Thailand History Guide » Nest http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:14:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Bird’s Nest Soup (A Soup Tonic) http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/birds-nest-soup-a-soup-tonic/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/birds-nest-soup-a-soup-tonic/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:57:26 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=710 Bird’s nest soup made with traditional ingredients has long been used as a tonic in Chinese medicine, and 10 protect the body against various ailments. Recent research on the nutritional value of birds’ nest has shown the presence of a soluble glycoprotein Ihal may promote growth, tissue repair and cell division within the immune system.

Bird’s nest soup made with traditional ingredients has long been used as a tonic in Chinese medicine, and 10 protect the body against various ailments. Recent research on the nutritional value of birds’ nest has shown the presence of a soluble glycoprotein Ihal may promote growth, tissue repair and cell division within the immune system.

Bird's Nest Soup Ingredient

Bird's Nest Soup Ingredient

Bird's Nest Soup

Bird's Nest Soup

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/birds-nest-soup-a-soup-tonic/feed/ 0 Building the Birds’ Nest http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/building-the-birds-nest/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/building-the-birds-nest/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:46:17 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=702 The bird makes chewing and retching movements of the bill and throat, as the saliva is regurgitated and worked around the mouth. Saliva is smeared on the edge of the nest with the sides of the bill. The nest takes shape as a pad of hardened saliva adhering to the wall. Subsequently a rim is [...]]]> The bird makes chewing and retching movements of the bill and throat, as the saliva is regurgitated and worked around the mouth. Saliva is smeared on the edge of the nest with the sides of the bill. The nest takes shape as a pad of hardened saliva adhering to the wall. Subsequently a rim is added and material is laid down in layers until a small cup-shaped nest is finally formed.

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

Building the Birds' Nest

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/building-the-birds-nest/feed/ 0 Caves http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/caves/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/caves/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:42:45 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=697 Besides the swiftlets, an interacting community of animals known as troglodytes may be found in the caves. Bats are abundant. Both bats and swiftlets produce guano, which is fed upon by insects such as moths and cockroaches. These insects in turn provide food for other predalors such as bugs, centipedes and geckos. The mosl common [...]]]> Besides the swiftlets, an interacting community of animals known as troglodytes may be found in the caves. Bats are abundant. Both bats and swiftlets produce guano, which is fed upon by insects such as moths and cockroaches. These insects in turn provide food for other predalors such as bugs, centipedes and geckos. The mosl common predators of the swiftlets and their nestlings are the snakes. hawks and eagles that hunt in the surrounding areas, and the eggeating crickets.

Cricket

Cricket

Bat Hawk

Bat Hawk

Caves

Caves

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/caves/feed/ 0 Collecting Birds’ Nests http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/collecting-birds-nests/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/collecting-birds-nests/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:29:50 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=692 In Thailand this is carried out between February and July. Three collections are made each breeding season. Birds’ nests are usually found in the lofty and dark interiors of caves. The nest collector, armed with a small torchlight and rope, stealthily climbs up the bamboo still that leads him to the nest.

Collection Bird's Nests [...]]]> In Thailand this is carried out between February and July. Three collections are made each breeding season. Birds’ nests are usually found in the lofty and dark interiors of caves. The nest collector, armed with a small torchlight and rope, stealthily climbs up the bamboo still that leads him to the nest.

Collection Bird's Nests Tools

Collection Bird's Nests Tools

Collecting Birds' Nests

Collecting Birds' Nests

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]]> http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/collecting-birds-nests/feed/ 0 Birds’ Nests of Southern Thailand http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/birds-nests-of-southern-thailand/ http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/birds-nests-of-southern-thailand/#comments Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:07:15 +0000 thailandhistoryguide http://www.thailandhistoryguide.com/?p=681 Thailand is one of the major producers of edible birds’ nests, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine dating as far back as the Ming and Qing dynasties of the 17th century. The swiftlets (nok kin lom) nest in caves along the southwestern coast and on the offshore islands. They find their way by echolocation. A series [...]]]> Thailand is one of the major producers of edible birds’ nests, a delicacy in Chinese cuisine dating as far back as the Ming and Qing dynasties of the 17th century. The swiftlets (nok kin lom) nest in caves along the southwestern coast and on the offshore islands. They find their way by echolocation. A series of up to 20 audible clicks per second is emitted and the echoes reflecting off the walls enable the birds to maneuver in the darkness. Already an expensive delicacy, these birds’ nests could become more expensive as overcollection threatens the normal cycle of nest building.

Birds of Southern Thailand

Birds of Southern Thailand

Birds of Southern Thailand

Birds of Southern Thailand

Type of Birds’ Nests

The black nest swiftlet (Aerodramus maximus) uses its black feathers to build nests, hence the name “black nest.” In contrast, the white nest swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) builds its nest wholly with saliva.

Birds' Nests

Birds

Birds' Nests

Birds' Nests

Birds' Nests

Birds' Nests

Grades of Birds’ Nests

The price of edible birds’ nests varies according to their quality. White nests, wholly made of saliva, are more expensive. The best birds’ nests are the first ones built during the breeding season. Thicker and translucent white, they expand to almost 20 times their volume upon soaking. Second and third nests are of lower grade, appearing dirtier and thinner.

Color and Quality of Birds’ Nests

Some supposedly high-quality nests are reddish. However, the coloration bears no relation to blood and may have leached into the nest from the substrate.

Birds' Nests

Birds' Nests

Birds' Nests

Birds' Nests

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