(MY) - Birds nest trade

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Wednesday November 23, 2005 - The Star

 

Housing birds for a lucrative trade

 

BY MARSHA TAN

PHOTOS BY ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG

 

It has been a long-held Chinese belief that regular consumption of

swiftlet nests can help maintain a youthful, radiant, as well as

wrinkle-free complexion.

 

As a result of this, a lucrative trade in the birds' nests has developed.

 

Many premises around the country from old cinema halls to multi-storey

buildings have been turned into " breeding grounds " for swiftlets.

 

The nests are actually made by the swiftlets with their sticky saliva,

which after drying up, forms a saucer-like cup, which sticks to the

wall to form a nest to hold, most of the time, one egg.

 

Drinking a bird's saliva may sound disgusting, but it has been done

for more than 1,000 years in traditional Chinese concoctions and

considered a delicacy for the maintenance of good health among royalty

in China.

 

Swiftlet breeder Wong Tao Onn from Johor Baru said that many people

were interested in birds' nests after learning about its health

benefits.

 

" In Johor alone, there are more than 600 swiftlet breeders, " said

Wong, who uses a shoplot in Susur Tiga, Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, to rear

swiftlets to produce the nests.

 

Wong, who imports and exports bird's nests and other traditional

Chinese herbs, said that most breeders bred the swiftlets in empty

multi-storey shoplots transformed to replicate the birds' natural

habitat.

 

" The temperature must be between 26 to 28 degrees Celsius and the

level of dampness must also be suitable.

 

" Usually, the shoplots are of a few storeys, and for a successful

breeder, each storey will have more than 1,000 birds, equivalent to

more than 2,000 nests, " said the 50-year-old Wong.

 

Wong said, to attract swiftlets to renovated shoplots, breeders played

" music " of the birds – the chirping sounds unique only to swiflets –

and soon the birds would come and make the shoplots their new home.

 

Wong ventured into the swiftlet breeding business more than 30 years

ago after gaining interest in bird's nests following rising demand for

the delicacy.

 

" Everyday, at around 6.45am, the swiftlets fly out and return 12 hours

later with food for their young.

 

" Usually after laying eggs, it takes 16 days for the eggs to hatch,

and for the next three weeks, the young birds learn how to fly inside

the shoplot, " said Wong.

 

When the swiftlets reach adulthood and abandon the nests, which

usually takes three weeks, the nests are harvested and cleaned of

feathers before being sold to consumers.

 

" There are different grades of bird's nests. A good grade A nest

should be as big as three fingers, white in colour, have very few

feathers stuck in it, and have a saucer-like shape.

 

" Some birds build their nests in corners and crevices and the shape

will not be good, thus the grade will be lower, " said Wong.

 

To clean the nest, water is sprayed on it and a sharp, tweezer-like

instrument is used to carefully remove the feathers one by one. After

this, the nests are ready for packing.

 

Guang Zhou University medical graduate Dr Wong Ching Yun said that

bird's nests could help stimulate appetite and aid digestion.

 

" It is ideal for the elderly and children, " she said, adding that both

men and women could benefit from its medicinal properties.

 

" In Chinese medical practice, bird's nests are thought to help three

organs in the body, namely the lungs, kidneys and stomach, " said Dr

Wong when met at her medical centre in Century Garden, Johor Baru.

 

Dr Wong said that bird's nests could also help replenish blood loss

and strengthen the body's immune system after recovery from chronic

illnesses.

 

" Bird's nests are rich in protein, calcium and other essential minerals.

 

" Although it can be expensive, especially those of top grades, we

consider it an investment to help maintain a healthy body, " said Dr

Wong.