(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0132622 A1 Sia (43) Pub
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US 2010O132622A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0132622 A1 Sia (43) Pub. Date: Jun. 3, 2010 (54) SWIFTLETS FARMING FOR PRODUCTION Publication Classification OF EDIBLE BIRDSNESTS9 (51) Int. Cl. (76) Inventor: Yik HeiO Sia,1 O Johor Bahru (MY) AOIK 3/945/00 :08:2006.O1 AOIK 4L/04 (2006.01) Correspondence Address: AOIK3I/00 2006.O1 CROCKETT & CROCKETT, P.C. ( .01) 26O20 ACERO, SUTE 200 (52) U.S. C. .......... 119/300; 119/329; 119/306; 119/428 MISSION VIEJO, CA 92691 (US) (57) ABSTRACT (21) Appl. No.: 12/624,995 An edible bird's nests production facility comprising of: a wholly man made artificial caves system and/or converted (22) Filed: Nov. 24, 2009 natural relief such as caves, valleys, cliffs forming the nesting habitat and associated Supporting facilities configured to Related U.S. Application Data breed swiftlets for their nests by means of a captive breeding program for Swiftlets; commercialized-Scientific farming (63) Continuation of application No. 1 1/685,728, filed on methods; specialized apparatus, mechanisms and techniques; Mar. 13, 2007, now Pat. No. 7,661,391. managed Sustainable harvesting of nests; provision of a safe and secure nesting habitat and a conducive environment to (30) Foreign Application Priority Data maximize avian population by minimizing mortality rates; safe collection of nests by means of mechanized lifting sys Mar. 13, 2006 (SG) ............................... 2006O1493-0 tems and specialist mountaineering equipment. E. Ecs - Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 1 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 2 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 3 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 4 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 5 of 25 US 2010/0132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 6 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 7 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 8 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 10 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 : Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 11 of 25 US 2010/0132622 A1 s Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 12 of 25 US 2010/0132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 13 of 25 US 2010/0132622A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 14 of 25 US 2010/0132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 15 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 16 of 25 US 2010/0132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 17 of 25 US 2010/0132622 A1 S. CO I ame S. (Y-Aal S. Y W. R NS sex N S. ada as Alwar SCs Cl Aler D Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 18 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 19 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 21 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 22 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 23 of 25 US 2010/0132622A1 RSNNN Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 24 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 Patent Application Publication Jun. 3, 2010 Sheet 25 of 25 US 2010/O132622 A1 US 2010/O 132622 A1 Jun. 3, 2010 SWIFTLETS FARMING FOR PRODUCTION 0007 Class: Ayes OF EDIBLE BIRDSNESTS 0008 Order: Apodiformes 0009 Family: Apodidae 0010 Genus: Aerodramus 0001. This application is a continuation of U.S. applica Species: A. unicolor; A.ficiphagus, A. maximus and A. ger tion Ser. No. 1 1/685,728 filed on Mar. 13, 2007 which claims mani priority to Singapore Patent Application 200601493-0, filed 0011 Binominal name: Aerodramus unicolor, Aerodra Mar. 13, 2006. mus fit ciphagus, Aerodramus maximus and Aerodramus ger FiFi. FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS 0012 Common name: Indian Swiftlet, Edible-nest Swift 0002 The present invention relates to the breeding of let, Black-nest Swiftlet and German's Swiftlet Swiftlets of the genus Aerodramus and/or Collocalia in an 0013 The Collacaliini tribe of swiftlets comprises the: edible bird's nests production facility for producing large Edible-nest Swiftlet (Aerodramus firciphagus); Indian Swift quantities of nests. And a highly efficient method for harvest let (A. unicolor); Black-nest Swiftlet (A. maximus); German's ing nests safely. Such a facility configured to breed swiftlets Swiftlet (A. germani); Waterfall Swift (Hydrochous gigas); for their nests helps in conserving wild species of endangered Glossy Swiftlet (Colocalia esculenta); Cave Swiftlet (C. Swiftlets. linchi): Pygmy Swiftlet (C. troglodytes); Seychelles Swiftlet (A. elaphrus); Mascarene Swiftlet (A. francicus); Philippine BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS Swiftlet (A. meansi); Moluccan Swiftlet (A. infiscatus): Mountain Swiftlet (A. hirundinaceus); White-rumped Swift 0003 Present method of obtaining edible bird's nest let (A. Spodiopygius); Australian