Cave Swiftlets

Ah Cave Swiftlets! My new favorite bird! It's not even that the bird itself is that cool, but it's nesting ways is what I find so intriguing. Their nest is made from their saliva (90 liters), which dries to make a neat crystal-like haven. Cool, hey? Now for the twist, their nest is the ingredient in Bird Nest Soup - a Chinese delicacy. The nest itself has no flavor, but the texture is what makes it so unique. Although I'm not so fond of the soup part, I have never heard of such a nest. Talk about making use of your own resources. And to think we make our houses from materials such as cement. We have so much to learn.

Here's a really good video that goes into more detail, with great footage of the nests and harvesting procedures.

-LA