WILDLIFE
EIDER DUCK
The harvesting of down has created a long-standing relationship between human and duck.
By Susanne Masters
Illustration by Alice Goodridge
Wildlife & Swimming
Chunky ducks, seaducks, friends with Vikings; winter brings more of these quirky ducks to our coastal waters. Keeping warm Viking-style uses eider ducks (Somateria mollissima). Putting aside thoughts of duck slaughter, instead turn to thinking about how resourceful Vikings were in making use of natural materials. And be relieved that in Iceland and Norway people selling eiderdown find that the easiest way to collect it is just picking it up from eider duck nests at the end of the nesting season.