Archive for June, 2006
soupsong.com
(by A. M. Zukarnaen)
Long ago in China, there was an Emperor who loved to taste different gourmet dishes made by the Royal Cook. Each dish was exotic and different every day.
One day the cook ran out of ideas and desperately needed to find a new dish to prepare for the Emperor. The Emperor had decreed that if the cook could not prepare a new and different dish daily, that he would not only lose his position as the roayl Cook, but also his head.
The Royal Cook decided to take a walk to the harbour to see if he could find something new and exotic to cook. He came across a merchant who had showed him a bird’s nest from Borneo.
“How do I cook this?” says the cook, looking at the bird’s nest.
“You’re the cook. They eat this in Borneo; I just buy it, I don’t prepare it. It has some potent longevity properties, that’s what I was told,” said the merchant.
True to his profession, however, the cook did his best and prepared the bird’s nest in a form of soup.
Knowing the Emperor’s passion for Feng Shui and longevity, the Royal Cook cunningly presented the soup with a dragon on one side and a phoenix on the other, with the soup in the middle.
“What have you brought me today?” asked the Emperor.
“Longevity soup, Your Highness,” replied the Royal Cook.
The Emperor’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly tasted the soup. It smelled sweet and aromatic, just as he liked it; however, when he tasted the soup, it was plain. The Royal Cook held his breath.
“this tastes like ordinary soup,” he said, “I can get this anywhere in my Kingdom.”
“Taste it again, please, Your Majesty,” urged the cook.
The Emperor took another spoonful. “It still tastes ordinary.”
“Please take one more sip, Your Majesty,” the cook urged again, fearful for his life.
“All right, but if I don’t taste anything different, I’ll have your head,” threatened the Emperor.
The cook had to think fast. “In Borneo…” he started.
The Emperor’s eyes lit up, because he knew that it was an exotic place. The pillars of the Forbidden City were made from timbers that came from Borneo.
“In Borneo, the people there eat this soup for longevity. It keeps the people young and healthy. It lengthens their years, and they live long and prosperous lives because of this soup.” The cook went on about the benefits of the soup, emphasizing the longevity properties of the dish.
“Ahhh, an exotic dish. Why didn’t you say so? This dish is fit for an Emperor,” the Emperor decreed.
The Royal Cook sighed with relief, as the Emperor continued to relish his dish.
Once the Emperor had finished his meal, he announced that the longevity soup was to be served to him on a regular basis, and the Royal Cook was duly rewarded.
To keep the Emperor from finding out that the longevity soup’s raw ingredient was bird’s nest, the Royal Cook ensured that all those who brought back the birds’ nests from Borneo were killed. New crews were sent to retrieve the nests each time.
True enough, the Emperor lived a long and prosperous life.
The longevity soup was only served to the Royal Family and wealthy merchants. It was not allowed to be served to the general population.
The longevity soup became renowned as a royal dish, and its potent properties claimed by the merchant were proven to be true.
The Emperor’s successors were the ones who truly benefited from the soup, as it was served to them at an early age. And now, if the longevity soup is served to guests or VIPs, they know that the host is taking care of them. After all, the dish is fit for an Emperor.
June 8th, 2006
kebumen.go.id
kedaulatan-rakyat.com ~ KEBUMEN (KR) - Kondisi medan yang sulit berupa tebing karang yang curam dan ombak yang ganas di bawahnya, menyebabkan proses pengunduhan sarang burung walet di tiga goa pengunduhan, yaitu Goa Karang Bolong, Kecamatan Buayan, Goa Pasir dan Karangduwur, Kecamatan Ayah, Kabupaten Kebumen, dinilai memiliki risiko yang cukup tinggi. Karena itu, Pemerintah Kabupaten (Pemkab) Kebumen akan berupaya memodernisasi peralatan pengunduhan sarang burung di 3 goa tersebut.
“Selama ini peralatan yang dipakai para pengunduh sangat sederhana, padahal tantangan yang mereka hadapi cukup berat. Untuk mengurangi tingkat bahaya itu, kami berupaya menggantinya dengan peralatan yang lebih modern,” ujar Kepala Kantor Pendapatan Daerah (Kapenda) Kebumen, Muji Raharjo SH, kemarin.
