Description

“Eider” was drawn as a response to the birth of my niece’s first born, and he was given that name. My niece is a successful nature photographer and a passionate forest protection activist in Tasmania, particularly in the threatened Tarkine forest. The “Eider” is a large (50–71 cm in body length) sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. The eider’s nest is built close to the sea and is lined with eiderdown, plucked from the female’s breast. This soft and warm lining has long been harvested for filling pillows and quilts. The comforting effect of eiderdown parallels the reciprocating comforting affect of a small child in that they both carry a sense of warmth and hope.

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