Archive for February, 2006
tripod.com/health
For centuries in China these nests have been considered nourishing and tasty as well as a booster of health for the sick and aging; they are even believed to be an aphrodisiac ( arousing sexual desire )
Birds’ nest has been used for a long time in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries. It is classified as a cold food or “ying” according to the Chinese food concept.
Birds’ nest is mostly composed of water-soluble protein that is easily absorbed by human body. The total protein content is about 65 percent. The other constituents are moisture (~ 10%), traces of fat (~23.3%), and carbohydrate (~0.8%). Other minerals present are calcium and iron. The total content of Amino acid in birds’ nest is approximately 6 percent. Amino acids isolated from birds’ nest consist of amide, humin, arginine, cystine, histidine, and lysine. It is possible that when taken with other certain foods through a cooking process,such as ginseng (as a hot food or “yang”), may have high nutritive and therapeutic value to human body.
Birds’ nest is regarded as having a wide range of tonic and medical values. Traditionally, it is believed that birds’ nest can strengthen the lungs and use in the curing and strengthening of body in diseases related to weak blood, body overheat, and other bronchion ailments. Consumption of bird nest is also recommended to complement other treatments to combat degenerative diseases such as cancer and also for recovering health after illness, or surgery. Recent studies in Hong Kong suggested that it may even be useful in the treatment of AIDS
It is also claimed that Bird’s nest contains elements which can stimulate cell growth and especially beneficial to elderly recovering from various body ailments. Birds’ nest is especially valued by ladies for its reported properties of making the skin delicate and growing radiantly. It is also mentioned that an expectant mother consuming bird nests would have a baby with fine and smooth complexion
Chinese has been consuming bird’s nest for hundreds of years and most of them believe that Bird’s Nest consists of several proteins and minerals that help develop the generation and growth of human cells, rejuvenates the human skin and increases the immune system. Research has also found that bird’s nest contains the epidermal growth factor. This helps explain why Chinese herbalists often prescribe bird’s nest to people who fail to thrive or grow for no apparent reason. Independent laboratory investigation has also revealed that bird’s nest contains a water-soluble glyco-protein that promotes cell division within the immune system. These findings lend support to the belief that bird’s nest promotes growth and tissue repair. Not only that, bird’s nest strengthens the body’s self-regulating actions and provides resistance to disease. Because of its function, a symbol of wealth as well as the scarcity of the goods, it makes bird’s nest a valuable commodity indeed. Consumers of bird’s nest soup swear by their efficacy in its many curing properties, namely healing illnesses connected to the respiratory system like cough, asthma or throat infection and thus its high demand.
February 28th, 2006
ecologyasia.com/news-archives
The Jakarta Pos
By Apriadi Gunawan
MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Visit Kawasan, Kampung Keling, Ayahanda, Tembung, Labuhan Deli, Sanggal and Padang Bulan and almost any other part of this capital city of North Sumatra, and observe the almost overnight emergence of tall buildings there.
Unlike the tall buildings in many other cities, nobody dwells in these ones. They are not beautiful architecturally. In fact they are gloomy and spooky for they have been built for the sole purpose of allowing swallows to nest.
These parts of the city are slowly being turned into something resembling a cemetery, or a ghost town where only the shrill screams of the fast-flying birds pierce the silence. The stench of bird droppings is one reason why many people have become annoyed with the presence of these swallow’s nest businesses in their midst.
Some people believe that not only are the eerie structures an eyesore, but that the scattered bird droppings are a source of disease. There is another nuisance: the constant, nerve-racking and ear-piercing shrills imitating the sounds of the birds produced by special devices to lure the birds into the buildings.
According to Dr. A. Naiboru, MSc, a biomedical expert from the University of North Sumatra, the noises produced by the swallows can disrupt humans and create discomfort.
Naiboru explained that if the sound intensity went beyond 85 decibels (dB(A) for eight hours at a stretch per day or 40 hours a week, it could be classified as disruptive, causing people in the vicinity to suffer from insomnia. And if the sound intensity is over 95 dB(A), eventually it could cause deafness in the people in the proximity of the source.
