Backyard and Beyond

Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.

As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”

Sea duck washed ashore

A female Common eider, Somateria mollissima, dead on the beach, one of several in a mile or two of walking. These eiders are found close off-shore of Nantucket Island through the winter. The males of this large sea duck species are boldly patterned in black and white.

Eiders are the source of eiderdown, soft inner feathers legendary for their ability to hold warmth. The females pluck it from their own bellies to line their nests. It’s collected from the nests after the breeding season, and is one of the limited exports (along with bananas, I kid you not) of Iceland. When we were there in July, common eiders were everywhere there was water. Iceland is one of their primary breeding zones.

mthew

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2 responses to “Sea duck washed ashore”

  1. Out walking the dog

    Poor eider.

    But … bananas? When I was briefly in Reykjavik (way back in the Air-Luxembourg-Iceland-cheapest-ticket-to-Europe days), I saw no fresh fruit or veggies to be had for love or money, other than very expensive hothouse tomatoes. I loved what I saw of Iceland. But bananas?

    Reply
    1. mthew

      I swear it’s true, I heard it on the internet… actually, just as iffy, I heard it on the television. But as hard as it is to believe, the Icelanders do not sing, “yes, we have no bananas today.” They do have bananas today, locally grown ones; they are grown in greenhouses warmed with geothermal goodness.
      http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/The-Home-Forum/2010/0608/Wait-bananas-grow-in-Iceland-!
      http://www.sln.org.uk/geography/SLNgeography@Iceland1.htm
      Fresh fruit and veggies are expensive there — only a few berries grow there naturally — and even with greenhouses the majority of their fruit and veggies are brought in from elsewhere (of course, the same thing applies here in NYC). Even their national drink, coffee, is imported. Unique local foods include skyr, a yogurt-like dairy delight; lamb (including a dung-smoked version); fresh and ocean fish; and bread baked underground. Oh, and great pancakes!

      Reply

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