Archive for June, 2006
americanartifacts.com
On many properties, finding a good site to place artificial nest cups is difficult. Barn swallows demand adequate protection of the nest from rain. Modern homes often don’t have adequate overhang of the eaves to provide this protection. Also, placing nest cups under the eaves of a two story house is more than many home owners want to attempt.
The use of shelters specifically designed for barn swallow nesting has become a feasible idea when fitted with artificial nest cups. The presence of nest cups greatly increases the chances of such structures being used by swallows.
A single nest shelter
The most basic structure is a wall mounted single nest shelter. This shelter allows the nest to be placed anywhere on a wall rather than just up under the eaves or on a porch. The roof should be adequate to prevent blowing rain from reaching the nest. I will be trying several single nest shelters this spring, testing both horizontal and vertical spacing on the wall of our barn. The swallows may not be interested in nesting at multiple levels, but it’s worth a try since an entire colony could then be housed on a single wall.
Two post free-standing shelter
A simple free-standing multi-nest shelter is a gable roof mounted on 2 posts, much as a wishing well roof, only longer. The shelter should have a ceiling and a 1 ft apron on all four sides. The nests can be mounted on the inside of this apron or back to back on a board running down the center. On the 4 ft wide version, nests can be mounted on both sides and on the center board. The nests should be at least 8 ft. above the ground. An even higher structure with the nests around 12 ft. above the ground may be more appealing to the swallows, especially if humans are a problem in your area (children with long sticks). However, this tall a shelter is more difficult to build and the nests will be less accessible for monitoring and emptying. Where human traffic isn’t heavy, an 8 ft. shelter may be preferred.
2 pole shelter diagram - end view - - - 2 pole shelter diagram - top view - - - 2 pole shelter for maximum privacy
4 post free-standing shelter
Similar shelters wider than 4 ft require 4 corner posts. Nests may be placed on several boards running along and perpendicular to the ceiling. Nests can be placed on both sides of the boards, or if closely spaced, on one side only. An ideal pattern of nest placement has not yet been determined. Careful observation of new shelters fitted with nest cups, noting which cups are used first and which are not used is a useful research project for anyone building such a shelter. If the joists run across the width of the shelter rather than end to end, a single nest placed on each joist would not be in the line of sight of any other nest. This arrangement should be tried, but, several nests in view of another nest should also be tried. Swallows often seem to spread out within a colony room, seeking the maximum space between nests. However, I have frequently observed two pairs of swallows choosing to nest fairly close together, especially when they are nesting at a new site. Like most animals, swallows spend a great deal of time and effort trying to avoid being eaten. A benefit of colonial nesting is that each bird can spend less time watching for predators, relying on other members of the colony to share the watch. Having another pair nesting close by and in line of site may be reassuring to the swallows
4 pole shelter diagram - end view
I set the posts today for an 8×12 shelter which will have 12 nest cups. Hopefully it will be finished before the swallows return.
Lean-to shelter on an existing building
Where a shed or other outbuilding is present, another option is to attach a lean-to on the side of the building, supported at the other end by 2 or more posts. Care must be taken that the roof and supports are strong enough to hold a snow load, including what might slide down the roof of the shed. Unless the roof is in afternoon shade and has a shallow slope, there should be a ceiling above the nests to protect them from overheating and to allow proper nest placement with 2″ clearance above the rim. The resulting attic should be vented at each end. Or, better still, in hot climates, the attic should be insulated. The eaves of many small sheds are too low to allow an 8 ft. lean-to addition. Swallows have accepted nest heights of 6 ft in sheds or other sites where they are seldom disturbed. But, if possible, 8 ft. is a safer minimum height. A somewhat lower entrance is no problem and may actually be preferred. An entrance lower than the nests gives greater protection from the weather as well as from prying eyes of passing predators. The 12 inch apron around the top of the shelters illustrated above allows nests to be placed at the edges of the shelter with total protection from the weather. This maximizes the number of nests that will fit in a given size shelter, however they are arranged.
lean-to shelter diagram - end view
Shelter construction
The above information does not cover the methods of construction of the free standing shelter. The method you choose is immaterial to the swallows and should fit your needs. The shelter must be sturdy enough to withstand wind and snow load and the nest area must be protected from the weather. Very economical shelters can be made from materials at hand, such as left over shingles and 2×4’s from a construction job. On the other hand, an elaborate shelter with decorative trim or a design to match your house may be an interesting addition to your yard. A store bought gazebo would make an ideal, if expensive, swallow shelter. The swallows won’t care which you choose. Their interest lies in weather protection, height of nests, placement of nest in relation to other nests, and protection from predators.
Swallow nest selection in your shelter
As swallows colonize your shelter, records should be kept of which nest cups are used and what relation they have to other nests. This will help establish a minimum distance acceptable for the following conditions.
A. Distance between nests mounted on a common joist.
B. Distance between facing nests on adjacent joists.
C. Distance between nests on opposite sides of a joist. These are not in line of site of each other.
diagram of measurements A, B, and C
Dual use swallow shelters
Since there is no guarantee that swallows will colonize a shelter that you build, the idea of a secondary purpose for this structure is worth considering.
