For over 1,500 years, Norwegians living on the Vega Archipelago have fished, hunted, and had a unique relationship to the eider ducks who came here to nest. Here are pictures of a village we visited and a roadside nest (not actually in use).
Vega consists of over 6,000 islands/islets within a 1,000 sq. Kilometers area. On a small number of the islands, people come in the summer to build Eider nests, protect the ducks from predators, and collect and clean the eider down. The eider mothers are quite picky, and choose only the best nests.
Feathers from the mothers' breast make the down soft and warm for the eggs.
After the chicks hatch, the mothers and chicks leave for the sea. It takes down from 60 - 70 nests to produce a twin-bed quilt, which sells for about $6,000 - $8,000 U.S. Cleaning the down is done on what looks like a loom. Here are pictures of the eggs and down.
Because we were in the breeding season, we could not actually go out and see the nesting ducks. Bummer - but understandable.
Vega consists of over 6,000 islands/islets within a 1,000 sq. Kilometers area. On a small number of the islands, people come in the summer to build Eider nests, protect the ducks from predators, and collect and clean the eider down. The eider mothers are quite picky, and choose only the best nests.
Feathers from the mothers' breast make the down soft and warm for the eggs.
After the chicks hatch, the mothers and chicks leave for the sea. It takes down from 60 - 70 nests to produce a twin-bed quilt, which sells for about $6,000 - $8,000 U.S. Cleaning the down is done on what looks like a loom. Here are pictures of the eggs and down.
Because we were in the breeding season, we could not actually go out and see the nesting ducks. Bummer - but understandable.
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