Egg Gathering

It´s understandable that fresh eggs were considered a luxury after the salted winter food, and so eggs used to be gathered from the cliffs each spring. The eggs of the Northern Fulmar and Guillemot were the ones that were most sought after. These eggs are somewhat larger than a hens´eggs.
Fulmar eggs are white and the eggs of the Guillemot are an aquamarine color, dappled with black.

Eggs were gathered on all the outher islands. It was usually easier to get the Fulmar eggs for these birds usually nest in spots that can be approached on foot, so ropes were´t necessary. However, the other eggs most often found on ledges below the cliffs tops, and this is where the practice of an old and dangerous sport of gathering eggs by swinging from ropes came into its own.

It is still used today in gathering the eggs that it is impossible to collect on food. Men descend the cliffs on long ropes and swing back and forth across the face of the cliffs, gathering the eggs. This is considered the national sport
of the Westmann Islands, and the Westmann Islanders are well known for their agility in scaling the cliffs.

Today the eggs are no longer considered a necessary part of the people´s diet, but the daring still descend the cliffs on ropes to gather the eggs, which continue to be regarded as a special treat.