During the day, swallow-like noises from cassettes to attract swallows blare even louder than the roar of the hustle and bustle of the city — a sign that people involved in the swallow’s nests business are unaware of the grave impact the shrieking sounds have on life in the vicinity.
“We only hope that the noises from the cassettes can lure more swallows,” said Tony, a swallow’s nest businessman of Chinese descent in Kesawan.
Tony let it be known that because of the noise, he is able to attract birds and make millions every month, despite the noise being irritating to others.
The nests, which are individually pasted together with bird saliva, can fetch Rp 16 million to Rp 17 million a kilogram. “The higher the value of the dollar, the more money we earn,” he said.
It stands to reason that more and more people have been drawn to this kind of business. Unfortunately, the city administration and the regional legislative council have not paid much attention to the matter, and have not taken advantage of the city’s potential. Up to date not a single ruling has been made with regard to this lucrative bird’s nest business, which could draw a handsome revenue for the city’s coffers.
The division head of the city’s public relations, Ismunandar, acknowledged that no law to govern the business had been enacted, but said there were plans to implement a regulation in 2002.
Ismunandar further said: “Now the members of the legislative council are hammering out a regulation concerning this business and now those who wish to construct a building for nesting swallows must abide by prevailing regulations,” referring to building permits (IMBs), under which only three-story buildings can be constructed.
Realizing that the buildings for nesting swallows spoil the city’s views, the city administration plans on relocating them to the northern coastal areas such as Medan Belawan, Medan Labuhan and Medan Marelan. Ismunandar, however, is uncertain whether the plan will go through because demolition and reconstruction of the buildings would cost a lot of money.
Medan Mayor Abdillah once promised to straighten out irregularities and demolish offending buildings, but so far no measure has been taken. On the contrary, these ugly buildings are mushrooming in the area and many shop owners have transformed their shops into tall, gigantic concrete structures for the gold-laying birds.
Last Wednesday, legislator Martius Latuperisa in Medan said that the mayor must demolish the buildings immediately because they contravened city regulations. He added: “These structures are of no benefit to the general public. They are the breeding ground of various dangerous ailments for the local people.
“There is no denying that the owners get some backing from certain people, otherwise the buildings wouldn’t be there, and those who back them up are sitting at ease in the city administration or even in the regional legislative council,” Martius charged, without naming any names.
Perhaps the city of Asahan could be one of the first regional administrations in North Sumatra clever enough to see the golden opportunity of this prolific business.
With a recently approved regional ruling regarding the swallow’s nest business already on hand, the city has managed to put Rp 500 million in its coffers in less than a year. City planning has also become better organized. According to Bustami, faction head of the United Development Party in Asahan, the ruling emerged as a result of the uncontrollable construction of buildings for nesting.
“Here we have more than 1,500 structures and around Kisaran there are about 200,” Bustami said. “Before the issuance of the regulation, the city was just like a ghost town and many residents denounced the existence of the structures.”
The new regulation stipulates several points related to height, occupancy and sales tax. For example, the sales tax is 10 percent to 15 percent, buildings must not exceed a height of 30 meters and the first floor must be designed like a residence and be occupied. Apart from that, the owner is to calculate the environmental impact of his building.”
Those who do not go by the book are liable to criminal or civil sanctions.
Since harvest time varies according to the number of swallows visiting a building — with some reaping their harvest once a month, but others mostly on a quarterly basis — the city administration, therefore, has set up a team to monitor tax evasion.
The nests are generally exported to Singapore and China, where history shows that swallow’s nests were consumed by royalty. The Chinese strongly believe that the nest, besides being tasty, has healing properties for various ailments.
