What does eider mean?

What are eider down feathers?

The down feathers of eider ducks, and some other ducks and geese, are used to fill pillows and quilts —they have given the name to the type of quilt known as an eiderdown. Steller’s eider ( Polysticta stelleri) is in a different genus despite its name.

Are down feathers plucked from live birds cruel?

A portion of the world’s supply of down feathers are plucked from live birds, a practice condemned as cruel by animal welfare groups.

Why do birds use down feathers to line their nests?

Of the various items birds use to line their nests, down feathers provide the most effective insulation, though only when dry; wet down is the least effective insulator. Down may also help camouflage the eggs when the female is away from the nest, particularly as the birds often draw the feathers over their eggs before leaving.

What is the most common eider species?

Common Eider (Hudson Bay) – Somateria mollissima sedentaria Harlequin Duck– Histrionicus histrionicus Labrador Duck– Camptorhynchus labradorius

What is an eiderdown quilt?

Eiderdown quilts are traditionally used on top of standard bedding to add an additional layer of stylish warmth to your bedroom decor. They are a beautiful way to infuse your room with colour, pattern and sumptuous texture.

How much down feathers come from live birds?

The European Down and Feather Association claims that about 98% of feathers are a by-product from the poultry meat production, leaving only 2% to come from live birds. In February 2009, a Swedish TV documentary studied the down industry for the popular television program “Kalla Fakta” (meaning “Cold Facts” in Swedish).

What happens when you pluck a bird’s feathers?

Live plucking causes birds considerable pain and distress. Once their feathers are ripped out, many of the birds, paralyzed with fear, are left with gaping wounds—some even die as a result of the procedure. Workers often sew the birds’ skin back together without using any anesthetics.

Is the down in your clothes made from live plucked birds?

It’s impossible to tell whether the down used in the products you buy was obtained from live-plucked birds. The only way to stop live plucking and ensure that no birds suffer for your clothing or bedding is to choose cruelty-free materials.

How many Eiders are in the world?

It is abundant, with populations of about 1.5–2 million birds in both North America and Europe, and also large but unknown numbers in eastern Siberia ( HBW ). A particularly famous colony of eiders lives on the Farne Islands in Northumberland, England.

Do eiders live in the Arctic?

Common eiders, also known as St. Cuthbert’s ducks or Cuddy ducks, are one of the most common seabirds in the Arctic. Typically, they live in the arctic during their breeding seasons only. Their winter range doesn’t extend farther south from their nesting territory.

How much eiderdown is produced from a bird nest?

In general, 50–60 nests will produce about one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of down feathers. No more than four tonnes of eiderdown is collected from wild nests each year. Approximately 70% of that harvest is from Iceland.

What is eiderdown and where does it come from?

From the Queen of England to the Tsars of Russia, eiderdown has been a favorite of European royalty throughout the centuries for its qualities and rarity. In fact, only four tons of eiderdown is produced globally each year, with 75% of that coming from Iceland.

What is the difference between eiderdown and white goose down?

Free from hard quills or feathers, eiderdown is softer, more insulating and more resilient than the finest white goose down. These unique properties make eiderdown uniquely suited for luxury bedding. And due to its springy, compression-resistant nature, it can retain its form and insulating properties for decades.

Is eiderdown a good material for duvets?

Eiderdown has unique properties that give it very powerful insulating effects, despite being one of the lightest materials known to man. Because of its unique properties, it is considered to be the best insulating material that can be used to make duvets and comforters.

What is eiderdown made from?

Eiderdown is the down made by the eider duck. About 75% of the eiderdown worldwide comes from Iceland and Icelandic eiderdown is considered to be of the highest quality. Eiderdown has unique properties that give it very powerful insulating effects, despite being one of the lightest materials known to man.

Do birds scream when you pluck their feathers?

Try taking a favourite stick from a dog; it will try to evade you, but is not in pain. – Oddthinking♦ Mar 12 ’12 at 1:17 1 I have a bird and the answer is yes. They tend to scream when you pluck their feathers. One might counter to this, “screaming does not imply pain”.

Where do feathers come from?

The China Feather and Down Industrial Association claims that only about 1-3% of feathers from their country come from live birds, whereas 97-99% is a slaughterhouse by-product. The European Down and Feather Association claims that about 98% of feathers are a by-product from the poultry meat production, leaving only 2% to come from live birds.

What is an eider?

The eider is a fat seabird, more penguin than duck, and many of them spend most of their lives in the Arctic Circle. Visit the Icelandic coast and you will see hundreds bobbing gregariously in the sea.

What is the difference between Icelandic eiderdown and common eider down?

The Common Eider Duck (the source of eiderdown) is the same duck, with the same down, whether it is nesting in Iceland or Canada. Some people may assume that Icelandic eiderdown is better because Iceland is colder.

Where does the eiderdown duck come from?

Where Eiderdown Comes From. Eiderdown, or eider down, comes from the Common Eider Duck, a large migratory sea duck. The common eider duck ranges along the northern coasts of eastern Siberia, Europe and North America.

Where does the Eiderdown in your comforters come from?

The eiderdown used in our eiderdown comforters and eiderdown pillows comes from a sanctuary located on islands in the St. Lawrence Estuary in Canada. These sanctuary islands provide a relatively safe place for the eider ducks to rest and nest during their annual migration.