Introduction to Swallow Birds Nest

Introduction to Swallow Birds Nest

What exactly is Swallow Birds Nest?

The Swallow Birds Nest are made by swiftlet Collocalia-Fuciphaga, found in the tropical coastal area in South-east Asia. This unique swiftlet build their nests only with their saliva to form a composition of interwoven strands of salivary laminae cement. The nests are then crystallized and ready for swiftlet to lay eggs. When the egg has hatched and the young chick fledged, the nest is abandoned – a female will never lay her eggs in an old nest.

Swallow Birds Nests are rich in protein, amino acids and minerals. Scientific reports have repeatedly shown that Swallow Birds Nest can enhance tissue growth and cellular regeneration, slowing the ageing process, and boost cell mediated immunity in humans. It can also regulate the endocrine system and other body functions.

Swallow Birds Nests are beneficial to all kinds of people, especially children, the elderly, pregnant women, and post-surgery recoverers. Patients suffering from coughs, tracheitis, bronchitis, asthma or lung disease also benefit.

Recipes

All recipes below use Company Premium Swallow Birds Nest (either white or golden nest), and makes four servings.

Important note: The natural nutrients in Swallow Birds Nest will be degraded in extended conditions of high heat. Thus, to preserve the nourishing benefit of Swallow Birds Nest, the product should be cooked on low heat in water.

Swallow Birds Nest preparation: Soak 18.8g (half a tael) of Swallow Birds Nest in water for 8 to 12 hours, then drain. A standard package of Company Swallow Birds Nest contains 37.5g (one tael).

1. Royal Lady’s Swallow Birds Nest

Ingredients: Half a tael of Company Swallow Birds Nest, 1 bowl of water, 2 bowls milk, 5 egg whites, a little ginger juice, a portion of pearl powder, rock sugar adjusted to taste.

Method: Add water to the Swallow Birds Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Add all other ingredients except the rock sugar. Mix and immediately seperate into four bowls. Steam each bowl for 10 more minutes. Just before serving, dissolve some rock sugar in each bowl.

Effect: Smooths the skin, replenish qi and soothe the nerves.

2. Stewed Swallow Birds Nest with Papaya Milk

Ingredients: Half a tael of Company Swallow Birds Nest, 1.5 bowls of water, 2 bowls fresh milk, cubed papaya and rock sugar adjusted to taste.

Method: Add water and rock sugar to the Swallow Birds Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Add milk and papaya, then continue cooking for 10 minutes.

Effect:Calms the liver and stomach, helps maintain fitness and healthy skin.

3. Stewed Swallow Birds Nest with Coconut Water and Sago

Ingredients: Half a tael of Company Swallow Birds Nest, 10 tablespoons of fresh coconut water, 3.5 bowls of water, sago, and rock sugar adjustedto taste.

Method: Add water and rock sugar to the Swallow Birds Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Seperately cook the sago in the meantime. Then add the coconut water and sago to the mixture and cook further for 10 minutes.

Effect:Cools internal heat, fortifies the spleen and lungs.

Edible and beneficial Swallow Birds Nest

Benefits of Swallow Birds Nest

Swallow Birds Nest contains several organic nutrients including high water-soluble glycoprotein and amino acid. It is an excellent restorative food that is beneficial for any age or gender. However, the consumer should remain aware that improper cleaning by ignorant Swallow Birds Nest cleaning plants can significantly reduce the nutrient concentration.

Edible and beneficial Swallow Birds Nest

The following is a list of Swallow Birds Nest benefits

1. Enhances the rebirth of cells and tissues (Epidermal growth factor).

2. Enhances the body's immune system through promotion of cell division

3. Strengthens the body's self-regulating actions and resistance to disease

4. Improving heart functions and to reducing blood pressure

5. Assists in the prevention of cancer through rich antioxidants.

6. Aides in the regeneration and growth of cells.

7. Aides in the treatment of cancer patients

8. Regulates blood supply all around the body.

9. Improves the skin complexion

10. Reducing fatigue

Swallow Birds Nest Benefits For Expecting Mothers

Regarded as the perfect tonic for expectant mothers and their soon to be babies, consumption of Swallow Birds Nest can provide the body with several rich nutrients and benefits. Regular consumption during pregnancy can strengthen the body of the woman and the foetus. In addition, women consuming pure Swallow Birds Nest post birth will recover far quicker compared with women who do not. This fast recovery is attributed to the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), which is active in the nutrients of the Swallow Birds Nest.

Note: It is important to purchase Swallow Birds Nest from a reliable and trustworthy Swallow Birds Nest supplier, especially when the Swallow Birds Nest is intended for consumption by a pregnant woman. If a pregnant woman consumes Swallow Birds Nest containing impurities or inadequate nutrient levels, her baby may appear fair and adorable, but could experience a weak immune system and become prone to illness.

Swallow Birds Nest Benefits For Men & Women

Women who regularly consume Swallow Birds Nest often find themselves having fairer and more radiant looking skin. This is because Swallow Birds Nest is rich in collagen, protein and vitamins. These three ingredients can help rejuvenate the complexion, smoothen the skin, maintain youthfulness and prevent wrinkles. This helps both men and women to look younger and more attractive. For this reason, Swallow Birds Nest is fast becoming an essential part of a woman's beauty regime. An increasing amount of products are being made from Swallow Birds Nest, although long term consumption of pure Swallow Birds Nest will always yield the most effective results.

In addition, both men and women can benefit from improved organ performance. Swallow Birds Nest improves heart and kidney function and strengthens the lungs.

Swallow Birds Nest Benefits For Children

Swallow Birds Nest strengthens the immune system, which is extremely important for children. Due to its high nutrient content, Swallow Birds Nest helps prevent common colds, flu and more serious illnesses. Swallow Birds Nest also reduces fatigue, this is very important for children who are preparing for examinations. The consumption of Swallow Birds Nest over a long period of time will positively condition your child's body as they grow older.

Swallow Birds Nest Benefits For Elderly

Swallow Birds Nest helps the elderly to maintain their general health and well being. Swallow Birds Nest has been cited as a key tool in the prevention of cancer. Swallow Birds Nest strengthens the lungs and kidneys, improves the quality of the spleen, clears phlegm and enhances the appetite

The benefits of Swallow Birds Nest are becoming widely documented. Swallow Birds Nest is now a sought after commodity with a high value. Where there is profit to be made there is usually someone trying to profit unethically, and the Swallow Birds Nest market is no exception. Unethical businessmen have jumped on the bandwagon pursuing a fast buck by selling fake and chemically bleached Swallow Birds Nest.

The majority of consumers are unaware of how to differentiate between real Swallow Birds Nest and chemically bleached Swallow Birds Nest. The objective of this article is to provide the consumer with an essential verification methodology. This will not only protect the consumer, but help to preserve the market and push out the unethical tradesmen.