February 27th, 2006
indomedia.com
ENTAH dari mana mulanya khasiat sarang burung walet (Collocalia fuciphaga) cukup terkenal di seantero dunia. Sarang burung anggota famili apodiae ini sejak puluhan bahkan mungkin ratusan tahun lalu diyakini punya khasiat dalam memberikan kesegaran dan bahkan untuk menjaga kesehatan tubuh manusia.Â
Mitos baik untuk kesehatan muncul dari pengalaman pengguna yang semula disampaikan dari mulut ke mulut itu kemudian disebarluaskan pula oleh media massa.Â
Itulah setidaknya yang dipercaya masyarakat Indonesia dalam sebuah laporan penelitian Riset Unggulan Nasional Terpadu.Â
Ada 3 kelompok responden yang diteliti, masyarakat, awam, pengusaha dan ilmuwan, mengatakan bahwa sarang walet punya banyak keampuhan. Antara lain menjaga kesegaran tubuh, meningkatkan vitalitas, obat awet muda, memelihara kecantikan dan menghambat kanker.
Menurut dr Cheng Ce yang ditemui di Cianjur, liur dari kelenjar glandula sub lingualis itu dapat meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh. Namun, bukan berarti mengobati penyakit.Â
Sarang walet itu berfungsi sebagai food supplement ibarat multivitamin di toko - toko. Asupan sarang walet akan menstimulus kinerja organ-organ tubuh lebih baik.Â
“Kekebalan tubuh meningkat dan penyakit menyingkir“ tutur spesialis kanker dari Sekolah Kedokteran Tradisional di Propinsi Henan, Cina.Â
Jadi selain itu juga sarang burung walet mengandung protein yang berbentuk glikoprotein yang merupakan komponen terbesar selain karbohidrat, lemak, dan air. Jumlahnya mencapai 50 persen.Â
Di tubuh, protein berperan sebagai zat pembangunan. Ia membentuk sel - sel dan jaringan baru serta berperan aktif selama metabolisme protein asal hewan diakui lebih gizi lantaran punya ikatan senyawa lebih kompleks dari pada protein nabati.Â
Bahkan salah satu senyawa turunannya azitothymidine telah diteliti bisa melawan AIDS. Istimewanya lagi, sarang walet sumber asam amino yang lengkap. Tercatat sekitar 17 asam amino esensial, semi esensial dan non-esensial yang dimiliki. Salah satunya kini dikembangkan oleh peneliti-peneliti di barat sebagai pelawan stroke dan kanker.Â
Mineral-mineral sarang walet tak kalah manjurnya untuk mendukung aktivitas tubuh.Â
Ada 6 mineral yang sudah diketahui seperti kalsium, besi, phospor, kalium dan natrium.Â
Di dalam tubuh, kalsium berperan untuk pembentukan tulang.Â
Sayangnya, mineral dan senyawa penting sarang walet mudah leyap. Oleh karena itu, Dr. Kong Yun Cheung dari Universitas Hongkong, menyarankan sarang walet tidak perlu di cuci, sebab glikoprotein akan terbuang, toh sup sarang walet tetap menunjukkan manfaat sugesti penyantaplah yang diduga jadi obatnya. (az/Wnt.com)Â
February 24th, 2006
findarticles.com/p/articles
Incidence of brood parasitism per colony varied from 0 to 25% of nests in Cave Swallows and from 0 to 50% in Cliff Swallows. In neither species was the percentage of nests with brood parasitism related significantly to colony size (of conspecifics) in either the first or second wave of nesting (Fig. 1). However, in Cliff Swallows, correlation coefficients for both first and second waves were positive and much larger than in Cave Swallows, and that for the first wave in Cliff Swallows approached significance (Fig. 1).
In both species, there was considerable variation in frequency of brood parasitism, especially among colonies of 10 nests and smaller, with some of those sites having no brood parasitism and others showing the highest frequencies (Fig. 1). Because some of that apparent variation merely reflects the small number of nests in the smaller colonies (a single nest parasitized in a small colony affects the percentage more strongly than does a single nest in a large colony), we examined whether colony size affected frequency of brood parasitism for colonies of >10 nests. For neither species in either wave was the correlation between parasitism and colony size significant when analysis was restricted to colonies of >10 nests (P > 0.08 for all).
Brood parasitism in relation to nesting success.Frequency of brood parasitism was unrelated to nest success at a colony site. We found no significant correlation between the percentage of nests at a site with brood parasitism and the percentage of nests there that were successful in producing at least one young (Fig. 2). However, it was apparent that the colonies with the highest frequencies of brood parasitism tended to be among the more successful ones.
