New BH Opening

I have not updated my blog for quite sometime because I was away for some other business.

Finally completed the BH conversion that written in previous post, just to share a short clip of opening, a quite satisfied result.




Few more projects coming next.

Audio Output Signal & Capacitor on Tweeter

We have often seen that tweeters used for the BHs commonly added a capacity to the positive terminal, actually many swiftlet farmers even consultants do not really know on what and how the capacitor functions. Since many readers are questioning about that I try to give a short brief on this topic per my understanding.

Before understanding about capacitor, first we need to know how the sound is being transformed and produced. Many of us would think that audio output produced by the player or amplifier is Direct Current (DC), because output terminal of amplifier normally coloured with Red and Black which we always misunderstand as positive and negative of DC.

In fact audio signal outputted from audio player is a complex AC waveform, when the volume is low, the voltage out is low. Volume can be increased by increasing voltage wave with an amplifier. We are controlling the output voltage by setting volume knob level of amplifier. Tweeter (speaker) is to transform audio signal from AC waveform into sound wave, that’s why reverse two cables, tweeter still produce sound but AC phase will be reverse.


We may commonly see that tweeters added a capacitor to (+) terminal, some farmer might understand from the tweeter supplier that capacitor is to help to balance the sound volume when number of tweeters are looped up in parallel circuit, which is not true. Some supplier may also tell you that tweeter with capacitor will improve sound quality.

A capacitor's basic function is to pass AC current and block DC current. A capacitor will never pass DC current, where DC could harm the tweeters. Capacitor can also limit AC current depending on the frequency when high surge. The proper µF of capacitor should be selected for your tweeter for its impedance (ohm).

Generally capacitor is a protection of tweeter especially dynamic type tweeters. However I personally don’t think it has significant function for those piezo tweeters in our BH. If you wanted to improve tweeters sound balancing I will advise to use low resistance audio cable and consistence impedance of tweeter. Nevertheless I am not sound engineer but just to share with readers from my understanding, anyone specialised in audio want to correct my statement or share something, you can email to me.

Headed to Ipoh for regular BHs inspection

I was heading north from KL to Ipoh to carry out regular inspection of my JV BHs yesterday, took about 3 hour driving to reach due to bad traffic condition.

These new BHs have been operating for few months only, there is some growth but not as good as those new BHs setup in populated area as expected, location is still the key factor of good success I always believe in. However the bird population can always grow bigger just matter of time as long as progressive, I am still quite satisfied in the progress of these BHs anyway, with some patience and good management they will turn into populated BHs in 2-3years time later.

Found a 3 eggs nest again in one of the BHs, seems birds like this particular BH and egg as many as they like.

昨天我从吉隆坡向北到怡保为我的合资燕屋进行定期检查，由于恶劣的交通状况，花了约3小时的车程才到达，。

这些新的燕屋运作了几个月而已，有一些增长，但并不像那些在燕子集密区的新燕屋成长来得好，这是在预料之内，地点仍然是非常成功燕屋的关键因素，但我始终相信燕群成长成集密区只是时间问题，但我仍然很满意了这些新燕屋的进度只要有继续的成长，一定的耐心和良好的管理，两三年后他们就会变成有生产力的燕屋。

这一次检查中，再次看到一个含有3颗蛋的窝，看来他们喜欢在这间燕屋放心产蛋。



After inspection done, managed to meet the producer of ‘Cool Mist’ in the evening, he made a demo and elaborated in detail and reliability of this product, which was impressive. He really put quite some effort and time in developing Cool Mist on perfection as well as cost reduction as compared to those equivalents ultrasonic humidifier in the market.

完成检查后，在傍晚时见了Cool Mist 的制作人，他做了其产品示范和详细其产品的可靠性。他真的花了相当长的时间和精力研发以及降低成本，和那些市场上等值超声波加湿器相比其价格相当合理。

Joint Venture Can Be A Win-Win Solution 合资燕屋运作可是双赢的方案

Immediate confirmation from Mr. P after a convincing outcome from bird call test, on the next day my contractor moved his worked and started the renovation without further hesitation.

Mr. L, neighbour and friend of Mr. P, his shop is just next to Mr. P’s, he was with us during bird call test. He came to me when I was giving instruction to my contractor, he wanted me to turn his shoplot into BH as well after seeing the result from bird test yesterday.

I was then thinking that, if I am making two separate BH that just next to each other, I will not be able to control both unit will get equally good result, they will become competitor, I think the second one will put the blame on me after. The best solution in my mind is to get them joint venture, make 1 BH instead of 2 by joining two units up, they will share the profit regardless of nest in where.

