|
|
 |
| |
 Homepage
| Guide | Nhatrang | Attractions | Salangane island |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
salangane island |
|
Salangane Island is most
famous for Yen Sao which is the name of the nest of Salangane or
swifts. The locals harvest the bird nests (considered a delicacy)
used in soups. These nests are processed and exported to Taiwan and
Hong Kong. |
The birds build their
nest high on the walls of the cave on the islands. To access the
nests, harvesters must climb on ladders fashioned from bamboo.
Because the caves must remain dark lest the birds are scared off,
many climbers fall to their death every year trying to harvest the
nests.
The bird nest comes in two types, white and red nests. The nest are
fashioned by the Salangane that make their homes in caves. The nest
are made out of the bird's saliva. Usually, a typical bird creates
one nest a year during springtime using both parents saliva. |
|
|
As there is such a demand for their nest (thought to
have medicinal qualities), the locals began to remove the nest
several times a year causing the birds to have to continue
producing the nests.
The red variety of nests are a result of the birds having to
create so much saliva for the new nests that they cough up blood
along with their saliva causing the nest to take on the red
color of their blood. This variety of nest costs their weight in
gold or more in the retail market of Hong Kong or Taiwan.
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
);){kind=link}