I was invited by my reader to do a feasibility survey and evaluation at an area he intended to build a swiftlets farm.
It was located not far from Klang Valley. Since it is not far from the bustling city therefore I expected there would be lots of development and the birds’ population would be small. To my surprise it proved me wrong.
Before this we have spoken before and I had advised him, “It is better to do a survey rather than just go into it if you are not familiar with the surroundings area you would ended up losing what you have invested”.
I told him if the survey turned out to be unfavorable I shall advise him not to build it and he is prepared to take my advice. Of course there are many who are in this trade would encourage newbies to go ahead even though they knew the area is no good for Swiftlet farm. This is because they want to make profit from the construction of the farm whether the farm they built would have nests or otherwise in future is none of their concern.
This area where I conducted the test was surrounded with plenty of green especially Palm Oil plantation with small hills and streams. There are plenty of swiftlet activities that are visible. There’re many Switlets flying above the canopy of green hunting for food.
This area has few existing farms. Before I did the Sound Test I asked him do you know how long have all these farms operated? He replied “I have no Idea maybe they are new”.
I told him never mind I could find out myself. He replied “How could you tell? Well I told him “look at those bricks at the window”.
Thru my experience by judging from the fungus mark on those bricks the farm could have been there for 2-3 years.
Then he asked me again how do we know these are successful farms or otherwise. I told him well, look at the massive bard wire surrounding the roof of those farms. The owner won’t spend few thousand rigggit for no reason therefore there must be theft here.
If there are thieves here that means there must be nests (thief won’t be so stupid to enter farms that has no nests or just have few nests). In fact by judging at the massive bard wire I am very sure there are plenty of nests in those farms.
In fact it was a low profile area many wouldn’t have noticed such potential. I asked my reader, didn’t you do a bird count on those farms at evening when the birds return? He replied yes,. Then I said very well you have done your homework. How many birds would that be? He replied” I counted until five hundred then too many and I lost count. That was a good reply.
I told him averagely 8 birds to 1 nest that is the ratio. Never mind I told myself. After looking around the area and surveying some of the existing farms I took out my BTK and switched on the Stress sound within second there were 20 birds circling on top of own cars.
As we were chit –chating the number of birds were getting bigger. Within 15 minute there are few hundred birds and many more are coming.
I asked my readers are you happy to see so many birds responded? He gave me a funny reply.
James” these birds belong to the surrounding areas here and from those farms. I want those birds that belong to nobody and from the wild.”
I almost vomited blood can’t blame him he is truly a newbie.
Can anyone tells me which birds ( A.fuciphugus) from Selangor doesn’t belong to farm?
Where the hell there are such thing call wild birds? There is no cave here. All birds are somehow from farms. It is a matter of who is getting whose birds especially the young birds.
If you have constructed a good farm then you would attract all others farms’ birds. For sure there are no wild Swiftlets but there are wild birds that live on trees ..
For few hundred birds within 15 minute of test it shows this place is definitely good for farming.
It surpassed my minimum required number of birds which is at least 50 and above and the birds have to response to the sound within 15 minute anything least its considered bad.
This test passed with flying color.
I advise my reader to go ahead with the construction. This place is good and not many people know about it. I guess he is lucky to have found this place.
Good farming all!
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