Visited A Giant Birdhouse In Tampin, Melaka !!!

The birdhouse belongs to Mr.O's friend who sold him a piece of agricultural land in Tampin, Melaka.

Located about 10 kilometers from Tampin town and on a small hill.

The cost to built the house was about RM 600K and overseeing a Dragon fruits and Gaharu plantation.

The building is four stories and dimension about 40 feet by 90 feet with top entry entrance hole.

While below the entrance area, the sound was mild and not annoying.

Since it was in the afternoon the number of birds around was minimal.

I was given the opportunity to comment on the site location and construction. I was not able to enter since the owner was away at KLIA to pick up his daughter back from UK.

Overall the location was not that bad. On the top of a small hill facing the plantation and some houses about 2 kilometers away.

The surroundings were plantations inclusive of Dragon Fruits, Rubber, Palm oil and his Gaharu plants. Lots of insect generating sources.

The only set back was that there were no water pond or lake or river. If I were the owner I will look into opening a reasonable size pond at the lower areas of the land facing the BH.

The pond will provide both water for the swiftlets to drink and wet themselves plus an additional insect generating source. During dry seasons these birds need to drink somewhere so if the pond is nearby they will not have to travel too far for a sip.

Internally I was informed that the number of birds was growing at a very fast rate.

This sound interesting. If it is so then the myth that birds will only love to make their nest in town is no longer true.

The birds needs a kind of house to stay. They need suitable dark room with proper room temperature and humidity. They do not need those bright streets lights.

Female Birds Need Those Sexy Songs !!!

This might be a strong reasons why those birdcall sound are important.

They actually help to excite those female birds to produce better eggs and quality chicks?

ScienceDaily —

In a new study published in the latest issue of Ethology researchers show that female songbirds can alter the size of eggs and possibly the sex of their chicks according to how they perceive their mate's quality.

The researchers played back attractive ("sexy") songs and less attractive control songs of male canaries to female domesticated canaries. When the females started egg-laying they varied the size of their eggs in the nest according to the attractiveness of the male's song. That is, the more attractive the song, the larger the eggs.

However it is remarkable that while larger eggs were more likely to contain male offspring in natural environments, in the experiment there was no difference in brood sex ratio between the different songs played to the females, which suggests different levels of female control. Male birdsong has long been known to attract females and influence mate choice decisions and even induce an alteration in the offspring's sex ratio.

This study by Leitner et al. now shows experimentally that hearing attractive song also has a selective impact on female physiology.

45 female domesticated canaries participated in this study that was a collaboration of Royal Holloway, University of London and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen and Radolfzell in Germany. The birds were kept in large aviaries where their daily behaviour was monitored in a colony before they were tested in the song experiments. The females showed a remarkable consistency in their behavioural and reproductive performance and the song stimuli alone were sufficient to elicit a profound physiological change.

This study further highlights the importance of behavioural stimuli for reproductive physiology. Bathroom Pavarottis beware.

Article copied from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/06/060607171611.htm

New Method In Flu Vaccine Manufacturing: DNA Vaccine !!!

Found at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2006/0204-faster_flu_vaccine.htm

A new flu vaccine could save lives and protect us from a deadly outbreak. But can the United States handle a widespread flu epidemic?

Most experts would agree -- not with the way we currently mass-produce the vaccine. It currently takes at least six months to a year to make flu vaccines, but that's soon to change.
We all know the signs; but what if a new, more-powerful, more-deadly strain of the flu emerges?
John Beadle, a researcher from the Infectious Disease and Oncology department at PowderMed, Ltd. in London, says, "The traditional way of making vaccines has a number of significant drawbacks."

The biggest drawback is the amount of time it takes to make, which is too long. This 1950's-style vaccine process using chicken eggs takes too long, putting lives at risk if an outbreak occurs.

Now, a new vaccine based on flu virus DNA could be a faster way to fight the flu.

"DNA vaccines can be manufactured very rapidly, and they can be manufactured in large amounts," Dr. Beadle says.

Infectious disease researchers extract just a few genes from the DNA of the flu virus to make a vaccine. Then, microscopic particles are coated with the vaccine and shot into the body at super-fast speeds using this new, needle-free device.