They agreed to my proposal of JV after my explanation on pros and cons, there are actually much more advantages than disadvantages for their JV, such as lower cost for construction and equipment, larger nesting space for better growth, lower risk, no competition etc. I believe JV will be a win-win solution for them.

1st unit of Mr. P is half completed, all hacking and cement work done, I decided to use dual entrances, side entry at the front and open roof at the back. Since Mr. L unit needs to build another half floor above the 1st floor with more concrete work which will take long time, the completion will be extended another 2weeks.

测试结果后的第二天，P先生毫不犹豫地的肯定这单工程，我的承包商即刻地调动他的工人开始改造工程。

L先生是P先生的邻居也是好朋友，他的店仅于P先生店的隔壁，昨天在进行鸟测试时他和我们一起。当我正在指示承包商改造工程时，他走过来和我谈，他要我把他的店屋也改造成燕屋，因为从昨天的测试结果后信心十足。

我当时想，如果我把两间仅隔壁的单位同时改造成隔别燕屋，我将无法控制两间都将同时得到同样的好成绩，他们将成为竞争对手，我认为成绩仅次的人会责怪我。在我心中最好的解决办法是让他们合资运作，把它改成一间燕屋而不是两间，他们将同时分享其利润，不管窝造在哪一间。

我对他们解释合资运作的利弊后，他们都同意我的建议，其实他们的合资运作方案，优点比缺点多，如建筑和设备成本较低，有更大筑巢空间，更好地燕群成长，更低风险，没有竞争等等。我相信，合资燕屋运作对他们将是一个双赢的方案。

第一间P先生的已完成了一半工程，所有的敲打和水泥工已完成，我在前面用窗口侧入口，在后面用天井式，是双入口。由于L先生的单元需要建另半楼，需更长的时间，此工程因此需再延长2周。

Interfloor Hole access to lower nest area

Front with Side Entrance

Building another half floor

Humidifier – Cool Mist

Although mist maker type of humidifier is not new in the market but this one selling at quite reasonable price compared to others.

Some of you may have seen this posted in other site earlier but in order to show my appreciation to the product developer for his hard effort in parts sourcing and R&D, I am posting more information about this product and its specification for anyone who has not seen this.

I really like this product that the producer worked on the cost down, and he makes all the parts and accessories replaceable, you should need to replace any parts that wear off instead of whole unit disposal, and spare parts are all available from him. Contact me if you need it.

Spare Parts, Click on picture to enlarge

Difficulty of finding good location 好地难求

Nowadays more and more BHs are being built up everywhere, and size of BH is getting bigger and bigger. Swiftlet farming competition is getting intense especially in the hot swifltet farming zone.

I always think that location is a very key factor to successful BH. Other factors like design, sound, micro habitat etc you can still perfect it later if you didn’t make it the best at the first place. But you can never shift your BH to other place once started and investment put on. Late comer should be very cautious in their investment, never do a blind investment.

I headed to south to help Mr. P to do a site survey and assessment last couple of days. His old shoplot located far from town, a two and half storey corner lot currently empty in 1st and 2nd floor, ground floor being used for printing workshop with small operation, very ideal location for swiflet farming I rate for it. There is a wide orchard in next, many birds would be hunting for food here everyday, only one row of old shoplot was built in this area and none existing BH operating in this area yet. This is a very prime location many swiftlet farmers and investors are hunting for.

We conducted a call test at 6pm for 20mins, more than 200 birds responded to the test. Mr. P was excited to the result, he can’t wait but wanted to start renovation immediately. I made arrangement for workers and materials immediately, target to complete this project within 2-3weeks.

如今越来越多的燕屋正在建立而且无处不有，燕屋规模也越来越大。养燕的竞争因此越来越激烈，尤其是在养燕热区。

我一直都认为，位置是一个非常成功燕屋的关键因素。其它如设计，音响，燕屋条件等其他因素，如果你没能在开始时做到最好，你仍然可以后再之补救或提升。但你无法改变你燕屋的位置一旦投资上了。后来投资者应非常谨慎，切勿盲目投资。

我过去几天南下，帮助P先生做了现场评估。他的老店屋位置远离城市，一栋两层半店屋，目前在第一和二楼空置，底楼用于小规模印刷操作，我认为这是非常理想的地点。其旁边是一片果园，每天都有许多燕子在这里觅食，这里只有一排店屋而且目前没有其他竞争。这类优越养燕的地段是许多燕农和投资者都在寻找的。

我们在下午6点进行了20分钟的测试，有两百多只燕子对测试反应。 P先生很兴奋，他不能再等待，要立即开始工程。我立即安排工人和材料，期于两三周内完成这个工程。

MY AGRO 2011

MALAYSIA AGRO 2011
I am invited to particiate exibition of MY AGRO 2011 by the organizer, anyone interested can find information below. Key segments includes Swiftlet Farming & Bird Nest Industry.

