Today in The Conversation Canada, we present the second article in our series called The St. Lawrence River: In depth. This series is a project by La Conversation Canada and we're translating the articles in English as well.

When I contacted Jean-François Giroux at Université du Québec à Montréal to discuss our St. Lawrence series, I had no idea that our conversation would lead me into a fascinating story about a duck whose generosity helps protect its own species.

The common eider is a sea duck that nests in the Gulf and Estuary of the St. Lawrence River. The eider down that the female removes from her breast to line the nest has exceptional insulating properties. It's used in the production of very expensive bed quilts that are also called "eiderdowns," in reference to the species.

Giroux, a researcher in bird ecology at UQAM, heads a research team that joins the down harvesters, whose work is strictly regulated, in order to monitor the populations. The revenues generated by the commercialization of down have allowed a not-for-profit agency called Société Duvetnor to purchase islands frequented by eiders and other seabird species.

In an extraordinary way, thanks to this organization, the eider is contributing to its own conservation.

Also today:

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Cheffe de section en science, santé et environnement, La Conversation Canada
A group of female eider ducks with one male. (Simon Laroche)

The common eider sea duck contributes to its own conservation by donating its feathers

Jean-François Giroux, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

The common eider nests in colonies on islands of the St. Lawrence estuary. The down that the female duck takes to fill her nest has exceptional insulating properties.
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La Conversation Canada
Groupe de femelles eider à duvet avec un mâle. (Simon Laroche)

L’eider à duvet, un canard de mer qui contribue à sa propre conservation

Jean-François Giroux, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

L’eider à duvet est un canard qui niche en colonie sur les îles de l’estuaire du Saint-Laurent. Le duvet que la femelle prélève pour garnir son nid possède des propriétés isolantes exceptionnelles.

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