U.S. patent application number 13/336390 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-26 for swiftlets farming for production of edible bird's nests.
Invention is credited to Yik Hei Sia.
Application Number | 20120186523 13/336390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38516438 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120186523 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sia; Yik Hei |
July 26, 2012 |
Swiftlets Farming for Production of Edible Bird's Nests
Abstract
An edible bird's nests production facility comprising of: a
wholly man made artificial caves system and/or converted natural
relief such as caves, valleys, cliffs forming the nesting habitat
and associated supporting facilities configured to breed swiftlets
for their nests by means of a captive breeding program for
swiftlets; commercialized-scientific farming methods; specialized
apparatus, mechanisms and techniques; managed sustainable
harvesting of nests; provision of a safe and secure nesting habitat
and a conducive environment to maximize avian population by
minimizing mortality rates; safe collection of nests by means of
mechanized lifting systems and specialist mountaineering
equipment.
Inventors: |
Sia; Yik Hei; (Johor Bahru,
MY) |
Family ID: |
38516438 |
Appl. No.: |
13/336390 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12624995 |
Nov 24, 2009 |
8082884 |
|
|
13336390 |
|
|
|
|
11685728 |
Mar 13, 2007 |
7661391 |
|
|
12624995 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/6.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 31/14 20130101;
A01K 45/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/6.8 |
International
Class: |
A01K 31/16 20060101
A01K031/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 13, 2006 |
SG |
200601493-0 |
Claims
1. A method of cultivating and harvesting at least one edible
bird's nests, said method comprising: providing a first production
facility comprising a man-made housing structure configured to
provide a shelter and enclosed nesting habitat (17) for breeding at
least one swiftlet (61) for its nest in an environment emulative
and simulative of natural cave conditions in which cave dwelling
swiftlets thrive; stocking said production facility with swiftlets
for laying eggs; and removing a swiftlet from said first production
facility and transferring said swiftlet to a second production
facility in to stock said new production facility with at least one
swiftlet (61) to produce at least one edible bird's nest (62).
2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of providing an
incubator in the first production facility for placement of a
swiftlet egg in order to incubate and hatch the swiftlet egg.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/624,995 filed on Nov. 24, 2009, which is a continuation of
U.S. application Ser. No. 11/685,728 filed on Mar. 13, 2007, which
claims priority to Singapore Patent Application 200601493-0, filed
Mar. 13, 2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS
[0002] The present invention relates to the breeding of swiftlets
of the genus Aerodramus and/or Collocalia in an edible bird's nests
production facility for producing large quantities of nests. And a
highly efficient method for harvesting nests safely. Such a
facility configured to breed swiftlets for their nests helps in
conserving wild species of endangered swiftlets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS
[0003] Present method of obtaining edible bird's nest involves
collecting and harvesting nests of wild swiftlets in their natural
habitats such as mountain caves and limestone cliffs for
consumption causing irreversible disruptions and damages to the
dwindling populations of endemic wild swiftlets. Poachers have been
known to raid established roosts of protected and endangered
species of swiftlets in national parks and wildlife preserves at
night to steal edible bird's nests. The saying, "early bird takes
the worm" and "finders-keepers" epitomizes the mentality of
poachers as in the wild the first to strike takes all, leaving
nothing for late corners. Such that nest poachers indiscriminately
destroys un-hatched eggs, killing swiftlet chicks too young to fly
to safety, disrupting their reproductive life-cycle, threatening
their very survival such that some species of swiftlets in South
East Asia are fast approaching extinction. As with the rest of the
global wildlife trade dealing in protected and endangered species
of plants, animals and related wildlife products, the supply chain
of the lucrative bird's nest trade is steeped in a traditional
hierarchy of shadowy contacts cloaked in secrecy and black-market
deals. Dealers are unable to proof the legality of their supply
sources. Unscrupulous dealers have been known to pass off imitation
products and fakes as genuine edible bird's nests. Some
nest-processors employed harmful chemicals and detergents in the
treatment of nests to improve the market value of the commodity to
the detriment of consumers.
[0004] The birds called Cave Swiftlets or Swiftlets are contained
within the four genera of Aerodramus (formerly Collocalia),
Hydrochous, Collocalia and Schoutedenapus. They form the
collocaliini tribe within the family Apodidae. Geographically the
genus Aerodramus comprises around 30 species with a habitat range
covering southern Asia, south pacific islands and north eastern
Australia located within the tropical and sub-tropical regions.
Edible bird's nests are derived from cave swiftlets of the genus
Aerodramus and/or Collocalia. In particular four species comprising
A. unicolor, A. fuciphagus, A. maximus and A. germani are the most
prized. A. unicolor and A. fuciphagus (also known as Collocalia
fuciphaga) produces high grade white nests while A. maximus
produces lower grade black nests containing more feathers,
particles and other impurities.
Scientific classification of these avian species being:
[0005] Kingdom: Animalia
[0006] Phyllum: Chordata
[0007] Class: Aves
[0008] Order: Apodiformes
[0009] Family: Apodidae
[0010] Genus: Aerodramus
[0011] Species: A. unicolor, A. fuciphagus, A. maximus and A.
germani
[0012] Binominal name: Aerodramus unicolor, Aerodramus fuciphagus,
Aerodramus maximus and Aerodramus germani
[0013] Common name: Indian Swiftlet, Edible-nest Swiftlet,
Black-nest Swiftlet and German's Swiftlet
[0014] The Collacaliini tribe of swiftlets comprises the:
Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus); Indian Swiftlet (A.
unicolor); Black-nest Swiftlet (A. maximus); German's Swiftlet (A.
germani); Waterfall Swift (Hydrochous gigas); Glossy Swiftlet
(Collocalia esculenta); Cave Swiftlet (C. linchi); Pygmy Swiftlet
(C. troglodytes); Seychelles Swiftlet (A. elaphrus); Mascarene
Swiftlet (A. francicus); Philippine Swiftlet (A. meamsi); Moluccan
Swiftlet (A. infuscatus); Mountain Swiftlet (A. hirundinaceus);
White-rumped Swiftlet (A. spodiopygius); Australian Swiftlet (A.
terraereginae); Himalayan Swiftlet (A. brevirostris); Indo-chinese
Swiftlet (A. rogersi); Volcano Swiftlet (A. vulcanorum);
Whitehead's Swiftlet (A. whiteheadi); Bare-legged Swiftlet (A.
nuditarsus); Mayr's Swiftlet (A. orientalis); Palawan Swiftlet (A.
palawanensis); Mossy-nest Swiftlet (A. salangana); Uniform Swiftlet
(A. vanikorensis); Palau Swiftlet (A. pelewensis); Guam Swiftlet
(A. bartschi); Caroline Islands Swiftlet (A. inquietus); Atiu
Swiftlet (A. sawtelli); Polynesian Swiftlet (A. leucophaeus);
Marquesan Swiftlet (A. ocistus); Papuan Swiftlet (A. papuensis);
Scarce Swift (Schoutednapus myoptilus); Schouteden's Swift (S.
schoutendeni).
[0015] Swiftlets lives in flocks along tropical coastal areas and
are aerial insectivores. The average body length of a swiftlet is 9
centimeters, about half the size of a swallow. Swiftlets have a
shorter rectangular tail while swallows have a longer forked tail.
The A. unicolor measuring around 12 centimeters in length is mainly
dark brown above and paler brown below. A. fuciphagus is smaller
measuring 9 centimeters in length and weighs about 15 to 18 grams
with a band of brownish gray feathers across the rump. A. maximus
is larger with a wing-span of 13 centimeters and weighs 28 grams.
Its lower legs have a row of small feathers.
[0016] Most swiftlets have a characteristic shape with a short tail
and very long swept-back wings resembling a crescent or a boomerang
for fast flight with a wide gape and small reduced beak surrounded
by bristles for catching insects in flight. The flight of some
species is characterized by a distinctive "flicking" action.
Swiftlets roosts on vertical cliffs or walls of caves high above,
making harvesting of nests an extremely risky profession. Many
collectors were known to have fallen to their death from flimsily
constructed climbing apparatus used for harvesting edible bird's
nests. Swiftlets have sharp claws protruding forward for clinging
securely onto vertical cliffs and well developed salivary glands
which are able to secrete large amounts of saliva which solidifies
in contact with air, forming the main agent in the building of
their nests. Swiftlets builds their nests three times a year, not
for the purpose of habitation but to foster their young. Nests are
attached to the rocky walls of humid limestone caves. Adult
swiftlets would rest and sleep while perched vertically on cave
walls, supporting their bodies with sharp claws. Each nest is only
used once and is abandoned once young swiftlets have learnt to
fly.
[0017] The average life span of a swiftlet is about 15 to 18 years.
During the breeding season, all the species' salivary glands expand
to produce the special sticky saliva for binding twigs and other
detritus together for building the nest, in particular male
swiftlets which uses thick saliva to construct the white shiny
nest. The saliva is produced by a pair of lobed salivary glands
beneath the tongue of parent birds. It is also called nest-cement.
This glutinous nest-cement dries fast in contact with air. The nest
is a shallow half-moon cup stuck to the vertical cave wall into
which eggs are laid. A. fuciphagus and A. unicolor each lays a
clutch of 2 eggs. The eggs are incubated for around 3 weeks before
hatching. Young fledgling leaves the nest in 2 weeks but remains
near it, clinging to the cavity for another 2 weeks without
flying.
[0018] A pair of A. maximus takes an average of 30 days to lay one
egg and 25 days to incubate the egg. The chicks needs at least 45
days to grow large enough to fly and takes 4 months for juvenile
birds to mature. The breeding cycle of Black-nest swiftlets from
its ability to fly to building its own nest is about one year.
Residing mainly in the Niah Caves and Mulu Caves in Borneo, A.
maximus has three breeding seasons in one year. Avian census by
Banks in 1935 recorded 1.7 million nests in the Niah Caves compared
to 65,000 nests in a DANIDA/SWMPI census in 2002, a decrease of
96%. Source: DANIDA/SWMPI (Danish International Development
Assistance/Support to Wildlife Master Plan Implementation) project;
and Sarawak Forest Department, Malaysia.
[0019] Historically, ever since the voyages of Chinese Admiral
Zheng He (Cheng Ho) to the "southern seas" (South China Sea) 700
years ago; and the establishment of barter trading of Ming Dynasty
Chinese ceramics, porcelain wares, silk, exquisite handicrafts,
etc. in exchange for tropical products such as edible bird's nests,
spices, pepper, camphor, sandal-woods, rottan, belian (iron wood),
etc. Edible bird's nests from the island of Borneo in particular
the Niah Caves, had been closely associated with the imperial
court, royalty and the Emperor of China. Consumption of edible
bird's nests in China dates back 1,000 years ago and had been
ingrained into the psyche of the orient as a special food fit for
kings. Gifts and presents made of edible bird's nests in family
gatherings to celebrate auspicious occasions and festive seasons
had become a fashionable trend in Asia. Such that demand for this
scarce commodity out-strips supply, which conversely, had been
shrinking due to poaching, non-sustainable harvesting and
destruction of wild habitats.
[0020] Scientifically and medicinal wise, demand for this commodity
may be explained by the close relationship of edible bird's nests
with the enzyme neuraminidase. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,408 Flashner
et al teaches a method of extracting extra-cellular neuraminidase
from a micro-organism Arthobacter sialophilum sp.nov. found in
edible bird's nests, regurgitated by the swiftlets Collocalia. This
enzyme is used for treatment or regression of solid tumors and
useful in immunological and birth control investigation and
application.
[0021] Domestication, commercialized breeding, rearing and managed
husbandry of swiftlets in a specially equipped highly productive
avian farm or edible bird's nest production facility dedicated to
producing edible bird's nest on a commercial scale will prevent
extinction and enhance the survival of wild avian species by
providing an alternative supply of farmed edible bird's nests in
the market, reducing and stabilizing prices of the commodity making
illegal harvesting of wild nests unattractive to poachers.
[0022] The relatively tasteless nests are harvested and prepared
for cuisine in soup mixed with chicken, spices, and other flavors
as an oriental gastronomic delight with supposed aphrodisiac
properties. Only a few species are suitable and it is those species
whose nests are made purely or almost purely of saliva that are
most prized and sought after, especially the genus Aerodramus
and/or Collocalia. In particular the species A. fuciphagus, A.
unicolor, A. maximus and A. germani.
[0023] Captive breeding programs for animals including birds and
fish have brought back many species from the brink of extinction
and restored wild populations. Such a program may be used to
establish a colony of swiftlets in a newly constructed production
facility, or a new extension of an existing production facility, or
restore wild populations.
SUMMARY
[0024] To this end the present invention provides a method to breed
and domesticate swiftlets in an edible bird's nest production
facility comprising of: a wholly man made artificial caves system
and/or converted natural relief such as caves, valleys, cliffs
forming the nesting habitat; and associated supporting
sub-facilities; specialized equipment and apparatus. A dedicated
facility specially configured for the commercial production of
edible bird's nest including persuasive inducement of providing
shelter and/or food for wild swiftlets, obtaining fertilized eggs
for captive breeding, hatching, caring for the hatchlings and young
chicks, rearing, developing familiarity and bonding of the
hatchlings with human handlers.
[0025] The nesting habitat comprises the main facility in the farm
while other related sub-facilities includes the incubation facility
for hatching eggs; "wormery" a large scale worms breeding and
production facility for providing bird feed; greenhouses for
bringing up swiftlet chicks; transitional facility for
acclimatizing the hatchlings; nests processing facility; sago
(Metroxylon spp.) log ponds for breeding and producing sago worms,
a larvae of the Rhynchophorus spp. beetles as bird feed; escape
cages; large scale insect traps; mechanized lifting systems,
etc.
[0026] In an extension of the captive breeding program, hatchlings
two to four weeks old (before fledging) may be obtained from
semi-domesticated swiftlets residing in abandoned buildings and
vacant human dwellings. The hatchlings may be manually collected
from such shelters and transferred to another location or new
extensions of the present facility to initiate the breeding of a
new colony of swiftlets.
[0027] Present invention also discloses a method of providing a
manipulated breeding environment conducive to the birds, including
special training techniques such as pre-mediated conditioning and
acclimatization of hatchlings to its nesting colony, bonding with
its brood and avian community creating a conscious and
sub-conscious feeling of belonging to its "home-ground" and
habitat. Such that even after it has grown up, and may be allowed
to fly free to forage for natural foods, the domesticated bird
returns daily to roost at its breeding ground, congregate and
interact in an avian colony which it recognizes as its own, a
"home-ground" and safe haven to which it belongs.
[0028] Such that when the nesting season approach, this innate
sense of belonging and pre-mediated conditioning ingrained into the
conscious and sub-conscious mind urges nesting swiftlets to return
home to its colony and birth-place to roost, congregate, mate,
build new nests, lay eggs, brood, hatch and rear the next
generation of young. Special survival techniques and live training
exercises may be provided to juvenile birds in a controlled
environment to help them survive better when foraging for food in
the vicinity of the avian farm.