Venue: MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre (MECC), Kuala Lumpur
Date: 20th to 23rd September 2011

http://www.myagro.my
Show Summary
Brochure in English
Brochure in Chinese

Breeding Season 繁殖季节

From the recent BH observation in west coast, breeding period should have started, a bigger jump in the nest count and most of nests in the BH contain eggs or chicks, many parents are incubating inside the BH.

Some of new BH you might experience gradually grow in the past few months, but sudden high increase in the breading season.

Every different area should have some deviation of breeding period due to external factors such as Monsoon, temperature change, rainy season etc. It will be good we can have record for those fluctuation factors for your BH for future forecasting.

If we can predict the breeding season of your BH accurately in our area, we could actually have better growth in nest number by taking necessary action in advance to attract those home seeking young swiftlets.

For populated BH, you should keep your bird nest and sell it in breeding month when price raise higher as low harvesting during breeding period.

从最近西海岸燕屋的观察，繁殖期应该已经开始了，燕窝数目短期增加较多，许多燕窝都含有蛋或小燕子，很多燕父母在燕屋内孵蛋。

一些新的燕屋，可能会在过去几月都缓慢增长，但在繁殖季节前夕突然高度增长。每一个不同地区的繁殖季节应该都会有一定的偏差，其中由于外部因素比如季风，温度变化，雨季等。如果我们有纪录这些因素波动的纪录将有利于我们预测未来繁殖季节。

如我们能够准确预测你的燕屋地区的繁殖季节，我们可以提前采取必要的行动，以吸引的寻家年轻燕子，有助于我们的燕窝的增长。

对于旧燕屋，由于繁殖期里的产量少，你可以把你的燕窝在繁殖月份里以高价格卖出。

Iron door Integrated latch lock 综合式铁门闩锁

I was in Perak yesterday managed to visit few BHs, one thing found from one BH during my visit that I would like to share with my reader is the integrated latch lock for Iron door.

Most common and conventional latch lock is the one shown in the photo at bottom one which we can get easily from hardware shop anywhere, fabricator will normally weld it onto the iron door from inside and locked up with a pad lock. Many broke in case, burglar will normally use a giant steel cutter or hydraulic jack to break the pad lock or the bracket of latch lock.

This custom made latch lock is integrated into the iron door at inside with very thick cross bar to bridge over to solid door frame, and a build-in lock mechanism is seal up with iron casing, where burglar will find nowhere to cut. it look very solid and very strong in anti-cutting from burglar.

昨天在霹雳州参观了几间燕屋，在这次参观期间收获中，我想和读者分享是这个集成式铁门闩锁。

一般最常见的传统闩锁是照片里下方那一个，我们可以在任何地方的五金商店买到，铁门烧焊工人通常焊在铁门里面，并同时使用挂锁锁上。很多发生爆窃情况是，窃贼通常会使用一个钢铁大剪或液压器材剪断挂锁或其托锁架。

这种特制的综合式铁门闩锁使用很厚的钢铁横栏跨到强稳门框上，一个内置的锁机制以钢铁外壳封锁并焊在铁门里面，使窃贼无处切开。它看起来非常稳固，非常强的防盗切割。

Positive competition 良性竞争

I was invited by a shop lot owner to carry out site survey on his shop area located at south of Selangor, he has a plan to convert top floor of his 3 storey shop to swiftlet farm, since he is new in this industry and he need some sincere and professional advice before investment with money involved.

In his shop area at least 20 BHs have been in operation, number of swiftlet doesn’t seem to be many and I think swiftlet farming started in this area about 3-4 years. The owner is quite concerning whether in such a high competition area should he still jump into it.

Swiftlet farming is now competitive everywhere, even if you are the pioneer in the area, you can’t stop others from coming soon or later and compete with you when you get the good outcome. Having a right and positive attitude is essential in this industry, treating this as a positive competition as well as an opportunity for us to improve ourselves to be more competitive, develop new technique or weapons of BH to win the war. If we are knowledgeable and well prepared we will not afraid of competition.

In his case, since he already owned the shop lot, and one successful neighbor BH is very close his one, source of young birds should not be the problem. Cost for converting one floor is not too much and which is affordable to the owner, I suggest him to go ahead.

