They Are Many Swiftlets But No Nests !!!

What can be the possible reasons why those young birds are not building any nest in a new BH ???

This morning while drying myself of, after a good shower, I received a call from Bobby. He owned a new BH located somewhere in Johore.

"Pak Harry what do you think why my tenants are not building those precious nests? My new BH was in full operation for some months. There are lots of tenants, almost 300 but there were no nests being build. Why ???"

Hmm ..... very weired, tricky and what can be the possible reasons?

Bobby first I would like to congratulate you for being able to draw in so many birds within that short months. However let see what can be the possible reasons why those birds are not building their nests.

There can be hundred and one reasons why but I would say the following might be the possible reasons:

1) When you open a new BH, more often then not, you will normally attract those young birds that have yet to built any nest in any BH within their flying path. These are the young immature birds that might just left their nest for the first time. You need to remember they do take some good months before they are ready to mate and built a family. If they do not want to mate then there is no reasons to build a nest.

You can try to check on weather they stay single or in a pair. Try to observe via your CCTV camera or try to enter your BH after 9pm. If they stay single then they are not ready to mate or start a family. If they stay in a pair, their are strong chances that they will mate soon. When they mate they will need a nest to lay their eggs.

2) One possible reason why those birds are not interested to mate can be the timing of a breading cycle. Mating period normally starts just before raining season. Once the air is filled with those thick water vapour the female will start to produce receptive hormone which will arose the male partner to want to mate. The female need to know when to lay her eggs, incubate until hatched and feed the young baby until they are able to fly. The most crucial is when the egg is hatched. The best is during a period where there are lots of food (insects).

Just imagine if the young baby were hatched during a wrong time of the season? There are not enough food to eat thus they will die or become a very sick birds. If these new parents are not careful they can never start a generation of their own.

In Besut, Trengganu, recently there was too much rain. When lots of areas flooded, too much water, the food become scares. The parent could not bring home enough food on a timely basis.

So what happened next was a good lesson for all BH owners. The young birds simply jump out of the nests killing themselves. Maybe they were so hungry they kill themselves, who knows? I guess nature take its course. It is better to kill yourself and let their parent to live. At least there is a good chance where the parent can start a new batch of babies.

So it is wise to get yourself ready to breed those supplimetary food source during monsoon seasons.

3) Some people believed that if you want those young birds to mate much faster is to arose them with proper sound or perhaps the used of specialised aroma. I might want to agree to this interesting points but there are no scientific research being done to conclude that these are true.

My advise to Bobby was to try and carry out all the possible things that will eventually get those young birds to start making those precious white gold.

The best is to put every effort to induce the birds to mate and make their nests.

4) I will recommend the installation of as many fake nests as possible. Usually young birds who have never built a nest before have a slight difficulties in producing enough saliva to complete their virgin house. If you provide those fake nests, I am sure they can quickly start a family and after the first cycle (breeding season), they will be more matured and they saliva gland will be more developed.

So why don't we install some fake nests in your new BH?

The above ideas and information are my sincere explanations. They might not be 100% correct.

If any of my blog readers have other bright ideas or suggestions please fill the comment form and submit for all to improve their understanding of other possible reasons. Thank U

Nest Building: How Long Does It Take To Built One ??

How long do you think a new nest takes to be built?

The answer is 30 days (on an average).

From "Swiftlets of Borneo" ( my reference book), the author observed the followings:

"For the white nest swiftlet, it takes 30 days on the average from the first deposition of nest cement at the start of the breeding season until the nest reaches a sufficient size to hold the eggs.

From this point, another 7-10 days may be needed before the first egg is laid. If the nest is removed before the lay, the birds immediately begin rebuilding a replacement nest on the same spot.

If it is taken when eggs or young are present, there is a delay of 10-14 days before fresh saliva is deposited again.

The rate of deposition of replacement nests is faily uniform within a colony, but the delay before a new clutch is laid varies greatly."

For those who are having their own birdhouse, the good news is that immediately after you harvest, new nests will be build by your tenant (swiftlets).

The best recommendation is to tag the birdnest with colored sticker. U should target those that are without the babies. Those with eggs or babies should not be removed.

Main advantage is that U allow the birds to breed to the maximum. As such the number of birds will multiply at a greater speed. This will eventually allow your birdhouse to be fully occupied and at the same time U harvest only those nests that are not occupied.

U must also be aware that the bird will normally built a new nest on the same spot immediately after U harvest the used nests. During harvesting try to leave some birdnest marking so that the bird can locate where they will start rebuilding a new one.

If U do not harvest the used nests, the birds will recyle and lay a new clutch of eggs.

Please refer to my next article on what happenned when I harvest the birdnests in my birdhouse !!!!