Swiftlet (A. terrae reginae); involves collecting and harvesting nests of wild swiftlets in Himalayan Swiftlet (A. brevirostris); Indo-chinese Swiftlet their natural habitats such as mountain caves and limestone (A. rogersi); Volcano Swiftlet (A. vulcanorum); Whitehead's cliffs for consumption causing irreversible disruptions and Swiftlet (A. whiteheadi); Bare-legged Swiftlet (A. nuditar damages to the dwindling populations of endemic wild Swift sus); Mayr's Swiftlet (A. Orientalis); Palawan Swiftlet (A. lets. Poachers have been known to raid established roosts of palawanensis); Mossy-nest Swiftlet (A. Salangana); Uniform protected and endangered species of Swiftlets in national Swiftlet (A. vanikorensis); Palau Swiftlet (A. pelewensis); parks and wildlife preserves at night to steal edible bird's Guam Swiftlet (A. bartschi); Caroline Islands Swiftlet (A. nests. The saying, “early bird takes the worm” and “finders inquietus); Atiu Swiftlet (A. Sawtelli):Polynesian Swiftlet (A. keepers' epitomizes the mentality of poachers as in the wild leucophaeus); Marquesan Swiftlet (A. Ocistus); Papuan the first to strike takes all, leaving nothing for late corners. Swiftlet (A. papuensis); Scarce Swift (Schoutednapus myo Such that nest poachers indiscriminately destroys un-hatched ptilus); Schouteden's Swift (S. schoutendeni). eggs, killing Swiftlet chicks too young to fly to safety, dis 0014 Swiftlets lives in flocks along tropical coastal areas rupting their reproductive life-cycle, threatening their very and are aerial insectivores. The average body length of a survival such that some species of swiftlets in South East Asia Swiftlet is 9 centimeters, about half the size of a Swallow. are fast approaching extinction. As with the rest of the global Swiftlets have a shorter rectangular tail while swallows have wildlife trade dealing in protected and endangered species of a longer forked tail. The A. unicolor measuring around 12 plants, animals and related wildlife products, the Supply chain centimeters in length is mainly dark brown above and paler of the lucrative bird's nest trade is steeped in a traditional brown below. A.ficiphagus is Smaller measuring 9 centime hierarchy of shadowy contacts cloaked in secrecy and black ters in length and weighs about 15 to 18 grams with a band of market deals. Dealers are unable to proof the legality of their brownish gray feathers across the rump. A. maximus is larger Supply sources. Unscrupulous dealers have been known to with a wing-span of 13 centimeters and weighs 28 grams. Its pass offimitation products and fakes as genuine edible bird's lower legs have a row of small feathers. nests. Some nest-processors employed harmful chemicals 00.15 Most swiftlets have a characteristic shape with a and detergents in the treatment of nests to improve the market short tail and very long Swept-back wings resembling a cres value of the commodity to the detriment of consumers. cent or a boomerang for fast flight with a wide gape and Small 0004. The birds called Cave Swiftlets or Swiftlets are con reduced beak surrounded by bristles for catching insects in tained within the four genera of Aerodramus (formerly Col flight. The flight of some species is characterized by a dis localia), Hydrochous, Collocalia and Schoutedenapus. They tinctive “flicking action. Swiftlets roosts on vertical cliffs or form the collocaliini tribe within the family Apodidae. Geo walls of caves high above, making harvesting of nests an graphically the genus Aerodramus comprises around 30 spe extremely risky profession. Many collectors were known to cies with a habitat range covering Southern Asia, South pacific have fallen to their death from flimsily constructed climbing islands and north eastern Australia located within the tropical apparatus used for harvesting edible bird's nests. Swiftlets and sub-tropical regions. Edible bird's nests are derived from have sharp claws protruding forward for clinging securely cave Swiftlets of the genus Aerodramus and/or Collocalia. In onto vertical cliffs and well developed salivary glands which particular four species comprising A. unicolor, A.ficiphagus, are able to secrete large amounts of saliva which Solidifies in A. maximus and A. germani are the most prized. A. unicolor contact with air, forming the main agent in the building of and A.fuciphagus (also known as Collocaliaficiphaga) pro their nests. Swiftlets builds their nests three times a year, not duces high grade white nests while A. maximus produces for the purpose of habitation but to foster their young. Nests lower grade black nests containing more feathers, particles are attached to the rocky walls of humid limestone caves. and other impurities. Adult swiftlets would rest and sleep while perched vertically Scientific classification of these avian species being: on cave walls, Supporting their bodies with sharp claws. Each 0005 Kingdom: Animalia nest is only used once and is abandoned once young Swiftlets 0006 Phyllum: Chordata have learnt to fly.