[Tweeters] Yellow-rumps followup

[Jeff Gilligan]

My primary residence is now on the Long Beach Peninsula.  I spend most of the  winter in southern Arizona, but am on the peninsula into early December.  Yellow-rumps become scarce on the peninsula by the time I leave.  They were always something I looked at twice in my former Portland neighborhood in winter.  In contrast, winter visits to the southern Oregon coast have always resulted in pretty good numbers of Yellow-rumps (mostly Myrtles).  Not only is it much more mild in winter there, but Pacific wax myrtles and their waxy fruit are more prominent.  Myrtle Warblers got their name for a reason, that being that they could digest the waxy protective covering of the fruit of the plant.  I have planted Pacific wax myrtles on the peninsula, and it fruits quite well, and is within the plant’s range, but the number and frequency of the warblers in winter is much less than Curry County, Oregon  Warming temperatures generally may result in greater numbers in the future at Willapa Bay.

  

> On Jan 12, 2023, at 200 PM, Steve Hampton <stevechampton at gmail.com> wrote:   

> 

> Port Townsend has seen a significant increase in Yellow-rumped Warblers in winter. Last year we had a record 16 birds on our CBC; this year we smashed that with 89. I don't know too much about the past, but it seems like it was a few Myrtles around KahTai Lagoon (riparian) and in the green wax myrtles at the sewage treatment plant by Chinese Garden. This year, most birds are at the latter location, foraging all thru North Beach, but also at other coastal more temperate locations. That said, I've seen them several miles inland in the last month. It's been running about 2/3 Myrtles, 1/3 Audubon's.  

> 

> YRWAs have been increasing in winter across the PNW as I showed in some CBC data here: 

> Heading south for winter, more birds are choosing the Pacific Northwest

> https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2022/10/07/heading-south-for-winter-more-birds-are-choosing-the-pacific-northwest/ <https://thecottonwoodpost.net/2022/10/07/heading-south-for-winter-more-birds-are-choosing-the-pacific-northwest/>

> 

> good birding, 

> 

> 

> On Thu, Jan 12, 2023 at 12:13 PM Tom and Carol Stoner <tcstonefam at gmail.com <mailto:tcstonefam at gmail.com>> wrote:

> Here in the (mostly) snow/ice free PNW, I mentioned the Yellow-Rumps foraging on the ground because I'd never seen a flock spend so much time bouncing along feeding on the ground.  The neighborhood Y-Rs use the feeders and will go after stray tidbits, but they quickly go back to off-the-ground locations.  Thanks to Robert and Kevin for their observations and sorry that I don't have specifics as to Myrtle vs Audubon.  I shall pay closer attention next time.

> 

> Carol Stoner

> West Seattle

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> 

> -- 

> ​Steve Hampton​

> Port Townsend, WA  (qatáy)

> 

> 

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