A Gathering of Eiderdown

Eiderdown finds its way into farmers' hands and eventually into a very propitious portion of the public's homes via a harmless, almost natural process. The female eider duck plucks down from her breast to line the nest and incubate the eggs.

Once the nest is fully abandoned by the mother eider duck, the eiderdown is ready to be gathered. The fowl is not perturbed, and are in fact drawn to these safe regions by the farmers who supply nourishment and protect eider from poachers. The symbiotic relationship between wild eider duck and farmer has existed for ages and ensures the continued presence of a handsome rare bird and an invaluable resource.