Before performing visual and physical checks on certain aspects of the Swallow Birds Nest, you need to make sure that you purchase your Swallow Birds Nest from a reputable retailer. Do not buy pre-packed Swallow Birds Nest as this will hinder your ability to perform the verification procedures discussed below.

Verification Step 1:

Observe the appearance of the Swallow Birds Nest closely. It should not be completely white and reflective in any way. If the Swallow Birds Nest is overly white in appearance and reflective, then there is a high probability that the Swallow Birds Nest has been bleached with chemicals. Swallow Birds Nest that has not been cleaned with bleaching agent will not be completely white in appearance, neither will it be reflective.

Verification Step 2:

Natural Swallow Birds Nest always varies in size and weight due to its natural formation. There should be no standardisation of Swallow Birds Nest. The size and weight should not be uniform. Any standardisation of the product is a positive indicator of man made Swallow Birds Nest.

Verification Step 3:

Upon inspection of the Swallow Birds Nest, be sure to thoroughly smell the nest to see if you can detect the light scent of an egg. If you cannot smell the scent of an egg then the Swallow Birds Nest may fall into one of the following categories.

a) No Smell:

If the Swallow Birds Nest has no smell to it, then it is less likely to have been bleached with chemicals, although, it is still possible that a small amount of bleaching agent may have been used. The traditional cleaning process destroys the surface nutrients of the Swallow Birds Nest removing much of the natural scent. It is only after boiling the nest that the egg scent becomes pungent again. This is problematic in terms of verification. However, if the Swallow Birds Nest has no scent or a light scent of egg, then there is a good chance that the Swallow Birds Nest has not been chemically tampered with. To be completely certain of the authenticity of the Swallow Birds Nest, it is essential to know which company originally manufactured the product.

b) Unpleasant Smell:

An unpleasant smell of any kind presents an extremely high possibility of the Swallow Birds Nest having been bleached with chemicals or other impure ingredients. If you detect the smell of wood, this can be attributed to the wooden planks upon which the swiftlet built its nest.

c) Mouldy Smell.

The smell of mould is directly associated with a high moisture level inside the Swallow Birds Nest. If you do detect a mouldy smell then you should avoid purchase immediately. Mould contains bacteria which could be detrimental to your health and cause subsequent illness.

In Summary

If the Swallow Birds Nest you are about to purchase does not pass the authenticity verification tests than walk away without further discussion with the retailer. Any attempt to point out the abnormalities of the Swallow Birds Nest will only result in a defensive argument by the retailer. Many retailers are unaware of the facts regarding natural Swallow Birds Nest and may themselves have been duped into buying the stock.

The verification guide in this article forms an essential part of your Swallow Birds Nest purchase. This advice will stop you from falling into the trap of a counterfeit purchase. You will save yourself money and time, but most important of all you will protect yourself from potential ill health caused by chemicals or bacteria.

Swallow Birds Nest Facts and Knowledge

Swallow Birds Nest Facts and Knowledge

What is the benefit of Swallow Birds Nest?

Recent scientific research has an edible Swallow Birds Nest  has been found that amino acids rich in antioxidants and contain rich. Two key factors for the new cells and fight free radicals in our body.

Antioxidants

Swallow Birds Nest is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances or nutrients that can prevent or delay the oxidation of our bodies. health problems, including heart disease, degeneration, diabetes, cancer, etc. supplied by oxidative damage. Antioxidants are resistant, so the risk of infections and cancer.

Collagen and Amino acids

Swallow Birds Nest is also rich in Collagen and Amino acids such as leucine, lysine, glycine, glutamine, tyrosine, arginine, cysteine, histidine, tryptophan, amino acids, etc., they describe the building blocks of proteins that is beneficial to human body.

The nutritional value of 100 g of dry nest includes:

- 49.9 g of water-soluble protein (including amido nitrogen, monoamine nitrogen, non-amino nitrogen, arginine, humin, histidine, lysine and cysteine),

- 30.6 g carbohydrate (glycoprotein and mucin),

- 4.9 g iron,

- 2.5 g inorganic salt (including potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur,

phosphorus, silica and other trace elements)

- 1.4 g fiber

Swallow Birds Nest is a delicacy in the form of nests constructed by the salivary secretions of swiftlets. It contains all the beneficial essence from the swiftlet's diet, and therefore is good for overall well-being, especially for those pregnant women and elderly, however the benefit of Swallow Birds Nest also applies to everyone.

See the following for quick summary of benefit:

For expecting mothers:

1) It helps to strengthen the body of mothers and foetus

2) Mothers can recover faster post-birth due to Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)

For women:

1) It results in fairer and more radiant skin as Swallow Birds Nest is rich in collagen, protein and vitamins

2) Women who frequently consume Swallow Birds Nest also have smoother skin, and are more youthful and radiant (prevent wrinkles, rejuvenate complexion)

3) It also improves organ performance, e.g. lungs, kidneys and heart

For men:

1) It improves kidneys and strengthens lungs

For children:

1) It strengthens the immune system

2) It helps prevent common cold and flu, and alleviate asthma

3) It also reduces fatigue and improves focus

For elderly:

1) It helps in maintain general health and well-being

2) It prevents cancer, strengthen the lungs and kidneys, improves quality of spleen, clears phlegm, aids digestion and enhance appetite

Swallow Birds Nest Category:

Swallow Birds Nest usually fall into caves and house nests. Cave nests are harvested mainly in natural caves, since the cave nest is formed by free swiflet bird, some consider them to be more expensive therefore, they are sold at higher prices. But the reality is that usually cave nests contain pollutants and in danger of heavy metals contamination from the environment.

House nests are made in in the attic of houses and shops, abandoned or neglected areas in Indonesia but human has knowledge to control the best environment for swiflet to produce a high quality Swallow Birds Nest and at the same time protecting the bird and eggs from danger.

“House Nests” Are As Good If Not Better Than “Cave Nests”

In Indonesia, “cave” Swallow Birds Nests are mainly harvested from natural caves in the Borneo Island.

The harvesters often face considerable danger when harvesting the nests but to avoid destroying the nature, more and more law are created to prevent over-harvesting Swallow Birds Nest directly from natural cave.

Since “cave nests” are formed by free, naturally-living swiflets, some consider them to be more valuable than nests found in houses, and they often fetch a higher price. However, unknown to many consumers, cave nests generally contain more foreign materials and feathers than house nests. Besides, cave nest are exposed to the risk of heavy metals contamination from environmental factors. So, consume cave Swallow Birds Nest at your own risk!

Red Blood Swallow Birds Nest Is Not As Good As You Think!

It is believed that the red-coloured “blood Swallow Birds Nest” is specially prized because they are formed by swiftlets which vomit their blood to build the nest. There is also a belief that the “blood Swallow Birds Nest” was form by a different species of swiftlet which consumes different kinds of water and food.

