The origin of nest harvesting is unclear, Dr. Yun- Cheung Kong, professor of biochemistry at University of Hong Kong, says nests have been part of the Chinese diet for 1,500 years. He also notes that early in Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644 AD), a Chinese admiral made seven voyages through the “ Southern Ocean” and it’s believed that one of his missions was to find new sources for the edible bird’s nests. Edible bird’s nests are among the most expensive animal products consumed by humans. The material is also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and in Traditional Vietnamese Medicine.