Are King Eiders rare?

Where can I find a king eider?

British Columbia has about 30 records, California close to 40, and Oregon, 13. King Eiders are often found in the same places as other diving seaducks, especially Surf and White-winged Scoters. The male in spectacular breeding plumage cannot be mistaken for any other bird.

What kind of animal is an eiderdown?

Eiders ( / ˈaɪ.dər /) are large seaducks in the genus Somateria. The three extant species all breed in the cooler latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. 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.

Why is the Eider an Amber List species?

Eiders are highly gregarious and usually stay close inshore, riding the swell in a sandy bay or strung out in long lines out beyond the breaking waves. It is an Amber List species because of its winter concentrations. Shellfish, especially mussels. UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually.

Where do eiders live in winter?

The young often group into large flocks known as crèches, During migration or when preparing (“staging”) for migration, large eider flocks sometimes use freshwater lakes and lagoons. Common Eiders typically winter in areas with rocky seafloors and strong tides, places that are generally rich in mollusks.

Where can I find a common eider?

Common Eiders are indeed common in the far north but are rare anywhere south of the mid-Atlantic states. The easiest-to-reach places to look for them include southern Alaska, Atlantic Canada, and New England. Visit rocky, saltwater coasts or look around stone breakwaters, jetties, or bridges that provide habitat for mussels, their main prey.

How do eiderdown birds keep warm?

Common Eiders pluck down feathers from their breast to create a toasty warm nest. For more than 1,000 years people have used precious eiderdown to keep warm—gathering the down from empty nests.

Are there any Eider vagrants in the UK?

There are several subspecies in the ‘Common Eider’ group, four of which we should (and many are) on the look out for as they could potentially turn up as vagrants in our flocks in Britain.

Is there another type of eider in Ireland?

The separation, identity and indeed taxonomy involving these forms is still a complex subject to say the least. Another subspecies from the group ‘Dreser’s Eider’ also known as ‘American Eider’ was recently recorded in Ireland, its first appearance in Europe!

What is eider down used for?

The use of this [eider] down is for making beds, but, particularly, for making what are called down quilts, a kind of covering, almost like a feather bed, which is used in the northern countries of Europe, as a protection against cold, instead of a common quilt or blanket.

What is an eiderdown?

Eiderdowns, or eider down quilts, were introduced to Victorian Britain as a marvellously light and warm substitute for heavy woollen blankets – but they didn’t do away with all blankets. British beds were still made up with a top sheet, a couple of blankets and then an eiderdown: always an ornamental item, even when covered by a bedspread.

What animals are used to make down?

As ducks and geese are the primary animals used for the production of down, this piece will predominantly focus on how the down and feather industries affect these particular birds. * It takes the down from approximately 75 + birds to make an average comforter.

Is the Eider Duck an Amber List species?

Classified in the UK as an Amber List species under the Birds of Conservation Concern review. A common nesting bird around the coasts of Scotland and northern England, the Eider winters all around the coast. Eider duck nests were traditionally harvested for their ‘Eider Down’ after the eggs had hatched and the chicks left the nest.

What are the criteria for the Amber List?

Birds in the Amber list will be subject to at least one of the relevant factors listed below: Species with unfavourable conservation status in Europe (ERLOB= European Red List of Birds). Historical population decline during 1800–1995, but recovering; population size has more than doubled over last 25 years.

What is a “amber” species?

Amber is the next most critical group. Birds in the Amber list will be subject to at least one of the relevant factors listed below: Species with unfavourable conservation status in Europe (ERLOB= European Red List of Birds). Historical population decline during 1800–1995, but recovering; population size has more than doubled over last 25 years.

What is an eiderdown comforter?

The luxuriously soft, ethereally light Eiderdown Comforter is the manifestation of blissful comfort. Every one is handmade to order by local artisans following a 1000-year-old tradition of Icelandic craftsmanship in perfect harmony with nature.

What is the difference between goose down and eiderdown?

Eiderdown is unique in that it has no hard quills or feathers. It’s softer and springier than the likes of goose down, so it resists compression and can warm your bed for decades.

Is eiderdown cruelty free?

Oh, and unlike other bird downs (goose or commercial duck down) which often involve cruel processes like live plucking, Eiderdown is 100% sustainable and animal-friendly – the birds voluntarily leave their down behind in their nests. No birds are harmed in the process!

What is eiderdown and why is it so popular?

From Iceland’s first viking settlers to European royalty, eiderdown has been prized throughout history for its astounding physical properties. It’s pure, quill-free softness, trapping air in a tangle of interwoven threads to create insulating pockets of Arctic-beating warmth.

What is the birdlife like in Iceland?

Birdlife in Iceland. A lot of travellers come to Iceland seeking its thriving birdlife. For the most part, people are excited about seeing the Atlantic Puffins that nest on the cliffs and islands, but there are many other fascinating species to be found all across the country.

Where do eiders live in Europe?

Like all eiders, this species is at home in the far north. It breeds along icy coasts south to the Netherlands and the Gulf of St. Lawrence; it winters at sea south to France, New England, and the Aleutians. Common eider ( Somateria mollissima ).

What is eiderdown used for?

Eiderdown likely is the lightest, softest, warmest and most comfortable natural material on the planet. Eiderdown is used in various high-end luxury products that require powerful insulating properties, such as duvets and pillows.

What is an eiderdown feather?

The eiderdown is a type of down feather, which is a soft and fine layer of feathers located under the bird’s tougher exterior feathers. The female eider duck plucks the feathers off her chest into her nest in order to keep her eggs and young warm. This is what the eider duck looks like, also known as the common eider:

Why do we use Eiderdown in sleeping bags?

They provide most of the insulation… and are so good at this, that mankind for many years used to collect the ‘down’ from various birds to put into sleeping bags and eiderdowns to keep us warm at night. The term eiderdown arose because the softest and best insulating down was collected from Eider ducks (Somateria mollissima).

Are there rare eiders in Britain?

Through out the British Isles (and indeed many parts of Europe) when it comes to potential rare Eiders amongst our winter flocks, most birders are tuned into that oh so familiar and oh so delightful features of a resplendent drake King Eider, surely one of the Worlds most exquisite sea ducks.