The Common Eider
A monograph of the Common Eider, a large and familiar duck with a long and fascinating cultural history.

A common sight around the more northerly shores of the British Isles, the Common Eider is the largest duck in the northern hemisphere. The eider is particularly well adapted to cold-water environments; the insulating properties of eider down are iconic.

The species is taxonomically interesting, with a range of well-marked subspecies reflecting the patterns of ice coverage during ancient glaciations, and these ducks have also provided the focus for a number of important behavioural studies, especially on feeding ecology and energy budgets.

Eiders have a long association with humans, and have deep cultural significance in many societies. However, modern lifestyles are exposing these ducks to a wide range of new pressures.

This monograph provides a comprehensive portrait of the Common Eider; authors Chris Waltho and John Coulson bring together an extensive and diverse international literature, with sections on taxonomy, habitats, breeding biology, population dynamics, diet and foraging, dispersal and migration, and conservation.
1119677826
The Common Eider
A monograph of the Common Eider, a large and familiar duck with a long and fascinating cultural history.

A common sight around the more northerly shores of the British Isles, the Common Eider is the largest duck in the northern hemisphere. The eider is particularly well adapted to cold-water environments; the insulating properties of eider down are iconic.

The species is taxonomically interesting, with a range of well-marked subspecies reflecting the patterns of ice coverage during ancient glaciations, and these ducks have also provided the focus for a number of important behavioural studies, especially on feeding ecology and energy budgets.

Eiders have a long association with humans, and have deep cultural significance in many societies. However, modern lifestyles are exposing these ducks to a wide range of new pressures.

This monograph provides a comprehensive portrait of the Common Eider; authors Chris Waltho and John Coulson bring together an extensive and diverse international literature, with sections on taxonomy, habitats, breeding biology, population dynamics, diet and foraging, dispersal and migration, and conservation.
91.79 In Stock
The Common Eider

The Common Eider

The Common Eider

The Common Eider

eBook

$91.79 

Available on Compatible NOOK devices, the free NOOK App and in My Digital Library.
WANT A NOOK?  Explore Now

Related collections and offers

LEND ME® See Details

Overview

A monograph of the Common Eider, a large and familiar duck with a long and fascinating cultural history.

A common sight around the more northerly shores of the British Isles, the Common Eider is the largest duck in the northern hemisphere. The eider is particularly well adapted to cold-water environments; the insulating properties of eider down are iconic.

The species is taxonomically interesting, with a range of well-marked subspecies reflecting the patterns of ice coverage during ancient glaciations, and these ducks have also provided the focus for a number of important behavioural studies, especially on feeding ecology and energy budgets.

Eiders have a long association with humans, and have deep cultural significance in many societies. However, modern lifestyles are exposing these ducks to a wide range of new pressures.

This monograph provides a comprehensive portrait of the Common Eider; authors Chris Waltho and John Coulson bring together an extensive and diverse international literature, with sections on taxonomy, habitats, breeding biology, population dynamics, diet and foraging, dispersal and migration, and conservation.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781408152805
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date: 01/15/2015
Series: Poyser Monographs
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 320
File size: 24 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Chris Waltho has studied eiders for more than thirty years, with his research based around the Firth of Clyde, home to the largest population in the British Isles. An experienced aerial surveyor of seaducks and divers, Chris has been the president of the Scottish Ornithologist's Club since 2007.

Over more than 40 years of research, John Coulson has made outstanding contributions to the behavioral ecology of colonially breeding seabirds and our understanding of coloniality in birds. A former Reader in Zoology at the University of Durham, Coulson was awarded the Godman-Savin Medal by the British Ornithologists' Union in 1992.
John Coulson has made a number of outstanding contributions to the behavioural ecology of colonially breeding seabirds and to our understanding of coloniality in birds, over the course of more than 50 years of research.

A former Reader in Animal Ecology at the University of Durham, John was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science by that institution in 1972 for his contributions to ecological research. He received the Godman-Salvin Medal from the British Ornithologists' Union in 1992, and the Robert Cushman Murphy award from the Waterbird Society in 1993.

John has published more than 150 scientific papers, and has served as editor of Bird Study, Ibis and Waterbirds. He has served on several government review panels, was a council member of the Natural Environmental Research Council, and continues consulting on environmental issues.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

1. Common Eider - some key features
2. Origins, taxonomy and differentiation
3. Distribution, movements and numbers
4. Food and feeding
5. Predators, parasites and diseases
6. Breeding and breeding season
7. Egg laying, parasitism, 'jumbo clutches' and egg stealing
8. Clutch Size
9. Incubation and Laying Success
10. Nesting with others: Is the Common Eider really a colonial species?
11. Ducklings
12. Mortality, survival and non-breeding
13. Exploitation, management and non-breeding
14. The eiders: comparison between species

Appendix 1: Schematic distribution of the Common Eider and its subspecies
Appendix 2: Important conversation sites for the Common Eider
Appendix 3: Prey species taken by Common Eiders
Appendix 4: Prey dominance in Common Eider diet
Appendix 5: The number of eggs recorded in samples of Common Eider nests on Inner Farne, Northumberland and 1958 to 2011
Appendix 6: Duckling growth
Appendix 7: Scientific names of species mentioned in the text

References
List of illustrations
From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews