supposing you have found a very good aroma that works very very well in your BH, how could you maximise it's application?

After making an total commitment and effort to tests all those aromas that you bought from me and from others, you discovered that there is one which gave a very very very good results.

So what will be you next line of actions?

Well I think U should list down all the best application techniques and apply the aroma as frequent as possible.

One of the method is to apply the use of this mist maker.



Just imagine you place a bucket of the proven aroma in a container and you dip in the mist maker machine. You set the timing to activate the mist maker every hour or two.

Once the mist maker starts to operate the room will have the special smell coming from the bucket.

If you set the timer at the right time, more birds will enter your BH and built their nests just above the bucket's positioning.

I have yet to try but I am sure if you are reading this article you might think about deploying the mist maker aroma system in your BH.



If U want to try one please call Harry at 017 755 1318

Johore BH is Doing Well With BC !!!

BC is a short phrase for Black Cloud. Just imagine that those birds came over your rooftop when you play a good sound and so many of them like those black clouds.

I coined this word for one of the best sound that I have ever found and tried.

The explanation given why it is so special is that the sound seem to be like the mother birds calling those baby birds to enter the house and make their nest.

How sure I am? Well that was what the real owner told me !!!

The moment you play the sound, correctly, those wild birds will swarm your rooftop and just imagine they looks like a black cloud !!!

The sound have been very helpful to so many of my blog users and I sincerely hope the sound will last for at least 5 - 6 months.

The only thing to be careful about is to ensure that the "Tremble" knob is placed at 11.00 am direction. (I use the clock direction to make people easy to understand).

The volume is dependant on your location. All you need to do is to increase the volume slowly from zero and upward. Look at the reaction from those wild birds. Once they start to react then that will be good enough. Try not to put at too loud a sound. It will cause the effectiveness to be shortened.

Yesterday I received a yahoo messenger from Phuc of Vietnam. He came to KL and met me in person. He was very excited about his BH venture in Vietnam. Now he has two and by year end there will be 4 units. All are pretty huge. He did tried yesterday at his BH below his fathers hardware shop and it was fantastic, according to him. He planned to take the sound to the second BH about 2 hours drive from Ho Chi Min City. He promised to report as soon as the sound was tested.

In Johore, Mr Booby (an Indonesian residing in Singapore but owned two BHs in Johore), email and said as follows:

Hi Pak Harry,
Good evening. How are you? I just like to update your BC work well at my BH now I saw nest/baby birds every floor ~ 60 nest.

From Temerloh Pahang, Mr Cheng, the owner of two BHs indicated that the sound is affective but the number that stays is not that strong.

I told him that the main purpose of the sound is to pull the birds in but maybe he need to apply those aromas to get them to stays. He took four trial samples to apply this weekend.

Mr Teoh of Alor Star met me while I was in SPatani and he too wanted to try the BC and the Aroma. I gave him the BC and one of the Aroma for trial.

The only problem that he was facing was that he is currently using a player that can read the left sound track the internal while the right sound track the external sound.

"Harry I need your help to put the two sounds into one."

I downloaded the Sony Forge 9 and did what he wanted. It was very easy and simple.




Emailed to him using a high gigabyte delivering system I called "yousendit.com" website.



Hope he has received the sound yesterday.

Black Cloud Went Over To Vietnam !!!

On Monday June 8th 2009, I received my guest from Ho Chi Min City, Mr Phuc.

He was studying in Singapore a year ago and managed to meet me in Kuala Lumpur. Took him for a short trip and taught him on a few tips about swiftlet farming.

After his completion in Singapore he went back to Vietnam for his swiftlet farming endeavour.

I came to know from him that he/family now owned two BHs and two more in the making. Each BH is nothing less then 40 by 100 feet.

I was impressed with him and his father. It seem that the father and son are beating the odd.

The second unit was built next to a BH that was built by a local and JV with EKA.

During the Monday trip he wanted to try the Black Cloud Sound and the Passionate Aroma.

I arranged the two and he was very excited to try.

I hope by end of the week he will let me know the outcome.