[0029] An object of the present invention is to provide a method
and system including facilities and techniques for the large scale
domestication, breeding and rearing of swiftlets for their nests,
commercial production techniques, managed sustainable harvesting
and safe collection of edible bird's nests to satisfy the appetite
of connoisseurs and to meet market demand without harming wildlife.
A scientific method of farming including the provision of apparatus
and techniques beneficial to avian husbandry and the conservation
of wild swiftlets capable of producing edible bird's nests.
Scarcity of supply relative to global demand serves to artificially
inflate the high prices of this "delicacy." It is a fact that
edible bird's nests comprises an essential ingredient in Asian
culinary delights and "traditional medicine" practices, a tonic and
an invigorating health food for the rich and affluent to pep up
their energy levels.
[0030] The method as disclosed may create a new niche or spin-off
industry in animal husbandry for high volume production of edible
bird's nests in commercial farms comprising specialized production
facilities. Providing the traditional edible bird's nest industry
steeped in harvesting of wild nests with an alternative supply of
commercially farmed edible bird's nests. A cleaner, healthier and
high quality source of health food product produced in a controlled
environment by means of modern scientific farming techniques.
Commercial farming possess advantages such as economics of scale,
high productivity and efficiency; safe breeding environment for
swiftlets and safe harvesting of edible bird's nests by collectors
trained in the use of mountaineering equipment and mechanized
lifting systems; including other specialized equipment, facilities
and techniques designed, configured and tailor made for the edible
bird's nest production facility; modern management techniques,
deployment of professional expertise such as veterinarians and
ornithologists, avian medications, vaccination against disease and
sickness, etc. Favorable conditions that only a farm environment
can provide. Such advantages may be used to maximize the avian
population by minimizing mortality rates, thus increasing
productivity and efficiency of the production facility. Farmed
edible bird's nest provides connoisseurs with a choice of consuming
such nests with a clear conscience, secure in the knowledge that
they had not harmed wild-life. But had in fact, helped in the
conservation of wild species of swiftlets by making a conscious
personal choice in choosing farmed products, in preference, over
wild life related products.
[0031] Included in the swiftlet's breeding and edible bird's nests
production facility of present invention are specialized equipment
such as predator traps; arrangement to exclude or keep out
predators from the nesting habitat; commercial breeding and
production facilities for worms, gigantic enveloping cages
protecting the roosting habitat; adaptation, modification and
integration of nesting habitat into natural formations like rock
cliffs and mountain valleys forming ecologically and
environmentally friendly avian eco-farms; artificial nesting
cavities built into natural cliffs; man made roosting structures
and cavities, wholly man made artificial "caves" for breeding
swiftlets; nesting panels specifically designed for swiftlets to
perch vertically and to build nests during the breeding season;
designs incorporating safety features into the constructions,
apparatus and safety devices to minimize fledgling mortality rates;
pest control measures including fumigation with chlorine gas and
cleaning of nesting panels with high pressure water jets;
mechanized lifting systems, safety equipment and apparatus for
safely collecting and harvesting edible bird's nests from great
heights, hundreds of meters above ground level.
[0032] Present invention is conducive to the conservation and
beneficial to the preservation of endangered species of swiftlets,
to bring them back from the brink of extinction and eventual
removal from the list of endangered species. The production
facility, methods, apparatus and techniques as disclosed may be
used to make available a constant supply of cheap and affordable
edible bird's nest for consumers. Such that edible bird's nest may
no longer remain as a rare commodity affordable to the rich and
affluent but commonly available for all connoisseurs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein:--
[0034] FIG. 1A shows a method for the semi-domestication of wild
swiftlets in abandoned or unoccupied human dwellings, houses and
premises adapted for rearing swiftlets.
[0035] FIG. 1B shows an alternative nesting site in vacant man made
buildings converted/or built for breeding swiftlets.
[0036] FIG. 2A shows the cross-sectional view of the adaptation and
conversion of two naturally occurring cliffs and a U-shaped valley
lying in between two mountains into a roosting habitat covered with
an enveloping cage on top and at the flanks.
[0037] FIG. 2B shows the frontal view of a natural cliff face
serrated with crevices and caves excavated by mechanical means.
[0038] FIG. 2C shows a cage constructed adjacent to a naturally
occurring rock cliff in the form of a gigantic semi-dome structure.
The natural cliff modified and constructed with crevices, caves and
foot holds to form a nesting habitat and an edible bird's nest
production facility for breeding swiftlets.
[0039] FIG. 2D shows a plan view of the protective cage
structure.
[0040] FIG. 2E shows a cross-sectional view 2E-2E of the protective
cage structure, nesting crevices and predator traps.
[0041] FIG. 2F shows a detailed plan view of the layout of a
swiftlets breeding facility for producing edible bird's nests. The
main portion of the facility comprising nesting habitat 17 is
supported by specialist facilities such as the worms production
facility, eggs incubation facility, green houses, transitional
facility, nests processing facility, predator traps, etc.
[0042] FIG. 2G shows the detailed layout of the predator traps
comprising a moat, bunds, flat metal piece, fence, and electrified
wire grids to keep out unwanted intruders.
[0043] FIG. 2H shows a cross sectional view 2H-2H of FIG. 2G.
[0044] FIG. 2I shows a cross sectional view of the base of girders
resting on an arrangement of plates and rollers to cater for
thermal expansion and earthquake tremors.
[0045] FIG. 2J shows the grill arrangement of access-ways of the
protective cage structure to filter out airborne predators and
birds of prey.
[0046] FIG. 3A shows the arrangement of a man made nesting
structure made of hardened earth, rocks and mortar to form a small
hill with double sided cliffs complete with nesting caves.
[0047] FIG. 3B shows a cross sectional view 3B-3B of FIG. 3A.
[0048] FIG. 3C shows a man made hill comprising rocks and/or blocks
of hardened earth or clay bricks arranged to form a nesting
structure for breeding swiftlets.
[0049] FIG. 3D shows detailed features of an individual block of
hollow brick used in building the nesting structure of FIG. 3C.
[0050] FIG. 3E shows a grove excavated into a rock cliff built with
a drain and a raised edge at the lip. Section 3H-3H provides a
detailed cross-sectional view.
[0051] FIG. 3F shows details of a manually excavated cave built
with a drain and a raised edge. The walls are serrated with
indentations and protrusions purposely made using drills.
[0052] FIG. 3G shows swiftlets nesting in their nests built on
small toe-holds of protrusions and indentations in a natural cave
wall or cliff face.
[0053] FIG. 3H shows a cross-sectional view 3H-3H of FIG. 3E.
[0054] FIG. 4A shows an artificial nesting structure built with
concrete or wooden frame and pre-fabricated nesting panels to form
compartments and slots comprising the internals.
[0055] FIG. 4B shows the plan view of a rectangular shaped nesting
structure built of fixed and movable panels attached together.
[0056] FIG. 4C shows a cross-sectional view 4C-4C of FIG. 4B formed
by the nesting panels, perforations and attachment boards described
in relation to FIG. 4B.
[0057] FIG. 4D shows a detailed view of the nesting panels with
grooves, indentations and protrusions to provide vertical
perch.
[0058] FIG. 4E shows an alternative nesting panel designed with
nesting channels placed at an inclined angle (slanted from right to
left) to provide secure nesting cavities.
[0059] FIG. 4F shows the cross-sectional view 4F-4F of FIG. 4E,
with the inclined nesting channels. The cavities are slanted from
the open front part towards the back of the panel with raised
edges.
[0060] FIG. 4G shows an alternative panel design with a jig-jag
pattern such that the floor of the cavity above forms the roof of
the cavity below. The floor is inclined from the front towards the
back of the panel with raised edges. Serrated surfaces, protrusions
and indentations provide vertical perches.
[0061] FIG. 4H shows an alternative panel design similar to FIG.
4G, with horizontal roof and floor including draining grooves.
[0062] FIG. 4I shows the plan view of an alternative arrangement of
panels as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C providing an octagonal
structural configuration to maximize vertical nesting surface
area.
[0063] FIG. 4J shows an elevated isometric view corresponding to
the plan view of FIG. 4I.
[0064] FIG. 4K shows the plan view of another alternative
arrangement of panels as shown in FIG. 4B, FIG. 4C and FIG. 4I
providing a hexagonal structural configuration.
[0065] FIG. 5A shows a cross-sectional view of a natural cave
modified to accommodate a huge population of swiftlets by means of
nesting panels to increase nesting surface areas and roof-top based
access ways.
[0066] FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view of a converted valley
in an alternative arrangement such that the features of FIG. 2A to
FIG. 2J may be combined and integrated with FIG. 4B to FIG. 4G to
form an ultra high density nesting habitat.
[0067] FIG. 5C shows the top view of FIG. 5B in particular the
mechanized lifting systems and arrangement of nesting panels.
[0068] FIG. 5D shows the modification of a single sided cliff face
and valley as illustrated in FIG. 2C, 2D, 2E into a high density
populated facility for breeding swiftlets and a highly productive
edible bird's nest production facility.
[0069] FIG. 5E shows a cross sectional view 5E-5E of FIG. 5F and
details of the structural configuration of a wholly man made
artificial roosting habitat built to resemble, emulate and simulate
naturally occurring cave like breeding conditions.
[0070] FIG. 5F shows the layout view of a gigantic expandable and
scalable system of a wholly man made artificial cave structure 100
comprising the main structure of the edible bird's nest production
facility used for breeding swiftlets.
[0071] FIG. 6A shows the detailed layout plan of a worm production
facility for providing swiftlets and fledglings with bird feed.
[0072] FIG. 6B shows details of an array of inclined breeding trays
of FIG. 6A for incubating and breeding worms.
[0073] FIG. 6C shows a sieve apparatus for segregating grown worms
for bird feed and smaller worms for further growth or
fattening.
[0074] FIG. 7A shows an insects catching apparatus for provision of
supplementary bird-feed.
[0075] FIG. 7B shows an apparatus for drying wet edible bird's
nests after it has been processed.
[0076] FIG. 8A shows the plan view of a hoisting and winching
apparatus used to harvest or collect edible bird's nests from caves
built into a mountain cliff.
[0077] FIG. 8B shows a cross sectional view 8B-8B of the main
winching and hoisting apparatus as shown in FIG. 8A used to provide
vertical lift for harvesting edible bird's nest.
[0078] FIG. 8C shows the detailed sectional view 8B-8B of one part
of the winching apparatus comprising the motorized pulley mechanism
capable of moving a nest collector horizontally between point A and
point B along the steep cliff face 16.xx
[0079] FIG. 8D shows a detailed view of guide rollers used to keep
the hoist line in position, and prevents abrasion against the
housing assembly.
[0080] FIG. 8E illustrates further alternative features and
arrangement of trap door 110, in which the self-activating trap
door may be configured to open automatically by itself and to close
back gently without slamming or banging.
[0081] FIG. 8F shows a plan view and FIG. 8G shows section 8G-8G of
the working mechanisms of FIG. 8E.
[0082] FIG. 8H shows an arrangement in which trap door 110 may be
activated by wind-lev. and gravity assisted by a
counter-weight.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS
[0083] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B shows one embodiment of present
invention for the semi-domestication of wild swiftlets and small
scale production of edible bird's nest. This may be achieved and
enabled through the provision of shelters, roosting habitat or a
nesting site including food and water to establish a colony of the
nesting birds. Wild swiftlets may be attracted to the vacant
habitat comprising man made structures by means of recorded
playback of bird calls broadcast over audio systems repeatedly
until a small colony of birds had been established naturally.
Nesting habitat may comprise isolated crevices in the attics of
houses and vacant human dwellings 11 and unoccupied commercial
buildings 14 specially adapted to provide a man made environment
conducive to attract wild swiftlets to build their nests. Such that
doors and windows may be shuttered, boarded or bricked up and
cemented. Building 14 may be specially designed, configured and
built for breeding swiftlets. Nesting panels constructed from wood,
plywood, silicates and carbonates building materials may be placed
inside these man-made shelters, buildings and structures to
increase nesting surface areas and to provide vertical perches for
resting birds. Entrance to the shelters may comprise of small size
apertures 12 to discourage predators. Alternatively entrance 12 may
be guarded by grills 13 adequately spaced for swiftlets to enter
and exit.
[0084] Swiftlets being nesting creatures by nature normally returns
to its established nesting habitat to breed during the breeding
season year after year. Nests produced by such semi-domesticated
swiftlets may be collected once the juvenile bird had abandoned and
left its nest to fly free. Collected nests are normally sold raw to
be further processed for food. Nests built by the wrong kinds of
birds (e.g. swallows or sparrows) may be removed together with the
eggs, such that over time this manual selection process only leaves
behind a colony of swiftlets that produce the right kind of nests
for the trade. Such a method may be used to generate a cottage
industry for the semi-domestication of swiftlets and the small
scale production of edible bird's nest.
[0085] In another embodiment of present invention eggs laid by
swiftlets during the nesting season in such shelters 11 and 14 may
be partially collected and removed for captive breeding in an
edible bird's nest production facility such as the wholly man made
artificial cave structure 100 as disclosed in present invention,
specially designed and configured for breeding millions of
swiftlets for the commercial production of tons of edible bird's
nests. Alternatively, eggs for captive breeding may also be
obtained from the nests of wild swiftlets.
[0086] In an extension of the captive breeding program, besides
eggs, chicks, hatchlings and juvenile swiftlets 2 to 4 weeks old
(before fledging) may also be obtained from semi-domesticated
swiftlets residing in such shelters. The juveniles may be manually
collected from these shelters and transferred to colonize a newly
established large scale production facility; or, to newly extended
portions of the existing production facility. Such a method also
helps to relief population pressure of existing shelters through a
managed re-distribution of the avian demography, and to avoid an
avian population explosion. Such an overcrowding of habitat may be
detrimental to the swiftlets breeding cum edible bird's nest
production facility. In human terms, such a demographic
re-distribution may be equivalent to the concept of resettlement or
relocation.
[0087] FIG. 2A to FIG. 8H shows the main embodiment of present
invention including a method, system, apparatus, equipment and
techniques for the domestication and breeding of swiftlets for the
production of edible bird's nests in a highly productive and
efficient production facility comprising artificial man-made
nesting structures or converted natural relief capable of producing
hundreds of tons of edible bird's nests annually.
[0088] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2I illustrates a method of integrating man
made structures with mother-nature such that the roosting habitat
may be built, integrated and blended into mountain cliffs or other
naturally occurring structures such as mountain caves, limestone
cliffs, ledges and overhanging rocks. Such that like naturally
occurring structures may be modified, adapted and adopted to
provide a conducive nesting site and habitat for breeding swiftlets
for the purpose of obtaining their nests for human consumption.