Contrary to these beliefs, swiftlets do not vomit blood, neither do they consume different kinds of water and food. Swallow Birds Nests acting like a sponge. They absorb the chemical element from the environment such as iron from the walls, dirty waters and poisons. Hence, “blood Swallow Birds Nest” may be harmful rather than beneficial to humans.

Some dishonest vendors even apply red dye to their Swallow Birds Nests in order to fetch higher prices. So, play it safe – choose only pure Swallow Birds Nest!

How to identify the Genuine Swallow Birds Nest ?

Swallow Birds Nest is an expensive and nutritive product. Thus it is important to distinguish the genuine Swallow Birds Nest. In the market, there are many unethical businessmen who would increase the weight of Swallow Birds Nest by adding additives like white fungus, jelly and skin.

The following image describe how to identify fake Swallow Birds Nest:

Swallow Birds Nest Facts and Knowledge

4 Reasons Why You Can Trust and Buy Premium Swallow Birds Nest From Us

That’s the normal norms that people definitely hesitated much whether or not to purchase something from a new brand, especially something that need to go from your mouth down through your throat and into your stomach, and when it costs a dime.

So read on, you’ll definitely feel safer and more comfortable about buying Company Swallow Birds Nest products through online after that. Trust us!

 

4 Reasons Why You Can Trust and Buy Premium Swallow Birds Nest From Us

1.     Legit Company

We are legal entities. There’s no reason for us to scam you, or maybe worse, to sell fake or low quality products to you.

If you want to, you can call us to validate our products, which all our numbers are stated on our website or social media, or visit our website to find out more about us. If you would like to, on a case-to-case basis, we can even arrange for you to take a look at our samples, or to pay a visit to our processing plant.

2.     We Have All Food Safety Management Systems Certifications

In line with our commitments to our consumers, Company Swallow Birds Nest is accredited with HACCP and ISO22000 Food Safety Management System certified by World Certification Services, who is an internationally recognized certification body.

We have HALAL certification, and has been listed in HALAL Whitelist, which Muslim consumers can safely consume our products too!

All these are a testament to our commitment to ensure our products consistently meet the highest food safety standards, complementing the great tasting and 100% pure Swallow Birds Nest products that Company is famous for.

3.     We Have Our Own Bird’s Houses and Processing Plant

We have our own bird houses in Tanjung Karang and Rawang, and a production plant in Kajang, which has a workforce of more than 30 personnel dedicatedly to produce a high quality Swallow Birds Nest every month.

Furthermore, we have been in the edible Swallow Birds Nest industry for more than 10 years, and because it has been a family business, from 1 year old baby to 70 years old folks, we consume the exact same products which we sell, on a regular basis.

4.     Promises In Quality

Every Swallow Birds Nest that carries our name is guaranteed to be:

–      100% pure and genuine without any additional ingredients (example: aloe vera, white fungus and so on)

–      Not bleached nor chemically treated with any form

–      Free from coloring, additives and preservatives

–      Strict quality control and safe packaging

Here’s how Swallow Birds Nest is made, and why it’s so popular

Swallow Birds Nest; a unique Chinese delicacy that may make you go “Ooh,” or “Eww!” or “What?”

First things first, if you haven’t tried this before you’d probably think the Chinese are happily munching away on real Swallow Birds Nests, but… not true.

The popular (and super expensive) delicacy is produced from the saliva of swiftlets that has dried and hardened. These birds build nests with their saliva, using little to no plant material.

Okay, it doesn’t sound much better because you’re practically eating bird spit, but hey, it’s been around for generations. And people pay through the nose for a bowl!

Here’s how Swallow Birds Nest is made, and why it’s so popular

So, what’s the deal with Swallow Birds Nest?

The consumption of Swallow Birds Nestis said to have started in the Ming Dynasty, while other historians point to Zhen He, a fleet admiral, diplomat and Chinese explorer, as the first eater of Swallow Birds Nest.

Most popularly used in sweet and savoury Chinese soups, Swallow Birds Nestdissolves into a gelatinous texture when boiled. A small bowl of the “Eastern Caviar,” another name for Swallow Birds Nest, costs between US$30 and US$100 in Hong Kong. But it all depends on the grade, at times going up to US$2,000 per kilogramme!

For a thorough understanding of edible Swallow Birds Nests, check out these cool facts.

Benefits of consuming edible Swallow Birds Nest

Chronic illness treatment and recovery

You’re encouraged to consume it in moderation and take full advantage of its nutrients and protein, which speeds up recovery. It may also help chronic cough and asthma sufferers and relieve other respiratory diseases.

Immunity enhancement

Older people may use it in keeping and maintaining their health. In fact, the nest has been used in Chinese alternative medicine for easing dry coughs, clearing phlegm and relieving fatigue.

Seniors may also experience improved bowel movement, digestion and appetite when consuming it regularly. On the other hand, men consume it to boost their immunity due to its high glycoprotein, neutral energetic properties and growth factors, aiding a weak immune system.

Supplement

Growing children can benefit from Swallow Birds Nest, which contains amino acids, proteins and minerals, supporting growth and development.

In addition, women can also take advantage of its beauty benefits. It enhances skin complexion, promoting youthfulness even for older women.

Yes, the list goes on and on. Basically, it’s a power-packed product with tonnes of nutrients and health benefits. No wonder the Chinese love it so!

Have you tried consuming Swallow Birds Nest? Any changes that you experienced? Share your thoughts with us!

Introduction to Swallow Birds Nest

What exactly is Swallow Birds Nest?

The Swallow Birds Nest are made by swiftlet Collocalia-Fuciphaga, found in the tropical coastal area in South-east Asia. This unique swiftlet build their nests only with their saliva to form a composition of interwoven strands of salivary laminae cement. The nests are then crystallized and ready for swiftlet to lay eggs. When the egg has hatched and the young chick fledged, the nest is abandoned – a female will never lay her eggs in an old nest.

Swallow Birds Nest are rich in protein, amino acids and minerals. Scientific reports have repeatedly shown that Swallow Birds Nest can enhance tissue growth and cellular regeneration, slowing the ageing process, and boost cell mediated immunity in humans. It can also regulate the endocrine system and other body functions.

Swallow Birds Nest are beneficial to all kinds of people, especially children, the elderly, pregnant women, and post-surgery recoverers. Patients suffering from coughs, tracheitis, bronchitis, asthma or lung disease also benefit.

 

Introduction to Swallow Birds Nest

Recipes

All recipes below use Company Premium Swallow Birds Nest (either white or golden nest), and makes four servings.

Important note: The natural nutrients in Swallow Birds Nest will be degraded in extended conditions of high heat. Thus, to preserve the nourishing benefit of Swallow Birds Nest, the product should be cooked on low heat in water.

