EL NIDO, Palawan—Bayron Abos considers himself one of the last of El Nido’s “busyador”—men who climb the resort town’s rugged limestone cliffs to collect bird nests and sell them to mostly Chinese clients. The rare wildlife product that El Nido offers is highly sought as an ingredient in Chinese cuisine. The local bird nest trade is believed to date as far back as the early 1920s. Still, the soup has hardly become a mainstream fare among tourists who come to El Nido for its famous beaches and islands. The edible bird nest is produced by a particular species of swiftlet (Aerodramus fuciphagus) commonly found in Palawan and mainland Asia.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 17, 2016 16:41 UTC