Rencana penggantian peralatan pengunduhan itu menurut Muji berdasarkan pengamatannya terhadap proses pengunduhan sarang burung di tiga goa itu, dalam setahun terakhir ini, ditambah pengalaman pribadinya menuruni tebing dan masuk ke dalam Goa Karangduwur, belum lama ini. Saat itu, tanpa persiapan yang memadai dan masih mengenakan seragam kantor dan tanpa alat pelampung, dirinya berusaha melihat kondisi goa secara langsung.
Dengan petunjuk dari seorang petugas pengunduh, Muji Raharjo memulai pengalaman yang mendebarkan itu. Mula-mula menuruni tebing karang setinggi 50 meter dengan tangga bambu. Sementara di bawah terlihat ganasnya ombak laut selatan. Menjelang sampai di mulut goa, Muji berganti berpegangan pada seutas tali ijuk berdiameter 2 cm.
“Saat berpegangan pada tali, tubuh saya terayun-ayun mengikuti gerakan tali. Rasa ngeri ada, karena bila pegangan terlepas, tubuh saya akan jatuh ke laut,” tutur Muji.
20 Meter
Sampai di mulut goa, Mujipun harus berjalan di atas air sedalam 1,5 meter menuju daratan di dalam goa. Dari tempat ini, dijumpai rangkaian tangga bambu menuju langit-langit goa çyang tingginya sekitar 20 meter. Di langit-langit goa itulah tempat bersarangnya burung walet dan sarang-sarang burung itu menurut tradisi hanya bisa dipetik oleh pengunduh secara turun-temurun. Berhubung dirinya tak ingin melanggar tradisi pemetikan itu, Mujipun hanya bisa melihat-lihat kondisi sarang burung di dalam goa selama satu jam.
“Saat ombak mulai pasang, sayapun harus segera meninggalkan tempat itu. Dan untuk naik, harus pula dilakukan dengan ekstra hati-hati pula,” ujar Muji.
Berdasar pengalaman itu, jajaran instansinya mulai mengevaluasi proses pengunduhan yang sangat berisiko namun hanya menggunakan peralatan yang seadanya itu. Seperti tangga bambu untuk menuruni tebing. Sementara untuk merangkai tangga membutuhkan waktu cukup lama dan harus melibatkan banyak orang.
Dengan alasan untuk menghemat waktu dan tenaga, muncul pemikiran untuk mengganti tangga bambu dengan tangga modern yang bisa dibentangkan dan dilipat kembali. Kemudian, tali ijuk yang digunakan untuk menuju mulut goa, kemungkinan bisa diganti dengan alat semacam rel besi tahan air garam yang dipasang di dinding karang. Sehingga pengunduh bisa berjalan di atas rel itu dengan lebih nyaman.
“Penggunaan tali ijuk sangat berbahaya, karena hanya dikaitkan dengan paku besi yang dipasang sedalam 2 cm ke dinding karang,” ujar Muji.
Muji berharap, rencana modernisasi peralatan itu bisa terealisasi dalam waktu dekat ini, demi efisiensi proses pengunduhan dan menekan risiko yang harus ditanggung pengunduh saat menjalankan tugas. (Dwi/Ths)-c.
June 7th, 2006
INDRAMAYU, (PR).-
pikiran-rakyat.co.id
Penyakit flu burung (Avian influence, AI) ternyata melumpuhkan usaha dan perdagangan sarang burung walet. Memasuki bulan Januari 2006, terjadi kemerosotan harga luar biasa. Bahkan, hingga bulan Pebruari ini mencapai tingkat harga terendah.
Dari pantauan “PR”, Selasa (7/3), harga sarang walet kini berada di bawah Rp 5 juta/kg. Padahal, pada akhir tahun 2005 lalu, harga masih bertengger di atas Rp 10 juta, terutama dengan kualitas super. Bahkan sebelum bulan Oktober 2005 lalu, harganya masih terhitung tinggi, yakni mencapai Rp 15 juta/kg.
Penurunan harga terjadi secara serentak begitu penyakit flu burung menghantui sebagian besar masyarakat di dunia. “Sampai sekarang, harga terus merosot. Bisa jadi, tahun ini sarang walet benar-benar tidak laku dijual,” keluh salah seorang penangkar sarang walet di Jalan Cimanuk, Indramayu.
