by Dr. Diana Solovyeva,
Scaly-sided Merganser Task Force Coordinator

©Piao Longguo

The year of 2015 became extremely successful for Scaly-sided Merganser production in artificial nest sites. After 10 years of failure the Artificial nest box program in China provided first results: eleven ducklings hatched in Chevy Volt Battery box in Changbaishan. See links:

• Inhabitat: http://inhabitat.com/chevy-volt-battery-covers-recycled-as-adorable-nesting-boxes-for-endangered-birds/
• Good Magazine: http://magazine.good.is/articles/old-batteries-become-new-homes-for-adorable-baby-birds
• Generalmotors.green: Endangered Ducks in China Find Refuge in Chevrolet Volt Battery Covers

©Piao Longguo

The same spring the 1000^th duckling hatched in artificial nest site in Russia. Since 2002 nest boxes of different sizes and designs are providing homes for Scaly-sided Mergansers there. We don’t know exactly which box the 1000^th hatched in; 1032 ducklings are known to hatch and to jump out artificial nest sites in Russia by now.

©Piao Longguo

To find out more about the artificial nest programme, please click HERE.