我应一位业主邀请到他在雪兰莪州南区的店屋进行实地考察，他计划把他的3层店铺顶层改成燕屋，因为他对这个行业不太熟悉，在涉及金钱的投资之前，他需要一些真诚和专业的意见。 在他的店屋区域已有至少有20间燕屋已正在运作了，燕子数量似乎并不是很多，我预测引燕活动这一区应大约有3-4年。业主相当忧虑在如此高的竞争领域，他是否应该还跳进去。 引燕业的竞争现在是无处不在，即使你是在该地区的先驱，你也不能阻止其他人迟早来与你竞争的，尤其你的燕屋得到好的结果时。在这个行业，拥有一个正确的和积极的态度是必要的，当它作一个良性的竞争，也可以是一个机会，让我们提高自己以使更有竞争力，从重中开发新技术或引燕武器在战争中赢取好的成绩。如果我们足够的知识和准备，我们不会害怕竞争。 在他的案件，因为他已经拥有了这一间店铺，一间成功的燕屋就在非常接近他的店，小燕子的来源应该不是问题。单只改造一层楼成为燕屋费用并不多，业主是负担得起的，所以我建议他前进。

Nest on Overhang Partition 燕窝造在悬吊隔板上

This week was busy on regular BH inspection and harvesting, spent a lot of time in travelling to north then down to south. Some photos taken during this trip, this one is a bit rare that I like to share.

An overhang partition using very thin ply wood installed in this populated BH few months ago, the intention was to reduce sunlight further going into the room as this room is quite near to the 2nd hole. This room was actually populated, but I was thinking to boost it further. Overhang partition will actually cause less impact to the flying path, those swiftlet can still fly through underneath.

This is something unexpected, swiftlets built nest on it and now 2nd nest is under construction. Now trouble for me on how to maintain this thin piece of plywood for many years, I know more and more nests will appear next to them very soon. When we do the right upgrading, your swiftlet will tell you they love it in return with their nests

这星期都忙于燕屋定期检查和燕窝收割，花了许多时间在驾车路程，前往北上又南下。这次过程拍了一些照片，这一张是较少见的，我想和大家分享。

几个月前我使用非常薄的普通悬吊隔板安装在这间旧燕屋，意图是为了进一步减少阳光进入一间造窝房因为这个房间是相当接近第二个洞。这个造窝房其实已有燕群，但我心想进一步提升它。后来加上悬吊隔板对燕子飞行路径影响较小的，因为那些燕子仍然可以在下面飞过。

这是意想不到的事情，燕子在隔板上面造窝，而且现在第二个窝已正在建设。我现在烦恼要在如何维持这薄隔板长年，我知道更多的燕窝很快会在他们旁边出现。当我们做出正确的升级，你的燕子会他们用自己的窝告诉你和回报你。

Change of external sound or Play more sounds 更换外声或播放多个外声

Some swiftlet farmers may concern that if they play two different external sounds, or changing sound when existing sound has lost effect, those swiftlets would get confused or not able to recognize where to home.

Swiftlet is an animal possess capability of location orientating just like the pigeon, with their build-in compass or GPS, they do recognize where their home is and which direction to go home once they have chosen a BH for nesting, there is a small memory of orientation programmed in their mind, this is also how they can find they own unique nest easily in dark space among thousands of nest.

For experiment, if you turn off external sound in a tenanted BH, those existing tenant will still come back as usual. But without external sound, your BH if it is not highly populated one will not be inviting any new birds to become new tenant even your own young swiftlet.

External sound is just tool for promoting or advertising your BH, draw attention and invite young swiftlet to visit BH, whether they decide to stay or next door which will be depending on your BH design and internal factors.

External sound is not the recognition mark for homing. In fact sound called by real swiftlet in natural cave will vary from time to time. I do believe that change of sound or play more than one sounds will not cause any negative impact to the growth but will contributing in positive side.


有些燕农可能担心，如果他们播放两个不同的外部声音，或在外声已经失去了效应后更换现有的外声时，这些燕子会感到困惑或者不能够识途回家。

燕子是一种拥有宛如鸽子方向定位能力的动物，他们拥有已天生具来的‘指南针或GPS’，一旦他们选择了一间燕屋落脚，他们会认得是在哪个方向回家，因为在他们的记忆中已经编程了定位，这也是为何他们可以在拥有成千上万颗窝的黑暗的空间找到他们自己唯一的窝。

做一个小实验，如果你在一间已有燕窝的燕屋关掉外声，这些现有燕子将仍然像往常一样回来。只是如果没有外部声音，你的燕屋如果不是已有大燕群的话将不会吸引新的燕子甚至你自己的小燕子成为新的住客。

外声作用是推广或宣传你的燕屋，吸引燕子注意并邀请年轻的燕子到访燕屋的工具，他们是否选择居留你的燕屋或隔壁的将与燕屋设计和内部因素相关。

外部声音不是识途标志，实际上在天然洞穴中燕子每天都会发出不同的叫声。我认为，更换外声或播放多个外声将不会对增长造成负面影响的，而会作出正面的贡献。

Portable Partition 移动式隔间墙板

We know that swiftlets would normally choose corner or some places they feel safe to start up the first nest and later develops into colony. From understanding such a behavior, some time we will purposely build partition or room creating living environment they like, making birds to stay down. Partition is also commonly used to minimize sunlight and wind pressure in order to maintain and stabilize in optimum micro condition in nesting area.