Simultaneous dual use A storage shed, car port, or other structure may be fitted with swallow nest cups if a window or door can always be left open and the droppings from the swallow nests can be tolerated. The droppings will be confined to the area directly below each nest and can easily be collected on a newspaper or plastic flower pot.
Seasonal dual use The swallow colony will use a shelter only during nesting. In Maryland, this is from mid April to early August. This allows the shelter to be used for winter storage of such items as lawn furniture, or maybe a riding mower, if you use one of those things.
Secondary use Until the swallows take up residence in your shelter, a secondary use will take the pain out of having an unused shelter. This use should not interfere with the appeal of the shelter to swallows, or they may never come. Gazebos are an ideal secondary use structure.
Richard Van Vleck
richard@americanartifacts.com
June 20th, 2006
americanartifacts.com
PURPOSE
The use of artificial nests to attract barn swallows to a new site depends on their acceptance of these nests. To test the acceptance of artificial nests by barn swallows, the nests were offered to our colony of swallows, who also had access to old nests and plenty of unused space to build new nests.
METHODS
What had begun this winter as a nesting shelf project to encourage multiple nestings of barn swallows has evolved into something quite different. My goal was to make a small nesting shelf that fit the swallows’ requirements while blending in with the architecture of a house. The idea was that more people would be willing to place multiple swallow shelves on their house if they appeared to be a part of the house. At the same time, I took careful measurements of 40 swallow nests and began making a variety of artificial nests. The nests were made of various materials molded over a wire form secured to a backboard which could easily be screwed to a wall. Even if it turned out that these nests would not be used, they might encourage swallows to build their own nest nearby, sort of acting as a decoy.
A portion of the swallow colony room was modified for the shelf and nest test. A plastic tarp was stapled under the joists, covering both the old nests and the joists upon which the nests were built, effectively making a new lower ceiling. The locations of the old nests were noted so I could avoid placing a shelf or artificial nest directly under an old nest to rule out nest site fidelity as an important factor in the swallows’ selecting a new site. Simulated walls were then constructed of sections of cheap paneling secured to 2×4’s to provide a slick surface similar to modern plastic or painted siding. The partitions extended down 24″ from the ceiling. The other side of the colony room was left unchanged, making available both previously built natural nests and plenty of unused space on the hand hewn beams for building new nests.
When our swallows began to return (a week late this year), several of the turned shelves were mounted on the panels. The swallows immediately began dabbing mud on each shelf. No other nest building activity was noted. Happy that they were apparently claiming the shelves, I mounted several artificial nests between the shelves, but no closer than 4 feet from them or each other. The swallows instantly began adding mud to the nests and ignored the shelves, except to use as convenient perches. I decided to place the artificial nests lower than the 1 1/2″ rim to ceiling distance required, in case the swallows needed to add some mud as part of the nest building ritual. Most of the nests in use have the rims built up. I haven’t measured the exact height of their mud additions yet. I plan to move some of the unused nests up to the 1 1/2″ clearance for the second nesting to see what happens.
RESULTS
On May 19, 2001, 7 artificial nests had eggs and 2 previously built natural nests had eggs. No new nests had been built, either on the beams or on the new shelves. By May 31, 2001, nine artificial nests had eggs or young and 3 natural nests were used. and still there was no new nest construction. Two of the artificial nests in use were mounted in the undisturbed area on the side of the beams. The other seven were mounted under the tarp on the simulated walls. There are still plenty of both unused artificial and old natural nests available. Several more pair are likely to nest soon and, later, the second brood is often reared in a different nest, so much more will be happening this summer.
The overwhelming acceptance and even preference for the artificial nests among the swallows in our barn colony suggests that these nests may play an important role in attracting swallows to new sites. Just as important, those people finding a swallow nest blocking their front door or or otherwise causing a problem may find that placing an artificial nest off to one side of the door or even on a different wall may be the surest way to coax the swallows to move.
Update 6/16/2001 Eleven artificial nests have now been used. Six have nestlings, 4 have eggs and the young have fledged from one. There are still only three natural nests that have been used (two with nestlings and one where the young have fledged. Still no new nests have been built this year.
Update 6/30/2001 With many second broods begun, 3 new nests are finally being built - one on a provided shelf and two on the side of beams. So far 12 artificial nests and 4 old natural nests have been used. Two of the artificial nests have been reused for 2nd broods. The three new natural nests are almost completed and should have eggs very soon. Usually, a nest is not used for two consecutive broods, which may explain why the 3 new nests are finally being built. However, there are still unused artificial and natural nests available.
It occurred to me that emptying the artificial nests after the young have fledged may lead to more frequent immediate reuse. I’ve never cleaned out a natural nest because they are too fragile and the nesting material is embedded in the mud. However, the artificial nests can be easily emptied of all nesting material, including the mud rim that was added to some of them. I cleaned all the nests today, but many second broods have already begun, so it may be too late to detect a difference in reuse of emptied nests. The one thing that was clear is that the artificial nests are preferred by barn swallows.
