A new wintering site has been discovered in Chongqing, a municipality in the southwest China, situated in the east of Sichuan and the west of Hubei, the upper stretches of Yangtze River in November 2012.

Since a report was given, the members of Chongqing Birdwatching Society regularly visited the site and counted more than 30 individuals of Scaly-sided Merganser from November 2012 to March 2013. Given that the surveyors only covered one third length of the river, a tributary of Yangtze River the population is potentially higher. More extensive population surveys are necessary.

Meanwhile they noticed the continued threats to wintering Scaly-sided Merganser such as pollution, human disturbance and fishing. It is likely that targeted conservation management is needed. Reported by Mr. Wei Qian from Chongqing Birdwatching Society at Oriental Birding Group