The Scaly-sided Merganser is included in the Red Data Books of IUCN (endangered), Russia (category 3 – rare), China and South Korea. Changbai Mountain range, is one of the most important breeding ground of the Scaly-sided Merganser all over the world. We hope to understand the current situation of this species in Changbai Mountains and the threats to limit the recovery of this population, through studies on its habitat selection and long term monitoring program.

The surveys scheme on Scaly-sided Merganser breeding pairs and broods developed in 2008 should be still used in surveys of 2009. This could provide us basic data of densities of breeding pairs broods in the same area. Both breeding pair density and brood density are the main parameters for comparison between sites/areas within recent breeding area of Scaly-sided Merganser or among years. Through catching, hitching telemetric transmitters on and releasing alive Scaly-sided Mergansers, find as many as possible the wild nests and habitats of this species. Classify and measure each nest-site/habitat where Scaly-sided Mergansers occur in different attributes, such as those describe tree vacancies, bank plantation, river types etc.

The significant tests for the occurrence of this species in different nest-sites/habitats would provide us the preferences of this species in nest-site/habitat selection. The result of this study could provide us guidance for artificial nest programme and other conservation measurement.