There was no relationship between whether a nest was parasitized and its eventual success at producing young to day 10. Of 23 Cave Swallow nests during the first wave that were parasitized and their success known, all 23 (100.0%) were successful. Of 400 Cave Swallow nests during the first wave for which no evidence of parasitism was detected, 381 (95.3%) were successful. The difference was not significant (χ^sup 2^ = 1.1, df = 1, P = 0.29). Of 25 Cave Swallow nests during the second wave that were parasitized, 22 (88.0%) were successful, compared with 92.6% (n = 378) of nests for which no evidence of parasitism was detected. That difference also was not significant (χ^sup 2^ = 0.7, df = 1, P = 0.40).
Egg transfer.-We detected a total of 7 Cave Swallow nests (1.1%) with egg transfer during the first wave (n = 651 nests) and 6 nests (1.0%) with egg transfer during the second wave (n = 598). For Cliff Swallows, there were 4 nests with egg transfer (2.0%) during the first wave (M = 202) and 1 (0.7%) during the second wave (n = 149). Half of the egg transfers to Cave Swallow nests occurred in the single largest colony during each wave, with the remaining ones distributed among colonies of all sizes (including one in a colony of five nests). The five transfers to Cliff Swallow nests occurred in colonies ranging in size from 16 to 82 nests.
DISCUSSION
The present study provides the first documentation of intraspecific brood parasitism (and egg transfer) in Cave Swallows. Overall frequency of brood parasitism in Cave Swallows, however, was less than half that seen in Cliff Swallows occupying the same colony sites at the same time. That result, together with the relatively high frequency of brood parasitism found in Cliff Swallows in Nebraska (Brown and Brown 1989, 1996), seems to indicate that Cliff Swallows are inherently more likely to parasitize nests than their closely related congener. The reason for that difference is unclear, but may be related in part to the Cliff Swallow’s greater degree of coloniality. Because nesting near conspecifics theoretically affords greater opportunities for brood parasitism, selection may have more strongly favored brood parasitism as a reproductive strategy in Cliff Swallows. The largest colony size known in Cliff Swallows (3,700 nests; Brown and Brown 1996) is >2Ă— that reported for Cave Swallows (1,500 nests; Selander and Baker 1957). In addition, the much closer nest spacing in Cliff Swallows than in Cave Swallows may make parasitism easier, in part because it allows better assessment of neighbors for suitability as hosts and observation of when they leave their nest unattended.
However, in our Texas study area, we found no significant relationship between frequency of brood parasitism and colony size in either species. In Cliff Swallows, that may have resulted, in part, from the relatively small number of colonies (11); the pattern among Cliff Swallows resembled that seen in the Nebraska population (Brown and Brown 1996) and approached statistical significance. Lack of a colony-size effect in Cave Swallows may have primarily reflected that species’ lower overall incidence of parasitism. Although the colony-size range in our study area was smaller than that in Nebraska (our largest colony was only 243 total nests of both species combined), strong colony-size effects over the same range of colony sizes were detected in Nebraska for Cliff Swallows (Brown 1984, Brown and Brown 1989). Absence of very large colonies of either species in Texas, therefore, probably cannot explain our results.