Update April 4, 2004 After several years of using artificial nests, it appears that the economy wood nests are as attractive to swallows as the heavier and more expensive plaster nests. Also, I now routinely empty the nest cups after each nesting, in order to reduce the mite population, which tends to build up with each nesting. It’s hard to tell if this has improved the outcome of third nestings, since other factors, especially weather, play as important a role in mid-summer nesting success. However, reuse of the same nest for consecutive broods has increased since initiating this practice.
Richard Van Vleck
richard@americanartifacts.com
June 20th, 2006
nhptv.org
CLASSIFICATION
Phylum: Chordata
 Class: Aves
 Order: Passeriformes
 Family: Hirundinidae
 Genus: Hirundo
Characteristics
The barn swallow is about six inches long and has a dark slate blue head and wings. It has a dark rusty orange throat and forehead and a paler orange chest and underside. It has a deeply forked tail. Males and females are similar, but the female’s tail is a little less forked and her underparts are a little paler.
RANGE
In North America, the barn swallow breeds from Alaska east to Newfoundland, Canada and south to California and east to northern Florida. The barn swallow is a Neotropical migrant. It leaves its breeding range in the fall and travels south to winter in Mexico, Central America and South America. It travels by day, eating as it flies. It can travel as many as 600 miles a day. Barn swallows migrate in large groups. The barn swallow also breeds in northern Europe, northeastern Asia, the Middle East and Northern Africa. European and Asian barn swallows winter in southern Asia and Indonesia and Micronesia.
HABITAT
The barn swallow can be found in farmlands, suburbs, marshes and lakeshores.
DIET
The barn swallow is an insectivore, it eats only insects. Grasshoppers, beetles, moths and other flying insects make up a large part of its diet. The barn swallow zig-zigs through the air in pursuit of its prey. It even gets its water while flying! It will skim over the surface of a body of water and scoop up water in its bill.
LIFE CYCLE
Barn swallows form breeding pairs in the spring when they return to their breeding grounds. The male tries to attract a female by spreading his wings and singing. Barn swallows often mate in the air. Both parents build the nest. Nests are made of mud and lined with grass and feathers. The barn swallow pair will gather mud and roll it into a pellet and then carry it back to the nesting site in their bills. The cup-shaped nest is built in the rafters or eaves of buildings, on bridges, in mine shafts or on other manmade structures. Occasionally, the barn swallow will build a nest under a rock ledge or cliff face, but that is rare. Like their name suggests, barns are one of the favorite location for barn swallows to build their nests and a single barn may be used by five to eight pairs of barn swallows.
The female lays four to six eggs. Both parents help incubate the eggs and care for the young. The eggs take around two weeks to hatch and the chicks will fledge when they are about three weeks old. The parents will continue to feed them for up to a week after they fledge. The female may have two broods a year. The same pair may mate for several years.
BEHAVIOR
The barn swallow uses a variety of vocalizations to communicate. It has an alarm call to warn of predators and a mating call used to attract a mate.
June 20th, 2006
personal.ksu.edu
The Condor 103:879–885
June 19th, 2006
enviro-explorers.com
Cliff swallows are migratory birds that usually build their mud nest colonies on cliffs and rock overhangs. Since these areas are difficult to find in some parts of Iowa, the swallows often build their nests under concrete bridges on some of our state highways.
The cliff swallows are classified under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 as migratory insectivorous birds, and are protected by state and federal regulations. It is illegal for anyone to take, possess, transport, sell or purchase them or their parts, such as feathers, nests, or eggs, without a permit.Winters in Iowa take their toll on our bridges, and each spring it is necessary to wash the steel parts of some bridges to prevent corrosion. Power washers used to clean the bridges can sometimes wash away the nests.
Last year the Department of Transportation learned that the cliff swallow nests need to be preserved. Since the nests are built to last and returning birds reuse the same nests year after year, the destruction of these nests could impact reproduction of the species.
The DOT has come up with a solution that will protect these nests, while cleaning and maintaining our bridges. Workers who wash the bridges are now required to look for these nests, and avoid any actions that will harm or destroy the nests. Since the steel portions of the bridges are the areas that need washing, the concrete parts where the nests are located can be avoided without affecting maintenance on the bridges.
June 19th, 2006
shawcreekbirdsupply.com
Like the Cliff Swallow, Cave Swallows build in close proximity to each other and, as the name implies, in caves. However, unlike Cliff Swallows, this species does not “stack” its nests on top of others: this likely comes from the open structure of the nest. Cave Swallows line their mud nests, built on sites with open approaches, with cotton-like plant fibers, thin strips of bark, fine grasses and feathers”. The Cave Swallow can be told from all swallows except the Cliff Swallow by its pale rump. Cave Swallow has a darker forehead and a paler throat than the Cliff Swallow. The Cave Swallow’s tail is more squared at the tip than most other swallows.
Originally restricted to open country in the vicinity of limestone caves and sinkholes; the Cave Swallow has adapted its nesting habits to artificial structures such as culverts and bridges in the northern part of its range where water and mud are available. Breeds from Carlsbad Caverns in southeastern New Mexico and from western and south-central Texas south through Mexico. Winter range is unknown.
Cave Swallow Range Map
Cave Swallows form colonies and tend to build its mud nests in isolated crevices and pockets, or under overhanging ledges. This species will reuse nest year after year and will sometimes share the same nest site with Barn Swallows. The Cave Swallow feeds exclusively on insects.