Swallow Birds Nest preparation: Soak 18.8g (half a tael) of Swallow Birds Nest in water for 8 to 12 hours, then drain. A standard package of Company Swallow Birds Nest contains 37.5g (one tael).

1. Royal Lady’s Swallow Birds Nest

Ingredients: Half a tael of Company Swallow Birds Nest, 1 bowl of water, 2 bowls milk, 5 egg whites, a little ginger juice, a portion of pearl powder, rock sugar adjusted to taste.

Method: Add water to the Swallow Birds Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Add all other ingredients except the rock sugar. Mix and immediately seperate into four bowls. Steam each bowl for 10 more minutes. Just before serving, dissolve some rock sugar in each bowl.

Effect: Smooths the skin, replenish qi and soothe the nerves.

2. Stewed Swallow Birds Nest with Papaya Milk

Ingredients: Half a tael of Company Swallow Birds Nest, 1.5 bowls of water, 2 bowls fresh milk, cubed papaya and rock sugar adjusted to taste.

Method: Add water and rock sugar to the Swallow Birds Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Add milk and papaya, then continue cooking for 10 minutes.

Effect:Calms the liver and stomach, helps maintain fitness and healthy skin.

3. Stewed Swallow Birds Nest with Coconut Water and Sago

Ingredients: Half a tael of Company Swallow Birds Nest, 10 tablespoons of fresh coconut water, 3.5 bowls of water, sago, and rock sugar adjustedto taste.

Method: Add water and rock sugar to the Swallow Birds Nest and cook on low heat for one hour. Seperately cook the sago in the meantime. Then add the coconut water and sago to the mixture and cook further for 10 minutes.

Effect:Cools internal heat, fortifies the spleen and lungs.

Should people with diabetes use swallow birds nest?

Swallow Birds Nest well for the human body - this is well known, but Swallow Birds Nest for diabetics? Normally, edible Swallow Birds Nest is used for many objects but few people pay attention to the use of Swallow Birds Nest for people who need special attention to what problems.

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Should people with diabetes use swallow birds nest?

1. Swallow birds nest with diabetes

The most popular dish for swallow's nests is cooking with sugars. Although this is the way to retain the most nutrients in the nest but not suitable for people with diabetes. Sometimes people with diabetes therefore ignore this nutritious food.

But in terms of the composition of the Swallow Birds Nest there is no sugar composition in it because the nest is made from 100% saliva of the Swallow Birds Nest. People with diabetes can use it without having to worry about the blood glucose levels rising.

Only one thing to note is that you should change the way you process the nest to match the person with diabetes. You can place the sugar without sugar in the same nest, instead and three dry jar with sweet taste but not affect health.

Or you can also make nests to salty dishes to use for swallow's nests for diabetics such as: Roast chicken nest, porridge nest ... These dishes are both nutritious, sugar-free, low starch It is good for people with diabetes.

In addition, you can also produce Swallow Birds Nest but use sugar for diabetics. This type of sugar can be easily found in supermarkets or pharmacies near your home.

If you do not have time then you can choose to buy Swallow Birds Nest vending jars, but you should remember to buy salted Swallow Birds Nest without sugar to ensure not to affect the blood sugar offline.

Diabetes is not only used to improve the resistance, limitation of illness, pink skin, but also help in reducing blood sugar very well.

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2. Who should use the swallow birds nest

In fact, swift nests are good for all users from children to old people, from women to men. Only infants from 0 to 12 months old should not use Swallow Birds Nest because digestive system of baby is not perfect so it is difficult to absorb and digest food with too many nutrients.

Salanganes'Nest is not medicine as some people think, Salanganes'Nest is only nutritious food, supplement the essential nutrients for the body that not every food has. Therefore, you should use the swallow's nest regularly to have a long-term effect.

Anyone can use the swallow's nests but not everyone has the conditions to buy because this product is expensive. But some people are advised to use it regularly: old people, new surgeons, young children and intellectual workers. If you only buy Salanganes'Nest to use, you can choose white raspberries, Swallow Birds Nest legs to reduce costs and still ensure adequate nutrition.

TCM clinic: Swallow Birds Nest for dry skin

TCM clinic: Swallow Birds Nest for dry skin

WHAT IT IS:

The consumption of Swallow Birds Nest is seen as a symbol of wealth, power and prestige.

Known as yanwo in Chinese, it has been used medicinally in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as far back as the Tang and Song dynasties.

The journal Food Research International reported in 2005 that the majority of edible Swallow Birds Nest that is traded worldwide comes from just two species of swiftlets.

They are the white-nest swiftlet and the black-nest swiftlet, whose habitats range from the Nicobar Islands in the Indian Ocean to the sea caves in the coastal regions of Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Borneo and the Palawan Islands in the Philippines.

The nests are built almost exclusively by the male swiftlet in approximately 35 days and they are composed almost entirely of a glutinous material found in its saliva.

The journal reported that the cleaning process is so tedious that it takes a person eight hours or so to clean about 10 nests.

It involves soaking the nests in water until they grow soft, then manually removing small feathers with tweezers.

After that, the nest strands are rearranged and moulded into various shapes.

Often referred to as the "caviar of the East", a tael (37.6g) of Swallow Birds Nest sold at Eu Yan Sang retail outlets costs between $128 and $788, depending on their grade and whether they are house nests or the less common cave nests.

HOW TCM USES IT:

Swallow Birds Nest is classified as a neutral food that is neither heaty nor cooling. Its sweet flavour means it exhibits a nourishing property as well.

It is said to move through the meridians of the lungs, stomach and kidneys.

Meridians are channels in the body through which qi (vital energy) travels.

Swallow Birds Nest is used to moisten the lungs and stomach when they lack yin, the element responsible for cooling organs.

A balance of yin and yang - which is linked to heat - in the body is required for good health.

Mr Sim Beng Choon, a TCM physician at Fu Yang Tang Medical Hall, said a person whose lungs lack yin may experience thirst, a dry and sore throat, as well as a red tongue and a dry cough, possibly with blood-streaked sputum.

A person who does not have enough yin in his stomach may lose his appetite and suffer from a dry mouth and constipation.

TCM believes that the health of the lungs affects that of the skin, so nourishing the lungs with Swallow Birds Nest can improve one's complexion and address dry skin too, he added.

However, Swallow Birds Nest is rarely used in TCM prescriptions because of its steep price, he said. It is usually cooked with rock sugar or red dates.

Ms Zhang Ruifen, a TCM physician at Eu Yan Sang, said Swallow Birds Nest is used to boost qi in the body, a lack of which can give rise to fatigue and breathlessness, among other symptoms. Yet the effect of Swallow Birds Nest on the body's qi is not as strong as that of ginseng, she added.

WHO IT IS FOR:

 Mr Sim said elderly people, especially those who have battled illnesses, tend to be weak in yin and qi and can benefit from eating Swallow Birds Nest.

