>Gene,
>
>My Hitchcock and Cronquist notes that Pacific wax-myrtle (Myrica
californica) is found along the coast from Grays Harbor County to
California. Sweet gale (Myrica gale) can be found from Alaska southward to
west central Oregon. Both species have small waxy drupes. I've seen
warblers all over the coastal myrtle during spring migration, but that's not
necessarily when the fruits are available to them. Can't recall what, if
anything, I've seen as far as birds using the sweet gale brush in the hills.
>
>Myrica species are listed together in the American Wildlife & Plants: A
Guide to Wildlife Food Habits, by Martin, Zim and Nelson (1951 - I have the
Dover reprint). Both Audubon's and Myrtle Warblers are listed in California
as using Myrica (1/2 to 2% of diet for Audubon's and Myrtle). Elsewhere, 2
to 5% of the Myrtle Warbler diet is Myrica. Sorry, no references. These
warblers apparently eat more Poison Oak berries than wax-myrtle fruits.
>
>An interesting note: "It is a curious fact that along the Atlantic coast
the tree swallow consumes many of the (Myrica) berries, though practically
all the rest of its food consists of insects." They say that 25 to 50% of
the plant food of the swallow can be Myrica berries.
>
>Jon. Anderson
>Olympia, Washington
>festuca at olywa.net
>
>
>>Subject: Re: Myrtle vs Audubon "call-notes"
>>From: Eugene Hunn
>>Date: Fri, 26 Apr 1996 16:34:05 -0700 (PDT)
>
>>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.
>
East of the Cascades, the high association of audubonii's to mature apple
orchards and Russian olives would suggest these wintering birds are
dependent on fruit for survival in the cold months. Can anybody corroborate
this? Of interest, none survived the arctic outbreak end Jan through early
Feb in Yakima County. Responses from the Tri-Cities to my query about their
surviving down their appeared negative also. The only report I heard of was
of a sighting about 15 March (B. Woodley) near Kennewick which would suggest
a returning migrant. Perhaps a total dependence on fruit is not enough for
wintering warblers?
Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA