Just wanted to write about my last Birdcall Test experiences in Tanjung Malim, Perak.
One of my Blog reader from Port Klang was very keen for me to conduct a Birdcall test. I was not very free until two days ago. I just got hold of a new set of Birdcall Gadget (Plug N Play or PP) unit and was very eager to try.
We met at Sungai Buluh Jenjantas R@R area and after a short introduction we proceeded to Tanjung Malim.
We have some coffee and famous pau at Yik Mung restaurant and left for a factory area about 4 kilometers away.
We inspected the factory lot that we were supposed to convert to a BH and have to admit that after more then 15 years without any maintenance, the unit is in a real big mess. The doors were no longer there, the gutters were leaking and the floors were wet and lots of growth. I think there will be a lot of work before it can be called a BH....
Anyway we plug in the PP into our Xtream 4x4 lighter socket and chooses Duress sound.
Before that I briefed my blog reader and his two uncles that if within 20 minutes there are less then 100 birds, we should not go ahead with the BH conversion.
Once started, there were very few birds that responded. I was pretty worried that these swiftlets are of the different species. There were two BHs around the vicinity.
After 5 minutes we got only 5 birds flying above the 4X4 wheeler. Hmm .... I was not very happy but keep hoping that the number will increase.
Then after 10 minutes the number climbed up to almost 30 birds. They keep coming and we can see from a far distance that more were on the way.
By 20 minutes, the number climbed up to more then 200 and there were more from all angles.
I am very amazed with the number of swiftlets responding to Duress sound. We stop after about 20 minutes and observed what happened next.
These are some of the things that I discovered:
1) Duress sound seem to be very powerful sound that attracting swiftlets from every corners of your test areas.
2) Once they found the source of the sound, they seem to enjoy flying in circle above the tweeters. Some turn in clockwise and some the opposite.
3) People claimed that they are scared of the sound but I think otherwise. They seem to enjoy the sound and we can see that some even chase each other as if they at in a Fiesta mood.
4) One thing for sure was that once they reach the location they stay there forever until you stop the sound.
5) The longer you play the more birds will be vacuumed to the location.
6) Once you stop the sound they will take a period of time to move away but those who were late will still come over to the location of the sound played earlier.
I am very excited over this behavior and I promise to be more observant in my next birdcall test. Of course I will be using the Duress.
Next birdcall test will be this FRIDAY, June 27th 2008, in Klang.
4 comments:
Harry,
I made similar observations. How can people out there say that it is a stress sound when those birds seem to be enjoying themselves flying around and chasing and touching one another. Try to wave using a small cloth or cap and the birds will fly low pass you. If the birds are high up circling they will slowly come down closer and closer to you. Those who claimed that that it is stress sound should have to substantiate it because observations shows the opposite. Those who made the comments just heard it from others because of the shrieking sound but that does not mean that it is stressful to the birds. It looks like the birds are enjoying themselves. Birds not staying behind after the sound are played regularly are only hearsay spread by those envious about this attractive sound. Can anyone come out to testify or proof that it really scare away the birds from their BH. What I can comment from my personal observations is that the birds will circle outside the BH, plenty of them, but will not enter the BH. This is indeed a call sound asking the birds to assemble.
Tirok,
Thank U for your comment on your observation.
I think we need to do alot more research on this special sound.
Yesterday I was in Bentong and did similar test and the birds reacted in a similar way. They seem to enjoy circling above the tweeter and they assymble by the hundreds.
As long as U do not stop the sound they keep playing around the area. Once U stop the sound they slowly leave the area but that will be after a a few long minutes.
Those who came in late will continue seaching for the source of sound as if as they are curious where the sound originated from.
Duress means compulsion by threat or force or forcible restraint. Duress will cause intimidation and not joy or excitement.
Going by your observation, I would say that the sound signify some sort of food festivals going on. Perhaps you should rename the disk as FF which stands for food festival.
Why not we call it Fiesta. It is really a festival. I just made a birdcall yesterday in the new car park in front of KT Felda Residence using this 'Fiesta' and the birds came from all directions and they swarm like bees. When I started waving with a towel the birds came lower and lower down and came close to me.
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