Birds Korea Scaly-sided Merganser Winter Monitoring Project
Jason Loghry, November 21, 2013
We’re very happy to report 36 Scaly-sided Mergansers (as well as 67 Mandarin Duck) were observed on November 16, as part of an “initial” survey kick-starting this winter’s Birds Korea Scaly-sided Merganser monitoring project. The Endangered Scaly-sided Merganser, found only in East Asia, is one of the world’s most unique merganser species and it’s in trouble. Conservationists suspect its population is undergoing a rapid decline as a result of habitat loss, illegal hunting and disturbance.
In the ROK, there is an urgent need to better understand Scaly-sided Merganser’s winter distribution and ecology. This season, Birds Korea will continue our bi-monthly (twice a month) SE River surveys, and we are pleased to announce we will also hold our annual nation-wide survey for Scaly-sided Merganser. But we need your support. If you would like to help us help Scaly-sided Merganser, please join Birds Korea as a monthly member and help support conservation projects like this.
We are planning a small workshop in December for members wanting to volunteer and join in this year’s annual nation-wide survey. For any information about this project or event, please email us here. And to learn more about Scaly-sided Merganser, please visit our website at: http://www.birdskorea.org/Birds/Key_Species/BK-KS-Scaly-sided-Merganser.shtml
Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus sqamatus © Mike Friel
Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus sqamatus, Adult Males and Female © Mike Friel