Michael Hida, 18, climbs a bamboo pole to reach a cave far above the ground.
Michael Hida began climbing and collecting swiftlet nests when he was ten years old.



Arthur Cavalda climbs a cliff face barefoot with no safety ropes.
Arthur Cavalda approaching a cave entrance.The limestone is sharp and sometimes brittle – many have lost their lives while attempting to reach the caves.



Guards are permanently stationed beneath the swiftlet caves to protect them from a continuous onslaught of thieves.




Nowadays the climbers have a cooperative to protect both their own livelihood 
There are 100 climbers in all and the guardianship of individual caves has been passed from father to son for generations. Over the years, many have lost their lives in the caves but this does not deter them from continuing their traditional work.

'Bird's nest soup' - a Chinese delicacy famed for its health benefits - is among the most expensive foods in the world. First class swiftlet nests, constructed from fine threads of the birds' saliva, can be sold for up to US$4,000 per kilo.

For centuries, Chinese merchants visited Palawan to barter with the indigenous Tagbanuas. They travelled on junk ships trading sea cucumbers and birds’ nests for brass gongs and ceramics.

The swiftlets build their nests in high caves on remote, uninhabited islands, far away from any disturbance. Harvesting the nests is risky - the climbers spend many hours on perilous cliff faces and inside cave complexes.

 

Delicious  Palawan Bird Nest