It would help to resolve prolonged ailments like chronic coughs, but is not intended to treat acute coughs.

He advised people to eat Swallow Birds Nest in the mornings - the time when the digestive system, according to TCM principles, is believed to be the most active - for optimal absorption of nutrients.

Ms Zhang said cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy tend to exhibit "dry symptoms", such as dry mouths, throats and skin, which Swallow Birds Nest can help with.

WHO SHOULD AVOID IT:

 Those who have a lot of phlegm in their throats, a sign of dampness which causes illnesses, should refrain from taking Swallow Birds Nest, said Ms Zhang.

She advised adults to consume no more than one big raw Swallow Birds Nest a day, while a 12-year-old should have about half of this portion.

Younger children should consume a correspondingly smaller portion of the Chinese delicacy, she added.

WHAT RESEARCH HAS SHOWN:

A 2001 clinical study in Singapore found that Swallow Birds Nest is the most common cause of food-induced anaphylaxis (a serious allergic reaction) in children, even surpassing other well-recognised food allergens, such as cow's milk or eggs for younger children and peanut or crustacean seafood for older children.

This severe allergic reaction can cause breathing difficulties, dizziness and hives - symptoms which are similar to those induced by egg-like proteins.

RECIPE: Peppermint Swallow Birds Nest porridge

INGREDIENTS

15g dried or fresh peppermint leaves

37.5g uncooked white rice

2 tsp bottled Swallow Birds Nest

Dried tangerine peel, a pinch

Sugar or salt, to taste

250ml water

METHOD

1. Soak the dried tangerine peel in water until it becomes soft. Remove its pith before use.

2. In a pot with 250ml of hot water, add the peppermint leaves and cover with a lid.

3. Filter out the peppermint leaves after soaking them for 10 to 20 minutes. Keep them for use later.

4. Use the mint-flavoured water to cook the rice and tangerine peel for 30 to 40 minutes, until it becomes porridge.

5. While the porridge is hot, add the Swallow Birds Nest and peppermint leaves.

6. Finally, add salt or sugar to taste.

5 Types of Swallow Birds Nest Classification

Comprehensive guide to Swallow Birds Nest classification.

5 Types of Swallow Birds Nest Classification

Classification by Appearance (Color)

Depending on the environment and the swift’s mineral intake content, the nests will vary in color

1) White – Suited for everyone, benefits include nourishing and promoting youthful complexion & boosting the immunity.

2) Golden – Suited for pregnant women and middle-aged people as it has an increased mineral content.

3) Red – Suited for Pregnant women, anemia patients, those who need replenishment after surgery as it has high mineral content to replenish blood and calcium content.

Classification by Country of Origin

Swallow Birds Nest only originate from South East Asia.

1) Indonesia – Texture is smoother, softer and cleaner with fewer impurities as the majority of the nests are harvested from Indonesia’s house nests. Indonesia produces approximately 80% of the world’s supply. Prices are generally lower.

2) Thailand – These Swallow Birds Nests are thicker and firmer with higher density thus it requires more soaking and cooking time. As the majority of the nests are cultivated from the caves with a small production volume, the prices are generally higher.

3) Malaysia – With higher production of feather prime nests Swallow Birds Nest, Swallow Birds Nest from Malaysia are usually processed into cakes and prices are low.

4) Vietnam – These Swallow Birds Nest are higher quality and richer taste and aroma due to an ideal environment conditions for Swallow Birds Nest in Vietnam. Swallow Birds Nest here are limited in supply and prices are higher.

Classification by Shape and Size

Being a natural food product, Swallow Birds Nest come in many different shapes and sizes:

1) Cup – Whole nest that ranges from large to extra large size (top grade).

2) Triangle – Triangular shaped Swallow Birds Nest that are medium in size.

3) Strips – Broken pieces from whole Swallow Birds Nest,

4) Cakes – Tiny Swallow Birds Nest pieces that are shaped into the shape and size of a biscuit.

Classification by Terrain

Swallow Birds Nests are harvested from only two types of terrain shown below:

1) House Nest – Swifts build their nests inside a house located near to the sea where the environment is ideal and more controlled; therefore leading to fewer impurities and feathers in the Swallow Birds Nest.

2) Cave Nest – Swifts build their nests on mountain and rock caves and cliffs near the sea. The natural climate and environment affects the texture which tends to be stiffer and harder. But generally cave nests contain more foreign materials and feathers than house nests.

Classification by pre-cleaning quality

Type of Swallow Birds Nest prior to cleaning processing.

1) Premium (Aerodramus Fuciphagus) nests – Consist of 95% saliva and 5% feathers

2) Feather prime nests – Consist of 50% saliva and 50% feathers

3) Grass nests – Consist of 5% saliva with grass and twigs

7 Ways to Differentiate Between Pure Swallow Birds Nest and Fake Swallow Birds Nest

After reading this guide, you will always be buying only 100% pure Swallow Birds Nest.

Here are the 7 most reliable method to tell if you have purchased a genuine or fake Swallow Birds Nest.

 

7 Ways to Differentiate Between Pure Swallow Birds Nest and Fake Swallow Birds Nest

1. Transparency

A  real Swallow Birds Nest looks semi transparent while a fake Swallow Birds Nest will not be transparent at all, some may even appear to have a reflective surface from the chemicals applied onto it.

2. Fragility

Real Swallow Birds Nest are very fragile and breaks into small specks or dust-sized pieces if dropped. A fake Swallow Birds Nest will break into large chunks.

3. Shape and Appearance

Real Swallow Birds Nest have no distinctive shape, occasionally you may also be able to spot small feathers stuck within the fibres. Whereas for fake bird’s best, it has a bumpy surface and look identically uniform  and sometimes with slight smell of medication.

4. Absorbitivty

It is a common practise to soak Swallow Birds Nest for a couple of hours before cooking it. The real Swallow Birds Nest will bloat to about twice its original size while a fake Swallow Birds Nest will show no significant growth in size. There may even be foreign particle appearing after soaking a fake Swallow Birds Nest.

5. Coloring

After soaking the Swallow Birds Nest, a genuine Swallow Birds Nest will have its water clear throughout the soaking process while the fake Swallow Birds Nest will shown signs of decoloring into the water due to artificial coloring.

6. Foams

Place the Swallow Birds Nest in a bowl of water and stir it, real Swallow Birds Nest will cause foam to appear on the surface of the water while the water remains clear throughout. A fake Swallow Birds Nest will not show any foam on the water surface, the water will instead become murky and clouded.

7. Structural Observation Under Microscope

Use a microscope if you have one to see the patterns of the Swallow Birds Nest’s fibre. A pure Swallow Birds Nest will look unevenly structured while a fake Swallow Birds Nest will look coarsely distributed and transparent (neater fibres).