"It's because the DNA gets into the cells of the skin that it produces such a strong immune response," Dr. Beadle says.

A better response is important for older Americans, like 77-year old Claire Mobley. "Having had it once, I don't want to get it again."

This new, high technology could be the solution to an old problem -- producing a vaccine in half the time of traditional methods. Dr. Beadle says, "That means that a lot more lives can be saved within that period if we have a pandemic."

The new DNA vaccine and new administering device for influenza is not yet FDA approved. Human clinical trials are planned for this year to test it against the bird flu, but any mass-produced product is still several years away. A flu outbreak or worse -- a pandemic -- could speed up the FDA approval process and bring the vaccine closer to use.

BACKGROUND:

Researchers have been working on a DNA-based vaccine for the flu for several years. While not yet ready for widespread use, if there were a global outbreak of the potentially deadly virus, such a vaccine could be fast-tracked into use. The Center for Disease Control estimates that more than 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year as a result of the flu, and more than 30,000 die from it. Globally, the flu kills close to half a million people every year.

HOW VACCINES WORK:

There are three basic strains of the flu virus: A, B and C. A is the most common strain, and the most severe. The flu vaccine works by triggering the body's immune system response. The body recognizes the vaccine as a foreign invader and produces antibodies to it. However, flu strains differ from year to year; that's why there is a different vaccine each year.
Currently, flu vaccines are made by incubating the three strains of the flu virus expected to strike in a given year are injected into millions of chicken eggs to multiply before being extracted and packaged. It is a labor-intensive and time-consuming technique that is much the same as when it was first invented in the 18th century.

WHAT ARE DNA VACCINES?:

DNA vaccines are a form of gene therapy in which just a few genes are extracted from the virus and injected into people. Unlike the standard process, which takes up to six months, DNA-based vaccines could be ready in less than three months. The downside is they have never been tested in full-blown clinical trials.

WHAT IS THE FLU:

The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which targets the respiratory tract by binding to the surface of cells. Then the virus releases its genetic information (RNA) into the cell's nucleus to replicate itself. When the cell dies, those copies are released into the body, infecting other cells. Flu symptoms are unpleasant, but not life-threatening by themselves. However, the flu weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to more serious infections, such as pneumonia.

Scientist Found Ways To Determine Sex Gender of Birds !!!

I have been very curious on how to determine the sex gender of birds. This is very true for chicken or pet birds or swiftlets when they are young.

This article from sciencedaily.com gives a very interesting ideas:

ScienceDaily (Feb. 10, 2008) —

Scientists in Germany are reporting development of test that can answer one of the most frustrating questions in the animal kingdom: Is that bird a boy or a girl?

Their study is a potential boon to poultry farmers and bird breeders.

Juergen Popp and colleagues point out that the boy-girl question can be difficult to answer in birds that lack distinctive, gender-related plumage.

Since birds lack external genital organs, sexing a bird typically involves endoscopic examination of the animal's gonads under general anesthesia or specific molecular biological methods.

Since these methods are expensive, time-consuming, and stressful for the bird, scientists long have sought a quick, minimal-invasive sexing alternative.

In the new study, researchers describe such a test, which involves analysis of tissue pulp from birds' feathers using a highly sensitive lab instrument.

The method, called ultraviolet-resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy, took less than a minute, and identified the birds' sex with 95 percent accuracy, the scientists say.

The article "Minimal Invasive Gender Determination of Birds by Means of UV-Resonance Raman Spectroscopy" is scheduled for the Feb. 15 issue of ACS' Analytical Chemistry. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac702043q

Found at: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080204111005.htm

Black Cloud As Internal Sound !!!

"Pak Harry, can I use the Black Cloud(BC) sound for internal sound?"

I received a call today asking me if it is possible.

Hmm ..... never thought about the idea but why not?

I have not tried the idea but there's no reasons why it cannot be done.

The only advise that I have is the sound need to be lower then the outside. Use the volume level control knobs properly and this can be achieved.

This afternoon I was with Mr.O at Old Klang Road and with him was his son and wife. We have lunch at Secret Recipe restaurant.