So You Think You Can Navigate In The Dark???

http://www.livescience.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=pur5271_birdradar

You might want to view this video clip on how birds navigate when they migrate from one location to another.

It seem that they use the earth magnetic fields.

A very interesting information which might give you some ideas about swiftlet.

This article is also very interesting on how birds see when they migrate:


Found at: http://www.livescience.com/animals/070926_birds_see_magnetism.html

Birds May See Earth's Magnetic FieldsBy Dave Mosher, LiveScience Staff Writer

posted: 26 September 2007 02:30 pm ET

Birds can travel the world without any of the gizmos that humans depend on, and a new study suggests how: Our feathered friends might "see" Earth's magnetic field.

While other mechanisms are thought to help birds navigate, including magnetically sensitive cells within their beaks, their brain regions responsible for vision are in full gear during magnetic navigation, researchers said.

"If you look into the brain of a bird during magnetic compass orientation, only the visual system is highly active," said study co-author Henrik Mouritsen, a biologist at the University of Oldenburg in Germany, noting that most migratory birds do so at night. "Other regions of the brain are not, so birds could use vision to 'see' Earth's magnetism and orient themselves."

Mouritsen and his colleagues' findings are detailed online in a recent issue of the journal PLoS ONE.

Magnetic chemistry

The researchers previously discovered molecules called cryptochromes, which change their chemistry in the presence of a magnetic field, in the retinas of migratory birds' eyes.

"When light hits these molecules, their chemistry changes and magnetism can influence them," Mouritsen said. The molecules might then affect light-sensing cells in the retina to create images, which would help the brain navigate during flight, he added.

A direct connection between the specialized cells and the region of the bird's brain active during magnetic orientation, however, had never been shown before.

Mouritsen and his team recently found such connections between the cryptochrome-holding retinal cells and the "cluster N" region of migratory birds' brains, located in part of the brain responsible for vision.

"Cluster N is highly active during magnetic field orientation at night, when migratory birds fly," he said, explaining that non-migratory birds don't seem to use it during night flight. "We can't see what birds see, obviously, but they may pick up some sort of shading in their vision at night to act as a compass."

No smoking gun

Mouritsen noted that while the work is exciting, it isn't direct proof that they can actually "see" Earth's magnetism during migratory flights at night.

"If we could listen in on the neural connections between the retinal cells and cluster N, and show they actually send magnetically-influenced signals to the brain," Mouritsen said, "then that would be really compelling evidence that they can see it."

Even if migratory birds can see Earth's magnetic field, he noted, plenty of mysteries remain to explain their uncanny navigation.

"Birds also use the sun and stars to navigate, but we're not certain how," Mouritsen said. "How do they compute all of this information and end up with a direction to fly in? There are so many steps in this process we simply don't know about."

Something New From The Vetarina Department !!!

I happened to visit a nest processing center in Kuala Lumpur.

The owner was on the way back and I set down with his assistant.

She showed me a new book, edition 3, on the Guidelines on Good Animal Husbandry Practise. I managed to flip through and saw some new additions that might be interesting to all BH enthusiasts. Get these new guidelines from Putrajaya Vetarina department.

The moment the owner arrived, he does not looks very happy. It was as if he was strikes by lightning.

I opened my mouth and asked him of any problems.

"Harry I went to the Vetarina Department and they told me that there will be no more licence unless I follow a brand new guidelines."

What is new?

"They wanted me to follow the Food Processing Guidelines that requires a total revamp of my production lines. I just spend RM50,000 a few months ago and now I need to spend at least another RM120,000 for new place with special flooring, stainless steel table and chairs, separate drying room, storage of finished good and raw materials. The air conditioning system must have special filters and so on."

"Hai ya ya ya. Making me very stressed up and wanted to punch someone."

Oh please not me .....

Well this is something new and perhaps this might be very good for the swiftlet farming industry.

With this new ruling I believe all products from Malaysia will be more regulated and gives the world wide customers more confident with our products.

"Yes I agree with the new ruling and I need to follow them but not this month. Perhaps this July 2009."

