Art of BH Design

Just as I deliberate on this topic, a reader wrote and summed up his thoughts with this line:

"I think swiftlet farming is not only science but also art as well."

I can't agree more. Yes, in every aspect of it. A good case to illustrate is architecture - beneath its creative expression in form spans a diverse engineering knowledge across many disciplines.












A "green roof" to provide thermal insulation and breed insects is not a bad idea, as somebody implemented already.















Allow me to rephrase as:

"Understanding is science, application is an art."

BH designs need not to be alike. There are certainly common denominators among successful designs.

Some examples of group synergy in knowledge sharing:
1) A reader suggested earlier a topic on "effective design" - that is a valid point in addition to functional & economical considerations. To me the added perspective is towards a "minimal energy" BH design.

In natural caves, there is no "energy input" to its maintenance. While our "artificial caves" habitat require energy input & technology to regulate its application.

The "minimum energy" measure is how effective a design is - i.e. close to the ideal.

To this end, my starting point is the concept of thermal model. If one has a clear understanding from this perspective, there is a lot of clarity in trouble shooting and improving the micro-environment too.

It probably served me well as I lost power for 2 months not long after the new BH began operation. It could have been worse if not for the considerations in its design.

For those who are using exhaust fans/sun screens for their BH, only if they could understand the basics better, their solution would be different.

2) Another reader informs of his intention to build a new BH, to which I responded:

"Hi W..., before you proceed building your new BH, take a trip to Thailand. I'll walk you through what's the state of art here. Perhaps review your design. You'll find it worthwhile."

3) I did several design reviews over time, all on goodwill basis. As of now, a reader invite opinion in his BH extension with "open roof" design. I recommended the use SketchUp to model the layout and his reply:

"Thanks for the recommendation of the Software. Yes, it's a very powerful and good one. Manage to sketch something out of it. Hope the design is easier to see."

And further advice:
"Actually I intend to do 3-D models in new BH Design blog, including open roof designs, for benefit of members.

I have use SketchUp right from the beginning. You can model in exact dimension with as much details as you want. What's more you can place 3-D model on Google Earth on scale 1:1, orientate its placement.. wonderful!

You can use this model to check on flight paths obstruction if model accurately. Worth the extra effort."

I went through these in early days. Used it to adjust position of entrance hole in relation to both light and flight paths into roving room and nesting areas.

Finally, have we learn "all there is to know" on this subject?
There is certainly sufficient knowledge around to build good bird houses. To make it better.. there are still plenty room for advancements.

For the new BH Design book by Drs. Arief Budiman, at hefty price of Rp 2,500,000 (US$232), surely there are new knowledge in there (being an optimist). But how much is "new knowledge" and how much is "rehash of existing knowledge", I am eager to find out too.

As mentioned before, if I am to do it over again from a blank sheet, it is going to be different.