June 19th, 2006
sas.org
Allen Rhodes
To birders, the variety of sizes, shapes, colors, songs, habitats and behaviors of our feathered friends are fascinating and account for much pleasure. However, if you go a little farther and search carefully, you will find another much-varied dimension of the bird world - their nests.
Birds’ nests are constructed from a variety of materials in a variety of locations. They range from carefully constructed, complex structures of grass, straw, sticks or mud, to a snug, wood-walled structure, to a simple bare spot on the ground. Some birds, such as the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater), do not build nests. Instead, they are parasitic and lay their eggs in other bird’s nests
The photograph above shows the tiny, camouflaged nest of a hummingbird with its outside covering of lichens. This nest, which was photographed by Forrest Mims along Geronimo Creek in Guadalupe County, Texas, is most likely that of a ruby throated hummingbird (Archilocus colubris), as they are the most common nesters in this area. This nest may weigh only an ounce, but it represents substantial effort on the part of the parents and provides the cover and concealment for their clutch of tiny eggs.
A good example of a nest which required minimal effort on the part of the parent birds is the “nest” of the common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) from LaSalle County, Texas, in the adjacent photograph. The nest site was found while I was searching for Indian artifacts and would likely not have been noticed but for the parents’ swooping and calling as I entered the opening in the brush. Their behavior, meant to distract, alerted me to the possibility of a nest site, and after about 15 minutes I found it.
The two eggs, which are easily overlooked, resemble smooth stones. On a second visit to the nest site nine days later, I could find no sign that there had ever been a clutch of eggs. It is possible that a predator, such as a snake, raccoon, skunk, or feral hog, could have eaten the eggs or fledglings, but there were no signs to indicate what happened If you have driven along highways in much of Canada and the United States during summer, you have probably noticed swallows swooping around overpasses and perching on utility wires, sometimes in large flocks. These may be either cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) or barn swallows (Hirundo rustica).Cliff swallow nests are finely constructed of mud and stuck to a horizontal surface or on a ledge under a bridge, culvert or overpass. They are occasionally found on buildings.Cliff swallow nests may be distinguished from those of barn swallows by construction (overhead cover and tubular entrance) and location. The cliff swallow nest shown here, which was photographed in Guadalupe County in South-Central Texas, has a characteristic roof, a circular entrance and is nearly tubular in shape.Barn swallows generally build on manmade structures, such as barns and under porches and carports. They may use bridges and overpasses as well. Barn swallows are tenacious, and, once they decide they like a location, they are hard to chase away. The barn swallow nest shown here was photographed in Guadalupe County, Texas. The nest is an open cup without a tubular entrance that is stuck against a horizontal surface or, perhaps, built on a ledge. Both cliff and barn swallows have adapted to man’s influence on their environment, willingly building their nests where buildings and other structures suit them.The cactus wren (Campylorhyncus brunneicapillum) is the largest wren found in North America. It is identified by its size, distinct white eye-stripe and overall streaked appearance. It builds a football shaped nest of grass and straw with a side entrance. The nest shown here was neatly built between the pads of a prickly pear cactus.
This nest was photographed in LaSalle County in South Texas. It demonstrates the wren’s accommodating nature, for it was built near an equipment shed adjacent to farm equipment and a grain storage facility. Other than fussing at the ranch workers as they moved by or through the area, the wrens went about their business and raised their brood.Woodpeckers chisel out holes in trees, utility poles and even buildings and use the cavity for their nests. The hole shown here in a mesquite tree in LaSalle County, Texas, was originally made by a golden-fronted woodpecker (Centurus aurifrons).
In subsequent years, the cavity has been used by other species, including wrens and flycatchers
June 16th, 2006
hawkeye.ca
Cliff swallows are slender, sleek birds well known for their long migration. Cliff swallows spend their winters in South America and summers in North America. They arrive in or around April. They are very territorial and will always attempt to come back to the same nesting site. The cliff swallow has made a very successful switch from cliffs to manmade structures for nest
placement. Increased insect population from modern agriculture and shelter created by manmade structures are two reasons given for this transition. The cliff swallow now faces strong competition from the introduced house sparrow for food and shelter. This may be why their numbers appear to be dwindling. The cliff swallow is a protected species and their arrival is a sign of spring for many.
Damage
Cliff swallows can be a major nuisance in suburban areas due to their nestling habits. The mud nests damage and deface the outer walls and eaves of residences and office buildings. Building sides often end up smeared with feces from the bird colony along with collecting on the ground. Parasites have been known entering the building through cracks next to the nests.
Control
Cliff swallows enjoy special protection under the law. Only a permitted company like Hawkeye can disturb them once they have built their nest. Controls include; Falconry, capture netting. A good way to eliminate cliff swallow problems is to take down the nests in the winter while they are gone and exclude them from returning using exclusion netting.
Physical Description
The Swallow has a dull forehead; blue-black back, crown, wings and tail; brownish red face and throat; and a white belly. Look for a squared off tail (barn swallows have forked tails) and a pale yellow rump (purple martins have a solid colored back). Juveniles have similar coloring but duller.