Such a method of integrating and blending man made facilities into
a natural setting being the basis for the establishment of an
"eco-farm," an environmentally and ecologically friendly method for
breeding swiftlets for the production of edible bird's nests
conducive to the conservation of wild swiftlets. Such that eggs
sourced and obtained from semi-domesticated birds in FIG. 1 or,
from the wild may be transferred to a wholly man made artificial
cave structure 100 and habitat 17 for breeding. The eggs may be
incubated in incubator 30. Artificially hatched chicks from
incubator 30 and naturally hatched chicks obtained from
semi-domesticated birds in shelters 11 and 14 may be raised in
green houses 33 of the specialized avian eco-farm for the full
domestication of swiftlets by means of such a captive breeding
program.
[0089] The domesticated avian population forms a ready pool of
genetic stock (a living gene bank) for re-populating the wild or
re-establishing wild flocks of birds whenever necessary. In
particular the endangered species comprising: Aerodramus
fuciphagus, A. unicolor, A. maximus and A. germani.
[0090] FIG. 2A shows the adaptation and conversion of a natural
relief such as a valley located in between two steep rock cliffs to
form a nesting habitat 17. The vertical face of the naturally
occurring rock cliffs 16 may be drilled and excavated to make
artificial caves 18, caverns, holes, crevices, ledges 57, eaves, to
provide nesting and roosting places for swiftlets. Such that cliff
face 16 may be gouged and pock-marked with caves 18, indentations
59, protrusions 60, ledges 57; riddled with nooks and crannies
manually excavated to maximize nesting surface areas to provide
clinging and vertical perching footholds as illustrated in FIG.
2B.
[0091] Providing a natural infrastructure adapted and modified by
means of human engineering techniques into an extremely conducive
reproductive environment favorable for the swiftlets to build their
nests during the breeding season is accomplished by modifying
natural formation with man-made formations as illustrated in FIG.
2A. The crevices may be constructed vertically, horizontally or as
individual caves 18 or holes. The excavations may be serrated
horizontally with protrusions and indentations to provide an
extremely rough surface for clinging. The entire habitat 17
including cliff face 16, portions of cliff top 20 and other man
made nesting structures 15 located at the valley or cliff bottom 19
may be enclosed in an enveloping protective cage 22 surrounded by
predator traps designed to keep out or exclude airborne and
terrestrial predators. Nesting structure 15 may be constructed of
hardened earth, bricks and mortar or stones with an interconnected
maze of nesting crevices and vertical perches. Alternatively, cage
22 may also comprise of a solid roof 97 secured to a structure of
girders 105. Such an eco-farm integrated into a natural relief may
be surrounded by trees and vegetation planted to enhance a natural
setting. The farm may be configured to provide adequate nesting
capacity to accommodate a densely packed avian colony comprising a
million swiftlets.
[0092] FIG. 2C illustrates an alternative arrangement in which a
single sided vertical cliff face 16 may be converted into a nesting
habitat 17 with the erection of a gigantic protective cage
structure 22 mounted on girders 21 to provide a safe and secure
shelter. FIG. 2D shows a plan view of FIG. 2C while FIG. 2E shows a
cross-sectional view along section 2E-2E of FIG. 2D. A myriad of
caves 18 are built into cliff face 16. The facility may be
protected by a perimeter wall and fence 23 and predator traps
comprising of moats 24, bunds 25, metal plates 26 and fence 27. The
hoisting apparatus 160 to 180 as shown in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D may be
used for harvesting nests in cavities and caves 18 constructed on
cliff face 16.
[0093] Referring to FIG. 2F is shown the detailed layout plan of an
integrated commercial edible bird's nests production facility and
eco-farm of present invention configured to breed swiftlets for
their nests comprising of the main roosting habitat 17; and
associated or related supporting sub-facilities such as the
juvenile birds transitional facility 28; a "wormery" 29 for
producing worms; incubation facility 30 for hatching eggs;
veterinary clinic and laboratory 31; sago logs holding ponds 32;
greenhouse cum training school 33 for bringing up chicks and
juvenile birds; staff quarters 34; nests processing facilities 35;
feed stock processing facility and store 36; open feeding ground
39; protective facilities comprising of an enveloping cage 22
mounted on girders 21; perimeter wall cum fence 23 reinforced with
strands of high tension (voltage) wires; predator traps comprising
of moat 24; bunds 25; equipment and apparatus such as escape cages
37; insect catching apparatus 38.
[0094] The avian eco-farm may be configured to include a protective
refuge or enclosure such that the main facility comprising the
roosting habitat 17 may be totally segregated from the external
environment by means of a cage structure 22 and predator traps. The
cage structure ensures that the nesting habitat cum sanctuary 17 is
completely shrouded or enwrapped in an encompassing protective wire
mesh 22.
[0095] FIG. 2G shows the frontal view while FIG. 2H shows a
detailed cross-sectional view 2H-2H of the layout and construction
of predator traps comprising of a combination of moats 24, bund
with an inclined ledge 25, an inclined grid of high tension wires
40 and 41 mounted on wooden wedges 43, vertical flat metal sheet
26, barbed-wire fencing 27 with a vertical grid or layers of high
tension wires comprising cathodic terminal 40 (-ve) and anodic
terminal 41 (+ve) mounted on wooden posts 42. The grid is connected
to a source of high voltage electricity supply designed to prevent
the habitat from ingress by terrestrial predators such as rats,
squirrels, snakes, monkeys, etc. The lower portion of the bund
surrounding the nesting habitat may be constructed of compacted
earth or concrete topped by an overhanging ledge 25, a vertical
sheet of surrounding metal 26 topped by a fence 27 and layers of
high tension wires 40 and 41. The inclined ledge and grid of high
tension wires and vertical metal sheet prevents predators from
clambering up the bunds with ease. The upper portion comprising of
fence 27 and a vertical grid of high voltage wires or grid provides
further layers of deterrence.
[0096] Wires 40 and 41 of the high tension or voltage grid may be
spaced 2 cm apart and secured or nailed directly onto wooden posts
42. Wood provides a natural form of insulation such that wires
securely attached to wooden posts did not require any additional
insulation materials. `U` shaped nails sharpened at both end may be
driven into the wooden posts 42 and wedges 43 to keep the wires in
position. The nails may be made of stainless steel SS 316 or SS
304. Alternatively, industrial staples may be adapted and modified
for use in place of the nails. Wires with positive and negative
terminals may be spaced 2 cm apart and placed at a distance of 1 cm
from the inclined ledge 25 by means of wedges 43. `U` shaped nails
sharpened at both end may be driven into the wedges 43 to secure
the high voltage terminals in position, preventing accidental
contact of the high voltage terminals. The wooden fence posts 42
and wedges 43 may be made of `belian` a form of termites resistant
iron-wood endemic to the island of Borneo. Besides wood, insulation
wedges, holders or spacers may also be made of commercially
available insulation materials like rubber, PVC, Teflon, etc. The
system voltage may be boosted by means of step-up transformers from
a normal supply of 220 volts to 415 volts. Or thousands of volts as
desired. Current converters may be used to change AC into DC for
utility purpose. Such that predators coming into contact with the
numerous strands, coils or grid of high voltage wires may receive a
nasty shock. Contact with any two of the opposing terminals send
electric shocks through the body pulverizing or electrocuting it
such that even if the predator is not instantly killed, it prevents
further intrusive actions by scaring them away.
[0097] FIG. 2I shows the design of the foot of girders 21
supporting the gigantic cage 22 configured for thermal expansion in
the tropical climate and (earth-quake) shock proofing. The
apparatus (foot of girder 21) rests on a bracket shoe 45 which in
turn, rests on top of a tier of roller bars 46 and housed in a
bracket body 44. The girder foot 21 is in turn covered by internal
and external shoes 47. Shoe 47 protects the apparatus 45, 46 and 47
from corrosion by water. Hole(s) 48 may be incorporated to prevent
accumulation of rainwater. Similar configuration may be applied to
posts of I-beams, C-channels, T-struts in the construction of other
structures of present invention.
[0098] FIG. 2J illustrates an access way 49 located at the upper
structure of the bird cage 22 (containing the transitional portion
of nesting habitat 28, mesh 1 cm.times.1 cm gap) comprising of a
sliding contraption of fine mesh and grills that may be pulled over
access way 49. Access way 49 is covered with permanent grills 50
spaced 5 cm.times.12 cm apart such that gaps are just large enough
to allow adult swiftlets to pass through, yet keeping out larger
avian predators and birds of prey. The movable portions 52 of the
sliding door may be powered by means of a motor, or by means of a
manual pulley and lever system.
[0099] A pair of A. maximus lays one egg three times a year while
A. fuciphagus and A. unicolor lays two eggs per clutch.
Theoretically the rate of population increase would be 1.5 times
per year for A. maximus and 3 times per year for A. fuciphagus and
A. unicolor. This is equivalent to a 3 fold increase in population
per year.
TABLE-US-00001 A. maximus 1 egg .times. 3 nesting season = 150%,
1.5 .times. population/year A. fuciphagus/A. unicolor 2 eggs
.times. 3 = 300%, 3 .times. population/year A. maximus 1 egg
.times. 3 150% increase in 1.5.times. increase in nesting season
population/year population/year A. fuciphagus 2 egg .times. 3 300%
increase in 3.times. increase in A. unicolor nesting season
population/year population/year
TABLE-US-00002 BREEDING YOUNG TOTAL STARTING BIRDS PAIRS BIRDS
BIRDS 1st YEAR 20 birds 10 pairs 60 80 2nd YEAR 80 birds 40 pairs
240 320 3rd YEAR 320 birds 160 pairs 1060 1420 4th YEAR 1420 birds
710 pairs 4260 5680 5th YEAR 5680 birds 2840 pairs 17040 23720
In actual fact survival rates of chicks are an unknown quantum at
present as no such data is available. In a related study on the
breeding biology of the Mountain Swiftlet, Aerodramus hirundinaceus
undertaken in Twin Falls Caves in Irian Jaya, the island of New
Guinea, hatching success rate of eggs was 77%. The fledging success
rate was 61%. (Source: Journals >EMU: Austral Ornithology) A
general rule of thumb points to a 50% survival rate in the wild.
The high rate of chicks mortality may be due to predation, falls
from height while learning to fly, death due to the vagaries of
nature such as droughts, famine, scarcity of food due to
competition, etc. An object of present invention is to maximize
swiftlets population by boosting hatchling survival rates to above
90 percent while reducing mortality rate to below 10 percent, in
order to increase the production capacity of the facility. Such an
objective may be achieved by means of provision of a habitat
designed with intrinsic safety features such as nesting cavities
incorporating a raised edge 55 at the lip to prevent fledglings
from falling out; drains 56 to prevent collection of rain water in
which fledglings may drown; safety netting 84 strategically placed
below the cliff face 16 or nesting panels 69 to rescue fallen
fledglings and chicks which may be then be raised by means of
captive breeding by human handlers.
[0100] Other safety features designed into the habitat includes an
outer encircling walled structure and fence 23; predator traps 24,
25, 26, 27, 40, 41; enwrapping cage structure 21, 22; solid roofing
97 and walled structures 101, 102, 104; elevated angles and slanted
surfaces (from Right to Left on panel 69) providing drainage to
keep the habitat dry, cool and well ventilated at all times;
elevated angles slanted from the front towards the back of the
nesting cavities of panels 69a.
[0101] To cater for an increase of avian population, roosting
habitat 17 of the eco-farm and cage structure 21 and 22 may be
extended and expanded with addition of new units adjacent to
existing facilities through conversion of non-productive cliff face
into inhabitable nesting areas for swiftlets. Alternatively in the
case of the single sided cliff, newly extended areas need not
necessarily be shrouded in a protective cage structure 22 because
in case of predatorial airborne threats, all birds can take refuge
in the existing safe haven 17. Whereas, the wholly man made
artificial cave structure 100 may be extended at one end of the
cave to cater for demographic increase in avian population. The
roosting habitat 17 may be a man made nesting structure constructed
and modeled to resemble as far as is practicable natural
environment and conditions in which cave dwelling swiftlets
thrives.
[0102] In another embodiment, specialized man-made ground based
structures may be built in habitat 17 to raise captive bred birds
which had undergone acclimatization and conditioning to the
man-made roost. FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B shows a man made roosting
structure 15 made of hardened earth enhanced with concrete and
rocks arranged in the form a hill or cliff with hollowed out
nesting compartments 18 to increase the nesting capacity of the
habitat. The roosting habitat 17 may be constructed at the base of
the cliff 19 and enclosed in a mammoth protective cage 22
surrounded by wall cum fence 23 and predator traps 24, 25, 26 and
27. Pieces of rock chips and gravel produced from the excavation of
caves, caverns and ledges on cliff face 16 may be used for building
roosting structure 15.
[0103] FIG. 3C and FIG. 3D shows an arrangement of pre-fabricated
blocks of hollowed out bricks 54 used to construct a nesting
habitat for swiftlets. The blocks are arranged and spaced to
maximize vertical nesting surfaces such that birds may cling to the
internal hollows and cavities 18 or the external surface of the
pock-marked bricks 54. Both ends of brick 54 may be designed with a
raised lip 55 and the flooring may be slanted towards drainage
channel 56. Internal surface of the bricks may be serrated with
indentations 59 and protrusions 60 providing perching and gripping
surfaces for the sharp claws of the birds. Such blocks of hardened
earth bricks 54 may be bound together with filler materials
comprising wet sticky clay 53 or cement and arranged in a stable
manner with a larger bottom base tapering off at the top as shown
in FIG. 3C for stability. Cavities in between blocks 54 may be
interconnected to provide a passage 58 for wind and to enable birds
to move more freely.
[0104] FIGS. 3E and 3F shows differing forms of caves, cavities and
crevices 18 built with a drain 56 to drain off rain water and a
raised edge 55 to prevent chicks from falling out of the cavity.
Such features may be included into the construction of groves and
ledges 57 on the cliff face to avoid collecting water and to
provide a dry environment for the birds to perch or nest.
Protrusions 60 and indentations 59 may be created by drilling and
manual chiseling. Such features may be purposely made during
construction of crevices to provide gripping surface and nesting
niches for swiftlets.
[0105] The bottom of ledges and groves may be constructed at a
slighted inclined angle to enable natural draining of rainwater
into drain 56 after a tropical downpour. Such a feature may prove
valuable during the breeding season. Young chicks may drown in
stagnant water collected in the crevice if it falls out of the
nests. Raised edges 55 of the nesting crevice 18 may be helpful in
preventing young birds that had fallen out of its nests from
crawling and falling out of the nesting cave, over the vertical
cliff to certain death. A piece of wood or wire gauge netting
placed across the bottom of the crevice entrance may serve a
similar purpose.
[0106] FIG. 3G shows bird's nests 62 built into a natural cliff
face with only slight indentations and protrusions. Adult swiftlets
61 sits in the nests to incubate a clutch of eggs.
[0107] FIG. 3H shows the cross-sectional view 3H-3H of FIG. 3E.