In Cliff Swallows in Nebraska, brood parasitism is practiced by high-quality individuals that apparently accurately assess both individual host nests and overall certainty of reproduction at a site (Brown and Brown 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998). Colony sites that are ultimately more likely to have nest failure have higher frequencies of brood parasitism. That seems to be because individuals are more likely to parasitize nests in such situations, and when they do, they preferentially parasitize nests that are more likely to eventually fledge young, perhaps because those nests have lower infestations of blood-sucking cimicid bugs and fleas (Brown and Brown 1991). We could not determine if parasitic Cliff Swallows in south Texas show the same patterns, because we did not have data on reproductive success of Cliff Swallows. For Cave Swallows, however, we found that the frequency of brood parasitism was not related to overall colony reproductive success. That may be because Cave Swallows have not been as strongly selected to assess potential reproductive uncertainty at a site. Cave Swallows historically used caverns, which, because of their enclosed nature, may be safer and more secure nesting sites, on average, than the sides of cliffs and canyons where Cliff Swallows nest. Cliffs are subject to falling overhangs, crumbling dirt, and severe wind and rain storms that can destroy many nests (Brown and Brown 1996). Cave Swallows may also be less likely to parasitize nests because they suffer from fewer ectoparasites than Cliff Swallows, in which parasitism often seems to be an attempt to place eggs into other nests in a colony that are relatively uninfested (Brown and Brown 1991). We found that Cave Swallows, unlike in Cliff Swallows in Nebraska, did not preferentially parasitize nests that were more likely to fledge young-meaning that when they do parasitize nests, Cave Swallows seem unable to accurately assess the best conspecifics to parasitize.
We found evidence that both Petrochelidon swallows in the south Texas study area parasitized nests by physically transferring eggs between nests. Although apparently occurring occasionally in a few other species (Truslow 1967, Blomme 1983, Trost and Webb 1986), only in Cliff Swallows in Nebraska is that behavior known to be regular (Brown and Brown 1988). At least 6% of nests there were found to contain eggs transferred into them. Egg transfer was apparently less frequent in Texas than in Nebraska (though it is never a common behavior), which complicates quantitative comparison between the two areas. Perhaps the lower frequency in Texas (if real) may be brought about by the greater nest spacing there, especially among Cave Swallows. Cliff Swallows in Nebraska transfer eggs only to nests that are nearby, and larger distances between neighboring nests may discourage birds from engaging in such risky behavior (i.e. the egg may break or be dropped during flight).
February 23rd, 2006
The Star OnlineÂ
CEREBOS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the manufacturer of Brand’s products, has embarked on a Gift of Love campaign with two specially packaged hampers of Brand’s Essence of Chicken and Bird’s Nest Supreme Formula.Â
Each hamper will come with a pink postcard that consumers need to fill up and mail to Cerebos, who will donate RM2 from the Essence of Chicken Hamper and RM3 from the Bird’s Nest Supreme Formula to raise funds for the Child Information, Learning and Development Centre (CHILD). Â
“The campaign has direct value for consumers and the funds will help nurture the young minds at Child,” said Cerbos Malaysia Sdn Bhd marketing manager Pang Koon Yin.
February 22nd, 2006
chinarecipe.net
INGREDIENTS
Materials for 1 serve
Swallow’s Nest Fragment 1/2 tbsp
Papaya 1 pc (200g)
honey 1/2 tbsp
water some
 RECIPE
1) Soak swallow’s nest and remove tiny features, add water then stew for 2 hours
2) Wash papaya and cut 1/4 of upper part away, serve as a lid
3) Remove all seeds and clean the papaya
4) Put stewed swallow’s nest soup into papaya, cover the papaya lid
5) Use some tooth-picker to fix the lid, put papaya into a steam pot
6) Stew for 1/2 hours over the boiled water, add honey to serve
Remark
tbsp - table spoon
Very good to female, especially for the whom breast-feeding.
Serve in hot…
February 21st, 2006
azwns.com/Swallow Information
These slender, sleek birds are well known for their long migration and nesting habits. Cliff and barn swallows spend their winters in South America and summers in North America. They arrive around March in the southern part of the country, reaching the northern states in April. They are very territorial and will always come back to the same nesting site. These swallows have made a very successful switch from cliffs and caves to man made structures for placement of their mud pellet nests. Increased insect populations from modern agriculture and shelter created by man made structures are two reasons given for this transition. Unfortunately, this success has often been at the expense of a frustrated homeowner. The swallow now faces strong competition from the introduced house sparrow for food and shelter. This may be why their numbers appear to be dwindling. Swallows are a protected species and their arrival is a sign of spring for many. The return of the swallows to San Juan Capistrano in California is a well-noted annual festival
Nesting
They build elaborate nests out of mud pellets. They look for sites near a river with dirt embankments. Both cliff and barn swallows pack mud pellets in the upper eaves of a building. The resulting nest will resemble a wine carafe or flask with the opening on the side. They line the nest with grass and feathers. Nests are packed together in close knit colonies. The colonies range in size from a few to several thousand.
