December Monthly Talks: Full House Again At Crystal Crown Hotel !!!

The December 5th monthly talk went pretty well.

All together there were 27 participants and all stayed until the end of the talks.

What suprised me was where they came from. Some from Sibu, Sungai Patani, BM, Kuantan, Kemaman, Kuantan, Singapore, Johore Bahru, Melaka, Seremban, Klang, Kajang, Bangi and etc.

It was a wonderful day for all and I am very sure after the talk this group of participants will minimize making mistakes in their next BH ventures.

I covered about seven different topics:

1) The History of Swiftlet Farming.

This first presentation gives a brief history of when swiftlet farming started and how the business were introduced in Malaysia.
It is good to make the participants realised that this business, which at one time came only from those caves, started in 1808 in a house in Grisik, Indonesia.
It came to Malaysia by accident during those recession period.

2) Insect Generation.

Showed the participants about insect generation techniques. Described to them why it is important and when to use them. Describe on precautions.

3) Phase number two of your BH.

This paper was the key materials that I was focusing on.

The paper gives all participants the most logical ways of looking after a BH. Split the phases into two. The first phase is when you are totally dependent on those stray young birds generated from your neighbors and phase 2 is then you have adequate young birds generated internally.

Each phase have a specific lists of things to be done and if these list of things to do are properly adhered to the owner will be able to increase the nest numbers much faster.

The key words that I used was "They need to think out of the Box". They need to put aside any negative thoughts about using every possible techniques that will eventually helps in increasing the nests population.

4) Tips During Birdcall Test Operation.

Most newbies are not very sure of what to observe during birdcall test operation.

This paper helps every one to know how to begin the test and what to be on the look out for.

Birdcall test is not only to see their numbers but also the directions where they came from, where they flew to, the rotation behaviours, the speed of their revolution, the height of them flying and etc.

5)Tweeters Installation Tips.

Internal tweeters are crucial in any new BHs. Most of the time these tweeters will be where those young birds will rest when they enter your BH.

The more the better but the best is to install about 1 tweeters per 10 square feet.

The selection of how to orientate them, the best location to screw them on those nesting plank, how far from the 90* corners and etc were discussed in details.

The main idea is how to make each tweeters more beneficial as compared to your normal ways of installing them.

6)Basic BH design Criteria.

Most of the time people tend to have many ideas of how to design their BH.

This paper provide each participants of how to begin their design works. The most important criteria is the minimum size of an area where they can take a flight. The 4 meters by 4 meters square box was the focal point.

7) How to Make those birds to Stay.

To me this the most difficult part of all the tasks is on how to get those young birds to stay put in a new BH.

The moment they enter our house we want them to stay put and not running out of the BH.

The description on all those goodies that can lure them to stay were discussed and every items were logically explained will relevant importance.

Overall I believed each participant got what they came for.

Beside these papers each was given a thumb drive with the best mating sound that can be used for both as the internal and external sounds.

Donation: I am sure you have learned something after reading this article. If you feel that the lesson learned deserved an encouragement you can contribute a some donation to this account: Yayasan Kebajikan Nah Sabah, 100930010038410 at Allied Bank, Malaysia.

Nearly A Full House And They Wanted More !!!

My second monthly talks was a full house with 39 attendees. One could not come due to road closure in Kelantan. He called to apologise. I did joke with him " Why don't you swim across?".

It was like I just put my new BH in operation and so many birds entered and stays !!!!

Again I never thought that the respond was this many. Remember I did not advertise on any newpapers or magazines but only my via my swiftletfarming dot blogspot dot com. Very suprised and encouranging.

For my next monthly talks,December 5th2009, I have decided to rent a proper meeting room, spacious enought that will allows my disciples to sit in a more comfortable manner. This round I planned to use the overhead projector. The only set back is that there will be no high tea session.

