WORLDTWITCH - Peru - Wetmorethraupis & Siptornopsis Sites, Peru, by Gunnar Engblom

Subject: Wetmorethraupis and Sibtornopsis

Date: September 5, 1998

Not only bad news of my odyssey. Managed to see Orange-throated Tanager on the Oracuzar Road and Great Spinetail on the road between El Molino Viejo and Chagual on the Marañon river (Libertad Department) quite easily. The tanager site looks ok a this moment, as there are mainly native Indians living in the area, and the military has big presence. Apparently, logging for export is not permitted within the area. To visit the area it is advisable to speak perfect Spanish and to contact the APU (Indian chief in the village a bit beyond Peña Blanca - the highest pass before Oracuzar). Probably Near-threatened is more appropriate for this bird in RDB.

The Spinetail can be found relatively easy on the above-mentioned road in dry scrub (not particularly humid). It is common in the right habitat. However the habitat is becoming parceled due to agricultural practices which involves burning the slopes. It should be raised to Threatened in the RDB amount.