June is THE month on Vigur. The eiderducks that nest in their thousands all across the island have been sitting on eggs for weeks and the first begin to hatch at the beginning of June. We spotted our first ducklings on 3rd June and soon after, the harvest of the eiderdown began.
The eider sheds its down as it starts to sit on its eggs and uses the down to line the next and keep the eggs warm. But as soon as the eggs hatch, the ducklings don’t need that warmth anymore and that is when we can collect in the eiderdown - but we must time it perfectly. If we take the down too early, we risk the eggs, leave it too late and the down is already lost on the wind and to the sea.
We search the island, section by section, visiting each and every nest - sometimes twice or more! - until the time is perfect. The harvest means long days and a lot of walking up and down in tall grass, scrambling up hillsides and even the odd cliff - but to return home with bulging bags and to see the empty barn slowly fill is very rewarding.
Very grateful to everyone who helps us on Vigur during the harvest - we couldn’t do it without you x