"Harry I wanted to show you something."

He took out his digital camera and show me his BH is Sarawak. Hmm ... very interesting indeed. The house was on stilt and made of wood.

"How many birds so far?" I asked.

"Quite a bit." He answered.

"Well see the next video clip please." He insisted.

"Wow so many birds flying up there on the roof. Looks good and must be a very good sound?" I chuckle.

"Oh yes, Harry. That's you Black Cloud playing." He answered.

"Oh yeh, that's marvellous. I am impressed man." I said to him.

This was something I am proud of. I got to know someone who together with son and wife, were happy with a very small help i gave.

"Okay what can I do next?" I begin to explore.

"Harry, I just bought a piece of Agricultural land in Mantin. I would love to have you to view the place and let us have your advise with our new birdhouse." He answered.

"Okay how about tomorrow evening? I need to be there from 6.00pm till darkness. I wanted to observe the flight path and to conduct another bird call test. " I told him.

"Yes, the quicker the better and let us meet for lunch tomorrow and proceed to Mantin." I saw the smiles in their faces.

I will try to do my best to assist in their new venture. I hope one day their BH will be successful.

On the way home I call Mr G who have been begging me to let him follow any field trips.

He sound so excited with the invitation and seem to be ready first thing in the morning tomorrow.

I told him " No no no. Not that early but by 12.00 noon. Meet me at Pearl Hotel."

"Oh yes Harry thank you for inviting me to the test site."

Well George you are welcome.

Upstairs Birdhouse And Downstairs Rearing Red Worms !!!

While having a "Laksa" in Sungai Patani, Kedah I saw this new shop across the street with a huge signboard "Kulim AgroTech".

The advertisement board shows lots of red worms.

In the beginning I thought this is something weired but after the simple lunch I walked into the shop and start asking a few questions.

Hmm ......

After listening to the Officer in Charged I keep thinking how to inject this worm breeding business along side our favourite swiftlet farming.

The idea that come to my mind was having this breeding at the ground floor while the swiftlet farming on the upper floors.

As we are well aware, you are not allowed to convert your lower floor to swiftlet farming. If you do not have any tenant for it, then how can you maximise the use of the empty floor(s)?

I suggest the breeding of red worms.

The income generated was something that I was taken back. You can get income as early as 3 months. Compare to swiftlet farming, you might take 2-3 years to start making some income.

So why don't you combine the two as your way of moving forward.

Short term income from red worms breeding while your long term income is swiftlet farming.

Minimum cost is about 1,000 ringgit. The worms will normally multiply by 82 times a year. Yes if you start with 100 worms, it will multiplied to 8,200 worms after 12 months.

The income actually comes from the sales of the worms shits, the worm itself and the worm water. If you are the business minded person you can actually add your income by conducting worm breeding seminars, training and perhaps selling those worm feeds.

All you need are some containers, their feed, some racks and water to regularly spray onto the feed. Space is already ready below those swiftlet's farms.

This agrotech company have their own formulation of the feed. They use goat's shits plus sawdusts and soil.

The income they forcasted is very interesting and you should consider doing some research on this new business. Go to google and search "worm farming". There are many vedio clips of this business on "you tube" too.

Yes consider doing it to supplement your swiftlet farming operation at least for the first 3 years. Once your BH is giving you the right income, you can quit the worm farming.

I will try to write a bit more about this new line from time to time.

The idea is to help newbies to start earning from the first month of their combined operations.

How BH Owners Associations Behaves !!!

This is something that I am not proud to write.

I don't know what to do and who to talk to.

Recently there was a briefing with the Menteri Besar of Johor on Swiftlet Farming. After the briefing the Menteri Besar asked the person in charge to proceed with the best recommendations on the guidelines.

The person called the Johore BH owners association head to drop by for a formal discussion with the hope to see their views and points.

What happened was frightening. The Association head have the chick to tell the person off by saying that he have no time for the Kementerian people. He has other matters to attend to.

So he never turned up or ask for a new date.

This person was so piss off and I think you can imagine what will happen to all swiftlet farmers in Johore.

