SHARIL AZWAN, M.Z.1*, FAKHRULISHAM, R.1, MOHAMAD MASRIN, A.1 AND NORHALIZA A.H.2
Spatial land use properties around the birdhouse contributes to the availability of swiftlet in a specific area. Our knowledge of spatial characteristics on potential land use areas for swiftlet houses is largely based on very limited data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current distribution trend of registered swiftlet houses in Peninsular Malaysia from 2014 to 2017 and to elucidate the density of registered birdhouses based on type of land use in each state. Registered edible-bird nest swiftlet (Aerodamus fuciphagus) houses under the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia (DVS) from 2014 to 2017 and multiple datasets on land use types, acquired from the Department of Agriculture (DOA) was analysed. The results showed that the total registered birdhouses from 2014 to 2017 in Peninsular Malaysia were 5,614 with Johor having the highest number cumulatively followed by Pahang, Terengganu, Kedah, Kelantan, Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Negeri Sembilan and Perak respectively. Development of new birdhouses in recent years have shifted from urban and residential areas towards inland areas including agriculture areas such as oil palm plantation and paddy field where these areas are promising as the availability of abundance feed source for the swiftlets. The findings offer crucial spatial characteristics of recommendation on potential areas for swiftlet farming in the future based on land use status throughout Peninsular Malaysia.