This dataset conists of 24 nests and their environmental attributes for the Hooded Crane (Grus monarcha, taxonomic serial number TSN 176186, Avibase ID38F36091DBC85095) in China. It is a legacy dataset, presents the best available information, and covers 9 years of survey work (time window 1993-2010). The Hooded Crane is a vulnerable (VU) species according to the IUCN Red list. The estimated world population of this species is just 10,160 individuals, of which more than 8,000 winter in Izumi, Japan. The Hooded Crane breeds in landscapes of Eastern Russia and Northeastern China. It generally nests in forest swamps, mostly within the permafrost zone. This data set can be used for nest preference studies and is available as an Open Office, ASCII or MS Excel format data sheet. The following environmental attributes have been collected for nests as well as for 81 control plots: elevation (in Meters), aspect (in Degrees), slope position (in degrees), distance to the nearest tree (Meters), distance to the nearest road (meters), distance to the nearest human settlement (Meters), distance to the nearest feeding site (Meters), distance to the nearest skidding road (Meters), water surface area around the nest (Square Meters), average water depth around the nest (Centimeter), canopy coverage (Percent), shrub coverage (Percent), grass coverage (Percent). number of trees (Count).