Breeding
Cliff and barn swallows have two broods per year with each brood containing four to five eggs. Egg coloration will be white, cream or pale pink with brown spots on some of the eggs. The eggs take 12 to 14 days to hatch. Fledglings leave the nest after 25 days.
Cycles
They migrate each year between North and South America. They winter in South America and summer in North America.
Damage
Swallows can be a nuisance in suburban areas due to their nesting habits. The mud nests damage and deface the outer walls and eaves of residences and office buildings. Building sides often end up smeared with feces from the bird colony along with collecting on the ground. Homeowners have also reported problems with parasites entering the house through building cracks next to the nests which poses a potential health risk to humans and animals
Control
All swallows enjoy special protection under the law. You cannot disturb them once the nest is built and they lay their egg in the nest. The only way to eliminate cliff and barn swallow problems is to take down the nests in the winter after they are gone and exclude them from returning by using 3/4” StealthNet. The netting needs to be angled across the eaves to prevent access to any sharp building angles. Several strands of Birdwire can also be run under eaves in strategic patterns at angles to prevent nest build up as well. A new product called Birdslide can be installed in the corner to break it up and keep swallows from building a nest in that location.
February 20th, 2006
bangornews.com/news
Woodpecker, sparrow fledgings grow stronger You may recall last week’s column about the tree swallow nestlings in my yard. At the time, I was sure they were close to fledging, and this turned out to be correct. One day soon after, I heard excited, intense calls, and looked out to see three birds flying above the clearing. It was immediately obvious there was at least one fledgling was up out of the nest — instead of the graceful control of adult swallows, this bird — although flying strongly — made its age apparent when it landed to rest clumsily on the topmost branches of a tall white pine. At least two fledglings remained inside the box, however. One was always visible as it perched within the entrance hole, calling to its parents. At intervals an adult bird swooped deftly to the hole to feed its chick, and I could hear other calls coming from inside. The remaining fledglings stayed in the box for two more days; then they were gone. They have probably flown to the marsh nearby, by day feeding on the wing and increasing their strength and ability, by night roosting above the wetland. But I am in no way experiencing “empty nest” syndrome. There is still so much activity in the yard. Hairy woodpeckers are still showing up at the feeders with their young. The begging calls of the fledg-lings—who are fully feathered and as big as their parents—always wake me up in the morning. It seems so comical that they’d still beg for food, for they seem completely capable of retrieving the seeds themselves. Most of the time, the fat youngster clings to the side of the porch’s corner post, waiting for the parent to come to it. Sometimes, though, it gets impatient and flies to the feeder, clinging to the side opposite the parent, making it swing back and forth. Even then, the baby waits for its parent to feed it the seed. Downy woodpeckers have produced young as well. One time I observed a downy woodpecker fledgling attempting to beg food from a hairy woodpecker adult. The hairy would have none of it and chased the youngster away, as if to say, “It’s all I can do to feed my own children!” Chipping sparrows were also successful breeders and there were many young hopping through the grass, begging food but also making attempts to procure their own meals. The young chippy resembles its parents not at all. It lacks the chestnut crown patch and the clean grey chest, exhibiting heavily streaked plumage instead. Perhaps the most endearing fledglings of all were the black-capped chickadees. They’d follow their parents from tree limb to tree limb, emitting a high, reedy, garbled version of the “chick-a-dee” call. Then they’d assume their begging posture: wings lowered and held slightly away from their sides, they’d vibrate and shake them rapidly until a parent stuffed an insect into their wide-open beaks. Soon, I expect goldfinch fledglings to make their first appearances, for these birds breed much later than do others, timing their cycle to coincide with the blooming of thistle, an important food source. Stay tuned … NEWS bird columnist Chris Corio can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net
February 17th, 2006
Edible Bird’s Nest
globalfoodideas.com/ChineseRecipes
Ingredients
2 medium white thin-skinned potatoes, peeled and shredded lengthwise (2 cups)
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
1/2 Tbsp. salt
Vegetable oil (To determine amount of oil to use, place an empty sieve in wok, then pour enough oil to cover at least 3/4 of the sieve.)