Good luck to him ....

They Will Not Tell Me Anything !!!

Among all the calls that I received today I love this particular problem.

"Pak Harry, I am Miss L from Sarawak. I need your kind advises. I have three very good friends. The three of us converted one unit each in the same row of shop houses. We are in fact side by side. When we first started my unit was the best. Then recently the unit belonging to one of my friend is taking away all the birds. What should I do?"

Hmm ..... sound like some broken friendship is going to happen.

Why don't you ask your good friend what he did? That will be the best answer.

"Pak Harry, he do not want to share his secrets?"

So since he do not want to share, you are asking me for the answers?

"Yes, please help."

Well since I do not have a chance to visit your BH in person, I can only make some wild guesses. You friend must have secretly applied some new things in his BH. It could be a new sound, a powerful aroma or maybe he engaged a "Bomoh" (spiritual man) to pull all the birds to his BH.

My advise to you is to try with some new sounds plus a powerful aroma for a month of two. See if you can get them to move over to your BH.

If you need a Bomoh, please let me have 2 weeks notice (I was joking with her).

You need to do something and the best is to try something that will get the birds back to your BH.

The second call was from a guy from Trengganu.

"Pak Harry, I need your advises on how to handle these young birds that were found on the floor outside a BH."

How come they were outside the BH?

"It could be the owner entered his BH and these young birds, not ready to take flight, got scared and flew out of the house. The moment they came out they must have be so tired and fall to the floor."

Hmm .... very delicate and I can only tell/advise you what to do.

Take the baby birds carefully and put them in a box. Do not allow the air breeze to blow on them. Close the box and open some small holes at the side of the box. Place a soft piece of clean towel in the box.

You need to feed them with some food. The best is find those flying termites. If you cannot get these termites try those meal worms. You can stop at those pet shops selling birds and buy those meal worms. Get the small one and make sure you remove their shell. Feed the birds and if they refuse to open their mouth you need to carefully force the food into their mouth. Open their mouth and force the food in but make sure you do not injure their mouth. Give them water regularly.

If they accept the meal worms then you are on the way to nurse them until they can fly off within a few weeks. You need to feed them 3 times a day.

Two days before they wanted to fly off they will not accept any food. Don't worry about it.

Be careful and hold them carefully. Best of luck to you.If you should failed please don't blame yourself. It is not eady to nurse these baby birds. Remember your have tried your best...

Two Different BH Using Same Aroma With Two Extreme Results !!!

Yesterday morning I was with a blog reader who recently acquired an aroma from me and secretly applied the aroma to two of his BHs.

The two BHs were located in the same shop rows, about 6 units apart, but the result was not the same.

The unit which was closer to a successful BH did pretty well with many new bird shit spots on the floor while the other show no result.

"Harry what do you think went wrong?"

Without having a chance to evaluate the two sites, I told him that there might be hundreds of reasons.

The one closer to the successful BH, just one wall away, seem to be the best since there are always birds flying above the rooftop. The other unit which is 6 units away, about 120 feet away (6 X 20' wide), have little number of birds flying above the roof top. This can be something that we should be careful about.

If you want to built a new BH choose a place that is as near as possible to the most successful BH in the area. Six units away might not be a good choice.

What about the flight path?

Maybe the second unit is located away from the flight path? You might want to do some viewing in the evening. Just check which direction those birds are flying from? Are they coming from left to right or right to left to the successful BH?

Well may be you application methods was different?

Also your BH designs are not the same. The one that give good result is with good flight path design while the other is not suitable.

What I suggested to him was to focus on the one that is doing well. This time go on a larger aroma application scale. Have a larger volume then before and slowly move to a maximum quantity.

As for the unsuccessful unit, I told him to re look at the design of the entrance hole and its roving areas.

Keep trying and use the aroma a bit more.

If the result is still not there, sell the unit and move to a new unit on the other side of the row.

Bird Houses Burglary Is Rampaign In Trengganu !!!

I got two calls, both from Trengganu, talking about their BHs being burglarised.

The first was from Kuala Trengganu, Trengganu.

