Swiftlets...oh swiflets

Swiflets love the place.

The Sultan Ismail bridge built in the 60s greets you as the town comes into sight. The town clock recently constructed adds more colour too.



In tandem with the Merdeka spirit and low key celebrations, the Johor and National flags welcome the guests who drop into the town.

Constructed in the heart of Muar, the clock tells her people of the time of the day and the quaint feature gives one a merry feeling.

Endowed with good coastal breeze and droplets and together with the ambiance exuded in old buildings, the sleepy Muar has today been synonymous with the mushrooming of high roof structures created for the bird nest industry.

Buildings of the previous century still stand tall and strong and businesses are conducted daily in these buildings. Kong Kong tells me that the sleepy town is facing bad business and new ventures that crop up don't last even for a year. Also, rentals are difficult to fetch and it is no more so lucrative to own shop lots for leasing purposes. Things are becoming temporal and ever since the older generation of the town have left, the younger ones without the needed patience and grit find it hard to survive in the town.

So, many of the shop owners have turned their attention to bird nest farming. As highly believed, Muar being coastal in nature is able to attract swiflets to make bird nests in old buildings which have properties which attract them - dark, dodgy, wet, and cool.

Do you notice the extended feature on the roof? They are outlets for the swiflets to make bird nests.





A closer view convinces one as the holes created in the extension are for air circulation. Also, the tall buildings avail themselves for tall aerials and communication discs for TV reception of channels from Singapore. The local folks love the soap operas of Singapore and no one day is over without a switch to some of the channels. But of late, the astro existence has given Singapore a keen competition. One can go by without watching Singapore shows. I definitely can.

See, high roofs mushrooming in almost every building in town.

Even small, back portions are not spared.



New ones are still cropping up. The town is frenzied with the industry.





The highly sought after bird nests

Swiflets are tiny birds found in South East Asian caves. Instead of twigs and straw, the swiflet makes a nest from its own saliva ; the only bird in the world to do so. Its recent rise in popularity comes from its growing reputation as a health tonic.

Most medicinal shops sell bird nest as a delicacy and it's pricey. That box up there could come to hundreds. The lucrative harvest from the swiflet's saliva has caused many to try their fortune in attracting swiflets to rest and build their nests in the roof tops.


A peek into the inside of one of the roof structures may show the following features.

A ceiling with wooden panellings for the swiflets to perch and build the nests from their saliva. Notice the row of lights installed to create artificial light ... maybe for cleaning the droppings of the birds?



The place is almost under total darkness ; a prerequisite for the swiflets to want to begin nesting.

Just at the entrance of the roof into the panellings, a water tank is placed perhaps for the swiflets to clean themselves? Much thought and care have been poured in to invite the swiflets to nest here.




A successful attempt will ultimately result in the above. Swiflets flying in and out of the abode to seek for food and to make their nests and rest.

But unfortunately, the process of initiating a swiflet community to begin nesting is almost always the most difficult part. Most effort can be futile and tens of thousands can just go down the drain. Every venture is a risk but the saying also goes ; no risk, no gain. So, apparently, about 50% or even more of the ventures attempted may fail and its every investor's prayer that the swiflets would come upon invitation. This is because the whole procedure is a sensitive one and all or almost all conditions must be fulfilled before any fruition can come true...the dampness, the temperature, the darkness and whatever ... and believe it or not, music and the sounds of bird chirping are created to complete the call. Yet, not all is well as swiflets are the most difficult and fussy guests .

The bird nest soup tonifies the lung and kidney , fights ageing and nourishes the spleen; so I have been informed. It is especially good for those weak in the lung , those with coughing spells, excessive sputum and general fatigue.
No wonder Por Por feeds on the soup so frequently. So it's also no wonder that the 2 dear old folks never gave up on this venture too. They too are inviting the swiflets to nest on their roof top! At 90 and 84... they are venturing into a business for the young and bold ; they don't give up, do they?

Besides watching the soap operas, they are also watching this box... to look out for shadows of the highly regarded swiflets.

Swiflets, oh swiflets...won't you come and rest on their roof top too ? Soon too, please...hehehehe.