Based on Location
1. Cave Nest
Usually, there are two Collocalia species that live in caves, Collocalia Fuciphaga (White Nest) and Collocalia Maxima
(Feather Nest). But the nest from Collocalia Fuciphaga (White nest) is what we usually called for Cave Nest in the
market. Probably because the harvesting of cave nests is a potentially hazardous occupation, the Collocalia Fuciphaga
cave nest commands the highest price in the overall swallow nest market. The cave nests, within the natural conditions
of the cave, usually have a bowl-like shape, thick body, and strong legs. The bowl-like shape allows better protection for
the eggs or chicks against predators and weather, and the extra strong and big legs are needed for the nests to stick on
the wall, since the cave usually has a very high humidity level. Cave nest is found in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and
Indonesia.
2. House Nest
Grass Nest from the Collocalia Esculanta Species is the easiest to find in the swallow nest farm. As their population
grows, this species will attract the Collocalia Fuciphaga Species, producers of the popular white house nests, even
though it may take as long as 10 years. Depending on the nest color, the weather, and the insect population, the nests
are harvested between 1 and 4 times a year. This usually occurs right after the eggs are laid (which the eggs are then
placed in grass nests in the particular farm to boost Collocalia Fuciphaga population, or to put the eggs in hatching
machines), or right after the chicks are able to fly.
House nest is usually cultivated in the places where the cave that producing cave nest is nearby. To date, Indonesia
is the leading country for producing and exporting house nest. This is mainly because the farmed swallow bird nest
industry has started in Indonesia in the early 1960’s, while in Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam still heavily depended
on their Cave Nest until late 1990’s.
3. Forest/Tree Nest
Collocalia Esculanta (Grass Nest) is the most dominant species for producing the forest/tree nest. However, since more
and more people establish swallow nest farms, most of them have moved to farms where they have a better environment
(such as controlled temperature and humidity) and lack of predators to them and their eggs (such as ants, cockroach,
and bats).