This time around the presentation will be more like a one day seminar, will start from 9am-5pm, with special effects, those soothing mating sounds on the background, the colorful printouts and so forth. (If you have any objection please let me know)

Perhaps there will be some goodies like a T shirt, materials from last talks, CDs with Duress sound and a mini torchlight.

Out of the 39 there were three ladies. One from Tangkak (Indian), Johore and two (Malays) from Bachok, Kelantan. They suprised me especially when swiftlet farming are normally carried out by men.

A few came from as far as Hong Kong, Sabah, Kelatan, Singapore, Penang, Pahang, Trengganu, Melaka, N9, Johore,Perak, Kedah and Selangor.

I started the day with a short welcoming talk. I really thank them for participating in my talks. I told them that this November 2009 my blog was two years old. It is like a birdthday. I started blogging in November 2007 as a hobby and now managed to organise monthly talk just to share all the things that I have learned and wanted tp share with everybody.

To celebrate the occasion I gave everybody a 30% discount on all the sounds that were in my collection.

The number of hits on my blog has surpassed 290,000 hits. My blog is obviously interesting and being read by many. Nowadays daily hits can hit as high as 800 to 1000. Sometime I don't really understand why people from USA, Europe, Africa and Latin America read my blog. It puzzled me but maybe they are curious about swiftlet farming.

My idea to start the monthly talk was nothing more then giving a chance for all swiftlet enthusiasts to meet each other, exchange views and perhaps listen to my findings that will stimulate new ideas as to how to manage their BH(s).

I started with the 1st topic of the day: "How To Choose The Best Sounds For Your BH".

This topic was very interesting. I started with how to identify AF using a bird call gadget using a famous sound called "DURESS".

This sound according to my source was the baby bird cry for help due to some kind of stress or pain inflicted by something. Someone indicated that the baby birds leg were twisted by the recording guy so that the noise can be captured to pull those AF to come to the source.

Due to its nature, SOS call, I reminded the participants never to use the sound as their BH external sound.

Then we talked about those Mating sound. How these sound were recorded and who actually make the call. It is the male or the female? What the sound was for? When do this call can be played and so forth.

The third sound was the colony sound. Again I described when the sound were made, how they were recorded, the right time to play and told them in detail how to effectively use the colony sound in combination of the mating sound during the 4 months breeding cycle.

It was so interesting that no one even close their eyes when I was explaining in details about all these strange things that never before being expose so details. Not a single person find time to go to the Toilet. They were glued to their chairs.

One participant told me that I did the translation of what those birds were talking. That makes the talk very interesting.

The last sound was the external sound.

How to select the best sound for your BH. The best way to ensure that you purchase the right sound is to test all the sounds by the guy who have the collection one by one. The test must be conducted using the same amplifier and the same tweeters at your BH.

Pay the guy to come over and ask him to bring his best collection. You do the observation with him. You do the counting on the number of birds responding and entering the entrance hole. Each sound must be played not more then 15 minutes. Once the sound is tested you stop for a few minutes to test the next sound.

Record the sound number and how many birds actually surface from the air and jump into the hole.

A good sound will bring those birds to the entrance hole and make them jump into the hole.

It is better to bring 10 birds and all of them jump in then bringing 1000 birds but not a single dares to enter the entrance hole.

So once you have seen with your own eyes and saw how they reacted then you decide how many and which sound to purchase.

In this way you cannot be wrong. Remember you have already spend thousands of ringgit and you cannot be getting cheap sound that are unproven and sometime might chase those birds away.

This fool prove method will save you allot of heart ache and your sleepless nights.

All that you need is someone whom you can rely upon and trustworthy. Get him over to conduct the test at your BH and pick up those good one from him.

If you cannot find that "GUY" then call this number "017 755 1318". I am very sure he will be there for you and your BH.

I also gave them some ideas how to prolong the effectiveness of those selected sounds using sound combination and maximise the use of those amplifiers.