Para penangkar yang selama ini menikmati kekayaan berlimpah dari penjualan sarang walet, ternyata kini mengakui tak lagi leluasa hidup mengandalkan usahanya itu. “Setidaknya dalam tahun-tahun ini, sarang walet tidak lagi jadi barang eksklusif atau mewah. Bisa-bisa sarang walet dijual di pasaran umum, tentu saja dengan harga rendah. Ini pun belum tentu laku, sebab masyarakat dicekam ketakutan penyakit flu burung,” ujar penangkar sarang walet yang menolak disebutkan jati dirinya.
Bisnis sarang burung walet memang merupakan usaha yang bisa dikatakan misterius. Masyarakat tidak bisa sembarangan membuat panangkaran sarang walet kalau tidak tahu saluran pasarnya. Bahkan saking misteriusnya, untuk pemasaran sarang walet juga dilakukan sangat tertutup (black-market).
Di Indramayu, usaha ini telah digeluti selama ratusan tahun oleh sebagian masyarakat. Dari usaha itu, para pengusaha sarang walet hidup dengan kekayaan yang melimpah. Penangkaran walet di Indramayu tersebar di hampir seluruh kecamatan. Letak geografis Indramayu berpotensi menjadi tempat berkembang-biaknya walet karena selain dekat dengan areal perhutanan dan lautan, juga datarannya rendah.
Menurut para penangkar, produksi sarang walet Indramayu dijual secara khusus kepada pelanggan-pelanggan tetap. Mereka tersebar di sejumlah negara, terutama Singapura, Hong Kong dan Taiwan.
Pendapatan menurun
Dampak merosotnya usaha sarang walet ternyata juga sampai ke dinas pendapatan daerah setempat. Seperti dituturkan Kepala Seksi Penagihan Pajak Sarang Walet, Kamud. Pihaknya kini terkena imbas dari kondisi tersebut, berupa turunnya pendapatan dari sektor pajak sarang walet.
Dituturkan, di Indramayu terdapat 279 wajib pajak (WP) sarang walet. Sejauh ini, targetnya memang belum maksimal, hanya Rp 321 juta, bahkan tahun 2006 ini turun menjadi Rp 287 juta.
Kamud membenarkan bahwa lumpuhnya usaha sarang walet akibat merebaknya penyakit flu burung. Selain itu, juga ada faktor lain, yakni peraturan baru negara-negara pengimpor sarang walet Indramayu seperti Hong Kong dan Singapura.
“Semula impor walet itu bebas bea, tapi kini ada bea masuk yang cukup tinggi. Di Hong Kong, bea masuk bahkan mencapai 40 persen. Flu burung dan pemberlakukan bea masuk jadi penyebab lum puhnya usaha sarang walet,” ujarnya.(A-93)***
INDRAMAYU, (PR).-
Penyakit flu burung (Avian influence, AI) ternyata melumpuhkan usaha dan perdagangan sarang burung walet. Memasuki bulan Januari 2006, terjadi kemerosotan harga luar biasa. Bahkan, hingga bulan Pebruari ini mencapai tingkat harga terendah.
Dari pantauan “PR”, Selasa (7/3), harga sarang walet kini berada di bawah Rp 5 juta/kg. Padahal, pada akhir tahun 2005 lalu, harga masih bertengger di atas Rp 10 juta, terutama dengan kualitas super. Bahkan sebelum bulan Oktober 2005 lalu, harganya masih terhitung tinggi, yakni mencapai Rp 15 juta/kg.
Penurunan harga terjadi secara serentak begitu penyakit flu burung menghantui sebagian besar masyarakat di dunia. “Sampai sekarang, harga terus merosot. Bisa jadi, tahun ini sarang walet benar-benar tidak laku dijual,” keluh salah seorang penangkar sarang walet di Jalan Cimanuk, Indramayu.
Para penangkar yang selama ini menikmati kekayaan berlimpah dari penjualan sarang walet, ternyata kini mengakui tak lagi leluasa hidup mengandalkan usahanya itu. “Setidaknya dalam tahun-tahun ini, sarang walet tidak lagi jadi barang eksklusif atau mewah. Bisa-bisa sarang walet dijual di pasaran umum, tentu saja dengan harga rendah. Ini pun belum tentu laku, sebab masyarakat dicekam ketakutan penyakit flu burung,” ujar penangkar sarang walet yang menolak disebutkan jati dirinya.