Now that you have learnt how to differentiate the real stuff from the fake, why not learn about how to classify Swallow Birds Nest in our next article.

Best Swallow Birds Nest Recipe for Pregnancy Confinement.

In this article, you will learn and understand about why Swallow Birds Nest is beneficial as a pregnancy confinement tonic.

This is a Swallow Birds Nest recipe for pregnancy confinement that is very easy to prepare: Swallow Birds Nest with Ginseng and Rock Sugar.

Best Swallow Birds Nest Recipe for Pregnancy Confinement.

This dish is suitable for consumption after the 12th day. Swallow Birds Nest contains soluble amino acids that will help to repair body cells and generate new cells. It also contains antioxidant that helps to eradicate free radicals in the body. Swallow Birds Nest also contains EGF (epidermal growth factor) which has an anti aging effect as it helps in the birth of cells and tissues. A comprehensive list of the health benefits of Swallow Birds Nest can be found in the next article (opens in a new window).

Pregnant woman who consume Swallow Birds Nest during pregnancy will improve their health and benefit the foetus. It is also used as a confinement food tonic to help stimulate appetite and aids in digestion. It also helps the body to repair the tissue and boost immunity.

Adding Ginseng to the Swallow Birds Nest can also help woman restores strength and energy after giving birth or severe loss of blood during child birth by improving blood circulation. It also helps to promote digestion and improves the mother’s appetite which ensures adequate production of breast milk for the new born child. In addition, ginseng can revitalise the body and aids in the recovery process of the operation by boosting the body’s immunity. (Have a look at the video shown at the beginning of the article and fast forward to 2:33 to avoid consuming ginseng at the wrong phase of pregnancy.)

Ingredients (per bowl):

1 piece of Swallow Birds Nest

3 pieces of ginseng slices

5-6 piece of rock sugar according to personal taste preference

Cooking method:

Refer to the video above and fast forward to 1:04.

Why is confinement period important?

Giving birth to a child causes a lot of stress to a woman’s body. Excessive bleeding, sweating, body pains are some of the common problems. The confinement period has the objective of strengthening the mother’s body to its original health or even better, as well as to restore the uterus back to its original size.

Remember to also purchase Swallow Birds Nest from trusted source that sells only pure Swallow Birds Nest without any chemical added to it (you would not wish to spend money on a health tonic that harms your body instead of benefitting it). Prices of Swallow Birds Nest can also varies from wholesaler to retailer. Purchase it from a Swallow Birds Nest wholesaler directly to save more money.

7 Essential Minerals Found in Swallow Birds Nest

A Comprehensive guide on the most beneficial minerals found in Swallow Birds Nest

Why do we consume Swallow Birds Nest one may ask, the answer is clear: we consume it for the high minerals content that is within the Swallow Birds Nest.

 

7 Essential Minerals Found in Swallow Birds Nest

Here is the list of 7 essential minerals found in  all edible Swallow Birds Nest:

1) Antioxidants

Swallow Birds Nest is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances or nutrients that can prevent or delay the oxidation of our bodies. Health problems, including heart disease, cells degeneration, diabetes, cancer, etc. caused by oxidative damage are deterred with the aid of antioxidants; in other words it boosts our body’s immunity. In addition, antioxidants also protect the skin from reactive molecules of oxygen and prevents premature ageing of the skin

2) Amino acids

Swallow Birds Nest is also rich in Collagen and Amino acids such as leucine, lysine, glycine, glutamine, tyrosine, arginine, cysteine, histidine, tryptophan, amino acids etc. Amino acids are described as the building blocks of proteins and tissues that is beneficial to human body. It helps combat the build up of fats and boost our immune system.

3) Collagen

Collagen is a substance that is produced naturally by our body. However, as we age the production of this substance diminishes. Thus, it results in thinning skin, formation of wrinkles,  brittle hair and nails and fragile bones. Swallow Birds Nest is rich in collagen can is a good supplement for collagen for our body as we age. Consuming  Swallow Birds Nest collagen can help a person retain its youth by keeping the skin firm, tight, flexible and youthful looking. Hair and nails will appear healthier. Collagen also also aid in the treatment of pain, swelling as well as stiffness around joints as we age.

4) Carbohydrate (glycoprotein and mucin)

Swallow Birds Nest is rich in Glycoprotein. It is a main ingredient for our body’s Cell-to-cell communication. It is formed when a protein links with a carbohydrate. Glycoproteins play a critical role in the body in relation to how various systems recover from internal and external stresses. They also are fundamentally involved in cellular repair in our body.

5) Iron

Iron is essential for the proper growth and development of the human body. It helps metabolise proteins and plays a role in the production of haemoglobin and red blood cells. The health benefits of iron include the eradication of different causes of fatigue. Iron also plays a key role in strengthening the immune system by making it strong enough to fight off infections. As iron is an oxygen carrier in our bloodstream, having sufficient iron in our body helps build concentration, treats insomnia, build muscle cells and regulates body temperature.

6) Inorganic salt (including potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus, silica and other trace elements)

The different types of inorganic salt in a Swallow Birds Nest is essential to help our body maintain a proper PH balance ensuring cells regeneration and growth. These minerals can help our body regulate blood pressure, clear mucus / phlegm, balance the body’s sugar level, remove access acidity from cells which causes cancer, helps in energy generation of our body, enhance brain function and maintain strong bone density.

7) Fiber

Swallow Birds Nest Fibre provides the same benefits as those found in fruits and vegetables. It helps control blood sugar level, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke, enhance skin health, boost intestinal health, reduce risk of having gallstone and kidney stone, relieve irritable bowel syndrome and reduce risk of haemorrhoid.

Top 5 Major Health Benefits of Swallow Birds Nest.

A Comprehensive guide for the health benefits of Swallow Birds Nest consumption.

Top 5 Major Health Benefits of Swallow Birds Nest.

1. Improvement of Skin Health (Texture)

This is the most well known health benefits for Swallow Birds Nest consumption. It is supposed to be a health/supplement food to beautify skin – primarily to retain youthfulness and obtain a clean and clear facial complexion.

2. Easy Digestibility and Health Rejuvenation

This is important if one has poor or slow digestion, especially seen among those who are convalescing (recovering from illness) and in children with poor appetites. Good nutrition is needed but with poor digestion, nutrients cannot be absorbed. Swallow Birds Nest can be easily digested by our digestive system, thus delivering good nutrients and thereby bringing back health to those who are weak.

The consumption of good quality Swallow Birds Nests is also known to have restored lung functions. It has also been known to help chronic cases of cough and asthma. People who have dry cough with periodic sputum stains (as seen in heavy smokers) may find the consumption of good quality Swallow Birds Nests beneficial. Extensive experience has indicated that regular consumption of Swallow Birds Nests can reduce the general need for medical attentions.

