A DISPOSABLE SMART HOME FOR RED VENTED BULBUL

DESCRIPTION: Birds, especially those in the north Indian region, deserve to live in cool surroundings during the days of prickly heat & intense summers. Transforming ideas into reality is what we all must look for. This particular disposable bird-house is made up of cardboard, and it is portable as well. You can hang it over a hook.

An essential component that binds all of us with the spirit of human kinship and a sense of common belonging is that which is written in the books of bravery and restlessness, which beckons towards the determination of tonnes of thousands of brave young minds who sacrificed everything that was substandard in front of truth.

Why I created this bulbul nest?

I made this project (in an emergency) when I was in 10th grade (in the year 2020), and right now I am pursuing a Bachelor of Technology in the computer science domain. 

There is a whole story behind it. It seems creepy but it is 100% true.

There were 2 birds, later on, I got to know by a Google image search that they were red-vented bulbuls. They made a nest on a rubber plant tree. The tree is still there on the roof of my house. We had developed a kind of friendship. I threw some aalu bhujiya in the air, and it instantly came out of nowhere and engulfed it, flying in mid-way.

One morning, I saw that everything was disrupted. The nest was spreadeagled. The leaves were torn, and the stem was brutally chewed. Parent birds were crying while sitting on the pole, and an infant bird was lying down on the floor, totally helpless.

Either the monkey had destroyed their nest or the cat had done this evil deed.

Then I immediately went back downstairs and made this cardboard house with windows at both ends and a door that opens upwards with its front face making an angle with the vertical plane, and an open top with wire mesh to maximise ventilation. For about 4 hours, the infant bird was in the hankerchief.

Then, I kept it inside the smart house and turned on the fan. For 3 days, I served him everything, ranging from bhujiya to babycorn. Gradually, it started developing wings. It was growing with the speed of light, and I was happy about it. 

Once again, the sun rose. I abruptly woke up at about 6:00 a.m. When I approached the bird house, I was bewildered to know that the bird house was empty. Not even a broken feather was there. Then I searched for the bird but didn't get it. SO I THREW THE BIRD HOUSE ON ROADSIDE AND KEEP THAT SMALL FAN IN MY TOOLBOX. 

Most probably, the lizard had eaten it alive. Many times I have seen a lizard eating a big-sized cockroach. 

I had just one picture of the house, and that too I deleted after posting on the Electronic Wings Contest. I don't have any video.If you want me to explain the project building procedure in a detailed manner, then I can elaborate on it. 

These little creatures are the poorest of poor. Global warming and human activities such as deforestation leave a negative impact on lives of lakhs of birds, on a massive scale. 

I just want to pay tribute to those birds who chose my roof to build their nest and ended up separating all together for eternity...

Source of inspiration: Hindi stories of the Birdman of India.

Dr. Salim Ali (1896–1987),, known as the "Birdman of India,"  was an ornithologist and naturalist who conducted the first systematic bird surveys in India and wrote several books on birds. Ali's work popularised ornithology (the scientific study of birds) in India and inspired budding conservationists. Among the several books he authored, the ‘Book of Indian Birds’ still remains the bible for budding ornithologists. Despite the fame and adulation showered upon him, Dr. Ali remained what he was as a ten-year-old—an ever-curious person with a passion for birds.

BASICALLY WE NEED,

• A good quality cardboard which is not as fragile as ordinary ones. Tip to save time and money- Ask your neighbors, ask your local businesses. Finding cardboard is not a big deal at all.
• Glue/Adhesive & some tape.
• Craft knife/cardboard cutter/Scissors - Whatever you've got for cutting.
• A red coloured ribbon(15 cms).
• A lightweight D.C. motor and TPE rotor & some connecting wires.
• An insulated copper wire to make mesh(a sort of window for tiny homes).

PROCEDURE TO BUILD A SWEET HOME FOR OUR TINY QUEEN.

STEP 1: ATTATCH TPE ROTOR ON MOTOR SHAFT

 The benefit of using thermoplastic elastomers/rubbers is the ability to stretch to moderate elongations and return to its near original shape creating a longer life and better physical range than other materials.

It is essential to call this a smart-home because the bird will get fresh air from top whenever the switch is on. Fix the rotor over motor shaft and connect the motor with D.C power supply.

Again, to cover the topmost blank portion of cardboard home, you may use an insulated copper wire to create a mesh-like structure which allows the passage of cool air.

STEP 2: Build a Window to Feed the Bird.

A front-facing window is must to feed the bird as when required. Also, one can monitor the activities of tiny queen via the same window. Red vented bulbuls love to sing while sitting on a branch or place where they feel extremely comfortable.

To make it you will need to drill some holes leaving equal gaps and then complete the task as shown in photo. Remember to keep the upper portion slanting out so that if it rains then water does not wet the house.

STEP 3: Strengthen Walls using carboard angles.

Even if the cardboard is of premium quality, we can't rely upon building a structure with no support for walls. So, for durability of all four walls these cardboard angles is perfect choice.

Fix them with the help of an adhesive. Apply some adhesive and leave it to dry. Then, make a door which opens upwards.

STEP 4: HANG IT ON A HOOK RIGHT BELOW THE COOLING FAN

HANG IT ON A HOOK!

________________________________________________________________________________________________

VOILA! THE PROJECT IS READY.

I AGAIN EMPHASIZE THE FACT THAT BIRDS ARE THE POOREST OF POOR. THEY NEED UTMOST CARE. TONS OF BIRD SPECIES HAVE EXTINCT - THEY WON'T RETURN.