I am sure it won't be something good but the attitudes of these associations head need to be more civilized.

If they are not willing to fight for their members then what is the purpose of holding their high post?

Their negative actions are causing more harm to the Industries.

To all Johorian, I feel very sad with what is going to happen and please blame your association head for the damage.

Here I am putting my neck for the farmers and I got stabbed at the back while those association heads are not doing anything.

I feel really sad and I hope those who are stabbing my back should focus their attentions to those who need to be criticized. I don't deserve those bad remarks.

Garis Panduan Menternak Sarang Burung !!!

I received a call from Mr Y who informed me about those smearing campaign at Low Yat.

It seem that those who wrote about me do not have a true picture of what I am doing.

To tell the truth I have been very vocal during the JPPD meeting (in KL). The sad thing is that the person who wrote the Garis Panduan have very little knowledge about what Swiftlet Farming.

The draft was written and been discussed but yet to be accepted.

During the meeting I told them that the best thing for them to do is to firstly get those are directly involved to be given a fair chance to voice their opinions. Get those BHs owners associations together and let them be informed of the Garis Paduan. Allow them to give their opinions.

I also mentioned about the lack of qualified personnel to handle the implementation of various clauses in the Garis Panduan.

I stressed to them the are lots of people out there who depend on this god gift business and please be considerate.

I make a point not to allow the Mukah Disaster to happen again. It is no good to the country and also owners.

If this business collapse there will be lots of suffering inclusive the Local Council (less collection on cukai pintu).

I told them then these birds have this special homing behaviours that when they choose a house they will remain in that house forever until they die.

I quoted a example which happened in Bentong where a BH owner closed his house in total and lots of birds cling to the walls and die.

The decision to give a specific period to move out is not my idea. The idea was from the person who wrote the paper. There must be some reasons to this tough requirement but I do hope this matter will be something that the association to plead with the local council.

I was invited as an observer and not to represent any associations but I voice a lot of opinions for the BH owners. I put my neck for all the BH owners but what do I get? People stabbing my back. What a bunch of craps?

I do not wish to talk big about what I have done but trust me I am also a bird house owner. If the Garis Paduan is implemented I will be directly affected.

It is not fare for those who are not in the meeting to slander my name. I am just a normal person. I am not a President of any association but just a person who always have BH owners at heart.

If they want to criticize why don't they criticize those Presidents of all those BH owners associations? Those so call Presidents should make their move quickly and talk with JPPD. Organise a meeting now and put forward their views.

If I turn down these invitations, there will be no body to represent all the BH owners.

There is another invitation to present a paper on swiftlet farming in Kedah on Feb 17th, 2009.

I know what they want to hear from me and I know what I wanted to deliver.

Trust me I will put all my efforts and energy for BH owners.

At the same time please remember that I am just an ordinary person who was invited to play some role in Garis Panduan. I have no special powers to twist the decisions but I promise to do my best for the sake of the swiftlet farming. I have to spend my own money and time to give these talks and no single BH owners associations are paying my bills. Yes those Kementerian are not paying my petrol, my toll fees, my professional time, my lodging and my meals. All will be from my pocket.

Please be a bit more supportive and sympathatic with all my efforts.

If the person who love to smear my name is so good then go and meet the Ketua Pengarah of JPPD in KL or in Kedah and bring up the matter yourself? Let see if they will listen to you.

If I am successful it will be good to the industry but if I fail please take note that I have tried my best.

I cannot bring others into the meeting because they might turn the meeting upside down.

We need to be rational and find a win win situation.

Dr Reduan will be there for his papers and I have been asked to put my paper.

If you wish to know what i did during the meeting please call Dr Reduan, tel no 0192197887 (after 17th Feb 2009) and let him tell you how I perform. It is better for you to listen from him then from me. I might be biased.

Stabilizing of Raw Nests Price !!!

How can we stabilize the raw nests prices ????

Everyday I will receive calls from BH owners who have difficulties in selling their raw nests. According to most of them there is no takers or buyers. Those who wanted will ask for rediculous prices.

At one time there are regular buyers from Indonesia, Singapore and HongKong who came on a monthly basis. However now they are missing.

