Nesting and reproduction process

The Swiftlet Bird is a wild bird and habitat mainly in the Southeast Asian region. They are divided into many different types, however, not all species are the same. They differ in shape, place of living and nesting. And not all the nests of the same species can be eaten and good for health. Aerodramus fuciphagus is different from the other nest family, because they nest by their salivary glands instead of gathering branches of the nest as other species and their nests can carry food. Many nutrients are valuable to the human body.

CHOOSE NESTING PLACE

During the breeding season, each pair of birds will choose a nest for themselves to build a nest together. Swifts are not only loyal lovers but they are also "loyal" to the position of building their nest, which will be fixed throughout the life. Therefore, the birds only choose places where they feel safe and sound. When birds are young, males will usually be responsible for nesting beforehand, then fly to find mates to pair up. With pair already nested, the task of nesting will be done by both.

MAKING PROCESS

Bird nest is made for the purpose of laying eggs, hatching and raising little bird. Bird nest is formed by their own saliva from two salivary glands under the tongue of the cheek. At the time of reproduction, their salivary glands will be developed vigorously, bulging to the sides of the cheeks. At the start of construction, the bird will use its tongue to push the saliva out of the mouth and use the beak to form nest on the wall repeatedly. After 2-3 hours, their saliva begins to dry. This process will be repeated continuously until it lay egg, but they occasionally strengthen the nest firmly. After many nights using saliva to build the nest, the nest is formed with sufficient size, they will foam the edge of the nest and jump to the wall or edge of the nest to spit out more saliva in where the egg will spawn. The time for first nest usually take an average of 45-60 days, the later nests take about a month. The nest will weigh from 7-15g and gradually reduce the size for the nest after.

This process of nesting usually occurs after they go for feed and after rest 30 - 60 minutes. The birds usually nest from 20-3h in the morning. The number of times and time to complete the nest will vary over the life of the bird. 

BREEDING PROCESS

After the nest is completed, the bird will begin the mating process. They will mate while flying, as they fly around, looking for food sources, and the process will take place several times a day.

Swiftlets usually produce two eggs per mating season, with the first and second egg spaced 1-4 days apart. When the first egg is born, they begin to incubate and use the beak to smooth the eggs during incubation. Incubation will alternate between males and females until the second egg is born. During incubation process, only one bird stay with the eggs, the other will fly out to find food. They take turn for each other for several consecutive days and nights around 4-5 times. When the eggs ready to hatch, the female will increase the time to stay in the nest to incubate eggs, males will go to find the food and feed the female.

 At the first time when the eggs hatch, the parent usually stay and warm the young birds for the first 1-2 days, they only fly to find food for the young bird in the next following days. In the next 4-5 days, the father and mother still take turns to feed and stay in the nest to take care and warm the young one, the mother feeds 3 to 4 times a day. 6 to 15 days old will be feed 2-3 times a day and no longer be warm up by the mother. The portion of food is also bigger than before. And from 15 days to fly, feed about 1-2 times a day. The feeding time lasts about 40 - 45 days.