GB2476510A

GB2476510A - Feeding aerial insectivores

Info

Publication number: GB2476510A
Application number: GB0922618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Quentin Phillipps
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-12-23
Filing date: 2009-12-23
Publication date: 2011-06-29
Also published as: GB0922618D0

Abstract

An apparatus and method in which a variety of organic and inorganic materials containing nutrients suitable for the diet of aerial insectivores 6 are processed into pellets or flakes 2 of a suitable shape and size and texture. The flakes are then distributed by mechanical or other means so that they may easily be taken as food by aerial insectivores in flight in the open air. Preferably once the flakes have been distributed in the air for aerial insectivores, any uneaten flakes 7 can be easily recovered so that they can be re-used immediately. Embodiments of the apparatus include distribution means in the form of a hopper and fan 5 combination, gravity dispensing the feed via a pipe (fig 5) or scattering the material from the top of a building (fig 4).

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AERIAL INSECTIVORES AND A METHOD

THEREOF

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for feeding aerial insectivores and a method thereof.

Background of the Invention

Aerial insectivores include two groups of animals, insectivorous bats and insectivorous birds that feed almost exclusively on small flying insects caught and consumed in flight.

Most insectivorous bats feed only at dusk or at night whilst most aerial insectivorous birds chiefly the swallows (Hirundinide) and the swifts (Apodidae) and swifflets (Collocalia and Aerodramus species) feed during the day.

It is desirable to be able to feed aerial insectivores for a variety of reasons, namely: (1) To provide sustenance for aerial insectivores used in zoological display exhibitions.

(2) To sustain local populations of aerial insectivores for conservation reasons when local aerial insect food is short e.g. during a drought.

(3) To attract wild aerial insectivores to a desired location for research purposes or tourism.

(4) To provide supplementary food for farmed colonies of swiftiets, US2008178819 describes the farming of swiftiets to produce edible nests.

US2008178819 describes how live insects may be bred and fed to farmed swiftlets. A disadvantage of this system is that insects that are normally bred for bird feeding such as crickets and mealworms are much larger than the normal insects eaten by swiftiets, which average the size of midges or mosquitos. Secondly these insects listed in US2008 178819 do not fly in a manner so that they can be caught easily in flight by aerial insectivores.

Thirdly live insects are not easily fed in the open air to free flying aerial insectivores.

Hence the feeding of swiftlets described in US2008 178819 takes place in a fully enclosed chamber so that the insects cannot escape before being eaten.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method in which a variety of organic and inorganic materials containing nutrients suitable for the diet of aerial insectivores are processed into pellets or flakes of a suitable shape and size and texture, which flakes are then distributed by mechanical or other means so that they may easily be taken as food by aerial insectivores in flight in the open air. Preferably once the flakes have been distributed in the air for aerial insectivores, any uneaten flakes can be easily recovered so that they can be re-used immediately.

In an aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for feeding aerial insectivores in a non-captive environment, the apparatus comprising a receptacle for containing food for feeding aerial insectivores, and means for dispersing said food into the air thereby allowing said aerial insectivores to be fed in flight.

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of feeding aerial insectivores in a non-captive environment, the method comprising providing a receptacle for containing food for feeding aerial insectivores, and dispersing said food into the air thereby allowing said aerial insectivores to be fed in flight.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus for manufacturing food for aerial insectivores; Figure 2 illustrates outline shapes of food for feeding aerial insectivores manufactures using the apparatus of figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates an apparatus for feeding aerial insectivores according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 illustrates an apparatus for feeding aerial insectivores according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 illustrates an apparatus for feeding aerial insectivores according to another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail on the basis of the attached diagrams. It will be appreciated that this is by way of example only, and should not be viewed as presenting any limitation on the scope of protection sought.

The exact composition of the ideal diet of aerial insectivores will vary dependent upon species and location. For example insectivorous bats feed mainly on moths at night whilst swiftlets feed on a large variety of different day flying insects including Hyrnenoptera (winged ants, fig wasps), Isopetera (winged termites), Diptera (midges, mosquitoes), Homopetra (small cicadas), Coleoptera (small beetles), Apidae (small bees) and Lepidoptera (small butterflies and moths).

Therefore the exact nutritional requirements of each species of aerial insectivore will vary from one species to another and may also vary at different times of the year dependent on whether or not young are being fed. The chemical composition of the feeding flakes may mimic the natural chemical composition of wild insects normally taken by a target population of aerial insectivores, e.g. swiftiets. A non exclusive list of typical ingredients used in the preparation of a suitable food for aerial insectivores may include some or all of the following ingredients, dried egg yolk, dried shrimp or prawns or krill, dried fish, dried meat or offal, dried meal worms, dried flies, dried wax moth larvae, dried grasshoppers, dried locusts and other dried insects. In addition materials such as gum arabic, carageenan, sodium alginate, dextrin, egg white, non fat milk solids or soy protein may be used as edible binders. A variety of vitamin, enzyme and mineral, supplements such as calcium may be added to the mix to achieve an optimum balanced diet for the target species of aerial insectivore based on that target species natural insect diet.

