Southern resident earn extra income from bird’s nests

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Nureeyoh built this 3-storey nesting house for 2 million baht.
Nureeyoh built this 3-storey nesting house for 2 million baht.

A Yala resident has been able to generate extra income from selling swallow nests she collects from a 3-storey building created specifically for the birds.

Nureeyoh Hayee-salae, the owner of the building in Krong Pinang district, said the construction cost her 2 million baht. The building has a ventilation system to keep the air inside fresh for the birds.

Nureeyoh said that she began collecting swallow nests, created by swallows using their saliva, 3 years ago.

“They are particularly prized in Asian culture due to their rarity, and supposedly high nutritional value and exquisite flavor”, she commented.

“I collect the nests every 6 weeks and sell them to restaurants in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province.”

Nureeyoh claims she earns about 70,000 baht every 3 months from selling the nests. She hopes to break even within 3 years.

Nureeyoh can earn around 31,000 baht for a kilogram of bird nests and at least 35,000 baht when the demand is high. More people in the restive south have begun breeding swallows due to the growing demand.

Nureeyoh makes a decent living selling edible bird’s nests.
Nureeyoh makes a decent living selling edible bird’s nests.
The prized bird’s nests ready to be delivered to customers.
The prized bird’s nests ready to be delivered to customers.
A swallow perched on the side of her nesting house.
A swallow perched on the side of her nesting house.