"Pak Harry, we are facing BH burglary very strongly in Kuala Trengganu. Many BHs were being attacked recently and we have very little ways to protect our BHs."

"To all salt to the injury is when we report to the Police. You know how they comfort you when you are so pissed off? Ala Encik, ini Tuhan kasi (god gift). Now he takes it away from you !!!"

"That is not the way they should reply. They should be more serious on the matter and give us the assurance that they will do something to catch these burglars."

In Kuala Berang, one of my blog reader send an SMS message: "Urgent need your Black Cloud sound quickly. My BH being burglarised and they took away everything inclusive of the amplifiers and the BC."

I am amused with this event. They don't only sneak in for the nests but also your amplifiers and your good sound.

In Kota Baru town while visiting the Olympic Lane BH I met a Malay guy hagging around the corner of the BHs rows and I asked him why he was there?

"Uncle, I am being employed to work from 8pm till morning looking after these BHs."

It seem that these BHs owners set up a body to employ a full time 'Jaga' to look after their property day and night.

For those who have a stand alone BH, it might be advisable to place a family or a jaga on a full time on your land. You might want the jaga to have a couple of dogs that can provide alarm if there is any burglars entering the BH fenced areas.

I also have seen most of those BHs being burglarised got to the extreme. They fence up their rooftop with bard wires and electric fence. You can clearly see those big signs "Warning: High Voltage".



In Bentong, Pahang, these owners change their roof top from tiles into cement layer forming the shape of those original roof. Well they do make sense but I think that might not be the right way. The roof looks so awful and local council will not be happy with that kind of solution.

My advise to all BH owners is to be careful at all time but you might want to go for something heavy once your BH is heavily occupied. If you BH is new, protect your amplifiers and good sounds first.

Maybe you should visit any professional security guard companies in your area. See if they can package something that might be cost effective and reduce the chances of burglary in your BH(s).

The Size Of Your Entrance Hole !!!

What is the most attractive size of the entrance hole in a BH???

These answers might be something that you should consider:

1) If you have a new BH, the bigger the better.

2) If your BH is already with a sizable number of birds, you might want to reduce the size to an optimum.

For reason number 1) given, I would like to say that this is very crucial. Since there are no other birds going in or coming out yet, all new birds feel rather unsafe to enter.

Please take note, when I say entrance hole I mean the hole that you placed between the roving area and the opening where the birds are flying in. It could be between the roving and the pool room (the open roof method) or the roving and the outside (for dog kennel type).

They are still not used with the new BH and feel trap with a small entrance hole.

What I suggest is to have an opening as big as a normal door of 5'wide X 10'high.

Make sure you design as such that you can close half the door once your BH have at least 500 nests.

For item 2), once your BH is pretty filled with the nests, say 500 of them, you can actually reduce the hole size to slightly smaller then 5' X 10'.

I suggest that you reduce the size by half, at least.

You should never reduce the size in one go but by stages. Remember if you do then there will be a lot of dead birds on the floor.

The disadvantage of having too big an entrance is difficulties in stabilizing your BH internal air temperature and humidity. This is something that you have to take a careful thought.

However if there the humidity and temperature are perfect but not a single birds bother to enter the house, then it is better to opt for a larger entrance hole.

You need them to enter and populate your BH first then you control the humidity and temperatures.

So if you think about this article carefully you will be able to understand why your BH currently after being in operation for months but not one birds wanted to enter.

Learn something and apply them carefully and I hope there will been an immediate increase in numbers of birds populating your new BH.

Owl & Predators Electrical Fencing !!!

I have recently found a simple but effective way of preventing your birdhouse being invaded by Owl or other predators.

The gadget consisted of three parts:

1) The AC to DC converter.

2) Steel Wires.

3) Plastic Anchors.

With these three items you can actually DIY the fencing your BH.

U need to firstly identify where those owls will perch to survey your BH entry areas.

This can be either on the roof areas or the entrance hole opening.

Once you identify these perching points, you need to estimate the length of the area for you to lay the wires and place your order.