[0108] FIG. 4A illustrates the arrangement of an artificial nesting
structure and configuration such that a series of slots or nesting
cavities 63 separated by panels 64 manufactured from wood,
poly-ethylene, polystyrene, poly-propylene, PVC, concrete, cement,
etc. may be arranged and housed inside a frame work 65 comprising
wooden or concrete pillars, flooring and walkway 66, staircases and
ladders 67. Pre-fabricated boxes 68 came complete with built-in
nesting cavities and crevices 63. The internals of cavity 63 may be
serrated with indentations 59 and protrusions 60 to provide
vertical gripping footholds for swiftlets. Walkways 66 surround the
nesting structure to provide ease of access by the farmers and bird
handlers. Alternative materials for construction may comprise plant
fibres, cement, fibrous and other binding materials.
[0109] FIGS. 4B, 4C and 4D shows a purpose built nesting habitat in
the form of a rectangular box shaped structure comprising of a
fixed panel 69a and numerous fixed side panels 70. Panels 71 are
movable. Panel 69a, 70 and 71 forms vertical walls with roughened
screed surfaces with indentations 59 and protrusions 60 for
vertical perching as shown in FIG. 4D. Attachment boards 73 may be
affixed to panels to strengthen the structures and serves as ledges
upon which nests may be built. Perforations 72 provide passage for
wind and swiftlets between panels.
[0110] FIG. 4E shows another form of structural configuration in
which the nesting panel is designed to maximize provision of nest
building surfaces by means of C-shaped nesting channels 76. The
flanks may be covered at both ends to prevent hatchlings from
falling out and incorporates water draining holes 74 on the left
flank of panel 69a to keep the cavities 75 dry. The channel 76 may
be inclined from right to left (as indicated by `e`) and inclined
from the front towards the back for ease of draining rain water as
shown by cross-section 4F-4F in FIG. 4F. Serrations comprising
indentations 59 and protrusions 60 provide vertical clinging
surfaces. One side of the panel may be used for vertical perching
while the other side may be used for building nests and
perching.
[0111] FIG. 4G shows an alternative form of arrangement as
disclosed in FIG. 4E and FIG. 4F in which nesting channels 76 may
be configured in a jig-jag form such that a perching protrusion on
one side forms the nesting cavity 75 on the opposite side. Such
that either sides of panel 69a may be used for perching and
building nests. The floor 76 of a nesting cavity 75 on top forms
the roof of the nesting cavity beneath. The floor and roof 76 of
the nesting channel may be inclined from the raised edge 55 towards
the back wall (slanted from the front to the back). Serrations 59
and 60 may be provided on the internal surfaces of cavity 75 of
panel 69a for hatchlings to perch. At 2 to 4 weeks old, swiftlet
chicks climbs and perches vertically on the wall. An internal
cavity perch is conducive for their safety, such that even if they
loose their grip and fall, they remain within the cavity 75, not to
certain death hundreds of meters below.
[0112] FIG. 4H shows yet another alternative form of FIG. 4G in
which the corners and edges of the nesting channels forming the
panel 69a may be placed horizontally but incorporates draining
groves 56 to remove rain water. Raised edges 55 prevents chicks
from falling out of the cavity while indentation 59 and protrusion
60 provides vertical perches.
[0113] Average width and height of the nesting channels may measure
5 cm.times.8 cm. Or the channels and cavities (cross-section wise)
may be made 10 cm wide.times.10 cm high if desired to suit A.
maximus which is larger in size. The dimensions and measurement of
nesting channels and cavities 76 may be varied to suit the specific
needs of different species of swiftlets and design needs of the
habitat. Channels 76 of panels 69a may be designed with raised
edges 55 incorporating draining groves 56. The raised edges 55
provides a more secure crevice to prevent chicks from falling out
of channel 76 while the draining groves 56 and holes 74 prevents
collection of rainwater. Hatchlings falling out of their nests may
drown in rain water collected in channel 76. Design features
include inclined and slanted groves with an inclined and
non-horizontal design to avoid collection of rain water.
[0114] In another form, the groves and ledges on panel 69a may be
designed at a slight inclination from the horizontal position to
provide a slight slanting angle `e` such that rainwater naturally
flows towards the draining points 74 or 56 on the panels. Numerous
holes and perforations 72 are built into the panels for ease of
access by swiftlets. Perforations 72 in the panels may also provide
a path for wind to pass through the nesting structure thus reducing
stress and strain caused by strong gusts of wind, keeping the
habitat cool and dry. For low structures, the moveable panels 71
provides for easy access by human keepers to check, remove eggs,
harvest nest, clean bird feces and guano. Apart from such
activities, panels 71 would be kept immobilized.
[0115] Such nesting panels 69a, 70 and 71 may be constructed of
concretized materials such as BRC, sand, wire nettings, metal rods
and bars; prefabricated concrete; fiber glass; chalk, limestone,
silicates, carbonates, etc. reinforced with natural and artificial
fibers or other binding materials. The nesting cavities 76 may be
coated with a layer of powder or pieces of ground rocks mixed with
a binding agent such as cement. The rocks may be ground from
naturally occurring rocks containing a variety of minerals and
salts in different concentrations. Different rock types and
compositions may be tested out to study the possible effects
different chemical concentrations have on the bird's nests, their
quality, taste, aroma, crunchiness, etc. if any. No data is
available as no research had been carried out in this area.
[0116] Panels may be mounted in the groves of galvanized channels
comprising C, U, I and H shapes with adequate horizontal or lateral
space of 15 cm to 20 cm left in between pieces of panels 69a (top
and bottom) for passage of wind and birds. Depending on the design
configuration of the habitat, thousands of pieces of panels 69a
measuring 2 m.times.5 m.times.15 cm may be assembled together by
means of a lattice of galvanized channels to form a single vertical
panel 69 rising 300 meters in height, stretching ten kilometers in
length and 15 cm in thickness. Individual pieces of panels 69a may
be configured as desired to be of any suitable measurement to meet
site utility requirements. Main panels 69 may be marked for ease of
management and care-taking purposes.
[0117] The nesting structure 69 comprising pieces of panels 69a
mounted in galvanized channels (such as C, U, H, I shaped channels)
may be constructed securely on concrete base and attached together
with mortars or cement, reinforced with numerous struts 83 and
anchored to I-beams structure 80 and 98. The mounting channels may
be dipped into cement slurry and become encased in a protective
layer of concrete to prevent corrosion. The whole structure may be
constructed on a small hill or earthen mound inside of habitat 17
totally covered by cage structure 22 or solid roof 97. Such nesting
panels of compatible measurements may also be placed inside vacant
human dwellings 11 and man made structures 14 to increase the
nesting capacity of the shelters.
[0118] FIG. 4I shows the plan view of a variation of the nesting
panel as shown in FIG. 4B such that panel 69a may be flanked by
side panels 70 and moveable panels 71 forming an octagonal
structure. FIG. 4J shows an elevated isometric view of FIG. 4I.
FIG. 4K shows another variation in which the panels form a
hexagonal shape.
[0119] FIG. 5A shows the cross-sectional view of another embodiment
of present invention in which a naturally occurring cave 77 not
inhabited by swiftlets may be acquired for conversion into a
commercial swiftlets breeding and production facility for producing
edible bird's nests. Such caves may be configured and transformed
into an avian eco-farm upon conversion of said natural relief with
the provision of man made facilities and structures comprising:
horizontal I-beams 80, concrete reinforced vertical I-beams 89,
hoist beam 81, work cage 82, nesting panels 69a mounted in a
framework of galvanized channels (C, U, I, H shaped) to form main
panels 69, supporting struts 83, safety netting 84, aerial
access-ways 79, etc. in combination with a captive breeding program
and specialized techniques as disclosed in present invention for
breeding domesticated swiftlets for the production and collection
of tons of edible bird's nests. I-beams 80 and 89 may comprise
reinforced concrete pillars. Cave walls 16 may be modified with
nesting crevices 18, ledges 57 and roof based aerial access-ways 79
excavated to provide routes for avian passage. Struts 83 comprising
metal bars or large bracing wires are used to hold the main nesting
panels 69 in position and to reinforce the structure of nesting
habitat 77. Electric lights attached to cage 82 may be powered by
12-volts batteries or 12-volts lighting cables providing lights for
collectors. For illustration purpose, only individual pieces of
panel 69a is described herein for constructing main panel 69. Other
features as disclosed such as panel 70, 71, rectangular shape,
octagonal shape and hexagonal shaped structural configurations may
also be used.
[0120] The I-beams 80 and 89 provides a structural frame work for
anchoring a lattice of galvanized metallic channels (C, U, I, H
shaped) into which individual pieces of smaller sized nesting
panels 69a measuring 10 m.times.5 m.times.10 cm may be are
installed and slotted to form the main nesting panels 69.
Individual panels 69a are placed into the indentations and groves
present on these metallic channels. Main panels 69 may measure 100
m.times.50 m.times.10 cm. The structure also supports installation
of an overhead crane or hoist 82 mounted on moveable hoist-beam 81.
Motorized hoists 82 may be used initially for construction and
conversion of natural cave 77 into nesting habitat 17 and later on
for the collection of eggs and chicks for captive breeding,
harvesting nests and for facility checks, inspection, repair and
maintenance work. Access via the terrestrial entrance 78 may be
controlled by means of gates, guards and predator traps.
[0121] In yet another embodiment the features of FIG. 2A to 2J may
be combined and integrated with FIG. 4B to FIG. 4G to form a high
density habitat 17 as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C (top view), such
that the valley may be turned into a high rise nesting habitat for
breeding swiftlets in an avian "condominium." A lattice of
galvanized steel channels comprising C, U, I, H and V shaped
channels attached to a structural framework provided by I-beams 80
and 89 may be used to hold nesting panels 69a in place. I-beams 80
and 89 structural framework may also be used to mount an overhead
hoists system 81, 82, 86 to 91. Each main panels 69 may be mounted
vertically and assembled from a hundred individual pieces of
smaller sized panels 69a (10 m.times.5 m.times.10 cm) to form a
gigantic double sided nesting wall measuring, for example, 100
meters in height.times.50 meters in length.times.10 cm thick. An
adjacent panel built end to end with the first panel extends the
length to 100 meters. Now the main panel 69 measures 100
m.times.100 m.times.10 cm. The total length of main panel 69 may be
extended further with the addition of new panels as the population
increase. Such a configuration provides maximum surface area for
nesting. Side panels 70 may be added and attachment boards 73 may
be affixed.
[0122] A man made panel 69, similar to a natural valley had two
vertical faces. Ten pieces of panels spaced at regular intervals
constructed in the natural valley increases the vertical nesting
surface area of the modified valley by 10 times. Upon modification,
the valley is now able to support a colony of swiftlets 10 times
the population density of its original and naturally occurring
capacity. Likewise, if the valley is fitted with 20 vertical
nesting panels, conditions permitting, it shall be able to support
an avian population density 20 times of its initial nesting
capacity. Such man made modifications improves the overall
efficiency of the production facility, its cost effectiveness,
economies of scale and high productivity per unit area or per unit
volume of the edible bird's nest production facility. Wire cage 22
and girders 21 covering the habitat may also be replaced and
substituted by a solid roofing structure 97 mounted on girders
105.
[0123] Referring to FIG. 5C, the moveable I-beams mounting 81 may
be installed for operating a crane or hoist to lift work-cage 82.
The mechanized lifting system may comprise of specially adapted
equipment configured to suit the specific utility purpose of the
edible bird's nest production facility. Standard industrial lifting
equipment including cable drums 86, cable 90, block and tackle 91
powered by electric motors 87, 88 and 89 may be acquired for use in
the avian eco-farm. Main motor 87 moves load 82 vertically up and
down in between nesting panels 69; motor 88 moves the load,
work-cage 82 between point AB and point CD, from one end of the
main nesting panel 69 to the other end; while motor 89 moves the
work-cage 82 between point AD and point BC, from one nesting panel
to another. Hoist beam 81 is supported and moves on top of a frame
structure of I-beams 80 resting on reinforced concrete bases 92.
Protruding rails 93 and groves 94 on the I-beams 80 acts as guide
rails for propulsion of the overhead hoist.
[0124] The hoist system 82 may initially be used for constructing
the nesting habitat; later for inspection, repair, maintenance work
and for collection of eggs, swiftlet chicks and harvesting of
edible bird's nests built on panels hundreds of meters above ground
level. Struts 83 holding the nesting panels in position with
washers may be firmly attached to the cliff face by means of hooks
96 and spring 95 designed to cushion distortional forces. The
lattice work of channels (I, H, U, C, V shaped) holding main panels
69 together may also be partially attached and secured to the
structure of I-beam girders 80 at the top, and mounted on a
concrete base at the bottom.
[0125] Occupational safety and health hazards associated with
working at great heights collecting edible bird's nests, eggs or
hatchlings hundreds of meters above the ground may be mitigated
with control measures, industrial lifting equipment, a rigorous
safety management system and proper training of personnel. Safe
access to work at great heights may be achieved by means of
standard industrial hoists and tower cranes, winches, mobile
cranes, man-lift trucks and associated lifting equipment. A hoist
designed to lift 5 to 10 tons of load may be used for lifting a
work cage 82. Or two persons seated side by side facing the
opposite direction may be able to thoroughly work and comb through
sections in between two nesting panels facing each other as the
work-cage 82 is hoisted up and down the vertical faces in
combination with horizontal movement. In an alternative seating
arrangement, a team of four collectors seated in a straight row
with each alternate person facing the opposite direction may be
used to cover a larger area.
[0126] Use of safety belts and harnesses integrated into the
man-lifts 82 being made mandatory such that only upon a positive
buckling-up permissive logic from the seats may the controls of a
hoist or crane be operated and activated by the occupant(s). Each
collector may also be secured to double strands of safety lines 85
affixed independently of the lifting and hoisting apparatus. The
securing point for the safety line 85 may be the top roofing
structure 105 or girders 21 of the nesting habitat 17. Safety cable
or line 85 may be designed to move along secure railings built
parallel to the orientation of the nesting panels such that the
safety lines closely follow collectors moving from one end of the
main nesting panel 69 to the other end. The railing may be secured
to the structure of girders 105. (Referring to FIG. 5C: between
point BC and point AD). The safety line may also be released and
reeled in automatically as the hoist is moved up and down the main
nesting panels 69.
[0127] Alternatively, line 85 may comprise of fixed lengths of
double stranded lines running from the top roofing structure 105 to
the ground level. Line 85 may be weighed down with a slight weight
(e.g. 2 kg) at the bottom end of the line to keep it taunt. Such
that as the collector moves up or down at slow speed, the safety
clip allows and follows this movement, sliding freely up or down
safety cable 85. If and when the load (collector) moves down at a
fast speed, the clip automatically locks and lashes onto line 85,
gripping tightly onto it to arrest and stop the load from falling
further. Such safety clips based on similar working principles are
widely used in vehicle seat belts, mountaineering equipment and
industrial safety systems for working at heights. They are readily
available in the market and may be acquired for use. For the
purpose of redundancy a minimum of at least two pieces of safety
clips must be used by each collector, each clip securely attached
to one strand of line. Four pieces being the ideal figure.
Functional tests for such safety clips may be made mandatory before
a collector starts work each and every time he secures himself to
the safety line. He may test the integrity of the safety clips by
pulling the clips down line 85 at speed, and ensuring that the
clips locks and latches onto line 85 each time.