Nesting
They build elaborate nests out of mud pellets. The cliff swallow packs mud pellets in the upper eaves of a building. The resulting nest will resemble a wine carafe or flask with the opening on the side. They line the nest with grass and feathers. Nests are packed together in close knit colonies. The colonies range in size from a few to several thousand. Breeding Cliff swallows have two broods per year with each brood containing four to five eggs. Egg coloration will be white, cream or pale pink with brown spots on some of the eggs. The eggs take 12 to 14 days to hatch. Fledglings leave the nest after 25 days.
Cycles
Cliff Swallows migrate each year between North and South America. They winter in South America and summer in North America.
Bird Facts
Height/Weight - 4/1 oz Life Span - 4-6 years in the wild and up to 12 years in captivity Flight Speed - 15-45 mph Range - across country rural to urban areas Food - well noted insects eater Habitat - Suburban areas adjacent to open fields and water.
June 16th, 2006
suaramerdeka.com
HARGA iler (air liur) burung walet konon mencapai Rp 17,5 juta/kg. Banyak pemodal berspekulasi membangun gedung untuk tempat sarang burung itu berdekatan dengan sarana serupa yang sudah ada sebelumnya.
Harapannya, burung yang bernama latin aerodramus fusiphagus itu dengan serta merta pindah dari tempat lama dan membuat sarang di gedung baru. Itu harapan kosong, sebab walet punya tabiat tak akan pindah lokasi sebelum tempat lama penuh.
Padahal, kondisi sesak di suatu bangunan bisa bertahun-tahun. Pemilik rumah walet biasanya lari ke dukun untuk mempercepat pengembalian investasi ratusan juta. Ada pula yang memasang bambu petuk atau sejenis azimat lain.
Arif Budiman, warga Jl A Dahlan/Jalan Baru No 41 Weleri punya cara mempersingkat waktu kehadiran walet dengan menangkar burung sriti kembang. ‘’Ilmu'’ hasil eksperimen yang dilengkapi dengan laku tirakat itu, menurut pengakuannya, sudah diakui secara nasional sebagai temuan orisinal dia.
Majalah Trubus (spesialis agribisnis) pernah datang kepadanya dan minta presentasi atas temuannya itu. Bekas wartawan Kartika itu juga pernah diundang berceramah di Harian Malang Pos, Tabloid Peluang yang diadakan oleh berbagai organizer di Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Madura, Cipanas, dan Pangandaran.
Karena kesuksesan itu, bapak dua anak ini hingga kini bertahan menjadi konsultan jasa ‘’memancing'’ kedatangan walet atau ‘’meruwat'’ bangunan sarang walet yang bertahun-tahun belum menghasilkan. Dia yang sudah melanglang untuk menangani rumah walet di Tegal (2), Subah (1), Wangon (1), Cilacap (2), Bojonegoro (2), Sala (2), Purworejo (2), dan Weleri (1) itu berani memberi jaminan, dalam tempo enam bulan bangunan yang dia tangani sudah ada sarang burungnya.
‘’Pendek kata, kalau di Pantura dari Brebes-Rembang pernah saya tangani. Kalau di jalur selatan ya dari Wangon-Wonogiri.'’
Konsep Sederhana
Sriti kembang (Hirundo Javanica) masih dari keluarga walet, dipilih karena dia berkaki kuat (mampu berdiri), sehingga bisa memakan makanan yang disediakan. Juga mampu hidup di lingkungan terkurung dengan makanan yang berbeda dari habitat aslinya.
Berbeda dari walet yang berkaki lemah, sehingga hanya bisa menggantung. ‘’Burung terbang'’ ini hanya bisa makan dengan cara menyambar makanan (tepatnya mangsa: semut terbang dan laron, serta lebah-lebah kecil) sambil terbang.
Ciri-ciri itu memungkinkan sriti kembang untuk ditangkar. Penangkarannya dengan membuat kandang di dalam atau di luar pintu masuk bangunan sarang walet.
Sepasang sriti kembang bisa menghasilkan telur dua hingga tiga butir. Walet cuma sepasang. Beberapa pasang akan ditarangkan, terserah kebutuhan tiap-tiap orang.
Setelah bertelur, telur sriti kembang diganti dengan telur walet. Jika telur itu menetas, tentu sudah menjadi anakan walet.
Jika anakan walet itu besar, otomatis dia cumbu dengan lingkungan gedung tempat dia dibesarkan. Kandang pun bisa dibongkar, dan seterusnya burung penghasil devisa itu akan membangun sendiri sarang mereka dari rerumputan di dalam gedung.
Konsep sebetulnya sederhana. Hanya yang tidak sederhana dan tak semua orang mampu melakukan, sebulan sekali selama enam bulan itu dia harus mendatangi bangunan walet yang dia tangani untuk membaca Alfatikhah 1.000 kali di mana pun tempatnya.
Sebagai konsultan, tentu dia menetapkan tarif atas jasanya. Jika peminat datang ke rumahnya untuk belajar selama sehari, biaya Rp 500.000.