Bisnis sarang burung walet memang merupakan usaha yang bisa dikatakan misterius. Masyarakat tidak bisa sembarangan membuat panangkaran sarang walet kalau tidak tahu saluran pasarnya. Bahkan saking misteriusnya, untuk pemasaran sarang walet juga dilakukan sangat tertutup (black-market).
Di Indramayu, usaha ini telah digeluti selama ratusan tahun oleh sebagian masyarakat. Dari usaha itu, para pengusaha sarang walet hidup dengan kekayaan yang melimpah. Penangkaran walet di Indramayu tersebar di hampir seluruh kecamatan. Letak geografis Indramayu berpotensi menjadi tempat berkembang-biaknya walet karena selain dekat dengan areal perhutanan dan lautan, juga datarannya rendah.
Menurut para penangkar, produksi sarang walet Indramayu dijual secara khusus kepada pelanggan-pelanggan tetap. Mereka tersebar di sejumlah negara, terutama Singapura, Hong Kong dan Taiwan.
Pendapatan menurun
Dampak merosotnya usaha sarang walet ternyata juga sampai ke dinas pendapatan daerah setempat. Seperti dituturkan Kepala Seksi Penagihan Pajak Sarang Walet, Kamud. Pihaknya kini terkena imbas dari kondisi tersebut, berupa turunnya pendapatan dari sektor pajak sarang walet.
Dituturkan, di Indramayu terdapat 279 wajib pajak (WP) sarang walet. Sejauh ini, targetnya memang belum maksimal, hanya Rp 321 juta, bahkan tahun 2006 ini turun menjadi Rp 287 juta.
Kamud membenarkan bahwa lumpuhnya usaha sarang walet akibat merebaknya penyakit flu burung. Selain itu, juga ada faktor lain, yakni peraturan baru negara-negara pengimpor sarang walet Indramayu seperti Hong Kong dan Singapura.
“Semula impor walet itu bebas bea, tapi kini ada bea masuk yang cukup tinggi. Di Hong Kong, bea masuk bahkan mencapai 40 persen. Flu burung dan pemberlakukan bea masuk jadi penyebab lum puhnya usaha sarang walet,” ujarnya.(A-93)***
June 7th, 2006
febsjournal.org
V Pozsgay, H Jennings and DL Kasper
A new, sialic-acid-derived compound was isolated from the acid hydrolysate of edible bird’s nest by ion-exchange chromatography. Combined use of mass spectroscopy and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy established that it is the 4,8-anhydro derivative of N-acetylneuraminic acid and that in solutions it exists in two tautomeric forms. The formation of the new compound supports and earlier findings that in the glycoprotein of edible bird’s nest at least a portion of N- acetylneuraminic acid is acetylated at HO-4.
June 6th, 2006
thaiwaysmagazine.com
By Daisy
Bird’s nests? Bird’s saliva? Yes, but there’s something more about it that you may not know before. Have you ever wondered why people, especially the Chinese are fond of bird’s nests? And why are they so expensive? A kilo of unprocessed raw bird’s nests costs 100,000-120,000 baht (1USD = around 40 baht).
Levels of bird’s nests quality
The expensive high-quality nests are the first nests harvested for the first time in the harvesting season. The bird’s nests collected during this time are white and less contaminated. The third nests, are more dirty because they are harvested after the baby birds have grown up and left the nests. These nests need to be cleaned up more than the earlier ones.
Prices
The prices of the first nests are very high. A kilo of unprocessed nests costs 100,000-120,000 baht, while that of the third nests are lower. In former times, only the emperors or the well-to-do would be able to taste the genuine bird’s nests. However, if we take into consideration the danger one must face when climbing to get a bird’s nest, the prices are reasonable.
Ethics of the bird’s nest concessionaires
The operators must strictly hold on to the conservation principles which aim to sustainably make the most of bird’s nests. That is to utilize them for the longest possible period of time and produce the least waste. Harvesting the nests especially for the third time means that although the nests are of poor quality, they had better be collected than be allowed to decay since the baby birds have already left the nests. Concessionaires must not break the rules of birds’s nest harvesting because it will lead to devastation.