[0128] The control room should have overall control of the
operations of all mechanized lifting systems with secondary control
being delegated to the collectors and harvesters upon requisition
via radio communication and confirmation by means of CCTV
monitoring of the work area. Securing of personal safety
harness(es) to work cage 82, and attachment to safety lines 85
being made a mandatory requirement such that positive confirmation
of the attachment of safety lines 85 forms an essential signal
input for the electronic logic sequence to supply power to the
mechanized lifting systems.
[0129] In one form of intrinsic safety design, a low voltage
current (12 volts) is input into the cables of safety line 85 and
work cage 82. Safety lines 85 may form the positive terminal while
work cage 82 and the main hoist lines 90 forms the negative
terminal. Only when safety lines 85 are properly secured to the
work cage 82 at designated points can the electrical circuit be
complete. This complete circuit forms a positive input signal to
the PLC to enable power to be supplied to the hoisting mechanisms.
If the safety lines are removed, this circuit is broken, and power
to the hoist is cut off. The control center may over-ride such a
power cut off to lower the work cage 82 safely to the ground.
Similar mechanisms may be applied to the safety harnesses and
safety belts attached securely to the seats of work cage 82 to form
another positive input signal to enable the mechanized lifting
system to power up. Circuits from the 12 volt supply may also be
connected to lamps providing light to the nest collectors. If these
lights fail the collector is visually alerted and immediately aware
that the safety line connection to his safety harness or safety
belts of work cage 82 may be faulty. He may immediately double
check his life-lines 85 and to inform the control room. Such
redundancy in intrinsic safety design ensures the safety of
collectors harvesting edible bird's nest at great heights, and
minimize risks involved with such occupational hazards. In contrast
traditional methods of collecting and harvesting edible bird's
nests by means of flimsily constructed climbing apparatus had
resulted in many nest collectors having fallen to their deaths from
great heights. Use of such unsafe equipment should be avoided. If
no mechanical lifting systems are available for access to collect
nests built into inaccessible nooks and crannies, modern
mountaineering equipment should be employed, not for pleasure or
thrill, but for occupational purposes.
[0130] Pieces or lengths of fine mosquito netting or soft silky
cloth 84 may be arranged at the bottom of the cliff face 16 or
nesting panels 69 to form a safety net to save the lives of
swiftlet chicks that had accidentally fallen out of their nests or
fledglings learning to fly but failed to execute proper take-offs
or lost control during the maiden flight. The netting may be
secured by means of pliant elastic bands which would bounce,
helping to cushion and absorb the shock of falling chicks. The
netting may be placed in a slanting position such that fallen
fledglings may be naturally diverted by gravity towards collection
points to be brought to greenhouse 33 for rearing. Reduction in
avian infant mortality rates helps to ensure a larger population
for producing edible bird's nests.
[0131] FIG. 5D shows the cross-sectional view and illustrates the
conversion of a single sided cliff face 16 as shown in FIG. 2E
above, into an integrated facility for breeding a huge colony of
swiftlets for producing tons of edible bird's nest by means of
providing thousands of nesting panels 69 mounted in a framework
comprising of girders and I-beams structure to which is attached a
lattice of channels shaped in the form of (C, U, I, H and V). Each
main panel 69 may measure 200 meters (height).times.100 meters
(length).times.10 centimeters (thickness) and may comprise 400
pieces of small sized panels assembled together, each slotted into
the grove and indentations provided by these galvanized channels. C
and U shaped channels may be used at the edge of main panels for
framing a single side of panel 69, while I and H shaped channels
may be used in the middle portions of main panel 69 for securing
two pieces of panel 69 together. Each individual piece of panel 69
may measure 10 m.times.5 m.times.10 cm. Physical arrangements and
configuration of the size of main panel 69 may be varied to suit
local terrain and geographic conditions (e.g. cliff height). Such
that an unproductive natural relief may be turned into a highly
productive breeding facility for producing edible bird's nest upon
such man made modification. Horizontally mounted I-beams 80 may be
supported by vertically mounted I-beams 98. The surface of the
beams may be covered with concrete while the lower part of I-beam
98 may be encased in reinforced concrete footings 99 to prevent
corrosion. Top roofing 97 may be constructed of solid covers made
of concrete and roofing materials comprising corrugated zinc or
galvanized metal sheets, calcium silicates, calcium carbonates such
as chalk, limestone or water resistant wood chips bound together
with binding materials. Such materials are readily available in the
market and may also be acquired for constructing roofing and
roosting panels. Roof 97 is securely attached to the I-beam
structure 80, 98 and cliff top 20. The facility may include
mechanized lifting systems and equipment 81, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91
and mobile work station 82; hoisting apparatus 160 to 180 as shown
in FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D may also be used for collecting nests built
in cavities and caves 18 on cliff face 16; support struts 83,
safety netting 84. The flanks may be fully covered by solid walled
structures constructed of wood, bricks, stones and concrete, while
other parts of the habitat may still be covered in cage structure
21 and 22.
[0132] Normally, the interior of the roof 97 has a low air flow
compared to the exterior, which comprises natural air drafts of
variable wind speed due to dynamic changes in weather and climatic
conditions. During tropical storms, strong gusts of wind may blow
over the external structure of the roof 97, while the slight draft
of the internal surface remains unchanged. This difference in wind
speed between the interior and exterior of roof 97 creates a
differential pressure since slow moving air exerts a higher
pressure than fast moving air. Thus the air pressure acting on the
internal surface of the roof is greater than the air pressure
exerted on the external surface, causing a wind-lift effect as
experienced by the aerodynamic shapes of aircraft wings.
[0133] Such a wind-lift or wind-levitation ("wind-lev") effect may
cause the roof 97 to shear and be blown off easily. Top roofing
structure 97 and 105 may include multiple wind-speed monitors and
dynamic pressure sensors 118 mounted on the exterior and interior
of the wholly man made artificial cave structure 100. During gusty
weather conditions, specially configured trap doors 110 on the roof
may be designed to automatically swing open allowing wind from the
exterior of roof 97 to enter habitat 17. Conversely, the vacuuming
effect of the external draft sucks the interior air out of habitat
17, causing the internal draft to move faster. Such that interior
wind speed picks up until it nearly equalizes the external wind
speed. In one form, vanes type trap doors 110 may be activated by
means of manual or motorized systems to prevent and avoid stress,
strains and damages caused by wind-lev to the roof structure (due
to pressure differential). Such vanes type trap doors 110 may be
manually activated by the control room when the automated doors 110
failed to cope with the wind lev. effects. Or, coupled to automated
activation electronics to open or close by itself.
[0134] In another form, trap door 110 may comprise of a spring
loaded sliding apparatus designed to open automatically by means of
wind-lev effects. Trap door 110 may be designed to open outward
during windy conditions. Higher internal air pressure pushes trap
door 110 upwards such that the spring loaded doors are
automatically pulled open by the springs. Thus wind from the
exterior enters the interior of habitat 17 and moves the air in the
vicinity of the interior surface of the roof before dispersing
through exit points. As the internal wind speed picks up to
equalize the external wind speed, the wind-lev effects on the
roofing structure is neutralized and cancelled out.
[0135] FIG. 5E shows the cross-sectional view 5E-5E of FIG. 5F in
another embodiment of present invention. A wholly man made
artificial cave structure 100 both emulative and simulative of
naturally occurring cave like conditions may be constructed to form
an edible bird's nest production facility to breed and accommodate
an ultra high density avian population comprising tens of millions
of swiftlets. Such a man made shelter may be structurally
configured into a roosting habitat 17 comprising I-beams 80 and 98,
a lattice work of galvanized channels in the form of C, U, I, H and
V shapes may be used in securing individual pieces of panels 69a
assembled to form the main nesting panels 69; industrial hoists
(81, 82, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91) and supporting struts 83 forming
the internals.
[0136] This internal structure may be surrounded by man made "cave"
walls constructed from rocks and stones, clay and concrete
comprising the external structure. The lower portion of the wall
may comprise large blocks of rocks 101 bound together with
stainless steel (SS 316) wires 103 and concrete, resting against a
reinforced concrete wall 104. The upper portion of the wall may be
constructed of smaller stones 102 bound with SS 316 wires and
concrete. Alternatively the cave walls may be constructed from
commercially available rectangular pieces of bricks cemented
together with mortar and concrete. Blocks of bricks as disclosed in
FIG. 3D above may also be used as building components to construct
the walls and incorporated into the structure. While the fully
covered roof 97 may be constructed from solid concrete and
galvanized steel sheets secured to girders 105. The outer covering
of stone walls may be constructed with water retaining features and
soil medium 109 to support vegetative growth 111 covering the whole
avian habitat 17 and breeding structure in natural greenery and
providing a cooling internal environment.
[0137] The caves system may be partitioned and segregated into
sections internally by walls for the purpose of cave management.
Passages and access ways may be incorporated into the internal
walls to enable passage of wind and birds. Such a method
effectively isolates completed caves ready for occupation by
swiftlets from new extension and construction works. It also makes
possible the isolation of whole sections of the partitioned caves
for disease control purposes such as the fumigation of pests like
ticks and lice. The cave may measure 200 meters high and 300 meters
wide at the base in cross-section. Lengthwise, the cave system may
be scalable with new extensions being continuously added to
accommodate avian demographic growth, theoretically estimated at a
rate of 300 percent per year.
[0138] Skylight 107 provides natural light for the habitat 17 while
lamp 103 may be specially configured to produce red wave-length of
620 nm to 730 nm as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,767 by El
Halawani to increase the reproductive rates of poultry. Such a
method may be tested out and if found suitable, acquired for use in
enhancing the reproductive rates, eggs laying and nesting
activities of tens of millions of swiftlets in producing large
amounts and huge quantities comprising tons of edible bird's nests
each nesting season (under licensing agreement). Light is of no
importance to swiftlets for flights in caves as they rely on a
highly developed bio-sonar system and echo-location techniques to
navigate in total darkness.
[0139] All girders and structures may be designed to rest on
rollers surrounded by laterally mounted springs to cushion and
negate damages due to earth tremors. The footing of main panel 69
and securing galvanized C, U, I and H shaped channels may be
encased in a concrete base 108. Numerous access ways 79 may be
designed and built underneath the edge of roof 97 and stone wall
102 for swiftlets to enter and exit a wholly man made artificial
cave structure 100, and to enable passage of air and circulation.
Holes left in between the stones 101 and 102 used to build the cave
wall also assist in air circulation.
[0140] FIG. 5F shows the bird's eye view of a wholly man made
artificial cave structure 100 built for breeding swiftlets to
produce edible bird's nests. The breeding and production facility
may occupy a spread comprising 100 hectares with open land reserved
for the future construction of additional breeding facility. The
facility may be surrounded by a high walled structure 113 with
guard towers 114 built on top of an elevated bund 112 ringed by a
moat 24. Wall 113 may be protected by the predator traps
arrangement as disclosed above and shown in FIG. 2G and FIG. 2H.
Rain water retained in soil medium 109 supports vegetative growth
111 for plants such as creepers, lianas, rottan, etc. providing
coverage and shade for the cave system, cooling and shrouding it in
greenery. Bird's droppings and guano collected from cave floor may
be used as fertilizer in the eco-farm to provide sustenance to
shrubs and plants. Rail track 115 provides ease of transportation
and goods carriage within the breeding cum nest production
facility. Tower crane 116 installed on a moveable base may be
installed to carry out the main construction work such that the
crane may be shifted to one flank of the habitat for further
expansion work due to the rapid growth in avian population (300%
per year). Due to the height of structures measuring hundreds of
meters, lightning arrestors 117 may be incorporated into the
buildings such as the wholly man made artificial cave structure 100
and sentry towers 114. Lightning conductors 117 may also be
installed independently around the whole facility to protect the
eco-farm from lightning strikes. Wind-speed monitors and pressure
sensors 118 may be installed on top of roofing 97 to detect and
warn of wind directions, speeds and differential pressures build up
which may cause potentially disastrous wind-lev. effects to the
roofing structures 97 and 105.
[0141] All roosting structures and nesting habitats should be
designed to be well ventilated, well drained, dry, cool and humid
in the hot tropical weather. Well ventilated structures with
natural drafts may be assisted with motorized fans to induce
artificial drafts during windless days. Cooling internal
temperatures may be maintained at 25 to 30 degrees Centigrade in a
dry environment, and maintained with appropriate heating and air
conditioning systems. Brightness and humidity (90%) should be
emulative of the natural cave environment. Humidity should be
controlled with appropriate humidifiers to maintain the high
humidity of about 90%. All artificial roosting structures should
have foot holds and grips 59, 60 built for swiftlets to perch
vertically. Ledges 57 may be cut into cliff-face 16 and caves 18
dug while hollow bricks, nesting panels and crevices should be made
with rough and serrated internal surfaces 59, 60 for providing
footholds for swiftlets to cling securely onto vertical surfaces,
such that the cliff face and caves may be chopped with an axe. The
structures should be designed to maximize vertical surface area for
swiftlets to cling to and built their nests. Rough screed surfaces
such as pock marks, small holes and raises, indentations 59,
protrusions 60 and groves 57 may be included in the design of all
nesting structures to maximize vertical gripping and clinging
surfaces for the swiftlets and juveniles. Perforations 72 and 58
may provide ease of passage for wind and birds. The top of the
structure may be partially covered and the habitat mounted on top
of an earthen hill or mound.
[0142] The nesting habitat, swiftlets breeding and edible bird's
nests production facility may comprise of a combination of: a
wholly man made artificial caves structure 100, converted natural
caves 77, modified natural cliffs 16, man made roosting structures
15, 54, 63 to 68, including purposely abandoned human dwellings 11;
and buildings 14 purposely left vacant; or similar man made
structures specially built to attract and provide swiftlets with a
safe and sheltered breeding and nesting site.
[0143] External wall and fencing 23, high walled structure 113 and
guard towers 114, predator traps, enveloping cage 22, moat 24,
solid roof structure 97 and 105, a wholly man made artificial cave
structure 100 and security arrangements as disclosed in present
invention protects the swiftlets from natural enemies comprising
airborne predators and birds of prey such as owls, hawks, eagles,
raptors, peregrines, bats (attacks chicks) etc; terrestrial
predators and wild animals such as squirrels, wild cats, civet
cats, mongooses, monkeys, snakes, lizards, large carnivorous
crickets (attacks chicks), etc.; and prevents the roosting habitat
from infestation by natural pests such as mice, small rodents,
soldier ants, cockroaches, ticks and lice, etc. allowing
extermination of such vermin with ease.
[0144] During non-breeding seasons in day time, after all the
swiftlets had gone feeding, individual sections of the caves system
100 or 77 which are partitioned and segregated from the rest of
habitat 17 by internal walls may be closed off and isolated for
fumigation. All passages and access ways 79 leading to the cavity
may be closed to prevent birds from entering. Liquefied chlorine
(Cl2) stored in 1 ton drums may be vaporized and piped via SS-316
or PVC tubing to the roof structure 97 and 105, and released from
the roof-top to fill the cavity with a concentration of 5 ppm to 10
ppm of chlorine.