The plastic anchors are to be used for those wires to be side by side. Something line the railway line. One is carrying the positive current while the other shall be the negative current.

If anything should lay their feet or bodies crossing the two wires they will get the zap (shock).

If you look at it carefully the zapping current can also use to protect those house lizards, geckos, monitor lizards, crows, pigeons, snakes and any others that will scares your Birds.

The product is affordable and can be order by calling 017 755 1318.

Is It Alright If My Internal Sound Is Accidentally Off !!!

"Pak Harry, I need your advise on internal sound. If my internal sound was switched off accidentally, is it alright?"

The are two possibilities:

If your house is new and without any nests with young birds it is bad for your BH however if you have a couple of nests with babies in them then it is alright.

You need to imagine yourself as one of those birds entering the house in the evening. The moment the external sound is off, says 8.00pm, you will normally move to those internal sound generating tweeters.

If there is no sound being played you might want to fly out of the BH.

This is because those birds will not feel secured or safe if they are alone with no baby or colony or mating sounds.

If there are many baby birds making those chipping noises all over then it is alright.

This come to how important it is to have the internal sound played from 8.00pm till midnight.

If you rotate your internal sound try not to change those sound before midnight. What I meant is that never to stop the internal sound at any time from say 7.30pm till midnight. What I am afraid is that if you should change the amplifier at 8.30 then there will be a few seconds gap of no internal sound.

This small gap might cause those birds to fly away.

If you change the amplifier at 12.00 midnight then they have no choice but to stay since outside there are too dark for them to be switching home.

Hope this article is useful toward your understanding on how to populate your new BH.......

See What They Would Do To Protect Their Young !!!

They are just like human and we took them for granted .....

Read about how this female birds protect her chicks from drowning.

Foung at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/5399061/Bird-uses-body-as-dam-to-stop-drainpipe-soaking-chicks.html



The Mistle Thrush had built her nest on top of a downpipe, blocking the water's passage and causing the gutter to flood.

But desperate to protect her young, she puffed herself up to twice her size and sat in the drainpipe to stop the tide of rain water swamping the nest.

The images were captured by amateur wildlife photographer Dennis Bright at a house in Fareham, Hampshire.

Mr Bright said he was astounded by the female bird's behaviour.

"The nest was tucked away from the weather in the shade of the roof but it was so close to the downpipe the gutter flooded when it rained.

"It was only a matter of seconds before the pipe flooded, and water cascaded over the sides."

Mr Bright said he was amazed by the bird's ingenuity.

"She had to come up with a solution so she puffed herself up so she was twice the size of her mate and used her body as a cork to stop the water - it was absolutely amazing.

"She was very dedicated, sitting there even when the rain was hammering down. Then every half an hour she would get out, dry herself off and come back.

"The male was doing most of the work - feeding her and the chicks when she was sitting in the pipe. I feel so lucky to have witnessed something so rare and unique."

Hester Phillips, from the RSPB, said she had never seen such a situation.

"We've heard of them nesting in some unusual sites before, namely on the top of traffic light, but we've certainly not come across anything like this before.

"Birds can be amazingly hardy creatures, their endurance is incredible - especially when protecting their young."

They are just marvellous creatures ......

What If Someone Told You That Birds Do Have Feeling !!!

Many of us think that only human being have feelings not animals !!!.

All this while when our car hit a dog or a cat or a lizard or a snake or a bird, we thought that they are just animals. They do not have feeling or why we bother.

Just have a good look at these pictures and see the reaction of the one that is still alive:

Swallows:
Here his wife is injured and the condition is fatal.
She was hit by a car as she swooped low across the road.



Here he brought her food and attended to her with love and compassion.



He brought her food again but was shocked to find her dead.



He tried to move her....a rarely-seen effor! t for swallows!



Aware that his sweetheart is dead and will never come back to him again,
he cries with adoring love.He stood beside her, saddened of her death.



Finally aware that she would never return to him, he
stood beside her body with sadness and sorrow.