Beliefs about reddish brown nests
It is believed that the bird’s nests of reddish brown colour are produced by the mother birds who have to rebuild the nests for several times until their saliva becomes blood. The reddish brown bird’s nests thus, are rated as the supreme delicacy rich in nutritions which gourmets will pay any costs to taste them.
Recently, many researchers have found that what causes the reddish brown colour is the chemical reaction among oxygen, iron and humidity which results in rust. Humidity also stimulates the rust to be absorbed into the nest making them reddish brown. There are actually no more nutritions in this kind of nests than in the others.
From which species of swift do we get the edible bird’s nests?
There are three species of swifts in Thailand that produce edible nests viz. the Edible-nest Swiftlet, Pacific Swift and Black-nest Swiftlet. The nests of the first two species are white while those of the last are black with feathers, dust and droppings mixed together, and are considered of low quality. Even though most bird’s nests in Thailand are products of Edible-nest Swiftlets, in the east of Thailand, especially in Trat Province, most nests harvested are of Pacific Swifts.
The appearances of nests
Edible-nest Swiftlets and Pacific Swifts build their white nests in the form of a half cup. The nests are constructed by glutinous strands of starch-like saliva of the birds. Sometimes the nests are mixed with their feathers. Black-nest Swiftlets build larger nests when compared with the Edible-nest Swiftlets and the Pacific Swifts. These birds construct nests with their feathers which are conjoined with their saliva.
All species build their nests on the ledges of limestone caves or in the cracks of granite mountains, the height of which is more than 10 metres. Inside these caves, the air usually has high humidity.
Medicinal properties
Bird’s nests are believed to act as a tonic for the lungs and can help keep the function of respiratory system homeostatic. They are also excellent for boosting the blood circulation system for children, patients in recovering stage, women after delivery and the old. Bird’s nest soup is praised as a superb tonic so full of benefits that it is prohibited to add cooking oil or other seasonings to it.
A research studying the bird’s nest has found that it can help stimulate the process of the cell formation as well. In addition, the scientists of Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) have found that the following chemical compounds are contained in the bird’s nest:
Water 5.11%, Protein 60.9%, Calcium 0.85%, Potassium 0.05%, Phosphorus 0.03%.
Besides, in 1963, there was an overseas study about bird’s nests. It indicated that the chemical compounds extracted from bird’s nests effectively prohibited the process of Haemagglutination which caused the common cold and influenza.
Bird’s nest sources in Thailand
In Thailand, the southern region, including especially Krabi, Phuket and Nakhon Si Thammarat, is the largest area producing bird’s nests. In addition, there is another producing source in the eastern provinces such as Rayong and Trat.
Harvesting
The first harvest begins in March which corresponds with the mating season. The female birds will construct the nests for laying eggs. They build the nests during the night and go looking for food during the day. It will take 30-35 days to finish a nest. Thus, the excellent opportunity for the collectors to harvest the nests is by day when the mother birds are not in the cave. The harvest must be done before they lay eggs. Otherwise, the eggs will be damaged. And as a result, the female birds will no longer lay eggs for the rest of the year. However, if the collectors collect the nests too soon, the quality of the nests will not meet standard because they have not been fully developed.When they see the nests disappeared, the mother-to-be birds, out of their instinct to maintain their species, will build a second nest. That is why after the first harvest, the collector will wait one month for the birds to construct a new nest. After the second nests are harvested, another three months will be allowed to pass before the third nests are ready for harvesting for the last time of the year in August.
The third nests are the nest where the baby birds live and grow. The reason to wait for three months is to allow time for the baby birds to hatch out of the eggs and to grow up strong enough to fly and forage. The mother birds will spend one month to incubate. After the third nests were harvested, the cave will be isolated until the next year.
How to cook bird’s nests
1.Clean the nests in fresh water two to three times. Soak them in water for 1-2 hours until they are swollen. Then use forceps to remove the impurities. After that, wash them for another two times. Then, take bird’s nests out of the water and leave them to drip.
2. Stew bird’s nests in a pot, using low heat. The water in the pot must cover every part of the bird’s nests. After stewing for 15 minutes, add rock sugar. Continue stewing it for an hour.