[0145] The chlorine gas may be held in the cavity and allowed to
"soak" for a few hours. Then all access ways 79 and trap doors 110
are opened to purge the cave cavity. During the soak period, the
chlorine gas concentration may be maintained by top-up releases.
Standard personal protective equipment such as chlorine gas masks
with heavy duty filters and self-contained breathing apparatus may
be worn to protect personnel. The cleansed cavity may remain closed
to swiftlets for a few days for the pungent smell to clear before
being re-opened for habitation. Or, large industrial fans with
blades 4 to 5 meters in diameter may be used to provide forced
draught to purge the fumigated cavity of chlorine gas. Such a
mobile fan mounted on wheels may be brought to site by rail 115,
and forced draught channeled into the cave cavity by means of air
ducts. Such a fumigation operation may be carried out at regular
intervals to exterminate ticks and lice. The short coming being
that, though living ticks may be wiped out by chlorine gas, eggs
may still remain viable to hatch later on. Besides liquid chlorine
gas supplied in drums and cylinders, powders or liquid solutions of
sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) or calcium hypochlorite (Ca[OCl]2) may
also be used to produce chlorine gas for fumigation. Other
industrial gases such as hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide may
also be used.
[0146] Alternatively nesting panels 69 may also be cleaned with
high pressure water jets produced by hydro-jetting machines to
remove ticks, lice as well as their eggs, which may be laid in
minute crevices and niches, such that only a high pressure water
jet may dislodge and flush them out. Cleaners carrying hydro
jetting nozzles attached to high pressure water hoses may access
the nesting panels 69 using hoists and work cages 82. Cleaning
works should commence from the uppermost level of the panel
hundreds of meters above, gradually working down to the ground
level. Water jets also helps to clear and clean the nesting panels
69 of edible bird's nest impurities such as bird feces and
feathers. A clean nesting panel produces clean and very high
quality edible bird's nests.
[0147] Such pest control measures may help to address and rectify
habitat-population constraints posed by lethal pressures from
ticks. Odorless and bio-degradable insecticides may also be used to
exterminate the ticks. Poison baits may also be used for
exterminating mice, rats, cockroaches etc. Sulphur pellets may be
scattered around the perimeter of 17 to deter snakes.
[0148] Ample signage may be placed at the farm periphery providing
warning to human intruders. The perimeter wall and fence 23 may be
protected and reinforced with multiple layers or a grid of
extremely high voltage electrical wiring (e.g. 2 to 10 kilovolts)
configured to deter larger intruders or predators such as wild
buffalos, tigers, bears, etc. Electricity from normal 220 volts
supply may be stepped up by means of transformers to 415 volts or
thousands of volts as desired to repulse unwanted intruders. Such
powerful deterrence also guards against incursions by thieves and
poachers. Alternatively, a high surrounding solid wall 113 complete
with watch towers 114 may be erected in place of the perimeter wall
cum fence 23.
[0149] Armed guards may patrol the edible bird's nests production
facility to keep out human predators such as poachers, nest robbers
and thieves with additional guards and patrols deployed during the
nesting seasons, collection and delivery of edible nests.
Communications may be maintained by means of radio transmitters and
instant messaging using multi-media mobile personal gadgets. Closed
circuit televisions and web-cams monitoring the site may be viewed
at a local control centre and external links with a centralized
monitoring center by means of modern satellite and land based
telecommunications network and the Internet. Backup resources on
hot standby may be instantly deployable in response to detected
human threats.
[0150] Such safety and security risks mitigating measures may be
used to reduce avian mortality and improve survival rates of the
birds to enhance farm population. Consequently, a greater quantity
of nests can be produced for collection leading to improved
productivity of the eco-farm. Comparative to conditions in the wild
in which swiftlets are subject to the vagaries of nature such as
scarcity of food and high mortality rates due to predation of adult
birds and chicks; secure avian farms enhances conditions for the
nesting, breeding and rearing of swiftlets thereby increasing
productivity of the edible bird's nests production facility.
Favorable conditions that only a farm environment can provide.
Birds may be kept in the gigantic enclosed aviary 22 (100,000 cubic
meters, or a million cubic meters in volumetric capacity and flight
space) blended into the natural environment and setting with a
plentiful supply of nutrients.
[0151] When nesting season approaches, adult swiftlets may select
suitable sites to build new nests in which to lay eggs and raise
the young such as crevices 18 or on any part of the vertical
nesting habitat. During the breeding season, each pair of little
birds can produce a full nest of saliva the weight of their own
body in 45 days. The saliva is produced from a pair of sublingual
glands located beneath the tongue of the birds. Ducts from the
glands open into the floor of the mouth. Both the male and female
birds have a pair of these glands and contribute towards nest
building during the breeding season. Nests built of sticky saliva
comprises of a gelatinous substance.
[0152] Normally a clutch of 2 eggs are laid in the nests of
domesticated birds which may be partially removed and collected for
hatching in incubator 30 at site. Eggs remaining in the nests may
be naturally hatched and the young brought up by the parent
swiftlets. Such a step relieves parent birds of the need in
providing food for all the chicks upon hatching, enabling more food
to be made available and provided to a smaller number of chicks.
Minimizing stunted growth or death due to starvation improves the
survival rates of chicks.
[0153] In an extension of the captive breeding program, eggs
collected from the nests of the domesticated birds at the farm may
in turn be brought to another location for hatching by means of
incubators and hatcheries 30 in newly established eco-farms similar
to the parent facility. Likewise, swiftlets chicks in nest or
clinging on to the walls and main nesting panels 69 of habitat 17
may be collected and brought to green house 33 for acclimatization.
Or, relocated to another location to populate a newly constructed
swiftlets breeding facility for producing edible bird's nest, and
to establish a new colony of swiftlets at site.
[0154] In another embodiment of present invention, upon hatching
from the incubators 30, young chicks are moved to the captive
breeding section equivalent to an "avian training school" 33 where
young birds may be kept in a controlled green-house environment
where the temperature, humidity, ventilation, etc are controlled.
Hatchlings may be hand fed a concoction of semi-solid food
comprising porridge or gruel of rice, tapioca or sago flour mixed
with ground fish, meat, sago worms, vitamins, minerals, fortifying
medications and nutrients by the handlers. A broth made from ground
flour of other seed grains and staples like maize, barley, wheat,
etc. may also be used. Pipettes and syringes may be used as feeding
utensils to nurse the chicks up to 8 times a day. Worms from the
wormery may be provided as the chicks opens their eyes and grow
larger. Pelletized feed may be given such that young chicks (of
chicken) pecking at worms and feed pellets may be used to
physically demonstrate and impart the appropriate feeding skills to
the swiftlet chicks. Swiftlets chicks may likely follow such
demonstrative teachings and example on the part of the young chicks
(of chicken). The green-house 33 may be designed to resemble the
natural cave habitat where they are fed, cared for and brought up
by their human handlers manually to create a bonding, recognition,
taming and attachment to its colonial roosting habitat and
"masters." This may be similar to rearing of house-hold pets such
as cats and dogs; domesticated farm animals such as horses, cattle
and sheep; or domestic fowls such as chicken and ducks; such that
the animals recognizes their human handlers and masters.
[0155] When juvenile chicks started learning to fly, the young
birds may be quarantined and their wings clipped temporarily to
restrain and prevent full flight until they had grown larger and
stronger. Such that young juvenile birds may still be able to fly
at low heights and short distances. At this stage, both the
artificially hatched and naturally (parent) hatched chicks
collected from nesting habitat 17 may be reared together in the
green-house enclosure 33 for pre-mediated conditioning, training
and acclimatization so that they can learn to recognize their human
handlers and adapt to the "home" environment. As juvenile bird(s)
represents easy prey for their natural predators and bullying by
adult birds other than parents, chicks may be raised and kept in
the green-house enclosures 33 for a certain period of time (e.g.
two months) until they have grown larger before being transferred
into a fully enclosed transitional facility 28 forming part of the
nesting habitat 17 with wire netting spaced 1.times.1 cm apart.
This ensures bonding of the fledglings to the colony from the
moment they are born. Juvenile birds may be kept caged for another
6 months in the transitional facility 28 before being transferred
into the adult bird's nesting habitat 17 to follow adult birds to
search for natural food in the vicinity 39 of the avian farm. The
fully enclosed roosting habitat 17 may be designed and configured
to nest hundreds of thousands of swiftlets.
[0156] Musical, optical effects and human touch may be employed and
used for conditioning and acclimatization of fledglings to handlers
and masters and to create a sense of belonging. Training may also
include a pre-arranged audible signal such as the sound of a
whistle, bell, an audio based stimulus for the purpose of feeding,
return to roost, etc. And to inculcate a positive response subject
to such a stimulus by means of a "stimuli-response-reward"
mechanism, such that responding birds are amply rewarded with large
succulent sago worms. Such that a response to such an external man
made stimuli becomes automatically ingrained into the brains and
minds of the birds by accustoming them to said stimuli from young.
Such habitual response being akin to reflex actions; behavioral
based actions; a daily practice; a custom; rites of passage; a
ritual pattern inculcated by means of training, conditioning and
indoctrination from birth.
[0157] In another embodiment, juvenile birds may be trained in
evasive techniques, reflex actions and survival skills by means of
audio-visual and real-life practical lessons. In one form, cages of
juvenile birds may be placed next to live predators, such that they
may develop an intuitive capacity for the identification and
cognizance of predatorial threats while young. In another form,
cages with an enveloping external cover of finer mesh (1 cm.times.1
cm gaps) comprising 2 internal sections separated by a grill (4
cm.times.12 cm gaps) may be used for more advanced training. Small
"escape cages" 37 with (4.times.12 cm gaps) grills may also be
placed in the large cage. Juvenile birds are released into one
side. A small fully covered cage containing birds of prey kept
hidden in one corner of the facility may be suddenly opened to
release the predators into the enclosure. Scaring and frightening
the juvenile birds, causing a flight of survival into the adjacent
section by going through the grills. Likewise, birds may escape by
hiding in the small yellow "escape cages." Such live exercises and
training may be used to teach juvenile birds to recognize the
safety of home, which is the "safe-haven" of the colony.
[0158] Alternatively, a single enclosure may be used for training
with numerous small cages painted in yellow placed inside. To
escape from the predators, all the birds need to hide inside the
"escape cages." Replica escape cages 37 resembling those used in
training may be placed at strategic locations in the vicinity
surrounding the avian farm in a pre-arranged step for creating a
mini safe-haven such that in times of danger, or while being chased
by a predator, birds may escape by hiding inside the cages 37.
[0159] In an alternative arrangement, fully domesticated juvenile
birds may be released to seek natural foods upon maturing, reaching
an age of six months to nine months (dependent upon growth rates
which varies from one farm or area to another), or reached a stage
when they can reasonably fend for themselves, having been properly
trained in survival techniques as disclosed. The enclosure
comprising transitional facility 28 may be opened as disclosed in
FIG. 2J to allow parent birds to lead their grown off-springs to
forage for natural food outside of the enclosure. Such that upon
release juvenile birds returns to its avian colony and nesting
habitat at dusk.
[0160] Referring to FIG. 2J detailed disclosure of the operational
arrangement shall be described herein. The whole structure 22 may
be made of fine mesh with 11/2.times.11/2 cm gaps. The access ways
49 of the enclosure 22 comprising grills 50 spaced with gaps
4.times.12 cm apart may be kept open during the day and fully shut
at night to keep the birds inside by means of a sliding frame work
52 containing fine mesh 51 spaced 11/2.times.11/2 cm apart. Mesh 50
may be spaced 6.times.15 cm apart. Such a mechanism enables speedy
quarantine, treatment of injured birds, administration of
medication, growth hormone, reproductive hormone, inoculation
against avian diseases, veterinary health checks to be carried out,
etc. To enter or exit, swiftlets may fly straight through the
horizontal slots in the access way, or fly to the vertical slots of
metal grills 50, perch vertically by grasping the grills with their
claws. Squeeze and turn their bodies through the slot or aperture
49 before flying to the nesting structure or feeding ground. The
wire mesh of access way 49 may be designed just large enough to
allow adult swiftlets to pass through, yet too small to allow the
entry of larger predators, airborne or terrestrial. The
configuration of the cage grill spacing may be varied to cater for
different species of swiftlets: A. fuciphagus is 9 cm long and
weighs 15 to 18 grams; A. unicolor is 12 cm long; A. maximus has a
wingspan of 13 cm and weighs 28 grams.
[0161] In an alternative arrangement, the whole enclosure
comprising roosting habitat 17 (except 28) for adult birds may be
constructed of wire mesh or grills spaced 4.times.12 cm apart such
that swiftlets may enter and exit freely at will from any part of
the protective cage structure 22 while airborne predators are kept
out of the nesting habitat.
[0162] In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,759,224 and 6,001,146 Olivier et. al.
teaches a device and method for the continuous treatment of waste
by means of fly larvae. Such a waste treatment method and device
may also be used to raise larvae and worms to provide bird feed,
and may be acquired under license if necessary. In present
invention fly larvae are bred for the purpose of providing bird
feed.
[0163] FIG. 6A shows the detailed layout plan of a specialized
facility and apparatus 29 configured for breeding worms to provide
a steady supply of food-grubs. Cultivated worms grown in the
"wormery" may be supplied to the roosting habitat 17 and greenhouse
33 for feeding thousands of hatchlings and chicks. Fast growth type
of worms such as maggots of the housefly Musca domestica, Fannia
canicularis, Stomoxys calcitrans, Calliphora spp., Lucilla spp. or
other insects may be bred in such a facility. Worm production
facility 29 may be configured and constructed to produce hundreds
of millions of worms for bird feed every day, especially during the
nesting season. Parent bird(s) regurgitates the semi-digested food
in its stomach to feed its chicks.
[0164] Adult flies are bred in compartment 121 to provide eggs for
breeding larvae and worms. Each female house flies of the Genus
Musca spp. such as Musca domestica can lay up to 500 eggs in
batches of 100 eggs each. The eggs are white at about 1.2 mm in
length. The larvae hatch from the eggs within one day and are pale
whitish measuring 3-9 mm long, thin at the mouth end and without
legs. Adult flies live from two weeks to one month. Other fly
species which may also be bred in such a worm production facility
29 includes species similar to the M. domestica such as Fannia
canicularis, Stomoxys calcitrans, Calliphora spp. and Lucilla spp.
The lesser housefly F. canicularis, is smaller and more slender
than M. domestica while the stable fly S. calcitrans, looks similar
to M. domestica but has a longer piercing mouth part used to
penetrate the skin of humans and animals in order to suck
blood.
[0165] Small trays 120 containing organic feed materials are put in
egg laying compartment 121 for adult flies to deposit their eggs.
After one day trays 120 maybe removed and placed into the numerous
adjacent compartments 122 on breeding trays 123 for incubation,
hatching and growing as shown in FIG. 6B. Kept in the warm tropical
environment larvae (maggots) hatches from the eggs within one day.