Three weeks ago I received a very interesting information about a lady buyer who currently hold closed to 2,000 kilos and due to price drop she no longer take any new raw nests.

So what do you think is happening.

Is there any way that the situation can be lifted?

What are the options that can help all these BH owners?

At one time I thought those BH owners association Presidents can find some plans for all of us but until today the market remain very soft and too low.

So what is the purpose of having so many associations and so many presidents and on the top of that there is another "King President" of all the Presidents.

Can they do something for the sake of all those who have raw nests to sell?

I met a Dato yesterday and he might be able to help to perhaps improve the current situation.

I spoke to him in depth about the current raw bird nests price and point out some possible reasons.

I told him that they best way out is to cut those middle man and sell direct to China or Hongkong or Singapore.

I asked him to be a major player in stabilizing the market price by opening sales outlets in China. Using this outlets, we need to make reasonable profits but allow those poor BH owners to make reasonable income.

At the moment I can easily gather about 100 kilograms a month. If he needs more I am sure some of my blog readers can help to buy to top up the volume.

I advised him that the price must be reasonable and of course he should make reasonable profits.

So far he is very keen to be in the game but I am not sure when he can start.

Those who think that they can help or have any amount in hand please contact me so that I can give a better volume to start with.

This exercise is merely to find a solution. I am sure there are many other methods including getting those Perhilitan to be more reasonable in their issuing of export licences.

To those who are closed to top Ministers, like MCA president, please do their part to ask him for some favor in elevating the current situation.

I plan to gather more facts before I can write to our DPM for his involvement. I remember one time I played a round of golf with him at my KLGCC and he recommended the use of a new driver.

I understand he have a website for any complain.

Those who have any other ideas please let me know.

I will be meeting Dr Reduan soon and will discuss in length with him. Let see what help he can have for all BH owners.

Dedicated To Swiftlet Farming !!!

Yesterday received a SMS message which pull me down.

"Harry, there are some people talking bad about you at Low Yat Forum."

I quickly replied:

"It is okay because the more they say bad things about me the more popular I become. I am very comfortable with my life. Have a good life and my wife is a doctor."

"I normally do not read all those bad mouthing things and all I know is that I love swiftlet farming. No matter what they say about me I will be the same. I am a very passionate swiftlet farmer."

"My intention is to help those who have problems to populate their BH."

I was one of the first blogger who activated others to write. The more they write the more we can learn from their experiences. I remember asking James to start a blog. In Sibu I met Phillip to provide him some encouragements to his borneoswiftlet.blogspot. I did encourange Pak Frank (waletkedah) to also start his blog.

Accidentally my blog seem to be a major swiftlet farming website (171065 hits).

I have been very fortunate to be recognised by the Veterinary Department and now the Jabatan Pembangunan Bandar dan Desa (JPPD).

I give exciting talks on swiftlet farming and help in anything that I can to formulate the Garis Panduan on Swiftlet Farming for town areas.

Most recent is to be accepted to play a part in Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah eradication of the core poor in Malaysia.

All the things that I did were FOC and I fork out from my pocket. I travelled and spend lots of time just for the sake of this lovely farming activities.

I always told myself that I cannot effort to cheat these people, especially newbies in this field. If I do that there will be lots of people loosing their saving.

I was the first who throw the idea that before you construct those BH you need to make sure there are birds in the area and if possible the birds are flying above the land every evening and morning.

I got hold of the equipment to conduct the bird call test. I also name the test sound as "Duress".

I believed in the application of aroma.

I believed in the precise micro habitat control in all new BHs.

The use of proper tweeters plus the right number per square meters and of couse those suitable amplifiers.

So far I have revamped not less then 30 BHs with "Empty BH Syndrome". Nearly all have birds within 3 -5 weeks after I treated them.

I just built a new BH in BM and will use it as my R&D center, unless the owner wants me out??

I got at least two more BHs to be built within the next few months and more are requesting.

My fee to conduct BH inspection is the cheapest in the market and land inspection service is also affordable.

The cost is just to cover my petrol, toll, expenses and something for me to buy those equipments to conduct my R&D.

