Dear all my apology as I haven't been update my post for the last two weeks as I have been busy with my works. I wasn't entirely being tied up by work, I have just surveyed a piece of land in Pahang which is close to the river for my next project. Its exciting and I will share with you later.
On the other hand my BH in Perak is currently in the process of installing nesting plank. I will complie those photos together with illustration of the BH construction and will post here real soon.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Identifying Land - Part 2
In determining the site and construction of BH for swiftlet farming, one must understand swiftlet's macrohabitat and daily activity rhythm. In general, all swiftlets show a similar pattern of daily activity.
Swiftlets will leave their roosting sites by day break (5.30am-6am) and return by dark (7.15pm-7.30pm). Swiftlets with hatchlings will return during mid day to feed their youngs. Their flying range is estimated to be in the radius of 25 to 40km. Studies have shown that swiftlets forage at different areas at different time of the day:
- Area of short plants (paddy field, grassland, bushes, etc): from 6 am to 9am & 3pm to 6pm.
- Area of woodlands (tall forests, palm oil plantations, fruit trees, etc): from 9am to 1pm.
- Area of waterbornes (wetlands, mangrove forest, swamps, ponds, rivers, sea, etc): from 1pm to 3pm.
The propotion of these areas is driven by the major insects activities and characteristics at those areas. For instance the waterborne areas generate relatively less flying insects in the early morning compare to afternoon. Warmer water surface during afternoon will enable insect eggs to hatch and hence produce more flying insects during that period.
Check the existing vegetation around your target land (40 km radius) in order to get the best timing for bird call test and also to determine swiftlets flying path at your land.
to be continued.....
Swiftlets will leave their roosting sites by day break (5.30am-6am) and return by dark (7.15pm-7.30pm). Swiftlets with hatchlings will return during mid day to feed their youngs. Their flying range is estimated to be in the radius of 25 to 40km. Studies have shown that swiftlets forage at different areas at different time of the day:
- Area of short plants (paddy field, grassland, bushes, etc): from 6 am to 9am & 3pm to 6pm.
- Area of woodlands (tall forests, palm oil plantations, fruit trees, etc): from 9am to 1pm.
- Area of waterbornes (wetlands, mangrove forest, swamps, ponds, rivers, sea, etc): from 1pm to 3pm.
The propotion of these areas is driven by the major insects activities and characteristics at those areas. For instance the waterborne areas generate relatively less flying insects in the early morning compare to afternoon. Warmer water surface during afternoon will enable insect eggs to hatch and hence produce more flying insects during that period.
Check the existing vegetation around your target land (40 km radius) in order to get the best timing for bird call test and also to determine swiftlets flying path at your land.
to be continued.....
Identifying Agricultural Land - Part 1
Although swiftlet activities can be seen almost everywhere in Malaysia and in theory swiftlet farm can be built in a lot of places, however I still think that finding a suitable location indeed is not an easy task.
I will focus on agricultural land in this post. In fact when I have decided to venture this field years ago I had decided to set up my first BH on agricultural land despite the draw backs:
1) Upfront capital will be a lot more higher. In addition the finance available for the agricultural & BH construction is quite limited and the borrowing margin is relatively low compared to commercial property. Alternatively you can refinance your property be it residential or commercial. (personally I prefer residential property for lower interest rate and longer/ lower monthly repayment.)
2) Finding the right land, right size with right price. Developing a swiftlet farm doesn't require a lot of space (BH itself) but sometimes it is not easy to find 1-2 acre land in a reasonable price as they tent to fatch higher price per acre due to the demand on those land size is high. Having more than few acres will certainly increase your upfront capital unless you are financially capable and reserve them for future BH development (if your existing BH can do well).
3) Even if one managed to find a reasonable size land, what about the electrical, water and road access? Does the site require extensive site work before the BH construction can begin? If so, one need to allow provision sum for that purpose.
I will focus on agricultural land in this post. In fact when I have decided to venture this field years ago I had decided to set up my first BH on agricultural land despite the draw backs:
1) Upfront capital will be a lot more higher. In addition the finance available for the agricultural & BH construction is quite limited and the borrowing margin is relatively low compared to commercial property. Alternatively you can refinance your property be it residential or commercial. (personally I prefer residential property for lower interest rate and longer/ lower monthly repayment.)
2) Finding the right land, right size with right price. Developing a swiftlet farm doesn't require a lot of space (BH itself) but sometimes it is not easy to find 1-2 acre land in a reasonable price as they tent to fatch higher price per acre due to the demand on those land size is high. Having more than few acres will certainly increase your upfront capital unless you are financially capable and reserve them for future BH development (if your existing BH can do well).
3) Even if one managed to find a reasonable size land, what about the electrical, water and road access? Does the site require extensive site work before the BH construction can begin? If so, one need to allow provision sum for that purpose.
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