The coastal scrub (as at Ocean Shores) is in fact dominated by the Pacific
wax myrtle (Myrica sp.), hence the name "Myrtle" Warbler is quite
appropriate. However, the northern limit of the wax myrtle on the Pacific
is somewhere no too far north of Ocean City, WA I believe.

Gene.

On Fri, 26 Apr 1996, Jerry Tangren wrote:

> ...
>
> >Since I keep track of the two subspecies in my notes, I have also discovered
> >that only the 'myrtle' race appears to overwinter (I suspect it travels
> >farther north and East(within the province) than the 'audubon' as well) and
> >that the two do not appear in a 50-50 ratio. The Audubon's appeared first
> >this spring (March 10) and outnumbered the Myrtle until mid-April. Then the
> >myrtle race largely outnumbered the audubons. Recently, they appear to be
> >50-50. This may be locally significant or a mere artifact but nevertheless,
> >I do believe it is worth keeping track.
> >
>
> > Don Cecile
> > Port Alberni, BC, CANADA V9Y 6Z5
> > eMAIL: dcecile at cln.etc.bc.ca
> >
>
> I'm not sure where Port Alberni is located, but the ratio of Audubon's to
> Myrtle is not constant but can vary considerably with habitat. Coastal
> scrub in some places can be dominated by Myrtle while only a few miles
> inland, the habitat is dominated by Audubon's.
>
> Here in Wenatchee, WA, on the dry side of the Cascades in orchard country,
> where butter-butts can be scarce in winter, Myrtle warblers are less common
> than Audubon's.
>
> Jerry Tangren
> <tangren at wsu.edu>
>
>
>