3. Another way to cook bird’s nest is just heat it in water until it is boiling. Then add sugar and remove the heat.
4. Cleaned or cooked bird’s nest should be kept in a refrigerator.
If you are in Bangkok, it is very convenient to try bird’s nest soup. Most restaurants in Chinatown on Yaowarat Road serve it. And if you are in other major tourist provinces such as Phuket, you can order bird’s nest soup at almost any restaurants.
June 6th, 2006
.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Guo CT, Takahashi T, Bukawa W, Takahashi N, Yagi H, Kato K, Hidari KI, Miyamoto D, Suzuki T, Suzuki Y.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Shizuoka, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and COE Program in the 21st century, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan; Institute of Bioengineering, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, 182 Tianmushan Road, Hangzhou 310013, PR China; CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama 332-0012, Japan.
Edible bird’s nest (EBN) is the nest of the swift that is made from its saliva. Although EBN has been widely used for enhancing immunocompetence, its antiviral efficacy has not been studied in detail. We found that EBN extract could strongly inhibit infection with influenza viruses in a host range-independent manner when it was hydrolyzed with Pancreatin F. Western blotting assay showed that the EBN extract bound to influenza virus. Furthermore, EBN extract could neutralize the infection of MDCK cells with influenza viruses and inhibit hemagglutination of influenza viruses to erythrocytes, but it could not inhibit the activity of influenza virus sialidase. Fluorometric HPLC indicated that the major molecular species of sialic acid in EBN is N-acetylneuraminic acid. The results suggest that EBN is a safe and valid natural source for the prevention of influenza viruses.
June 6th, 2006
extension.umn.edu
Rebecca Brown
Bird’s nest fungi (Mycocalia, Nidularia, Nidula, Cyathus, and Crucibulum spp.), sphere throwers (Sphaerobolus spp.), and shotgun fungi (Pilobolus spp.) are three separate groups of fungi with many similarities.
Bird’s nest fungi, sphere throwers, and shotgun fungi are all saprophytes, which grow on manure or decaying wood. Since these fungi live only on decaying plant matter, they do not harm living plants. In the garden, the tiny (under 1/4 inch tall) fungi are usually found on the surface of soil, which has been enriched with manure, sawdust, or wood chips. They can also be found on old boards used to edge garden beds and on wooden plant labels and stakes. The fungi are usually spread in manure, however, some species may occur as contaminants within seed mixes.
All of these fungi can forcibly eject their spores in hard egg-like structures called peridioles. These structures can be ejected one yard or more. The sticky spore cases adhere to plant foliage and other surfaces, including home siding and patio furniture.
These fungi are rarely noticed unless they are brought indoors on container-grown plants. The first sign is shiny black or dark brown objects resembling seeds or insects on the leaves. These are the egg-like structures that have been ejected by the fungi. If unsightly, they can be picked off the leaves. To help control these fungi, remove any fungal fruiting bodies from the surface of the soil. Repotting the plant in a potting medium that does not contain manure or wood should prevent the fungi from returning Bird’s nest fungi look like miniature bird’s nests or cups. The shiny peridioles are nestled inside like eggs. Usually only 1/4 inch in height or diameter, the nests are commonly light brown but may be white, gray, yellow, or rust colored. The shiny peridioles are generally black or dark brown but may also be white. Immature fruiting bodies look like tiny puffballs, which open into cups as they mature. The peridioles of bird’s nest fungi are splashed out of the nest by falling water drops. The dimensions and shape of the nest are such that the force of a water drop hitting the bottom of the cup is enough to throw the peridioles over one yard from the nest. When a peridiole strikes a solid object such as a leaf or twig, it adheres to the surface in one of two ways. Fungi in the genera Mycocalia, Nidularia and Nidula have sticky peridioles. In the genera Cyathus and Crucibulum, the peridiole is attached to the nest by a coiled cord. When the peridiole is ejected from the nest, the cord separates from the nest, giving the peridiole a four-inch tail. The end of the tail is sticky. When it sticks to a twig or stem, the peridiole swings around its anchor point, wrapping the cord around the stem. Most bird’s nest fungi in Minnesota belong to Cyathus or Crucibulum.