3. Supplement for Parental and Postnatal Health

Pregnant mothers who consume Swallow Birds Nests have been known to recover faster after delivery, experience lesser loss of hair, and deliver healthier and fair skinned babies. For post-natal health, consumption of Swallow Birds Nest give the mother more energy, better sleep, and the feeling of vitality.

4. Anti-Aging Health/Supplement Food

In Southeast Asia (especially with the Chinese), well-to-do individuals consume Swallow Birds Nest on a long term and regular basis, primarily for the benefits of anti-aging. This group of people consistently reports less sickness, better immunity, more energy, better sleep, good complexion, and good virility.

5. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective

The early records of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are contained in the book, “shen non ben cao jing” (神农本草经) from the year 1695. In this book, Swallow Birds Nests were reported as mild, homogenous, and non-toxic food. The book also reports on the use of Swallow Birds Nests to treat internal organs like the lungs, heart, and stomach. In addition, Swallow Birds Nest is also used as food can reduce coughs, tiredness, etc. It also recommended that the nests could be consumed during the early stages of any disease.

What is Swallow Birds Nest / Swiftlet Bird’s Nest

What is Swallow Birds Nest / Swiftlet Bird’s Nest

How are Swallow Birds Nest Made?

These nests are made from swiftlets / swallow birds utilizing saliva that have been solidified and prepared so they’re edible. These Swallow Birds Nest are treasured in Chinese cuisine as they are rare, delicious and have high nutritional content. These Swallow Birds Nest have different grading / types, and this is determined by the size and the cleanliness of the Swallow Birds Nest.

Colors vary, with white being one of the most coveted as it is softer than the other colors and provides many health benefits including promoting smooth skin. While these nests are just becoming popular in the West, they have been part of Chinese culture and cuisine for over four centuries, often as Swallow Birds Nest.

Swallow Birds Nest and Other Dishes

While these nests can be used in different ways, they are best known as Swallow Birds Nest. As the nest dissipates in water, they become gelatinous and then used as an ingredient in soup.

In Chinese cuisine it is called the sweet soup or savoury. There are many ways to prepare the dish, and as per the Suiyuan shidan, the gastronomy guide of the Qing Dynasty, the nest should not be prepared with anything oily or other powerful ingredients as it is delicate. The dish is also prepared in generous quantities in order to best appreciate its taste.

Aside from its exquisite taste, Swallow Birds Nest can also be turned into ingredients in other foods and dishes. This nest for instance, can be used for the preparation of bird’s nest boiled rice, bird’s nest congee and prepared with rice. These nests can also be used as ingredients for desserts such as bird’s nest jelly. Swallow Birds Nest jelly is made when the nest is placed in a ceramic jar with a bit of water and salt or sugar, after which it is steamed.

Harvesting of the Nests

Various types of Swallow Birds Nest can be harvested, with the most in demand being the Aerodramus maximus (black nest swiftlet) and the Aerodramus fuciphagus (white nest swiftlet). Both white and red nests are renowned throughout China and the rest of the world not just because of their taste but a lot of people say they have benefited health wise.

The majority of these nests are made when the breeding season arrives. These nests are created by the male swiftlet and have the appearance of a light cup embedded to a wall. These nests are made from various salivary cement strands, and it is this mixture that provides the nest with plenty of magnesium, potassium, iron and calcium.

Back in the days these nests were harvested directly in the caves, in particular the caves at Niah and those in Gomantong in Borneo. Because of the high demand for these nests beginning in the 1990s, special structures have been used in their stead. To make harvesting easier, these nests are situated close to the sea as that is where birds are most likely to be found.

Supply and Demand

The United States and Hong Kong are among the biggest consumers of Swallow Birds Nest, and Swallow Birds Nests are very much in demand and can fetch a high price. Swallow Birds Nest are weighed in kilograms, with red nests usually costing more than the white ones because they are rarer.

White colored nests are dyed red by many manufacturers, but experts have a way of determining if the nests are genuine red. Real red cave nests are hard to find, with most located in limestone caves in an island off Thailand. Premium Nest only supply the natural red Swallow Birds Nest which is harvested from the high-rise buildings / houses.

Due to the high demand for white Swallow Birds Nest, counterfeiters have tried to take advantage of the situation. To combat this threat, authorities in various countries have started using RFID technology, using microchips on the nests with details about transport, packaging, harvesting and so on.

The huge demand for Swallow Birds Nest has led to a thriving industry in particular the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The many bird’s nets harvested and prepared there are exported to countries around the world including Hong Kong and the United States. However, the majority of consumers are still in China.

The best Swallow Birds Nest are handled and processed in special facilities to ensure consistency of quality, with effects analysis and failure mode among the techniques used to verify the authenticity of Swallow Birds Nest.

There was a time when this delicacy was reserved for emperors and royalty, but now it is available for everyone. Demand for these nests is greater than ever, to the point that it makes up 0.5% of the GDP of Indonesia. Globally it is now a $5 billion industry.

House Farming of Swallow Birds Nest

Due to the high economic value of Swallow Birds Nest, swiftlets are being reared extensively in man- made houses in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to increase the production of Swallow Birds Nest. In recent years, the price of Swallow Birds Nest increased drastically due to high consumer demand. This has led to Swallow Birds Nest producers and the Malaysian government to’ make efforts for increasing the production of Swallow Birds Nest through conservation and house farming. In several areas, the conservation of resources has been aided by the domestication of swiftlet species in bird houses.

House farming of swiftlets in Indonesia began in the 18005, and the industry has considerably developed since then. Swallow Birds Nest is cultivated by cross fostering, where the eggs of the white bellied swiftlets are replaced with the eggs of Swallow Birds Nest producing swiftlets, thus establishing a new population of Swallow Birds Nest producing swiftlets. While populations of the cave Swallow Birds Nest swiflets have been declining due to over exploitation of their nests, rapidly growing house farming of the Swallow Birds Nest swiftlets has given them a sigh of relief.

The Government of Malaysia under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI, formerly known as Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment) together with the Wild Life Department of Malaysia (PERHILITAN) have recently begun encouraging the general public to venture into the very lucrative Swallow Birds Nest industry.

Over the years, a lot of conservation workshops and laws have been implemented in Swallow Birds Nest producing countries to raise the production of Swallow Birds Nest. However, the research on the house-collected Swallow Birds Nest is scarce as the previously researched samples have been mostly obtained from the caves in Indonesia.

 

House Farming of Swallow Birds Nest

Bird Premise or Swallow Birds Nest Ranching

The most interesting thing about these swiftlets are their nests. They construct nests with glutinous strands of starch-like saliva produced by a pair of large, salivary glands and thereafter mate and breed their young ones.