The actual size, shape, moisture content and mechanical properties of each food flake may vary depending on the target species.

These different flake shapes may be produced in a variety of different ways by for example utilising machinery common in the paper manufacturing industry for milling the raw ingredients to make a thin flat sheet followed by die cutting or die stamping of the sheet to produce the flakes. As shown in figure 1 the raw materials 1 are mixed in the appropriate proportions for the diet of a selected target species e.g. bats, and placed in a hopper 2. An edible binder is added and the mixed ingredients are gravity fed between two large rollers 3 to form a long thin flat sheet 4. The flat sheet is then passed between two guide rollers 5 preparatory to being passed between die cutting rollers 6. One of these rollers 7 has a surface of dies of a suitable pattern matching the size and shape of the proposed flakes. The pressure of the die cut roller against the base roller cuts the outline of each flake into the flat sheet 4 so that when the sheet emerges from the two rollers the cut flakes 8 drop into bin 9. The waste sheet is then fed through guide rollers before dropping into waste bin 11. The waste sheet 12 is then re-cycled for use in the next production batch whilst the flakes are packed in bags ready for distribution.

In one embodiment the raw ingredients are mixed in a vat and the extruded through a spout (not shown). The shape of the extrusion matches the outline shape of a flake. As the extrusion emerges from the spout it is sliced by slicing machine into individual flakes which fall onto conveyor belt. During conveyance the slices are dried with hot air fans and subsequently transported for bagging and distribution to aerial insectivore feeding sites.

In a further embodiment lectins or glycoproteins derived from plant matter such as beans or edible mushrooms are processed to remove the majority of colouring matter.

Additional mineral or other food supplements such as powdered chitin or calcium may be added to the mix which is then processed with paper making technology to produce thin translucent edible sheets of glycoprotein similar to rice paper. The edible paper sheets are then printed using edible ink with pictures of the live natural insect food of aerial insectivores. The images of the insects are cut from the paper by a cutting machine to produce flakes mimicking the actual appearance of live insects.

The manufacturing methods described above are not exclusive and many different variations may be used to achieve the desired result.

Figure 2 shows in enlarged scale some outline shapes of flakes that could be used for feeding aerial insectivores. The actual size of each flake will match the actual average size of a prey insect of target species of aerial insectivore. In examples 1-10 the outline shape mimics a food insect commonly eaten by Aerodramus and Collocalia swfilets. In examples 11-20 the outline shape is a more generic insect shape that may be eaten by many types of aerial insectivore.

Feeding of the manufactured flakes to aerial insectivores in flight may be carried out in a number of ways.

In an embodiment of the invention as illustrated in figure 3 a device for blowing the flakes into the air by an electric exhaust fan is placed on top of a multi-storey swiftiet farm house 1. A hopper is used to feed the flakes 2 into a sloping bowl 3 in the middle of which is fixed an exhaust pipe 4 powered by an electric fan 5. When the fan 5 is switched on the flakes 2 are sucked up from the bottom of the bowl 3 and blown into the air above the swifilet house so that they can be snatched by aerial insectivores 6 flying past. The flakes 2 which have not been taken by aerial insectivores 7 fall back into the sloping bowl 3 and are recycled for re-blowing.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in figure 4, wherein two adjacent eight storey swiftiet farm houses I include a walkway or bridge 2 built spanning the gap between the two buildings. Internal stairs in each building (not shown) are accessed via entrance doors 3a and 3b. Access to the roof of each building is gained via trap doors 4a and 4b. The swifflets are fed by scattering the food flakes from the walkway 2. Uneaten flakes drop onto concrete floor 7 where they can be collected and transported to top of the two buildings to be re-scattered from the walkway if desired. One example of collecting and transporting the uneaten flakes is by implementing a conveyor belt (not shown) on the floor 7 to direct the uneaten flakes into either one of the two buildings. Once inside the building the uneaten flakes can then be transported by, for example, a lift to the top of the building. The swiftlet houses are provided with swiftlet access holes 6 and ventilation holes for each floor 7. The gap between the two swifilet houses may be provided with wind baffles and a roof (not illustrated) to allow continued feeding during periods of inclement weather.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in figure 5, a steel tower 1 is constructed with a ladder/lift 2 to transport the flakes on to the top of the steel tower. The flakes are placed, by means of a machine or an operative into hopper 3 which has a gravity fed tube connected to a perforated dispenser 4. Flakes fall through the holes in the dispenser 4 and are snatched by swiftiets flying below. Uneaten flakes drop into tray 7 from where they can be collected and re-cycled. The uneaten flakes can be collected by means of a conveyor belt that would direct the uneaten flakes to the bottom of the tower before being transported to the top of the tower. Alternatively, the flakes can be collected by a manual operation, for example sweeping from the tray 7, or by compressed air.