For newbie or whoever cannot confidently handle flying path or any uncontrollable factors, some time we may need to try and error, improve from experiment especially in revamping fail farm. Portable partition is a good idea helping us in such experiments instead of fixed partition; we can DIY moving it easily or assembly numerous pieces to form a wall or room without assistance of carpenter. We can replace it later with permanent partition after getting positive outcome from the experiment. We can also remove it easily if experiment not successful, or reform into other design.

Attached drawing dimension is just for reference, you may need to resize to fit your BH. Critical part is that the base of portable partition must be strong enough but not too heavy.

我们知道燕子通常会选择角落或他们感到安全的地方，开始造第一个窝，之后才发展成燕群。从了解燕子这种行为，我们将会分割空间建造它们喜欢的生活环境，使燕子留下来了筑窝。隔间板也会常用来减少阳光和风的压力，以保持和稳定在最佳的燕子筑窝条件环境。

对于新手或那些不能完全掌握燕子飞行路径，或任何无法控制的因素，有些时候我们可能需要用尝试和错误的方法，特别是在改造或改善失败燕农场。利用可移动式隔间板是一个很好方法，而不是用固定式隔间板，我们可以很容易动手移动或组装形成墙壁或房间，即使没有木匠的协助。从实验中取得良好成果后，我们才把它建成永久固定式隔间墙板。如果实验不成功，我们也可以轻松地将它拆除，或重组成其他设计。

附图尺寸仅供参考，你可能需要调整尺寸以适合你的燕屋。关键部分是，移动式隔间墙板的底基脚必须够稳固，但不会太重。

Optimum width between nesting planks 燕板之间的最佳宽度

What is the best width between planks? This the question frequently raised during plank installation. As we know those planks are installed for the swiftlets to build nest on it, swiftlet behavior and living style should be the first priority of consideration. Install planks closer will increase the plank number with more plank surface area for increasing nesting area, but if the width is too narrow would actually create difficulty in certain extent for swiftlet to fly in.

When swiftlets are to fly in between planks, they will be moving slowly by beating their wings. Total length of their wings is about 7 inches, if we consider two sided nesting in opposite, width should be double as comfortable space. In normal practice, convenience of harvesting also taken into account, I would install planks at about 16 to 18inches (1.5ft) width with some tolerance while not wasting too much of space. In some actual cases, swiftlets are building nest in even 12 inches width, but eggs checking and harvesting work is a bit difficult and slower.

燕板之间最好的宽度是多少？这问题经常在安装燕板被问到。我们知道，这些木板是提供给燕子造窝的，燕子的习性和生活方式就应该是第一优先考虑。如果木板安装靠近些可增加燕板同时增加燕板造窝面积，但是如果宽度太过窄实际上在一定程度上为燕子飞行造成困难。

当燕子在燕板之间飞行时，他们会拍打翅膀慢慢移动，。他们翅膀的总长度大约是7寸，如果我们考虑双对面燕板造窝，舒适的燕板宽度应该是乘二。但在一般燕板按法，同时考虑到收割时的方便，我都安装在大约16至18寸（1.5英尺）的宽度距离，其中加入一些额外宽度且不浪费太多的空间。在一些实际案例，燕子会在甚至12寸宽度之间的燕板造窝，但进行蛋检查和收割工作是有点较困难和缓慢的。

Some Nests built in the last 12 inches narrowest row

Double Ceiling Heat Insulation 双层隔热天花板

Received few calls and discussed about heat issue, many of us do facing heat problem especially those BHs converted from shop office or light industrial factories, I think we’ve learnt some methods from books or web on how to insulate heat from wall by creating double layer brick wall with insulation or gap, actually most of the heat is conducted from roof to ceiling.

If you are living in the double storey house, we know that the upper floor always warmer than the ground floor, we don’t like to stay at upper floor during afternoon time without air-con. This is the same for BHs, the top floor is where easiest to catch heat if your BH is not made with concrete roof. Many people do add a layer of insulator above the ceiling trying to reduce temperature, but it is not so effective or sufficient to bring down temperature especially those with metal sheet roofing and low roofing.