It is the nest material that gives them an upper hand over the rest of the Swallow Birds Nest in the world. The nest looks like a cupped hand or a crescent shaped bowl about 3-5 inches in diameter. The flat side is stuck to a wall (a cave wall in wild nest, or a wooden base in cultivated/house nest) and other side of the nest is a place for them to perch, and within the hollow of the nest are either their eggs or their chicks.

The Swallow Birds Nest industry is a multi-million dollar enterprise from production, sorting, and cleaning to domestic and international trade. According to a survey in December 2001, approximately 1000 buildings/houses cultivating Swallow Birds Nest in Malaysia were reported. The houses produced not less than 10 tons per year (cultivated white Swallow Birds Nest/house nest) while the world demand is 200 tons per year. The demand is still growing but the supply is only able to fulfill half of the demand, which kept the price ever increasing.

Basically, a bird house is a building with artificially created conditions similar to a swiftlet dwelling cave. It is able to attract swiftlets so that they live and breed in it.

In designing a bird house, care should be taken of physical and behavioral needs of birds, human treatment and animal management, human safety, and government rules and regulations.

Physical and Behavioral Needs of Birds

Most of the bird farmers concentrate only on the bird house construction for attracting birds into the houses. This is by far the most important factor in controlling or affecting the bird population in the house. However, it would be better to give consideration to other factors as well prior to the selection of the bird house location. These factors include the swiftlet’s flight path, its population at the specific area, nearest source for food and water and environment assets.

The most important factor is whether the selected area has the particular specie of birds as part of ecosystem. If the area has any of the birds flying through, it would be good. However, if the selected area is quite far away from the bird’s habitat area, it may not be a good choice. Furthermore, the birds can be attracted to the bird house by using a special bird recording sound.

After a particular area is selected, surrounding factors also need a serious consideration. It is also important to find out if the environmental factors in the area under consideration are not supporting. If there is any factory or industry producing heavy toxic materials, smoke or even noise, it is better to avoid that area. Besides, it is quite beneficial to have the presence of supporting factors such as river, pond, forest reserve and open field nearby the selected area.

Human Treatment and Animal Management

Once the selection of the location is made, it is important to plan a bird house or convert a shop house into bird farming premises (bird house). At this stage, human treatment and animal management concerns are very crucial.

The information on building bird houses can be obtained through farming magazines, newspaper advertisements or bird farming association. Expert services are available which can provide guidance in building or converting the shop lot into bird house.

The expert credentials are being emphasized when the potential clients are shown a previously constructed successful bird house producing adequate amount of nests. However, most of the experts’ advice on account of their experiences without concrete finding, studies or research. The behavior of birds is scarcely studied as there are only a few publications on the bird’s behavior.

There are no records on how many birds were to return their house if they were to hatch. Also no data are available on how many times these birds fly back to their nest daily. Besides, the factor of importance is the bird’s willingness to stay back into the origin house or chose a new house for their nest building. However, people have been successfully attracting birds into a house and harvesting Swallow Birds Nest.

Human beings must always treat birds as their companions without staying too close to them. Birds must be given privacy, secured environment and enough comfort to nest their next generation. Environmental guidelines should be followed while applying pesticides and treating the waste of birds. Besides, a great deal of efforts is often required in maintaining the integrity of the nests.

One of the most serious risks associated with bird’s life in the bird house is the theft of their nests. The thief breaks into the bird house and harvest the nests on behalf of the owners. It is a very cruel and off human act to steal nests from the house, as the thief never considers the life of the chicks and eggs in the nest and just drops them on the floor, making this helpless creature to die slowly and with a great deal of torture. Therefore, the bird house owners must consider the security structure and system to secure their wealth and also their wealth creating partners, the swiftlets.

Human Safety and Government Rules and Regulation

There has never been so much emphasis on human safety during nest cultivation. This has totally been a neglected fact in the pursuit for maximum profit. Although surveillance test conducted by the Department of Veterinary Services from the year 2000 have shown negative results for Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza or Bird Flu H5N1, there is still risk of getting this viruses.

There is a misconception that these birds do not share the same water source with other birds or animals. In reality, they take water from ponds and rivers by flying low on the water surface and occasionally scoping up a sip of liquid. This is particularly true during hot weather and after a long draught. Therefore, it would be wise to take precautions while making entry and exit from the bird house by putting up safety devices to ensure such viruses and other pesticide do not enter or exit from the bird house. There should be contingency plans in the event of an outbreak to segregate people from the birds. However, till now, there is yet to find any example of this setup in any of the bird houses in Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia or anywhere else in the world.

The Malaysian government has not given any clear guidelines as to the setting-up of bird houses in Malaysia. Therefore, commercial shop houses have been converted into bird houses with people running restaurants downstairs. Some of the bird house have residents who live there to safeguard their asset. The establishment of bird houses in a residential area might have associated health risks. There are no guidelines and regulations available whether or not bird farming can be done in housing are or in the middle of the town centre. Care needs to be taken of the children who are sick and coughing when such premises are built around your area. However, the only guideline published by one of the government agencies has discussed noise pollution and the ugly structure leaving the township, an eyesore.

Swiftlets Eco Park by Bio Research Centre is the one particular development where specific areas and premises were selected to build and farm swiftlets. It is the first and the only one in Malaysia which the government has approved so far. This is an opportunity for all the potential bird farmers to buy one of these premises and start cultivating Swallow Birds Nest without worrying about the rules and regulations and other annoying factors.

Economic Factors of a Bird House

To go into the nest business, choose a good location, build a house, install all necessary facilities to attract birds and start harvesting. All these processes need an investment ranging from RM 300,000-RM 500,000 depending on the location and size of the building. This investment will generate a good and progressive income over the years, while the owner maintains his full time job. This business can be done by everyone. Suppose by having a harvest of 110 to 130 nests that make up to l kg of the market price of RM 4,000-RM 6,000 every month after one or two years. The investment will increase by 30 to 100% where most of the cases are. That is why this is the business of what everyone is talking about.

The funny part in the whole business is how to grade a raw Swallow Birds Nest. Normally, all the bird farmers sell to a middle man by evaluation through experience and making further negotiations on the price. They evaluate the size, color, impurity (bird’s feather) and shape (strait or angle), but have little concern on moisture, integrity, pesticide or heavy metal content. This is extremely unacceptable as Swallow Birds Nest is considered as a tonic and most of the time it is consumed by elderly, youth and expecting mothers.

Future Development of a Bird House

Future development of bird houses depends upon the government moves. It is certain that this industry will not stop here. It is expected to continue its growth due to the lucrative returns. However, more stringent rules and regulations must be installed to reduce or nullify the degree of hazards brought about by this industry. Also, adding a system of taxation into this multi-million industry will be a positive move. The newly licensed bird houses will be in great demand due to two reasons. One of the reasons is that the shop houses converted into bird houses are off welcoming by the public, and the other is the stress of the fear that government may start demolishing the previously established shop houses sometime in the future.