Tetapi bila presentasi diikuti banyak orang, biaya Rp 500.000/orang, belum termasuk uang transpor dan akomodasi dari Weleri ke kota yang meminta jasanya. Bila dipanggil untuk konsultasi sekaligus ‘’meruwat'’ bangunan sarang burung yang belum menghasilkan, biaya bisa mencapai Rp 1,5 juta plus transpor dan akomodasi.
Baik bangunan baru maupun lama yang belum beruntung, dia jamin dalam enam bulan sudah ada sarang burungnya. ‘’Untuk satu sarang, saya minta Rp 500.000. Kalau tidak ada, tak usah bayar.'’ (Zulkifly Masruch-45j)
June 16th, 2006
Oleh Alfons Loemau ] dan Yusuf Leonard Henuk ]]
SEJARAH mencatat bahwa sarang burung walet telah dikonsumsi oleh orang-orang Cina sejak tahun 700. Sedangkan, perdagangan sarang burung walet dari Asia Tenggara ke Cina telah dilakukan sejak abab ke-14, pada saat Dinasti Ming berkuasa di Negeri Cina. Maraknya perdagangan sarang burung walet tersebut berkaitan erat dengan khasiat sarang burung walet dan status sosial orang-orang yang mengonsumsinya. Sarang burung walet dipercaya mempunyai khasiat bermacam-macam, termasuk dapat menyembuhkan beberapa penyakit pernafasan, menghalus-kan kulit, menambah kebugaran tubuh dan memperpanjang usia. Walaupun semua khasiat tersebut belum dapat dibuktikan secara ilmiah, kebiasaan pemanfaatan sarang walet sebagai bahan makanan terus berlanjut hingga kini dengan jumlah konsumen dari waktu ke waktu terus meningkat.
Menurut Kong et al. (1987), sarang walet yang dapat dikonsumsi oleh manusia berasal dari sarang yang dibuat dari air liur burung walet sarang putih (collocalia fuciphaga) dan burung walet sarang hitam (collocalia maxima) yang mengandung epidermal growth factor (egf). Sampai kini, harga sarang walet putih lebih mahal daripada sarang walet hitam. Pada bulan Januari 1999, misalnya, harga sarang walet yang dihasil-kan dari goa-goa alam di Desa Suwaran, Kabupaten Berau, Kalimantan Timur untuk sarang walet putih seharga Rp 10 juta/kg dan walet sarang hitam seharga Rp 1,5 juta/kg (Solihin dkk., 1999: 61). Sedangkan, harga tertinggi sarang walet putih mencapai US$ 2,500/kg (Rp 25 juta/kg).
Tulisan ini mencoba memfokuskan perhatian pada potensi tambang “emas putih” yang dihasilkan oleh sarang walet dari goa-goa alam di Kabupaten Belu yang bisa menjadi primadona perekonomian masya-rakat setempat yang dapat mendatangkan pendapatan yang sangat prospektif di masa depan dan kemungkinan timbulnya potensi konflik dalam pengelolaan sarang burung walet nanti (Pos Kupang, Selasa, 13 Juli 2004: 5).
Potensi sarang walet di Belu
Indonesia merupakan negara penghasil sarang burung walet terbesar di dunia. Negara-negara yang menjadi tujuan ekspor sarang burung walet dari Indonesia adalah Hongkong (Cina), Taiwan, Jepang, Singa-pura, Arab Saudi, Amerika Serikat, Aus-tralia, Perancis dan Belanda. Permintaan pasar internasional akan sarang burung walet dari Indonesia sebagian besar masih dipasok dari Pulau Jawa dengan daerah sentra pro-duksi sarang walet tersebar di tiga wilayah yaitu: Jawa Barat (Haurgeulis, Indramayu dan Karawang), Jawa Tengah (Pemalang, Pekalongan, Purwodadi, Kendal, Juwana, Semarang dan Wonosari) dan Jawa Timur (Gresik, Sedayu, Pasuruan dan Bangil).
Sebagian besar produksi sarang walet dari daerah-daerah tersebut di atas tidak diambil dari habitat alami di goa-goa walet, me-lainkan dari budidaya burung walet di rumah walet. Namun, keterbatasan potensi ling-kungan alami, terutama faktor edafis (luas lahan) secara prospektif mempengaruhi lingkungan sosial dan lingkungan buatan. Pengaruh dimaksud di antaranya perubahan fungsi lahan yang semakin terbatas untuk pembangunan rumah walet sehingga me-nimbulkan masalah tata ruang di kota-kota di Jawa serta mempengaruhi kesehatan ma-syarakat yang mendiami kawasan sekitar rumah walet. Selain itu, konversi lahan juga berdampak pada semakin terbatasnya keter-sediaan pakan sehingga jumlah populasi burung walet semakin menurun. Akibatnya, para eksportir sarang burung walet di masa-masa mendatang, tidak mungkin lagi meng-andalkan produsen sarang burung walet di Pulau Jawa, tetapi akan melirik potensi sarang burung walet dari habitat alami di goa-goa alam di luar Jawa.
