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The declining Musician Wren (Cyphorhinus arada), or “uirapuru” from the Tupi language in Brazil, holds a special place in Amazonian culture as a nearly invisible bird with a beautiful song. Photo by Philip Stouffer.

Enigmatic Bird Declines in Pristine Amazon Rainforest

After a field season netting birds in Amazonian rainforest fragments and second growth, Louisiana State University (LSU) Ph.D. candidate Erik Johnson was excited to work in undisturbed forest for his 2008 field season. Within a few weeks, he had seen many of the specialist birds absent from the disturbed landscape.