The first method was to change the sound every 3 months. Remember you must first get three sound that you have tested and proven to be effective.

The second method was to play two sounds in one day. One during the day time and the other during the rush hours.

The third method was to play a medley of those beautiful sound that you know proven to work for your selected BH and interject the mating sound in between them.

The fourth method I suggested to play different sound medley on odd and even days. This can be easily done by using two amplifiers but run on those digital timers that allows you to program them to your programme.

After the talk I was swarmed by many who have their list of questions and I was happy that many came to say thank you personally and wanted me to allocate a seat for the next talk.

For this December I have these four topics to talk about:

A) Phase number two of your BH.

b) How to use soundless humidifiers effectively.

c) Details on how to effectively implement Phase 1 on your new BH.

d) Insect generating techniques.



I have the PowerPoint Presentation Materials about this topic to those who miss the talk.

I also managed to tape the session with my Panasonic video camera. If the picture taken is good then this will be cleaned and cut into CD. The cost will be around RM80 for the Yayasan Account.

You can have the PowerPoint Prensation Materials at a cost of only RM50 to be used as a donation to the Yayasan Kebajikan Nah Sabah, 100930010038410 at Allied Bank, Malaysia. Remit the money into this account and let me know your email address.

So far six attendees sent a thank you notes:

1)Hi Uncle Harry,
I'm very happy that I have attended your talked today. It's very nice and give me a lots of ideas for my BH. Please put my name KOK CHOON and YIT FARN for the next talk.
Regards,KOK CHOON

2)HI PAK HARRY....I AM MALWINDER FROM SUNGAI PETANI...I ATTENDED YOUR TALK TODAY AND IT WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE.......JUST WANTED TO INFORM YOU IF U COME ACROSS ANY REASONABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR SALE NEAR BY SUNGAI PETANI DO LET ME KNOW....I AM KEEN ON GETTING ONE TO BUILD MY STAND ALONE BH.....THANKS

3) Pak Harry, sorry I'd to leave your Seminar slightly earlier since my flight back to Penag was at 8pm. I am interested on your external sounds the BC and Tongkat Ali. Can U please let me know the price and the discount so that I can order from U. I found that your talk is very interesting except the room a bit stuffy. I wanted to inform you also that I am interested to book a seat for the next talk. TQ. Mr.Kho

4) Thank you very much. I feel my knowledge has improved. I would like to attend the next talk unless heavy rain in KB. Dr.Nik

5) AWESOME!!! You simply the best! UNO numero. Keep a good work and pls to confirm I will book grand stand seat on the next monthly talk. Best wishes. Haji Zul.

6)Dear Sifu Harry,
Thank you for the wonderful talk that day. Can I book a seat for your December talk.
I hve talked to my consultant yesterday, I will email you soon his plan and maybe you can give a few comments later.
Anyway, I am so sorry that I have to rush back to KL when you are in BM next weekend because I have something to settle ( hospital on call!!)
Actually, I am working as a goverment doctor in KL but my hometown is in Penang, Simpang Empat. I hope to kick start by BH soon, hope you can help
me!! Please sifu!! ( Doc, I am not a Sifu. Just someone who is willing to share all the knowledge that I gathered.)

7) Hi Pak Harry
THanks I got the gadget, will try it out soon. Firstly I wanted to say that I enjoyed your talk. Initially I was skeptical if I could grasp as much information or the talk may be too technical for someone new like me but it turned out otherwise. I really felt as ease, information was easy to digest and well arranged. Although I only slept a couple of hours the night before and drove non stop to PJ, I did not felt sleepy throughout the talk. I tahnk you for your generousity in sharing your vast knowledge with us.

I like to book a place for Dec talk, please?

Donation: I am sure you have learned something after reading this article. If you feel that the lesson learned deserved an encouragement you can contribute a some donation to this account: Yayasan Kebajikan Nah Sabah, 100930010038410 at Allied Bank, Malaysia.