I also spend hours of my time on my swiftlet farming blog. The blog is so informative and I never charge a dime.

My telephone line is always opened and I never declined to reply to any questions on swiftlet farming.

Those that are unreasonable, I will stay away from them, at times.

So what more can I be?

I cannot please every one on this planet but who ever come to know me, I can assure that I do the best and I do not choose any race to qualified to be my friend.

At Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah !!!

Yesterday I was given the opportunity to deliver a short presentation to Ketua Pengarah Kementerian Kemajuan Luar Bandar and Wilayah at Putra Jaya, Wilayah Persekutuan.

The presentation touched on matters pertaining to using idle lands for swiftlet farming. The Kementerian have a huge land banks and most are not properly used to generate income for the Rakyat.

This special talk was organised by a group of us who have the Kementerian at Heart.

What the group did was to promote the idea of pushing the swiftlet farming activities as a way to remove poverty.

The idea proposed was to either use a unitised program, single farm house or an eco park arrangments.

The cheapest is the unitised program where each participant pay about RM 5,000 and earn a steadily increase income for 63 years.

The second is to form a coop where a farm costing around 149K will be owned by those who participate.

The most exciting is to develop the identified land into an Ecopark. The land owner will take his portion of the BH built and the rest will be put on sale to those who wanted to own BH in the vicinity of a Town.

Both the upstream and downstream activities were also discussed.

The idea is to push the building of BHs on those idle lands (subject to successful bird call tests) into swiftlet farming and at the same time get those poverty line people involve in certain activities to generate income.

According to the Kementerian, those who earn an income lower then 445 a month are classified and the core poor. These are normally fishermen and farmers.

We hope that with activities in swiftlet farming, there is a good chance that their involvements might pull those poor guys to be millionaires.

I am sure the ideas proposed will be of great help to the country.

Selangor Swiftlet Birdhouse Owners Dinner Date With MB !!!

Those who owned BH(s) in the state of Selangor, you are invited to dine with 200 other BH owners on Feb 21st, 2009. The VIP attending the dinner will be the Selangor Menteri Besar, Dato Khalid.

They expect some important announcement on swiftlet farming lisence matters during the dinner.

The vanue is at Yu He Swiftlet City, Sungai Rambai, Bantang Berjuntai, Selangor.

Today I received a personal call from the Association Secretary inviting me and others who wanted to join the dinner.

Tickets is 50 ringgit per head.

You can get the ticket from Mr Ma at 0193370005

The function will be accompanied with exhibition booths which will start as early as noon on the date.

I am not sure if I can attend the function. Remember there is a GAHP talk in Kulim, Kedah on the same day.

How I Increase The BM BH Humidity !!!

The new BH in BM currently is in full operation.

The sound was activated on January 29 th, 2009 and it will be off limit to the owner and myself for three weeks.

The BH was painted with temperature shield paint and we did opened a new hole at the side to allow those birds to use their preferred entrance direction.

The external sound wiring, earlier on, was detected to be wrongly connected. More tweeters were placed on the roof top.

Internal temperature and humidity is within range.

Most of the time when the thermohygrometers were checked the ground floor gives an outstanding temperature range of 29.5*C max and minimum of 26.4*C. The higher floor is slightly higher about 30.2*C max and 27.2*C. I am very comfortable with the range recorded.

As for the humidity, the range is very small. Max 99% while the min was around 97%.

There were no water pots or trays or cans in the BH but the RH seem to be consistent.

Why was it so?

If you have a good look at those pictures taken during the lowest floor construction, my contractor prepared the base with an enclosed bricks structures. When done they poured a sizable amount of river sand. The sand were wet with water initially.

Once the sand were properly laid , leveled and harden , we construct the steel form above it.

The cement were poured to cover the wet sand below. Once level and dried the walls were build around it for the second floor.

The water from this sand reservoir is causing a high room humidity. They seem to be able to seep through the cement floor and filled the BH.

If that continue, it will help to create the high humidity for at least a year or two.

In the meantime I have installed a set of hygrostat attached to a humidifier just in case.

The humidity range was set at 80% min (activate) and 92% max (stop the humidifier).