As written earlier that the rate of increase is not as expected since started operating in Dec18th, 2010, the reason might be
a) wrong timing as it was during the monsoon season
b) no rain in the area at all during last two months
c) the open roof entrance
d) wrong location
e) wrong design
Earlier I have thought of modifying the entrance in several ways. But many readers kindly suggested us to stay put until the weather is milder. Nevertheless, my partner wanted to open a small entrance hole in South side as he saw many birds flying behind the building to avoid the strong wind from the North - East direction. So we did! but still to no avail as the weather was still very dry and windy. But finally during last two days, we have rains, heavy rains. Birds started to show up and the small entry on the South side looked good. Birds kept flying in from 3 pm to 5.50 pm!
Hopefully, more and more birds will come in to survey the house as shown in the following video clips for the coming months.
No need to tell you all that we are so determined to make this bird house work.
Birds flew in mainly from the new opening.
Birds also came from the open roof.
Checking inside.
3 years ago
Congrats! Looks like the additional small opening did the trick - success is on the way. Good work.
ReplyDeleteThank you kaa.
ReplyDeleteLook promising. Congrats!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Hun.
ReplyDeleteWill look like this only when the weather conditions permitted.
90 percent if birds will use the small entrance rather then the open roof entrance. I will put my money on the small entrance. I make mine 12 inches high x 24 inches wide. Also I love your fish they are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks. should I remove the open roof?
ReplyDeletewhat is the distance between small entr. and main entr. where is location of main entr.
ReplyDeleteThe main entrance is the open roof entrance on the above which is ard 4 meter from the small entrance.
ReplyDeleteOpen roof will normally take longer time for swiftlets to venture into the bh. There must be a reason why you choose open roof at the beginning and now you start thinking of removing it in just three months time (if I am not mistaken)?
ReplyDeleteMy partner and another friend ' BHs are both with open roof with very good results.
ReplyDeleteNo harm, you can always seal it back if it doesn't work., birds seems to like it, stay on for few months and observe the result.good luck
ReplyDeletewahoowahi@yahoo.com
Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI think you should visit most of successful BHs in your BH area to see how many of them are using top entrance and how many are using window entrance, then you may follow the majority. For example the most is window entrance type then it means the swiftlet in area prefers this entrance type.
ReplyDelete99 percent in our area used window entrance.
ReplyDeleteI just want to be different, an experiment!
No pain, no gain, hahaha.
Your results really good. Your Roving area is under your open roof? Do you have another Roving room before it enter to your nesting room. Btw,
ReplyDeleteyour CCD camera picture really clear.
No, only one roving room.
ReplyDeleteResults are not so good so far, not to my expectation.
Thanks, it's a "Made in China" one.
My BH Roving room is after the open roof. The room below open roof is just for the bird to reduce speed and fly into roving room for playing. So, most of the birds shits on the wall is at the roving room.
ReplyDeleteBut if you open a window entrance, I guess your current roving room is fine as the speed is already slow if entrance for window.
Correct window oepning.
ReplyDeleteCorrect door opening with correct tweeter installed with guiding sound aka external sound.
The door opening can be wider some more to ease their flying behaviour, reducing their flying speed, and made swiftlets felt more secure.