The examples of how wild swiftiets may be fed in the open air with artificial food described above are examples of implementation of the present invention, and that further aspects, features, variations and advantages may arise from using the invention in different embodiments. In particular both the timing of the feeding and the amount of feed dispensed may be controlled by a clock or a computer.

The scope of protection is intended to be provided by the claims appended hereto, which are to be interpreted in the light of the description with reference to the drawings and not to be limited thereby.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. An apparatus for feeding aerial insectivores in a non-captive environment, the apparatus comprising: a receptacle for containing food for feeding aerial insectivores; and means for dispersing said food into the air thereby allowing said aerial insectivores to be fed in flight.
2. An apparatus according to claim I, wherein the receptacle is arranged to receive said dispersed food.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said means for dispersing food includes a propelling means arranged in the vicinity of the receptacle, and operable to propel said food into the air.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said propelling means comprises a tube having an opened end and a fan arranged therein, said fan is operable to draw said food into said tube to propel through an opposing opened end of said tube.
5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said receptacle comprises a substantially bowl-shaped receptacle.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said substantially bowl-shaped receptacle includes a substantially arcuate inner surface such that said received food can slide to a deepest point of said receptacle.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said opened end of said tube is arranged substantially close to said deepest point of said receptacle. /
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said means for dispersing said food comprises means for transporting said food from said receptacle to a suitable height for dispersing.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for transporting said food includes a conveyor means coupled to said receptacle, and operable to direct said food from said receptacle.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for transporting said food further includes means for elevating said food to a suitable height for dispersing said food to feed said aerial insectivores in flight, and is arranged to receive said food directed from conveyor means.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein means for elevating comprises a structure having an elevator for transporting said food to said suitable height.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said structure comprises two buildings arranged adjacent to one another, and a bridge arranged between said buildings.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said bridge comprises means for scattering said food therefrom.
14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein said receptacle is arranged substantially under said bridge such that said dispersed food can be received thereon.
15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said structure is a tower mast.
16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tower mast comprises receiving means for receiving said food from said elevator at said height, and means for scattering said food from said receiving means.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said scattering means comprises a gravity fed tube having a perforated dispenser for said food to fall through.
18. An apparatus according to any one of claim 15 to 17, wherein said receptacle is arranged substantially under said scattering means such that said dispersed food can be received thereon.
19. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said food includes flakes or pellets of non-living food.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said non-living food includes the outline of insects cut from a sheet of edible material.
21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said non-living food includes the outline of insects printed on a sheet of edible material.
22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said edible material is substantially composed of lectins or glycoprotein.
23. A method of feeding aerial insectivores in a non-captive environment, the method comprising: providing a receptacle for containing food for feeding aerial insectivores; and dispersing said food into the air thereby allowing said aerial insectivores to be fed in flight.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the receptacle is arranged to receive said dispersed food.
25. A method according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein said dispersing food includes arranging a propelling means in the vicinity of the receptacle, and said propelling means operable to propel said food into the air.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein said propelling means comprises a tube having an opened end and a fan arranged therein, said fan is operable to draw said food into said tube to propel through an opposing opened end of said tube.
27. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 24, wherein said receptacle comprises a substantially bowl-shaped receptacle.
28. A method according to claim 27, wherein said substantially bowl-shaped receptacle includes a substantially arcuate inner surface such that said received food can slide to a deepest point of said receptacle.
29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said opened end of said tube is arranged substantially close to said deepest point of said receptacle.
30. A method according to claim 23 or claim 24, wherein said dispersing said food comprises transporting said food from said receptacle to a suitable height for dispersing.
31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said transporting said food includes providing a conveyor means coupled to said receptacle, and said conveyor means operable to direct said food from said receptacle.
32. A method according to claim 31, wherein said transporting said food further include elevating said food to a suitable height for dispersing said food to feed said aerial insectivores in flight, and arranging to receive said food directed from conveyor means.
33. A method according to claim 32, wherein elevating comprises providing a structure having an elevator for transporting said food to said suitable height.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein said structure comprises two buildings arranged adjacent to one another, and a bridge arranged between said buildings.
35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said bridge comprises means for scattering said food therefrom.
36. A method according to claim 34 or claim 35, wherein said receptacle is arranged substantially under said bridge such that said dispersed food can be received thereon.
37. A method according to claim 33, wherein said structure is a tower mast.
38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said tower mast comprises receiving means for receiving said food from said elevator at said height, and means for scattering said food from said receiving means.
39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said scattering means comprises a gravity fed tube having a perforated dispenser for said food to fall through.
40. A method according to any one of claim 37 to 39, wherein said receptacle is arranged substantially under said scattering means such that said dispersed food can be received thereon.
41. A method according to any one of claims 23 to 40, wherein said food includes flakes or pellets of non-living food.
42. A method according to claim 41, wherein said non-living food includes the outline of insects cut from a sheet of edible material.
43. A method according to claim 41, wherein said non-living food includes outline of insects printed on a sheet of edible material.
44. A method according to claim 42, wherein said edible material is substantially composed of lectins or glycoprotein.
45. An apparatus as substantially herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.