Discover why it has been prized for centuries as the finest bedding material in the world. Eiderdown is a rare luxury, 100% natural and hand picked by farmers in Iceland. Archeologists have found remnants from the stone age in Finland, and Russia even used it as an insulator in the first astronaut suits. Since the Viking settlement of Iceland 11 centuries ago, Eider ducks have nested in colonies protected by Eider farmers who defend the colony from predators such as mink, seagulls, arctic foxes and sea eagles. Also made from Icelandic eiderdown are baby carriage warmers, designer clothing, and souvenir samples of Iceland. Much of the world’s eiderdown production takes place in Iceland, where around 2,500 kg (5,511 pounds) is harvested every year. Approximately 85-90% of the worlds eiderdown comes from Iceland, 10-15% comes from Canada. Yet it is a very rare natural resource that requires a unique, mutually beneficial, collaboration between human and duck. They trust each other. Then it’s mechanically cleaned, in machines specially developed for this purpose. In June the eiders come ashore to nest. In Breiðafjörður fjord you will find the largest eider-duck nesting site in Iceland and one of the world's largest eider-down farming, so it is fitting to have an Eider-Centre here in Stykkishólmur. Do you feel it? About 350 families collect about three metric tons of eider down annually, which generates approximately five million US dollars. Bændahöllinni við Hagatorg Also, many farmers offer eiderdown which has been washed with specifically chosen detergents. Shrinks & expands to maintain the perfect temperature. Now, Skarð is one of the most fruitful and valuable pieces of land in the country, especially as it is where the eider duck call home. Unique physical properties and a natural scarcity make it one of Iceland’s most precious natural resources. Enjoy a guided walking tour through back streets and history. He suggests two possible explanations: Eider duck, or to be more exact, Eider down has been farmed in Iceland for centuries. In fact, it’s been illegal to hunt eider ducks in Iceland since 1847. In exchange for this safe sanctuary, eider ducks leave behind their prized eiderdown when they abandon their nests, which farmers painstakingly collect by hand for processing and production. The Eider Center is appropriately located in the town of Stykkisholmur in the west of Iceland, on Breiðafjörður bay, home of large Down is dried immediately after it is gathered and then heated to 120°C in order to disinfect it. Its a superb insulator, and has been gathered for use in bedding and garments since time immemorial. 2016. The Icelandic eider duck is a local species that lives along the country’s coast. Free from hard quills or feathers, eiderdown is softer, more insulating and more resilient than the finest white goose down. Approximately 3,000 kg of Icelandic eiderdown is produced every year. It sometimes nests by rivers and lakes inland but takes the young to sea right after hatching. The common eider duck is one of the most valuable birds of Iceland with eiderdown having being collected and exported since many centuries. This exposes her body  warmth to the eggs while nesting. From the Queen of England to the Tsars of Russia, eiderdown has been a favourite of European royalty throughout the centuries for its qualities and rarity. A quick search and a phone call later, I'm speaking to Gudrun Gauksdottir, the head of the Iceland Eider Farmers Association. What makes eiderdown so expensive is the limited supply – the down comes solely from wild female birds and is the … Keeps you warmer than any other down on the planet. Her adoptive family believes she considers herself a dog or even a person rather than a bird. Eider ducks have co-existed with Icelanders since the 9th century when the island was settled. When they stumbled across the first eider duck nest, it was the start of a peculiar partnership that continues to this day. A unique relationship has developed between farmers and eiders. Eider ducks have co-existed with Icelanders since the 9th century when the island was settled. "The opportunity to tag eider ducks came when we became involved with the Seatrack project in 2014. Hold it in your hand. If you’re interested in learning more about this duck and this cottage industry, check this video from the Eider Farming Association of Iceland: Ducklings have been counted yearly since 2007, and sex and age ratios (proportion of yearling drakes) have been estimated yearly since 2010. {{purchaseLicenseLabel}} {{restrictedAssetLabel}} {{buyOptionLabel(option)}} You have view only access under this Premium Access agreement. According to law, only eiderdown that has passed this strict quality control may be sold in Iceland or worldwide. Throughout the centuries, the inhabitants of Skarð have been amongst the richest in Iceland … Farm girl with Eider duck nest, Iceland - stock photo. When an adult eider is two to three years old it begins nesting. The Eider Center is a modern muse - um and knowledge center which invites vis - itors to learn about the Eider duck and the fascinating methods of eiderdown farming in the past and present. This is also the only place in Iceland with a traditional wind mill. Cleaning of eiderdown is a meticulous process and demands a lot