Common Eider bird/Ejder (Male)

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(Somateria mollissima), also known as St. Cuthbert’s duck or Cuddy’s duck, is a large sea-duck (50–71 cm in length) found along the northern coasts of Europe, North America, and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and northern temperate regions and winters further south in temperate zones, forming large flocks on coastal waters and reaching flight speeds of up to 113 km/h (70 mph).

Global warming poses a threat, through its impact on the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis), the eider’s main food source. Rising ocean temperatures affect mussel distribution and reproduction, leading to reduced availability in eider feeding areas. This scarcity forces eiders to expend more energy in search of food, negatively affecting their breeding success and survival.

In Sweden, significant declines have been reported, particularly on the islands of Gotland and Öland in the Baltic Sea. For instance, the number of nesting females on Gotland decreased from 7,140 in 2007 to 1,310 in 2015. (https://datazone.birdlife.org/)