Kabupaten Belu merupakan salah satu dari 15 kabupaten/kota yang terdapat dalam wilayah administrasi Propinsi Nusa Teng-gara Timur (NTT) yang memiliki luas wi-layah daratan 2.445,57 km2 atau 5,16 % dari total luas wilayah daratan NTT. Secara ad-ministratif kabupaten yang berbatasan langsung dengan Negara Timor Leste, bekas Propinsi Timur Timur ini terbagi atas 12 kecamatan yang terbagi dalam 155 desa dan 12 kelurahan. Goa-goa alam yang selama ini telah diidentifikasi memiliki potensi meng-hasilkan sarang walet di Kabupaten Belu antara lain tersebar di 8 (delapan) dari 12 kecamatan di sana, yakni : Kakuluk Mesak (Desa Fatuketi), Tasifeto Barat (Desa Tukuneno), Tasifeto Timur (Desa Takirin, Lasiolat dan Bauho), Raihat (Desa Tohe), Kobalima (Desa Litamali dan Rainawe), Malaka Tengah (Desa Kateri), Sasita Mean (Desa Manulea) dan Rinhat (Desa Biuduk-foho). Besarnya potensi sarang walet dari goa-goa alam di beberapa kecamatan ter-sebut di atas belum dieksploitasi secara optimal karena sebagian besar penduduk Belu yang tinggal di sekitar goa-goa walet, belum banyak mengetahui manfaat ekonomis sarang burung walet. Khusus masyarakat adat Lidak, Kelurahan Umanen, Kecamatan Kota Atambua yang memiliki 37 goa alam, para tokoh masyarakat dan pe-mangku adat mengaku dengan lugu kepada Wakil Bupati (Wabup) Belu, drg. Gregorius Mau Bili bahwa selama ini mereka membiar-kan saja kegiatan mengambil sarang walet oleh kelompok masyarakat yang berasal dari luar Kampung Lidak karena mereka tidak mengetahui manfaat ekonomis dari sarang burung walet sehingga Wabup Belu meminta masyarakat adat Lidak agar melindungi se-kaligus mengelola sarang burung walet yang mempunyai nilai ekonomis tinggi dalam rangka meningkatkan kesejahteraan keluarga (Pos Kupang, Selasa, 13 Juli 2004: 5).
Kemungkinan konflik pengelolaan
Peluang pemanfaatan sarang burung walet dari Kabupaten Belu untuk memenuhi ke-butuhan pasar lokal dan internasional sangat besar. Peluang pemasaran tersebut tentu akan mengundang berbagai pihak yang berkepen-tingan terhadap sumberdaya ini untuk ikut bersama-sama dalam pemanfaatan sarang burung walet tersebut seperti penduduk sekitar goa-goa walet, masyarakat adat, pengusaha, pemerintah daerah dan peme-rintah pusat. Kini pemanfaatan sarang bu-rung walet merupakan sumber penghasilan baru bagi penduduk sekitar goa-goa walet untuk meningkatkan pendapatan dan per-baikan ekonomi rumah tangga. Sebagai con-toh, sarang burung walet di Desa Tukuneno dan Desa Fatuketi yang telah kami survai, telah diambil oleh penduduk sekitar goa-goa walet walaupun dijual secara terbatas dengan harga rendah. Kenyataan ini membuktikan bahwa gejala komersialisasi sarang burung walet sudah mulai terjadi di Kabupaten Belu.
Selama ini, goa-goa walet masih diyakini oleh penduduk setempat sebagai tempat yang dikeramatkan, tempat makhluk penunggu dan penjaga goa. Goa-goa walet juga meru-pakan simbol keberadaan masyarakat adat. Cara pandang masyarakat tentu akan beru-bah jika melihat adanya nilai ekonomi sarang walet. Penemuan sarang burung walet di goa-goa alam di Kabupaten Belu ibarat dite-mukan tambang “emas putih” dari goa-goa alam di sekitar pemukiman penduduk. Aki-batnya, akan tumbuh sikap untuk menguasai lokasi tempat sarang walet. Sikap untuk menguasai goa-goa walet tersebut merupa-kan indikasi tuntutan kepemilikan sumber daya secara individual. Hal ini dapat dilihat pada warga masyarakat yang pertama kali memanfaatkan sarang burung walet. Penemu goa-walet tersebut selalu mengklaim pemi-likan hak atas sarang burung walet (individual property rights).
Hak untuk menguasai sumberdaya secara perorangan ini kemungkinan akan berbenturan dengan komunitas adat yang merasa lebih berhak atas goa-goa walet. Komunitas adat melalui tokoh-tokoh adat melihat goa-goa walet merupakan bagian dari wilayah adat. Goa-goa walet menurut pandangan adat merupakan sumberdaya yang dikuasai adat (community property rights) seperti yang telah kami temukan di masyarakat adat Kobalima dan dilaporkan di masyarakat adat Lidak (Pos Kupang, Selasa, 13 Juli 2004: 5).