of care. Twice a year, I spend about a week in a summerhouse which is very close to all the stops of the Golden Circle route and every time I visit Efstidalur at least once, usually more often since we tend to allow our five year old to dictate t… Golden Circle Route 2. These unique properties make eiderdown uniquely suited for luxury bedding. Many of the biggest eider colonies in Iceland are located in Breidafjördur, especially in Vestureyjar (Flatey and nearby archipelagos) and at the mouth of Hvammsfjördur. This is my personal favourite tourist stop and that is why it is at the top of my list. Travelers will be able to familiarize themselves with the eider duck’s way of life in an exhibition which the Eider Duck Center of Iceland will open in the Norwegian House (Norska húsid) in Stykkishólmur, west Iceland, in early June.Stykkishólmur, west Iceland, in early June. When they return to the sea, ducklings in tow, they leave behind a gift of thanks – their precious eiderdown. So much so that, in 1847, the government placed the eider duck under official protection and introduced special inspectors to assess the quality of Iceland’s eiderdown! At the centre, you will find various eider-down duvets for … Iceland’s only windmill, its oldest working boat and some of its oldest buildings can be found on Vigur as well as (from May to September) 5000 breeding Eider Ducks, some 30,000 puffins, a rare colony of Black Guillemot and more than 100,000 Arctic Terns. Eiderdown, or eider down, comes from the Common Eider Duck, a large migratory sea duck. Global eider duck populations have quickly grown since then. Archeologists have found remnants from the stone age in Finland, and Russia even used it as an insulator in the first astronaut suits. and warmth. Located in the town of Stykkishólmur on Breiðafjörður bay, home of large Eider duck breeding grounds and the most extensive eider farming world wide. It shrinks and expands as if it were alive, always maintaining a ‘Goldilocks-perfect’ temperature. We create special sanctuaries to protect the birds from predators during summer. That ever-glowing warmth… how comforting. Today, researchers continue studying eider ducks. Eider farming and down collection is based on centuries-old traditions. It’s so soft, practically weightless. Eider farming and down collection is based on centuries-old traditions. The supply is dependent on weather conditions each year. Yann Kolbeinsson, biologist at the Northeast Iceland Nature Research Center, has received reports that in some places, the eider duck has been arriving later than average. The Icelandic eider duck is a local species that lives along the country’s coast. This led to an interest in tagging female eider ducks in the Stykkishólmur area. This symbiotic relationship between man and bird is ingrained in our national identity. 720 Borgarfjordur eystri Skarð in Skarðströnd, Iceland, is both a farm and land that has been inhabited since roughly 1100. Farmers harvest this down for filling pillows and quilts. Inspected & certified by Icelandic government. A unique relationship has developed between farmers and eiders. Eider is a big arctic duck that spends most of its life at sea. The size and amount of filling can be adjusted to suit everyone from infants to adults. During incubation female eiders pluck down from their breasts and use it to insulate the nest. In the 10th Century, weary Norsemen landed on Iceland’s virgin shores. They clean the nesting area. It takes 60-80 nests to produce one kilogram of down. In 1847, the eider became a fully protected species. Take a ferry to the island community of Vigur, where locals practice the sustainable tradition of eider duck farming. We create special sanctuaries to protect the birds from predators during summer. To encourage the bird’s return, farmers often use radios and colorful items. In 1847, the eider became a fully protected species. The hotel still operates today. An inspector assesses the down’s cleanliness, smell, color and cohesion and then confirms its weight. The soft underlayer of feathers from the Common Eider duck (Somateria Mollissima, ‘very soft wool body’ in Latin). In fact, only four tons of eiderdown is produced globally each year, with 75% of that coming from Iceland. They are open for lunch and dinner all year round. Iceland Over two hundred years ago, a farmer built what is colloquially known as ‘The Eider Duck Hotel’, a small stone wall with built in cubby holes, the perfect refuge for a nesting mother duck. www.efstidalur.is 1. When they return to the sea, ducklings in tow, they leave behind a gift of thanks – their precious eiderdown. IS-107 Reykjavík, Friðlýsingarskilti Æðarræktarfélags Íslands, Friðlýst æðarvörp: Reglur um notkun friðlýsingarskilta. Farmers provide wild eiders protection from predators, patrolling colonies day-and-night during nesting season. The common eider duck ranges along the northern coasts of eastern Siberia, Europe and North America. They trust each other. ♪♪ Eider duck farming is big business in Viking-age Iceland, with nesting ducks encouraged and predators like arctic foxes controlled. This food is swallowed as a whole and grinded in the stomach. The Icelandic Eider Center is a modern museum and knowledge center which invites visitors to learn about the eider duck and the