Heat is transferred in three ways. i.e. Radiation, Convection, Conduction. Insulation material added above ceiling will only reduce heat transfer mainly in Radiation, the hot air trapped between roof and ceiling would actually carry heat travelling everywhere then conduct through ceiling to nesting area.

Double ceiling insulation is one simple, economy and effective way to reduce heat transferred into nesting room. How we do is to install nesting plank 1ft to 1.5ft below existing ceiling, another layer of ceiling plate laying on top of nesting plank, then we should also add insulators above both ceiling layers for better insulation, thus gap in between ceiling layers become another air insulation layer. Again you need double ceiling insulation only on the top floor.


接到有几通电话讨论有关隔热问题，我们许多会面对隔热的问题，特别是那些从店屋或轻工业工厂改建的燕屋，我们可以从一些书籍或网站学到以双层墙绝缘或空隙隔热的方法，不过同常大部分热能是从屋顶传到天花板里面的。

如果你是住两层楼的房子，我们知道，楼上总是比较热，在下午时间又如果没有冷气我们都不喜欢留在楼上。燕屋也一样，如果不是石灰屋顶，顶层是最容易热的地方。很多人都会增添层绝缘层降低温度，但它是不是那么有效的，尤其是那些金属板屋顶和较低的屋顶。

热量传递有三种方式，即辐射，对流，传导。天花板上添加隔热绝缘料只会主要减少辐射传热，但在屋顶和天花板之间热空气会通过对流和传导透过天花板传入造窝区。

双层隔热天花板是一个简单，经济又有效的方法减少热量传入造窝区。做法就是，把燕板安装在天花板以下1英尺至1.5英尺的高度，然后铺设另一层天花板在燕板上，之后我们也应该在两层天花板上加入绝缘层以达到更好的效果，然而两层天花板之间成空气隙隔层。我在重提，你只需要在顶层使用双层隔热天花板。

Auto Reset Amplifier Regularly 自动定期重新启动播音器

Some of the swiftlet farmers who use one amplifier to run internal sound for 24/7 week non-stop operating may ever experience this problem, the player hang up or stop playing sound after long hour operation, when restart the amplifier by switching off and on again, it will be OK.

I was called and asked for the solution by a friend, his BH has been operating for months with couple of nest s built, but the amplifier for internal sound was stop playing for almost a week before he released, some of the new tenants might have moved to next door.

I did encountered the same problem before in those BHs using one amp for 24/7, amplifier is built with electrical and electronic components driven by the firmware like our computer, it could be hang up after long hour operation. It is good to restart the amp as reset regularly. What I did was to use a timer to reset the amp regularly, digital timer is one of the options in the simplest way to do the job as it’s got the minimal 1min interval programming. You can schedule to turn off the amp at 12 midnight, and turn on again at 12.01am in everyday or every alternative day. Those using two amps with alternative switching one should not have this problem as every switching will be a reset.

有些燕农是使用一个播音器来24 小时/7天不停运行内部声音播音的，可能会遇到这一类的问题，播音器当机或停止播放声音，不过当我们关掉开关再次重新启动，它就可以再操作。

我被一个朋友问及其解决方案，他的燕屋已运作几个月也有几颗燕窝了，但不幸的是内部声音停止播放了近一个星期，一些新燕子可能已搬到隔壁去了。

我之前也遇到过这些播音器操作24 / 7面对同样的问题，播音放大器类似我们电脑，由电器和电子组件构成，长时间运作会导致当机。最好定期重新启动播音器以复位。我是使用一个计时器来重新启动播音器，电子计时器是最简单的方法，因为它是有1分钟的小间隔编程。你可以设置在午夜12时关闭播音器，并于12点01分再次启动。编程每天或每隔天运行。那些使用两套播音器替代运作的应该没有这个问题，因为每次开关将会被复位。

CCTV configuration in my BH

Quite tight in this couple of weeks after the long break of CNY as those projects of new BH set up that I need to catch up schedule. In order to ensure materials delivered correctly and construction made accordingly to my design, many thing need to be attended personally, those coordination and travelling really kill most of my time.

As requested, I would like to share the CCTV configuration that I setup in BHs under my care. As in my previous article that I wrote about Automation with IT would actually help in the maintenance of BH especially for those who got BH that far apart from where they live.