Sphere throwers (Sphaerobolus spp.) grow on rotting wood in many of the same places as bird’s nest fungi. The whitish or yellowish-pink immature fruiting bodies are round balls similar to immature bird’s nest fungi. As the fruiting bodies mature, the outer layer of the ball peels back to form a cup with a single spherical peridiole inside. This cup is actually two cups, one inside the other, joined at the rim. Pressure builds up between the two cups, eventually causing the inner cup to explosively invert, or turn inside out. The force of the inversion launches the peridiole, which can travel more than five yards before sticking to any surface it impacts.
Shotgun fungi (Pilobolus spp.) grow mostly on old horse manure. The clear, glasslike fruiting body consists of a slender stalk topped with a swollen bulb. A shiny black peridiole rests on top of the bulb. Pilobolus always bends toward the light, which ensures the clearest path for the peridiole to travel. The fungus senses the direction of the light with light sensitive pigments at the base of the bulb. As long as these pigments are illuminated, they send a signal to bend. The bending stops when the opaque peridiole is pointing directly at the light source, shading the pigments. If Pilobolus is grown in the dark, the stalks will all point straight up. The swollen bulb is filled with sugar, which absorbs water until the pressure inside the bulb is five times the pressure outside. As the fruiting body matures, the walls weaken under the peridiole. Eventually the pressure causes the bulb to rupture, sending the sticky peridiole flying.
These ballistic fungi, each with its unique method of spore dispersal, can be a fascinating introduction to the world of fungi. A careful search of the damp corners of your garden in the fall will probably reveal numerous bird’s nest fungi, sphere throwers, and shotgun fungi.
References
Alexopoulos, C.J. and C.W. Mims, Introductory Mycology, 3rd ed. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1979.
Brodie, H.J., The Bird’s Nest Fungi. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1975.
Brodie, H.J., Fungi–Delight of Curiosity. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, 1978. [Written in non-technical terms; an interesting introduction to many common fungi] Carolina Biological Supply Company sells cultures of Pilobolus and bird’s nest fungi. 2700 York Road, Burlington, NC 27215 (919) 584-0381 or (800) 334-5551.
P321B
Revised 2/2000
Chad Behrendt, Crystal Floyd
June 5th, 2006
asiachi.com
Yanwo or Bird’s Nest, is the salivary secretion of the male sea swifts which consume marine organisms. This sticky secretion is regurgitated to form nests. These bird’s nests are found in dangerous and hard to reach locations like cliffs, overhanging crags and steep deep caves.
Due to its ability to prevent internal dryness, bird’s nest is especially known to be useful in maintaining youth and enhancing a smooth and wrinkle-free complexion. It is considered a superior tonic for woman.
Since it also helps stimulate appetite and aids digestion, Bird’s Nest is ideal for the elderly and children, both men and women. It provides an unique pre-digested form of protein and nutrients that will help speed up Bird’s Nest Products
recovery of chronic illness. Pregnant women are especially encouraged to consume Bird’s Nest because it is believed that the baby will have a beautiful glowing complexion.
The best quality are those that are clean without feathers, a complete whole unbroken piece and those originating from the Indonesian coasts.
House/land swallow’s nests are known to be therapeutic in the Chinese medical classics but the nests of the sea swallows were introduced to China only about 400 years ago. Admiral Cheng Ho, ambassador of 15th Century China, discovered the superior delicacy of sea bird’s nests while sailing through Southeast Asian seas. From that time onwards, the Chinese have enjoyed bird’s nest as medicinal gourmet food.
June 5th, 2006
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people.cornell.edu
What method of composting is:
–free?*
–uses only natural materials that you have around?*
–blends into the environment most harmoniously?*
The bird’s nest bin, also known as the binless bin, is a naturally constructed compost bin that you build out of the large, coarse plant materials that you have around the yard. Instead of throwing the big stalky stuff, like broccoli and kale plants, prunings from bushes, sunflower stalks, etc., into one pile together with the small, easy-to-degrade stuff like young weeds and kitchen food waste, they are separated so that the heavy-duty materials make up the walls and the finer materials are in the center. What a simple concept and how beautifully it works!
Without so much bulky material mixed in, the finer materials get to break down faster. The bin looks much neater than if everything is thrown together. Reminiscent of a bird’s nest, the binless bin blends naturally into the landscape with charm and character. No need to buy plastic bins or build other structures.
