To Think Like a Bird

A unique ethno-ethographic approach demonstrates that wild eiders can be successfully accustomed to human activities, challenging long-held assumptions by both traditional harvesters and scientists. The study, part of a PhD project on Nordland birdcare, used video cameras to explore the practical dimensions of this relationship-building process, emphasizing performativity over human perception. This method, inspired by Grasseni's 'enskillment of visions,' reveals how reciprocal domestication between humans and eiders can be achieved through shelter provision, with birds contributing down as a form of 'rent.' The research highlights the potential for sustainable eider down harvesting in the Vega Archipelago.

Sundsvold, B. (2017). To Think Like a Bird. Journal of Anthropological Films, 1(1), e1345. https://doi.org/10.15845/jaf.v1i1.1345