Tray 123 may be mounted on an inclined sloping floor as indicated
by `e` slanted towards collection trench 124. Facility 29 maintains
a high temperature and humidity in order to accelerate incubation
and breeding rates. Galvanized zinc sheet roofing material may be
used to provide a high daytime temperature of above 30 degrees C.
Nozzle 119 provides water keep the humidity of the worms breeding
facility high. Food for feeding worms may also be placed on wire
mesh spacer 1 cm to 2 cm high on breeding trays 123.
[0166] The population of compartment 121 may be maintained by
in-breeding of flies such that designated feed trays 120 placed in
121 may be kept permanently in the compartment. Adult flies feeds
on the nutrients and laid eggs in the trays. Larvae hatches and in
turn, fed on the nutrients. When the larvae mature, they pupate
before transforming into flies. The floor and sides of compartment
121 may be kept dank and dark with a plentiful supply of cavities
for larvae to pupate. Such cavities may be provided by means of man
made honey combed lattice structures, or the hollow cavities
provided by dried out bones of animals used to feed the flies may
be used to provide a pupating habitat. Larvae upon crawling into
such cavities, finds a conducive environment in which to form
pupas, before metamorphosing to emerge as flies.
[0167] In compartment 122 feed stock comprising organic materials
such as animal remains obtained from slaughter houses, abattoirs
and fish markets, etc. may be used to provide nourishment to raise
the maggots. Water may be provided by nozzles 119 in mist form
sprinkled onto the trays to keep the moisture level high. After 3
to 4 days, grown worms in the array of inclined breeding trays 123
are ready for harvesting before the end of the 3rd instar or the
pupae stage.
[0168] A manual harvesting method may be used in which the netting
containing feed materials may be held up using a pair of thongs and
tapped to shake off the worms. Worms may also be separated from the
feed materials and physically dislodged by means of soft bristle
brushes and brooms. The dislodged larvae may then be manually swept
by brushes into a collection bin 130 placed beneath discharge point
129 at the end of the array of trays 123. Alternatively, jets of
pressurized air discharged via nozzles 126 may be used to dislodge
the worms from the feeding materials, pushed to the discharge point
129 and into bin 130 to be packed off to habitat 17 or green house
33 as bird feed. Upon being touched by hand or air, fly larvae
instinctively curled up into a round ball and thus easily rolled
around. On a dry smooth surface a good blow with our mouth may roll
the spherically shaped larvae a distance of one meter. Air jets may
be used to propel and push dislodged worms out of the discharge
point 129 into collection bin 130. Collection bin 130 may be
manually brought to apparatus 127 and its content poured into sieve
tray 127 for cleaning and separation. Worms spilled outside of bin
130 may be swept by brooms via trench 124 into apparatus 127 or
they may be air blown by nozzle 126 into apparatus 127.
[0169] Alternatively, all of the larvae and worms may be dislodged
by air, flushed and swept into trench 124 where a cushion of air
provided by another nozzle 126 may be used to provide propulsive
force to flush the spherically shaped larvae into apparatus 127. A
water flush provided by nozzle 119 may also be used in place of
compressed air, but water makes the round balls of worms sticky and
worms may drown if left for too long in water. Live worms being the
preferred feed material for swiftlets, compressed air is a more
suitable harvesting medium. Waste feed material and residue left
behind on breeding trays 123 such as bones, feathers, hair, skin,
etc. may be manually removed by means of brooms, brushes and pans
for disposal.
[0170] FIG. 6C shows a worms processing apparatus 127 for
separating grown worms into feed-stock and small worms to be
returned to tray 123 for further growth. The worms may be poured
from collection bins 130 into sieve tray 127. Or they may be
propelled by a cushion of compressed air via trench 124 into a
vibrating slanted sieve tray 127 comprising mesh size 2 mm.times.2
mm where larger worms 128 may be filtered and channeled into
collection bin 130 via funnel 138. The mesh of tray 127 may be
slightly inclined towards discharge funnel 138. Water provided by
nozzle 119 may be sprayed onto tray 127 to wash and clean the worms
while vibratory movement of the tray 127 provided by vibrator motor
137 separates them. Vibratory movement of the tray 127 causes the
worms to curl up forming spherical round balls. Thus they rolled
around and are easily separated from pieces of wet feed materials
carried over from breeding trays 123 which tends to stick and cling
to the wire mesh of tray 127 and easily removed by brush manually.
Vibratory movement combined with the inclination of tray 127 causes
the spherically shaped worms to move automatically towards
discharge funnel 138 and into collection bin 130. In compartment
131 grown worms are poured into trays with fine mosquito netting
and blown dry by fans. Wet worms may cause diarrhea to hatchlings.
After drying, it is packed out to the habitat 17 and green house 33
as bird feed.
[0171] Small sized worm 132 passes through sieve 127 and are
collected into another vibrating slanted sieve tray 133 placed
beneath tray 127. Tray 133 comprises fine mesh size 0.5
mm.times.0.5 mm separating washing water from the maggots 132 which
are filtered and channeled into collection bin 134 by means of
funnel 135. Small worms 132 are brought back to the compartment 122
and placed in breeding trays 123 for further growth. The whole
apparatus is mounted on a sloping surface `e` such that washing
water from nozzle 119 may be drained from the inclination into
drainage system 136. Mechanical movement for vibration of sieve
trays 127 and 133 may be provided by a motor 137. Alternatively,
all worms collected from trays 123 or collection trench 124 may be
directly packed into feeding bins 130, washed with water from
nozzle 119 and sent to habitat 17 as bird feed. Bin 130 has a
porous bottom to drain off remnant water.
[0172] Larvae of beetles of the Rhynchophorus spp. locally known as
sago worms which can grow to the size of the human thumb, provides
nourishing food during the nesting season and for parent birds to
feed their young. Sago palms of the genus Metroxylon spp. a plant
native to Borneo and cultivated in large estates in the Malaysian
state of Sarawak, may be obtained as feedstock for the large scale
production of sago worms which may be used as food-grubs to feed
nesting swiftlets, and in turn, chicks at the avian farm as parent
bird(s) regurgitates the semi-digested food in its stomach to feed
its young. Mature palm trees are cut down and left to rot at log
pond 32. Sago beetles comprising Rhynchophorus spp., common in the
tropics and native to the island of Borneo deposits their eggs in
the rotting trunk of sago logs. The eggs hatches and larvae feeds
on the pith or pulp of the trunk. Fully metamorphosed beetles
emerge from the pupae in about two month's time. Sago palm of the
genus Metroxylon spp. comprises the species M. sagus, M. rumphii,
M. sylvestre, M. longispinum, etc. Beetles of the genus
Rhynchophorus spp. comprises of the species R. ferrugineus, R.
palamrum, R. phoenicis, R. vulneratus, R. bilineatus, etc.
[0173] The taxonomy of these sago beetles is as follow: Phylum:
Arthropoda; Sub-phylum: Uniramia; Class: Insecta; Order:
Coleoptera; Family: Curculionidae; Sub-family: Rhynchophorinae;
Genus: Rhynchophorus; Tribe: Rhynchophorini. Beetles comprising
other genera of the Coleoptera Curculionidae order or family may
also be captured and bred for their larvae such as Oxyctes spp.,
Scapanes spp., Metamasius spp., Dynamis spp., Rhabdoscleus spp.,
Paramasius spp., etc. with a compatible supply of food, nutrients
and breeding environment specific to their needs.
[0174] Adult beetles may be captured by means of normal insect
traps for breeding in compartment 139. They may also be lured into
feed traps by means of a mixture of decaying fruits comprising
sugar cane, pineapples, bananas etc; moist fermented palm tree
tissues comprising stems, leaves and palm fruits. The trapped
beetles may be bred and reared in captivity for laying eggs.
Beetles derived from the eggs may also be raised in compartment 139
for maintaining a breeding colony. The captive bred beetle colony
may be fed a diet of decaying fruits comprising sugar cane,
pineapples, bananas, coconuts and fermenting palm tree tissues
comprising stems, leaves and palm fruits. During feeding males
beetles releases pheromones comprising Rhynchopherol or
Ferrugineol. Wild beetles responding to this olfactorial attraction
or stimulant of pheromones and food may be attracted to the
vicinity of the captive colony. They may be manually captured to
inject fresh breeding stock for compartment 139. Large chunks of
sago trunk measuring 1 meter (length).times.0.5 meter (thick) may
be cut from the middle of the trunks and brought into eggs laying
compartment 139 for adult beetles to deposit their eggs. Female
beetles oviposit 30 to 400 eggs at a time. After a week, these
pieces of cut sago trunks are brought back to the log pond and slid
back into the original tree trunks. The beetle eggs hatches and
larvae fed on the pulp. To check on the stage of larvae growth,
size and estimated number of worms, the collector may put his ear
close to the sago tree trunk. He will hear the crunching sound of
the larvae devouring and feeding on sago pulp. A pair of
stethoscope hooked to the experienced ears of a harvestor may work
wonders.
[0175] Such a method for producing sago worms may be pre-planned
and staggered to produce a steady supply of bird feed throughout
the breeding season. In the holding ponds 32, sago logs may be
stacked neatly on metal racks for ease of administrative and
management purposes. The sago logs or the compartment of the rack
in which the logs are stored may be marked with details regarding
the source of logs, type, date of felling, date of oviposition of
eggs, harvesting date range, etc. such that harvesting time may be
forecast, planned and ascertained. Sago logs may be physically
moved around the ponds by means of hoists and winches, heavy duty
forklifts and mechanized grippers commonly used in the timber
logging industry; and cut into size with sawing machines before
being seeded and deposited with beetle eggs. Specialized mechanized
hydraulic wedges may be configured or acquired for use in splitting
open larvae infested logs in order to harvest the worms.
[0176] Commonly known as red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus spp.
attacks or are attracted to several species of plant: such as date
palm, oil palm, sago palm, coconut palm, palemera palm, banana,
pineapple, sugarcane; Arenga, Coelcoccus, Corypha, Elaeis,
Livistona, Matroxylon, Nypa, Oncosperma, Aloes, and the screw-pine
(Najeeb 1988, Jaffe et al. 1993). Traditional trap crops comprising
coconut, pineapple, banana and sugar cane have been used for
attracting, trapping and exterminating most beetles of the
Rhynchophorus spp. Sugarcane is one of the cheapest and best
sources of kairomones to enhance attraction of palm weevils to
pheromone-baited traps. Adult R. ferrugineus and R. volneratus
beetles are attracted to wounded palms where eggs are laid and the
larvae tunnel into the terminal bud or trunk of the tree, leading
directly to its death (Sadakathulla 1991). The sub family
Rhynchophorinae contains several genera that are closely associated
with Palmae, Zingiberaceae, Muscaceae, Amaryllidaceae and
Gramineae, all monocotyledons (Kalshoven, L. G. E. 1981).
[0177] Before the beetle larvae reaches the pupation stage, the
trunk is split open to collect large juicy worms providing a rich
source of protein and fat, and an extremely nourishing food for
feeding nesting birds. After sifting, smaller worms may be brought
back for fattening at compartment 139a by feeding on pieces of cut
sago trunk. Alternatively, they may be reared for breeding purposes
such that the larvae are allowed to pupate, metamorphose and grow
into adult beetles for laying eggs. Sago beetles or worms may also
be commercially raised for producing animal products such as chitin
and chitosan, and for retail as food grubs for human consumption.
Small worms may be sold for 10 cents while thumb sized specimen
goes for 50 cents. The pith or pulp of the sago tree may be
processed to provide pellet form of bird feed. Sago flour forms a
staple food for local people while sago worms are treated as a
mouth-watering delicacy by the native populace in Borneo. In New
Guinea, sago grubs roasted, deep fried (aroma of chicken wings) or
alive provides a nutritious source of protein to coastal Papuans,
as well as a ceremonial food for the Asmat tribe. Other insects
comprising the Class Insecta may also be bred for their larvae and
worms with a compatible supply of food, nutrients and a breeding
environment specific to their needs.
[0178] Sago palms are slow to grow, taking between 8 to 12 years to
mature. A major palm oil producer, Malaysia had successfully
reduced the gestation period of oil palm trees. Similar reduction
of the gestation period by means of hybrid species of sago trees in
studies conducted by researchers in the Malaysian state of Sarawak
shall enable large scale commercial production of sago to provide a
stable supply of raw materials for the food processing industries.
And a plentiful supply of sago logs for breeding worms to feed
swiftlets. Besides sago palm (Metroxylon spp.) cut tree trunks of
aged and unproductive coconut trees (Cocos nucifera) and oil palms
(Elaeis guineensis, Attalea butyracea) felled for replanting
purposes may be acquired as feed stock for breeding of red palm
weevil larvae. Other related plants such as date palm, oil palm,
sago palm, coconut palm, palemera palm, banana, pineapple,
sugarcane; Arenga, Coelcoccus, Corypha, Elaeis, Livistona,
Matroxylon, Nypa, Oncosperma, Aloes, and the screw-pine may also be
obtained for use as feed materials, including plants in the family
Zingiberaceae, Muscaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Palmae and Gramineae.
[0179] Supplementary foods for captive breeding of swiftlets may
include ground seed grains such as rice, maize and pellet forms of
bird feed used for poultry farming stored at location 36. Such that
swiftlets may be raised to feed on all forms and types of food
available. Such versatility and adaptability being beneficial to
the survival of the fittest and may prove indispensable in times of
adversity.
[0180] FIG. 7A shows the detailed diagram of a specialized large
scale insects catching device 38 for entrapment of airborne insects
to provide adult birds with food. Insects comprises the primary
food of these avian species. Insects are attracted by means of
lights emitted by lamp 140 housed inside a water proof casing and
reflective panels 141 into a large trap 38 constructed from wire
mesh and mounted with water sprinklers 142. At regular intervals
pump 143 automatically runs to spray water jets into the trap 38 by
means of sprinklers 142 to knock down and wash collected insects
into side collection panels 141, trough 144, sluice 145, guard
panes 146 and retention bin 147. Water is diverted back into
suction sump 148 from where it is circulated by pump 143 via piping
system 149 to spray nozzles 142. Water level in the sump is
controlled by float apparatus 150. Insects 151 gathered in
retention bin 147 may be collected for bird feed. The apparatus may
be configured wherein one unit may be stacked on top of another,
such that several stackable units may be combined together to
maximize insect catches. Commercially available chemical
attractants such as pheromones, sexual stimulants, etc. may be used
to attract insects and improve catches. Commercially available
insect traps of suitable configurations may also be acquired and
used for obtaining bird-feed.
[0181] A managed and sustainable harvesting of edible bird's nests
may be carried out only after juvenile birds had left its nest and
taken flight, or had been brought to training center 33. Three
nesting seasons which varies from January to April and from August
to December enables three collections or harvests to be carried out
per year. The collector(s) harvesting nests which are attached to
crevices, ledges, caves and structure of the nesting habitat
performs a visual check to ensure that nests are actually empty and
abandoned (i.e., that the edible bird's nest does not contain any
eggs or young birds) before scraping the bird's nest receptacles
from the structure to remove them.