CCTV system setup is quite standard, install cameras over where you want to view, connect them with the cable of RG59 or RG6 to the control centre i.e. DVR (or Computer type CPU with video capture card), the most important and recommended is to have a ‘Network DVR’ which can be connected to router in a local network for viewing or downloading recorded video from other client terminal, DVR with the latest H264 format will be in higher video compression rate for faster downloading. I will advise to use wireless (WIFI) router, so that I can actually park my car outside of BH where I can see birds playing at top of entrance without entering into BH, while watching the CCTV capturing in live on screen how birds are playing at entrance hole and all camera points.

Another benefit is that we can also download the video in the pass stored in the hard disk of DVR, then view later whether there is an increase in number of tenants, this is part of the management for me, what I often do is park my car nearby, sitting back in the car and open up my laptop, then enjoying watching birds playing or download video file for last few days without entering into BH, which takes about 10mins for me to do. After finish downloading, I proceed to another BH and do the same thing. I can view those video when I get home and free. That really saves a lot of work and speed up the job.

If your BH is located at where internet available zone, you can also configure to be viewable online through internet remotely from anywhere, but your internet at server terminal (your BH) should be fast and stable in uploading speed in order to have smooth viewing. One thing from my previous update is that those 3G internet from provider like Maxis, Digi are not usable for this purpose because there is no individual IP assigned for client terminal but shared IP, Streamyx and P1 are applicable. Further than the above if your internet IP is dynamic, you should use dyndns domain for free to direct by setting in your router, then you also need to do port forward in your modem and router directing external access to your DVR, which means if your DVR viewing by browser normally use port 80, then you need to port forward all the way port 80 from modem down to your DVR bypassing firewall. If this is too technical and complicated you can get IT expert to help or PM me for more detail.

Good time to lure those young swiftlets 吸引年轻燕子的良好时机

Yesterday noon, I went to inspect an about 5 months BH located at south of Selangor, last inspection was about 3 weeks ago. The intention was to check facilities working condition and growth of population also increase of nest. When I came near to the door prior to nesting room, I heard so many ‘dek dek sound’ from the nesting room. I held back my plan then open up CCTV screen immediately, there were lot of birds rushing at the entrance as well as nesting area. From the behavior and flying style I am sure that those are young swiftlets and very potential to be my new tenants.

I also notice from my another populated BH about 30mins driving distance apart from this new BH, the harvest record shows this particular month more than other normal month, which means there are a lot of young swiftlets flying out from their growing place and start hunting for their new home for nesting.

I think this is the good time to use our knowledge, techniques and strategies to lure as many swiftlets to be our permanent tenants. We can’t force every young bird to choose your BH for nesting, but the more birds you can attract to visit your BH will statically increase the chances for your BH to be chosen, of course it must associated with internal condition. There are more than 30BHs in that swiftlet farming zone, I am confident this BH will be one of the winners even as latecomer.

昨天中午，我到位于雪兰莪州南部的一间约5个月在燕屋检查，对上次的检查约数3星期前了。我的目的是检查设备的操作和燕子数目增长和燕窝的增加。当我走近筑窝房前的门口时，我听到很多的'Dek Dek’声音从里面传出来。我改变了我的计划，然后立即打开CCTV的屏幕，有群燕子在入口以及燕屋里游玩着。从它们的行为和飞行动作，我相信这些都是年轻燕子而且非常有潜力成为我的新租户。

从我另一间距离开车30分钟路程的旧燕屋记录显示，这个月份的收获比其他正常月份多，这意味着有更多的年轻燕子飞离成长的燕屋开始到处物色他们的新家园造窝。

我认为这是一个良好的时机使用我们的知识，技术和战略，以吸引多数的年轻燕子成为我们燕屋的永久住户。我们不能强迫每一只年轻的燕子选择你的燕屋筑巢，但你能吸引更多的燕子来访问你的燕屋将会增加你的燕屋成为选择造窝地的机会,当然它必须与内部条件配合。在该养燕区有超过三十间的燕屋，我相信这间燕屋将会是成功燕屋之一即使后来者。

Wireless Security Alarm System 无线保安报警系统

This is a wireless alarm system working with a sim card which I am going to install into one of BHs next couple of days located at remote area where no fix phone line available. This is an entire wireless system comes with two remote controls, siren box, one centre controller and two wireless transmitters, one with magnetic contact sensor and one with PIR sensor, additional transmitter add on is optional and available. I got the whole set system in quite reasonable price.

The advantage of using wireless alarm is that those burglars are not able to stop your alarm system from notifying you when alarm is triggered, and it can work in remote area where no fix line available, but we need to have an active sim card in it in order to work. Although there is no security system can guarantee 100%, I think to certain extent it should bring down the chances for your BH to be the chosen one by those burglars, and also for us as owner to be informed immediately when there is breaking in and react immediately. Let’s see how well it works.