It’s easy to make a bird’s nest bin. Pound four stakes into the ground to make a square four to six feet wide. These will provide all the structural support you need. Within the square, lay a few stalks crisscross on top of each other on the ground. This will allow some air to come through the bottom of the pile and be drawn upward through the pile to enhance breakdown. Around the perimeter, lay down your coarse materials to make walls eight to ten inches thick: big weeds, spent vegetable plants and flowers, prunings from shrub or trees, edges of sod you’ve dug up, old hay if you’ve got an excess of it–whatever you’ve got around, that you want to get rid of.
The center of the pile is reserved for the small stuff and the rotten stuff. Add food waste from the kitchen, the little weeds from the garden, the rotten fruit found under the trees. Always remember to cover up any food waste so as not to invite animals. Try to have a supply on hand at all times of something, like weeds, leaves, wood chips, or straw, to layer in with your food scraps and cover it up. If you don’t have enough leaves of your own, there’s a plentiful supply every fall, when people kindly leave these bags full of the precious compost ingredient (and excellent mulching material, but that’s another story) on the curb.
Keep the walls higher than the center at all times, so nothing falls out. Once the bin is a few feet high, after a garden season, you can let it sit and start another. After a year or so the interior of the bin left sitting will become dark compost, unrecognizable in origin, ready to enrich your garden. The wall material will have only partially broken down and can be re-used for a new bin.
Eventually you might want to expand to a three-bin unit. The bin in the middle shares a wall with the other two. This way you can always have one bin sitting and ripening; another to add to, and the third for harvesting finished compost.
Try it and see the magic of composting for yourself!
June 5th, 2006
nhm.org
During the breeding season, a bird’s nest provides an environment for its eggs to develop. Some birds don’t build a nest, but instead lay their eggs directly on the ground, in a hole, or even on a bare branch. In other species, nests are elaborate works of avian architecture.
Nest size, shape, and building materials vary greatly among birds. Nest placement and design, along with the behavior of the parents and young, combine to provide protection from temperature extremes and from predators. Birds instinctively know how to build the type of nest characteristic of its species.
Woodpeckers excavate their nests in tree trunks or branches. These nest cavities offer safety from predators and a comfortable micro climate for the eggs and young.
Many female hornbills build their nests in tree cavities and are then sealed in by their mates. Their mates feed them through a small hole, while they incubate the eggs and care for the chicks. These “fortresses” protect them from predators, such as snakes.
Many tropical birds construct hanging nests, which help keep the occupants out of predator’s reach and protect them from heavy rainfall. Some nests have a fake entrance that dead-ends to trick predatory snakes.
The most frequent type of nest among North American songbirds, such as the robins, is a simple cup usually lined with fine grass or other soft material.
Many colonial seabirds, such as Elegant Terns, make no nest, but simply lay their eggs in a shallow scrape in the sand or rocky ground. The eggs are not camouflaged. Predators are scarce and the eggs get a measure of protection from “safety in numbers” within the large colonies.
MANY WAYS TO BUILD A NEST
Tailorbirds of Southeast Asia sew leaves together to build a funnel-shaped nest. Using their sharp bills like needles, these tiny birds pierce holes along the edges of large green leaves. They thread plant fibers through the holes and knot them so the stitches won’t fall apart.
The Edible-nest Swiftlet of Southeast Asia makes its nest entirely out of hardened saliva. The saliva looks like spaghetti when fresh, but hardens when exposed to the air. These translucent nests are the main ingredient of the Chinese delicacy- bird’s nest soup. To gather the nests for bird’s nest soup, collectors climb hundreds of feet up ladders. Thousands of nests (about 20 to 30 tons) are exported from Borneo each year.
The Nuiafo’ou Megapode lives only on one tiny volcanic island in the South Pacific. The female buries her eggs in the volcanic ash near the rim of the crater, relying on the heat from the volcano to incubate them.
Some birds, such as Eurasian Cuckoos, lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. Cuckoos lay eggs that mimic those of the host species in color. After hatching, the young cuckoo shoves the other eggs and young out of the nest. The foster parents devote all their energy to raising the young cuckoo that grows larger than themselves.
June 5th, 2006
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