This article is related to one of my previous write up found at: http://swiftletfarming.blogspot.com/2008/04/factors-that-will-govern-quality-of.html
How do the shape of Birdnests govern the quality of each nest?
Birdnest shapes are dependent on three factors:
a) The location of nest build by the swiftlets.
Normally those nests that are built in the center of the nesting planks with a shape of women's bra is the standard shape. Some use the word half cup but for me I prefer the half bra.
Again these half bra sizes can again be classified base on how big the bra is. Some use their fingure as the method of mesuarement. A small shape we call them as two fingures, the medium size is three fingures while the larger one are those four fingures.
Those nests that are harvested from 90* corners are usually in an odd shape. They look like the bra cup being cut into half but in the middle. They are thick and heavy. In Malay they are being called "sarang sudut". The only set back is that they fetch much lower value as compared to those well formed nests.
What about those nests that are harvested at corners with corner covers? The deformation are dependant on the thickness of the corner covers that you use. Those who uses very thin corner covers will give less deformities while those with thick corner covers will have a more severe deformation. They do effect the sale's value dependent on the buyer.
These birds have a very uncontrolled habits of nesting at odd places. I have seen those nest on the cement walls, the top of the tweeters, on any electrical wires, on fake nests and etc. These nests will have some kind of deformities and some are dirty due to the surface where it come into contact with. They will normally fetch lesser value compared to the well formed nests.
The most unusual shape that I have come acrossed are those that the Indonesian called " Lidah Naga". The nests are said to be in the shape of a cup or two bras cups in one. The hug from the ceiling or the wooden planks and the birds built the nest using a much more quantity of their salivas. This Lidah Niaga, is the most expensive as compared to all the above.
b) Overall shape of the nests.
This have something to do with the overall shape of the nest. There are nests that are long in its length. If the standard length is 5 inches, tip to tip, there are those that are more then 6 inches or more.
Some nests are well formed and smooth all around the outer surface while there are those that are wavy.
I have seen nests that are with cracks it between.
Those nests that were not harvested tend to have an odd shape and colors. Everytime the nest are being recycled, the parent tend to rebuilt the upper part of the nests. So you have two seasons nests. What happenned if you do not harvest after the two seasons nests are formed? Well you might get a three seasons nests and so on ....
All odd shape nests will fetch lower value when you sell them ....
c) The way you harvest and keep them..
You may have read about the three types of harvesting that I wrote before. They are the harvest before the birds lay their eggs, The harvest just after they laid the two eggs and The harvest when the baby birds flew out of the nests.
The cleanest and the best nests shall be those before the eggs were laid.
The second best will be after the birds laid their two eggs but have not hatched yet.
The worste or the dirties shall be after the baby birds have used the nests and while using their do dirty them due to their food, their feathers, their shitting and so on.
You need to master the technique on how to harvest these nest from your BH. They are very hard to harvest and you do need to have a technique to make them soft just before you harvest. If you harvest them wrongly the nests tend to break or cracks. This will affect the value of the nests harvested.
In proper keeping of nests after you harvest can cause the nest to deteriorate. They might change color due to fungus or mold. You need to keep them in an air tight containers and keep them in a dry and cool places. Once they are attacked by those fungus the value will be affected.
So I hope you enjoy reading and learning from this blog ....
There are more to come .....
Just be patience and do not rush while reading ....
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