Directions
Squeeze potato shreds to remove liquid. Place in a bowl.Â
Sprinkle 1 Tbsp. cornstarch and 1/2 tsp. salt over potatoes and toss to distribute cornstarch and salt, and to loosen shreds.Â
Arrange a handful of shreds in a 4-inch diameter sieve, covering bottom of sieve and extending at least halfway up sides. Fit a second sieve of the same size inside first one.
(If your wok has a round bottom, set wok on a ring stand* to hold the wok in place when filled with oil.)Â Heat appropriate amount of oil to 325F (165C) degrees on a deep-frying
thermometer*.
Place sieve in oil and cook until nest is golden brown (about 3 or 4 minutes). Remove from oil and lift off top sieve. Loosen edge of nest with tip of sharp knife, then gently remove nest and drain on paper towels.
Repeat, adjusting heat as necessary, to maintain oil temperature at 325F degrees.
* Ring stands and deep-frying thermometers can be found at most kitchen accessory stores.
Makes 4 or 5 nests.
For This Recipe:
The bird’s nest goes
best with lightly
sauced stir-fries.
(e.g., Bell Peppers
and Beef or a Veggie
Stir-Fry)
Â
Measurement Converter
Tips for deep-frying with a wok:
1. Successful deep-frying in a wok depends on keeping the oil at the right temperature. To prevent the oil from cooling too much when food is added, keep the wok over high heat and add food just a few pieces at a time.
2. To minimize spattering of oil, slide or lower foods into oil.
3. Remember that oil and water don’t mix. Spattering of oil can occur when moist foods hit hot oil. Make sure food to be deep-fried is as dry as possible before cooking. Make sure no water clings to utensils before putting them in wok.
4. Always let oil cool before pouring it out of the wok.
February 16th, 2006
ecologyasia.com/news-archive
KUCHING: Sarawak has recorded a sharp increase in the population of wild swiftlets following the implementation of a sustainable management plan by the Forest Department for the harvesting of bird’s nest.Â
Researcher Dr Lim Chan Koon said the number of white-nest swiftlets in a cave in middle Baram, northern Sarawak, had shot up to 6,284 from 2,796 in 1997.Â
Dr Lim, who started the research on the breeding of swiftlets there five years ago, said that in another cave in Bukit Sarang, the swiftlet population had jumped to 660 from 396 in 2000.Â
Giving a talk on Sustainable Exploitation of a Natural Resource – Edible Bird’s Nest at the Malaysian Chemical Congress here, he said that under the first sustainable management plan introduced in 1998, no harvest of the product between January and April was allowed.Â
A second plan adopted two years later imposed a collection ban for any four continuous months, following which monthly harvests were permitted.Â
The four-month break allowed one complete breeding cycle of the swiftlets, including 30 days for nest-building, 25 days for incubation and between 45 and 49 days for the hatchings to grow until they leave the nest.Â
Dr Lim said uncontrolled and indiscriminate harvesting of bird’s nests over the years had caused a drastic decline in nest production and the wild swiftlets population in the Niah Cave.Â
“The swiftlet population there dropped from 1.7 million in 1935 to 200,000 in 1996 and 65,000 this year,” he added.Â
To arrest the sharp decline, the Forest Department imposed a four-month ban early this year on the collection of bird’s nest there.Â
The Niah Cave was once the state’s largest producer of black nests, with annual yields measured in tonnes. Â
Dr Lim said the government carried out two year-long comprehensive studies of the breeding of the black-nest and white-nest swiftlets in 1997 and 2000. Â
Of the five species of swiflets found in Sarawak, only three – black, white and glossy swiftlets – produce nests of commercial value. Â
Dr Lim said freshly collected white nests were worth between RM5,000 and RM7,000 per kilo in 1994. Â
He said commercial swiftlet farming in Sarawak had started where buildings with a cave-like environment were put up.
February 16th, 2006
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