这是一个无线报警系统，我即将要安装到一间在偏远地区的燕屋，那里没有固定电话线供应的。这是一个完全使用无线的系统，配有两个遥控器，警报器箱，一个中心控制器和两个无线发射器，一个是磁性传感器和另一个是红外线传感器，如需添加额外的发射器是可以另加的。整套装备我获得相当合理的价格。

使用无线报警防盗的优点是，那些窃贼是无法阻止你的报警系统通知你当报警触发时，它也可在偏远没有固定电话线地区运作，但我们需要有一个有效的SIM卡在里面。虽然没有安全系统可以保证100％，但我认为在一定程度上也会减少你的燕屋成为这些窃贼目标的机会，就算是被爆窃也会第一时间通知燕主，让燕主马上采取行动。让我们来看看它是有效。

Two is better than one 二比一个好

To have good internal sound system is very important for new BH, good internal sound system consist of quality sound, good amp system, tweeters, proper tweeter point arrangement and installation. For external sound quality, we can easily evaluate the effectiveness from observation of respond of swiftlet though the sound test, which is common known and done by most of us, but for internal sound many people doubt on how to test the sound.

BHs that I build in recently two years I like to use two internal sounds system, which cost me very minor additional in wiring and labour at initial setup but no extra operation cost after. In order setup in such, you need to divide those tweeters into two groups, install each group with separate wire, you may use different colour of wire for identification then connect them into left and right channel of amplifier separately. Then using sound editing software to create an internal sound with two sound tracks on left and right channels, both tracks must be extended or cut into same duration suggested one hour.

From the sign of shit dropping, we can figure out bird likes which sound more and plan for what you should do next whether to replace the worse one or else. It serves as a method of evaluating internal sound for new BH, I also found that running two or more separate internal sounds is better than only one.

对新的燕屋，具备良好的内声音响系统是非常重要的，良好的内声音响系统包括音质，良好的播放系统，高音喇叭，喇叭位置安排和安装。对于外声的质量效果，我们可以很容易地透过声音测试从观察燕子反应来评估燕声品质效果，这也是大多数人常用的声音测试方法。但对于内部声音，很多人不懂如何测试声音质量效果。

我在最近两年里改造的燕屋，我喜欢用两个内部的声音系统，这将只是初始耗资非常小的额外喇叭线和安装酬劳，但之后就没有额外的运营成本。为了在这样的设置，你需要把喇叭分成两组，每组喇叭以不同喇叭线串联安装，您可以考虑使用不同的颜色的喇叭线以标识它们，然后分开连接到音响系统左右声道。然后用声音编辑软件制造一个有两个左右声道不同声音的内声，这两首左右声道必须延长或减短至同一长度，建议是一小时。

从燕子粪迹象，我们可以评估出鸟类喜欢哪一个内声然后规划下一步要做什么，是否更换较差的那个内声或其它。它除了是一个评估内声方法，我发现运行两个或更多的内部声音会比只有一个更好。

Should cover all plank corners? 应该覆盖所有燕板角落？

Received a call from a blog reader who is now setting up his new BH, nesting plank almost completely installed, and he doubt whether he should install the corner plank to cover all the corners, called up and asked for my advice.

As we know the 90deg corner will be easier and preferred by the young bird couple to build their nest, but triangle nest is lower in grade as well as lower selling price due to smaller size.

If your BH is located in the competitive area, for me how can those nests built in your BH should be the first priority rather than nest grading. We can actually divide into two or three phases, the beginning phase we should leave those corners uncovered, i.e. 90deg, once population hits about 100nests when colony has grown bigger, then you can start closing up those corners for getting better grade of nest. Colony itself will attract young birds to join and build nest nearby. I will only cover those corners for new BH when location is outstanding with less competition.

最近接到读者来电询问关于他正在建造的新燕屋，燕板安装几乎完成，他犹豫他是否应该安装燕角板覆盖所有的角落，所以打了给我问我的意见。

我们所知道的90度角对年轻的鸟会是首选因为更容易造窝，但三角窝是较低级且小，售价低。

如果你的燕屋是在竞争激烈的地区，对我而言燕子怎样才会选择你的燕屋造窝应该是第一优先考虑，而不是燕窝等级。其实上我们可以把它分成两个或三个阶段，开始阶段，我们不应该覆盖那些角落，即90度角，当燕群成长到大约100颗燕窝时，然后我们就可以开始安装燕角板覆盖所有燕板角落。燕群本身将会吸引年轻人燕子加入和附近造窝。如果新燕屋地点特佳且竞争少，我也会在新燕屋安装燕角板的。