Pada umumnya, masyarakat adat di Belu memiliki suatu tatanan landasan budaya (culture base) yang dapat digunakan sebagai hukum adat. Landasan budaya ini bersumber dari adat Kobalima sebagai gabungan dari adat istiadat Dafala (Fehalaran), Dakolo (Maudemu), Lookeu (Lamaknen), Fohorem dan Fatumea (Timor Leste). Secara adat, terdapat 3 (tiga) tingkat hukum adat di Belu, yakni: 1) Kneter/neter (falsafah hidup), 2) Ktaek/taek (norma adat), dan 3) Ukun badu (hukum adat yang berisi pantangan dan larangan). Dalam perspektif hukum adat di Belu, prinsip dasar Kneter dan Ktaek sebagai falsafah dan norma adat yakni membangun dan membina keseimbangan dan harmonisasi hubungan timbal balik antara manusia dengan manusia (ema no ema), manusia dengan Tuhan (ema no maro-mak) dan manusia dengan alam (ema no raiklaran). Dalam hubungan dengan alam, badu merupakan sumber legitimasi budaya terhadap penguasaan alam dan pengakuan terhadap eksistensi alam sebagai media yang dikeramatkan. Paling tidak melalui badu, ada alasan secara adat bahwa alam (tanah, air, batu besar, pohon besar, gunung, dan lainnya) bagian dari adat. Alam memiliki nain (tuan atau “pe-milik”). Semua aktivitas di da-lam kawasan tanah keramat (rai lulik) didahului oleh ritual adat sebagai media “lou no sudur” (sujud dan menyembah) dan “husu no seti” (meminta dan memohon). Berkaitan dengan kepemilikan tanah, hak atas hutan atau tanah berada pada suku/kepala suku (foho bot nain rai bot anin : pemilik gunung dan pemilik tanah) dan menjadi milik komunal sehingga dapat diusahakan oleh semua anggota suku. Khusus untuk tanah kera-mat yang dilegitimasi sebagai hutan adat, menjadi milik atau dalam pengawasan uma metan (rumah suku tertinggi - nai: raja).
Sebaliknya, sejak sistem pe-merintahan adat diganti dengan sistem pemerintahan desa seperti yang telah diatur dalam UU No-mor 5 Tahun 1974 tentang Po-kok-Pokok Pemerintahan di Daerah dan UU Nomor 5 Tahun 1979 tentang Pemerintahan De-sa, hampir semua kepala desa diambil dari tokoh adat setem-pat. Status kepala desa yang ber-asal dari tokoh adat akan ber-pengaruh terhadap penggunaan adat untuk mengatur pengelola-an sarang walet. Dengan diketa-huinya manfaat nilai ekonomi sarang walet, maka kemung-kinan kepala desa dengan meng-atasnamakan adat akan menga-tur pengelolaan sarang walet. Dari sinilah akan menimbulkan potensi konflik kepentingan ekonomi antara warga masyara-kat dengan aparat pemerintah desa. Adanya penggabungan kewenangan adat dan institusi pemerintahan desa, akan me-munculkan masalah kewena-ngan pengaturan pengambilan sarang walet antara desa dan adat. Di satu sisi, ada pandangan bahwa adat sudah tidak memiliki kewenangan lagi dalam menga-tur persoalan ekonomi masyara-kat apalagi mengurusi tata peme-rintahan sejak diberlakukannya sistem pemerintahan desa. Se-mentara di sisi lain, adat melihat bahwa sumberdaya itu merupa-kan bagian dari wilayah kesatu-an adat sehingga tokoh-tokoh adat berhak mengatur pengelo-laan sarang burung walet. Pen-dapat kedua ini melihat penting-nya menghidupkan lagi kearifan lokal yang pernah ada di masya-rakat adat sejak belum diberla-kukannya sistem pemerintahan desa.
Konflik kepentingan lainnya terhadap sarang walet dapat be-rupa konflik antar desa dimana masing-masing desa mengklaim lokasi goa-goa walet yang ber-ada di wilayah-nya sebagai aki-bat telah diketahuinya nilai eko-nomisnya. Adanya klaim terha-dap penguasaan goa-goa walet pasti akan menimbulkan konflik kewenangan antara desa atau adat dalam mengatur pengam-bilan sarang walet di habitat alaminya. Selain itu, pemerintah daerah merasa berkepentingan untuk mengatur regulasi peng-ambilan sarang burung walet untuk meningkatkan pendapatan asli daerah (PAD) dengan mengatur perizinannya.
Kesimpulan, sarang burung walet telah lama digunakan sebagai bahan makanan oleh manusia. Indonesia merupakan negara penghasil sarang burung walet terbesar di dunia dengan daerah-daerah sentra produksi sarang burung walet tidak hanya terdapat di Pulau Jawa, tetapi di luar Jawa seperti Kabu-paten Belu. Namun masyarakat setempat belum mengeksploi-tasinya secara optimal karena sebagian besar penduduk Belu yang tinggal di sekitar goa walet, belum banyak mengetahui manfaat ekonomis sarang bu-rung walet. Kemungkinan timbulnya konflik pengelolaan sarang burung walet di masa depan akan terjadi bila tidak diatur dengan baik oleh semua pihak yang terkait.
* Penulis, kandidat doktor pada Program Studi Ilmu Lingkungan,
UI dan Lektor Kepala pada Perguruan Tinggi Ilmu Kepolisian
** Lulusan Universitas Queensland (Australia) & Kepala PPLHSA Undana
June 16th, 2006
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