fascinating methods of eiderdown farming in the past and present. The craft of cleaning down requires precision, patience and knowledge. Farmer will remove the feathers for market and replace with hay, keeping nest and eggs unharmed. And due to its springy, compression-resistant nature, it can retain its form and insulating properties for decades. Sleeping with an eiderdown quilt is a warm, light, cozy experience. Young farm girl with Eider duck eggs. A female eider duck who had an unfortunate accident has found a new lease on life with an Icelandic family who took her in, RÚV reports. In spring the farmers prepare for the arrival of the eider. Among developed nations, only Iceland has preserved eider farming culture. The tale begins in Önundarfjörður, in the Westfjords, where the Reykjavík family owns a house. Tel: (+354) 892-3342. The wild Eider duck is only found in the nethermost regions of the North Atlantic, principally in Iceland. People in the coastal villages have harvested eider duck eggs and down, and fished and hunted seals, but Berglund’s greatest interest lies with the practice of eider farming. Duntun Besides its rarity, Icelandic eiderdown’s unique physical properties and sustainable sourcing offer conscientious, luxury consumers a peerless choice when it comes to their bedding. The Research Center has, however, not investigated the matter. A history of the Skarð family and Skarð Eiderdown. Eider is the only duck species in Iceland, which is dependent on the sea all year round. The history of eiderdown harvesting is closely linked to Iceland’s history. Under the microscope, it reveals its magic in a chaos of intertwined threads. Its a superb insulator, and has been gathered for use in bedding and garments since time immemorial. Æðarræktarfélag Íslands At nesting time the female eider sheds the down from her breast. Down holds a significant volume of air, thus making it very light with great insulation. Eiderdown farmers collect the down from the nests three to four times a season and the biggest colonies can produce up to 90 kilos of down seasonally. Eider down is harvested in Iceland by specialized eider farmers. There’s order to the chaos, creating tiny, insulating pockets of Arctic-beating warmth. They feed on mussels and other hard shelled-crustaceans like sea-snails, crabs, etc. Eiderdown has small, unique, hook-like threads that lock it together, providing the insulation’s air pockets. She has worked extensively with archaeological sites from the Iron Age and the Middle Ages in Tjøtta municipality and many other places on the Helgeland coast, as well as on Alstahaug and Sandnes farm … Custom-made quilts are available. It usually returns to the area where it hatched to start a nest of its own. He finds a sudden 85 percent decline in its population unlikely. Icelanders have followed the sustainable practice of eiderdown farming for over 1000 years. Female Eider duck on her nest (photo credits Jonathan Cannon) Contact Langhus Farm Although we stayed at an actual horse hotel at the beginning of our trip, I decided to leave the best for last – to go horse riding in the North of Iceland. Authorized quality inspectors ensure that buyers of Icelandic eiderdown always receive a high quality product. Icelanders have followed the sustainable practice of eiderdown farming for over 1000 years. Jón Einar learned to capture female eider ducks from Smári Lúðvíksson, an eider farmer from Rif on the Snæfellsnes peninsula. The female eider duck lays 4 to 8 eggs between May and June and carefully insulates the nest against the chilly Arctic weather with its down. Harvested from the nest of eider ducks found wild in Iceland, collecting a kilo of this fluffy material isn't easy, and only 4 metric tons are produced worldwide each year. The mechanical cleaning of eiderdown is based on the ideas and methods of our forefathers. Compared to gold (340t), diamonds (28t), and platinum (160t), there is far less eiderdown in the world than most precious minerals. No chemicals are used in the process. No hard quills or feathers make it cosier and warmer. Eider duck, or to be more exact, Eider down has been farmed in Iceland for centuries. The use of eiderdown and the culture of eider farming are rich with tradition. When it’s safe for the eiders, farmers carefully collect the down. The use of eiderdown and the culture of eider farming are rich with tradition. Finally it undergoes further checks in which the last feathers and knots are removed by hand. The history of eiderdown harvesting is closely linked to Iceland’s history. This town has some of the oldest buildings in the country, many beautifully-restored. Farmers provide wild eiders protection from predators, patrolling colonies day-and-night during nesting season. Due to hormonal changes prior to and during the nesting period the female sheds over 15 grams of dark grey down from its belly and lines the nest with it. Icelandic eider farmers take great pride in the manufacture of their eiderdown goods. The mechanical process enhances the down’s quality and use. Eiderdown is unlike any other material on the planet. Down is used to create quilts and light warm clothing, famous for their softness, lightness Maintains its form and unique qualities for decades. Eiders can be found everywhere along the coasts of Iceland.