Wednesday, April 8, 2009

SWIFTLETS VS SWALLOWS

The edible swiftlet nest industry is easily a multi-million ringgit industry.

In Bahasa Melayu, there is no word for swiftlet...as a result many people confuse swiftlets for swallows...Swallows are burung layang-layang

In Indonesian language, swiftlets are walet...

So, we adopt the word walet...

Swiftlets are not swallows. Swiftlets are small, have rudimentary feet. They do almost everything (I mean it) while flying...eating, drinking, copulating while flying...

If you saw a bird perching on electric lines, then it is not a swiftlet...

If you see bird droppings on a car parked overnight underneath electric lines, then rest assured swiftlets are not at fault...

If you hear loud noises, they too are not made by swiftlets, but most probably by the gregarious mynahs, starlings or calling machines by swiftlet farmers!

These are why swiftlets are often blamed for something they are not responsible for.

Their nests are made largely of their saliva...their medicinal values? Well, I don't believe such craps...I will not pay that kind of money for their dried-up saliva!

Well, some people are willing to risk their lives and limbs just to collect the nests from high-up caves...

In Pahang and everywhere in Malaysia, dull blocks mushroom here and there to entice swiftlets to build their nests in there...

Many will be able to collect just a few nests after 2-3 years...

It is a matter of luck really....new players are trying their best to attract the youngs...for the olds they are stuck to their old nesting area...

I don't see any reason why old buildings in towns not be used for swiftlets rearing...


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