Millions of people cried after watching this picture in
America and Europe and even in Asia . It is said that the
photographer sold these pictures for a nominal fee to the
most famous newspaper in France . All copies of that
newspaper were sold out on the day these pictures were published.

And many people think animals don't have a brain or feelings?????

Visited Port Dickson Agricultural Land 900 acres !!!

I felt very proud to be invited to view and conduct a bird call test yesterday in Port Dickson, N9.

The invitation was from the chairman of the company who 3 years ago bought the piece of agricultural land, 900 acres.

Huge and slightly on the hilly side.

There seem to be a road under construction by the JKR worth about 30 million ringgit through the land. I bet once the road is ready the land value with increase sharply.

Well since I was invited to the site, I told them to choose the right location. It was about 10.00 am in the morning. Rather late to see any of those swiftlets on the open land at this time of the day.

My target was to be closed to the boundary with the Forest Reserves. These birds usually search for food on the forest canopy at around this time.

1st test was on the open area. Result was not more then 20 birds.

2nd test was on the new road under construction: 120 birds

3rd test was beside the forest boundary: 250 to 500 birds.

4th test was beside a water pond close to the forest boundary: 200 -500 birds.

Interesting, from far you can see those black spots flying above the canopy, the moment you switch on the Duress, they will immediately swarm over the gadget.

The owners and all who were there were impressed and in principal would like to construct one.

I told them to do more tests and make sure that there won't be any surprises.

Will sent to them a new piece of gadget for testing works tomorrow.

I hope they will proceed with the ideaand do not back out within a few short weeks.

Raub Old Cinema Theater Turns Into A BH ....

I was reading some news about Raub theater.

A well known guy from Raub used the theater in a show he produced about his school days.

I took a closer look at the theater and it looks fine to me. Repainted but I was informed that the theater now is a bird house.

I met the owner who bought it for one million and spend another Rm120,000 to turn the theater into the largest BH in Raub.

What attracted him most was a row of shops just beside this theater. Their owners converted these shops into BH are it seem that there are doing well. In the evening there will be thousands of birds flying in and out. That was only about 15 feet away.

I guess the promise of good money from those white gold must have make the new owner to turn it into a BH.

Have a good look and enjoy viewing some pictures I took while coming back from Raub.

The Theater

The row of shops with lots of Birds 15 feet away

Just on the opposite side of the road in front there are a few more BHs which you can view from the road that are higher then their roof top.

So with the theater converted into a bird house, Raub town now is without any theater to go to.

That is sad. I am sure I would love to go to the movie once in a while. It would be nice to take your kids to town and movie viewing is one of the best activities......

A Very Special Day While In Melaka !!!

Today I considered as a very special day.

I got a call from someone of whom I respect so much as the Swiftlet Farming Industry player.

I was with Mr.Sh in Melaka waiting for his electricians to turn up to fix those tweeters, hexagonal tower, electrical shock fence, the humidifiers and many other.

Suddenly a call came from SP.

"Harry this is Dato B and when are you coming back to SP?"

Yes Dato, how are you. I am so surprise to receive your call. I might be in SP on this Saturday and Sunday. Yes what can I do for your Dato.

"Please drop by in SP and call me. I would like to know more about your ideas. Let us have a cup of coffee."

Yes Dato I will be truely honoured.

So I have to skip other plans but to meet the one that I admired so for long and have never been able to sit together to talk about swiftlet farming.

I hope this weekend meeting will be a memorable one.

Bird House Aroma Research Works !!!

I wanted to do a bit more then blogging. The time have come for me to do something more then writing.

I wanted to conduct a research on the best Aroma For BH.

Main objective of my research is to come out with the most appropriate guidelines on how a person can DIY to locate the aroma suitable for his/her BH(s).

I started a new blog on the topic : http://birdhouse-aroma.blogspot.com/

I have invited a couple of blog readers to participate.

I have selected four samples for the research.

I will try to use them myself in separate BHs under my care.

Those who participate in my research works will benefit from my works and they will be given the opportunity to share my findings when the time comes.

They also will be given adequate guidelines on how to apply the aroma samples.

I might even visit their BH to conduct the appropriate tests.