[0182] Processing and sanitization treatment of raw harvested nests
may be carried out by means of slight steaming. Raw nests are
soaked and gently washed in cold water for 2 to 4 hours to soften
the strands and manually scrubbed by hand to remove dirt, mud, bird
feces. Dirty soaking water may be changed until it is clear and the
nests strands had become soft and pliant. Larger pieces of feathers
and other impurities may subsequently be removed, and gelatinous
strands of the nests are moulded into an oval shape or in the shape
of an actual bird's nests. De-feathering of edible bird's nests is
a labor intensive task requiring plucking minute pieces of downs
and feathers with forceps. At a temperature of 25 deg. C. and 60%
humidity, the water content of nests may be kept at 12%.
[0183] FIG. 7B shows a dryer-ventilator apparatus 152 for drying
the processed nests. Wet nests 153 are placed on porous trays 154
for drying. Porous trays 154 may be placed on the grills of
compartment 155 where cool dry air from the air conditioning unit
156 is passed over the trays. Exhaust air from the apparatus 152
may be recycled back to the condenser 157 of air conditioning unit
156 where it is cooled down, moisture removed, dried and
re-circulated back into the apparatus 152.
[0184] Alternatively, on a large scale, the drying apparatus 152
may comprise a room with trays 154 placed on racks. The air
conditioning unit 156 and condenser 157 may be run to dry out the
wet nests stacked in the room. Pieces and strands of the nest
sticks together upon drying. UV and IR lights and other sanitizing
rays with fumigative and germicidal properties may be used to
sterilize the finished products if desired.
[0185] FIG. 8A shows the plan view of a mechanized hoisting and
winching apparatus used to harvest and collect edible bird's nests,
while FIG. 8B shows a cross sectional view 8B-8B of the apparatus.
The lifting apparatus comprises of two main components.
[0186] Firstly, the main mechanized lifting system comprising hoist
drum 160 and rotary motor 161 to 165 provides vertical movement of
cage 82 up and down cliff face 16. This mechanism is the main work
horse which lifts the load comprising a work-cage 82, or a nest
collector securely strapped in a safety harness. Electric motor 161
provides motive power which is transmitted via gearbox 162 to cable
drum 160. Such a mechanism may be configured to lift a nest
collector hundreds of meters up and down the steep cliff 16.
[0187] Secondly, a motorized mobile lever and pulley system 166 to
176 provides horizontal movement between point A and point B. FIG.
8C shows the detailed sectional view 8B-8B of the second component
comprising the motorized lever and pulley mechanism mounted along
the edge of cliff top 20, capable of moving a nest collector
horizontally between point A and point B along the steep cliff face
16. Such a mechanism may be designed and configured to move a
collector a distance of 50 to 100 meters from one part of the cliff
to another (points A and B) enabling safe collection of edible
bird's nests along this stretch of cliff face. Correspondingly the
distance of cable 90 between the main lifting mechanism 160 to 165
and 166 to 176 may be adjusted and increased to maintain an optimum
angle.
[0188] The fixed rail assembly 168 is securely anchored to cliff
top 20 in a concrete base 175. On top of rail assembly 168 is
mounted an anchoring roller assembly 167. Affixed on top of the
anchoring roller assembly 167 is a motorized lever and pulley
apparatus (171, 172, 166, 176). Propulsion is provided by electric
motor 171 which moves a gear piece 172 against the gear teeth 173
of a fixed gear rail 174 affixed to a concrete base 175. Rollers
and bearings 169 and 170 provides ease of movement as the motorized
mobile lever and pulley system 166 to 176 is moved along cliff top
20 between point A and B. Lifting cable or line 90 passes through
the roller of pulley 176 residing on top of lever 166 to provide
vertical movement.
[0189] Alternatively, the fixed rail assembly 168 and fixed gear
rail 174 may be welded to girder 21 of the cage structure and the
whole motorized lever and pulley mechanism 171, 166 and 176 may be
mounted on top of the horizontal portion of the girder structure 21
resting on cliff top 20. In such an arrangement, girder structure
21 would require the construction of additional vertical legs and
support resting on cliff top 20 to take the added weight. Refer
FIG. 2I.
[0190] FIG. 8D shows a detailed view of a roller guide assembly
comprising four rollers to keep the hoist cable or line 90 in
position, to avoid and prevent damage due to abrasion against the
housing assembly 163 as the mobile apparatus is moved between point
A and B along the cliff top. One pair of vertical rollers 165 may
be anchored to the drum line housing assembly 163. Another pair of
horizontal rollers 164 may be secured to the vertical rollers 165
and kept in position by means of two pieces of positioning brackets
178. As the line 90 passes through the roller guide assembly, any
one of the rollers coming in direct contact with line 90 will
rotate to provide a smooth passage for the line while at the same
time, keeping it in position.
[0191] Alternatively, main lifting mechanism 160 to 165 may be
combined and integrated with the lever pulley mechanism 166 to 176
and mounted on a movable rail 168. Rail 168 may be modified to
comprise dual tracked rails to take the load.
[0192] A number of such winching apparatus may be strategically
positioned and spread on cliff top 20 to enable harvesting of nests
along the whole stretch of cliff face 16 comprising the nesting
habitat 17 and nest production facility. All of the components are
securely anchored to the surface of cliff top 20. A safety cable or
line 85 is anchored to a post 179 independently of the lifting
apparatus for providing the collector with a backup, a last line of
defense if the mechanized lifting system fails. For example, if
lifting cable or line 90 broke suddenly then safety line 85 will be
the collector's only insurance from certain death. Such that
attachment to the safety line 85 may be made a mandatory
requirement even before the winching apparatus can be started.
Cable or line 85 is held in place by a piece of guide wire 180
diagonally attached to lever 166. Line 85 goes through the eye of
the guide wire 180 freely such that it follows the main lifting
apparatus and ensures that line 85 does not get entangled as the
movable lifting apparatus moves between points A and B.
[0193] FIG. 8E illustrates further alternative features and
arrangement of trap door 110 to protect the roofing structure of
breeding and production facility 100 from wind-lev damages.
Self-activating door 110 may be configured to open by it-self and
to close back gently by means of wind-lev. effects and gravity. The
upper portion of door 110 is secured by flexible hinge joints 184
mounted on both sides of door 110. While the lower portion is
moveable and kept in place by a double headed bolt or stud 181 and
guide rails 182 and 183 mounted on both sides. As wind-lev pushes
door 110 open, double headed bolt 181 mounted in rail 182 on both
sides of door 110 guides it along a pair of external sliding guide
rails 183 as it moves upward, opening a passage way in roof 97 for
wind to enter and exit habitat 17. The maximum opening of door 110
is limited by guide rail 183 which is in turn limited by stopper
185.
[0194] When exterior wind speed drops adequately, trap door 110
experiences a reduced wind-lev effect and the weight of door 110
gradually make it drop lower until it closes. The guide rails 183
may be boomerang shaped such that as door 110 closes, its downward
movement is stopped when it reaches the right angled bend. Thus
preventing a slamming or banging effect from occurring. Door 110
pivots on swivel hinge 184 and guide rail 183 before seating back
gently into its original position on roof 97.
[0195] FIG. 8F shows a plan view of the mechanism while FIG. 8G
shows section 8G-8G of the double headed bolt 181, one end of which
is engaged in external guide rail 183 while the other end is
engaged in door mounted `C` shaped rail 182 and slot 186. The two
ends of double headed bolt 181 being larger in size than the
apertures of guide rails 182 and 183, slides in the channels 186 of
door mounted guide rail 182 and external guide rail 183, holding
the two pieces of equipment together as door 110 is moved, securing
and preventing it from being blown off.
[0196] FIG. 8H shows an alternative arrangement in which trap door
110 may be designed to be self-activating, opening and closing
automatically by means of wind-lev effects and gravity. Trap door
110 may be connected to counter-weight 190 by means of line 188 and
pulley wheel 189. Weight 190 may be slightly lighter than the
weight of door 110. Such that when a strong wind blows, creating a
pressure differential high enough to push and lift up trap door
110, the weight of door 110 may now be supported by wind-lev.
Counter-weight 190 easily overcomes this "lightened" load of door
110, and pulls door 110 open by means of line 188 and pulley wheel
189, sliding it up the roof incline. Allowing wind from the
exterior of roof 97 to enter habitat 17 equalizing the interior
wind speed and neutralizing the differential pressure cum wind lift
effects.
[0197] Door 110 is guided in its movement by means of 3 pieces of
guide rails 182. Anterior wise, two pieces of stud 187 may be
affixed to the corners B and C of door 110, the other ends securely
engaged in slot 186 of rails 182. Posterior wise, at point E, stud
187 may be affixed at one end to a swivel hinge 184, the other end
engaged in recessed slot 186 of rail 182. When exterior wind speed
drops adequately, trap door 110 experiences a reduced wind-lev
effect and "regained" its body weight, gradually overcomes the
pulling force exerted by counter-weight 190, slides down the roof
incline until it seats back into its original position. Shapes of
trap door 110 may comprise triangular or trapeze configurations
such that exertion of wind-lev effects may be utilized more fully.
Points ABCD having a larger surface area experiences a larger
wind-lev effect than points AED. In another form, alternately
spaced fixed overlapping inner and outer roofing structure may also
be used to minimize wind-lev.
[0198] Standard practice in cleaning edible bird's nest is to swell
the nest with a few changes of clear cold water. The swollen bird's
nest is placed in a container and rinsed with water and the nest is
broken apart by tearing the nest threads. Impurities such as
particles and feathers are removed. Different nests have different
properties, house nests produced in abandoned human dwellings,
contains less impurities and feathers. They are cleaner and have an
intact boat shape with a high swelling capacity. White nests are
smooth while yellow and blood-red nests are crunchier because they
contain more minerals than white nests.
[0199] Cave nests produced by wild swiftlets in natural caves and
on cliffs are firm, hard and deep in color due to the harsh natural
climate and environment. Cave nests are not as well shaped as house
nests and contain higher impurities. Cave nests are crunchy with
low swelling capacity that lengthens the time for preparation.
Nests may be white in color, yellow, orange or blood-red. Shaped in
the form of cups, lumpy, stripped, shredded, minced, ball shaped.
The different products of bird's nests that can be found in the
market include the natural whole nest, nest strips, nest pieces,
nest threads and the irregular shaped nest cake processed from nest
threads. The age of the bird influences the quality of its nests.
Generally the older the bird is, the more simmer-tolerant the nest.
Bird's nests appears neat on the periphery, but are rough
internally and high in elasticity with high culinary and medicinal
value.
[0200] Nutritional effects-wise, edible bird's nest is widely known
as a nourishing and replenishing medicinal food with special
alleviative and therapeutic effects; a rejuvenating health food
with restorative properties to reinvigorate the human body. Chinese
researchers had discovered that edible bird's nest contains a "cell
division inducing hormone" and an "epithelial growth factor" that
can stimulate growth and division of cells, thereby enhancing
tissue growth, cellular regeneration and cell-mediated immunity in
humans. Such recent scientific evidence lends further proof to
support the age old assumption and entrenched beliefs regarding
such properties of edible bird's nest: such as stimulating
regeneration of body cells; enhance cell-mediated immunity;
rejuvenation and recovery of irradiated tissues, especially during
medical procedures when patients are exposed to X-rays causing huge
quantities of body cells to die off.
[0201] Composition wise modern scientific experiments have
discovered that nests are largely composed of protein (49.9%),
including considerable amounts of bio-active protein, as well as
essential minerals such as phosphorus, iron, calcium, sodium and
potassium. Studies have found that nests consist of elements which
stimulate cell growth and reproduction, thus able to promote tissue
growth, cell re-growth and enhance cellular immunity functions.
Edible bird's nest contains the precious salivary secretion of
swiftlets, thus the ideal storage method is to store the bird's
nest in an airtight storage jar followed by refrigeration. Nests
may be dried with a fan or beneath an air-conditioner. Care should
be taken to avoid drying of nests by baking or exposure to direct
sunlight.
[0202] The avian farm may engage specialist expertise such as
ornithologists and veterinarians to study and monitor the swiftlet
population growth rate, mortality rate, behavioral patterns,
demographic dynamics, food resource, etc. for future planning
needs. Such as expansion of the nesting habitat, demography and
distribution of avian population, food supply logistics, forecast
and planning, limitations of the feeding ground surrounding the
farm, etc. All such data are non-existence and require further
study and research to determine.
[0203] Included in the eco-farm are specialized avian treatment
facilities such as veterinary laboratory for (swiftlet's)
physiological sampling and checking, such as blood tests,
inspection, avian disease control and testing; medication and
administration of avian medicine, vaccination against disease and
sickness; programs to increase growth rates and accelerate
reproductive capacity by means of growth hormones, mating hormone
or lights comprising special bands of red light comprising
wavelengths 620 nm to 730 nm. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,766,767 E1
Halawani et al. teaches such a method of employing
photo-stimulation to increase eggs production in poultry. In U.S.
Pat. No. 4,828,987 Kopchick et al teaches a method of using bovin
growth hormone to increase growth rates in poultry. In U.S. Pat.
No. 5,151,511 Souza et al teaches a purified and isolated DNA
sequence coding for expression of chicken growth hormone
poly-peptide. These methods may be trial-tested and if found
suitable, adopted and applied under license to domesticated
swiftlets to dramatically increase its population and the edible
bird's nests production capacity of the farm. The farm may also
include monitoring & quarantine facilities; fumigation and pest
control equipment and facilities for ticks, mites, lice, etc.
[0204] The swiftlets breeding and edible bird's nests production
facility may also be used to provide a scientific-research
platform, a facility for carrying out experiments and studies in
swiftlets related fields of specialties such as avian disease,
preventive measures, etc. Ornithologists and research fellows may
study avian and swiftlets colonial behavioral patterns under
controlled conditions without scaring the birds. Or, in the
specialized scientific research of the avian echo-location
capabilities of these cave swiftlets. Minute radios with
micro-transmitters may be attached to the swifts to monitor their
pattern of flight, range and feeding habits, etc. under conditions
that only a domesticated farm may provide.
[0205] Mechanical lifts used in high rise buildings may be used for
transportation up and down steep cliffs, structures and the roof of
bird caves 100, hundreds of meters high. Equipment for use at the
farm may comprise lifting machineries such as man lifts, overhead
cranes or hoists, tower-cranes together with specialized
mountaineering cum sports equipment such as lanyards, hooks,
tackles, foot grips, grapples, etc. for rappelling the steep cliffs
of the production facility. Permanent hooks and tackles may be
built and installed into strategic locations within the production
facility. Ladders, securing ropes, attachment points, etc. may be
pre-positioned together with safety lines, harnesses. Standard
house-keeping practices, equipment maintenance, statutory
inspections, standard operating procedures, work safety and
production quality form the norms of such a breeding and production
facility.
[0206] All of the features and individual components, apparatus and
methodology as disclosed in present invention may be cross applied
and used in combination and integrated with each other.
* * * * *