[NatureNS] "Wax" myrtle

From: Ian McLaren <I.A.McLaren@Dal.Ca>
To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Thread-Topic: "Wax" myrtle
Thread-Index: AQHQPaYwHmrXm6onOkmuP3PLdgmbSQ==
Date: Sat, 31 Jan 2015 22:47:16 +0000
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All:

A useful article on use of bayberries by birds (which launched this thread)=
 is at:

     https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v109n02/p0334-p0=
345.pdf


Note that these  very saturated wax esters are generally hard to digest. Ma=
ybe that makes them unattractive to most birds, particularly sparrows and o=
thers that might chomp the seeds. Those that do eat them have digestive tri=
cks. Also, "Myrtle" Warblers roll the seeds around in the bill and remove a=
nd swallow the "wax", and I've seen them do that here. I assume Tree Swallo=
ws also do this.


Of course, as noted, the shrub grows especially plentifully on coastal beac=
hes. For a few years these were devastated by salt kill from hurricanes, an=
d I believe wintering "Myrtle" Warbler?s" were accordingly fewer.  Should b=
e easy to check this assertion from a formal analysis of CBC records and hu=
rricane occurrences and tracks.


Ian McLaren

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<p>All:<br>
</p>
<p>A useful article on use of bayberries by birds (which launched this thre=
ad) is at:<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href=3D"https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/=
journals/auk/v109n02/p0334-p0345.pdf" id=3D"LPlnk450310">https://sora.unm.e=
du/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v109n02/p0334-p0345.pdf</a><br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Note that these &nbsp;very saturated wax esters are&nbsp;generally hard =
to digest. Maybe that makes them unattractive to most birds, particularly s=
parrows and others that might chomp the seeds. Those that do eat them have =
digestive tricks. Also,&nbsp;&quot;Myrtle&quot; Warblers
 roll the seeds around in the bill&nbsp;and remove and swallow the &quot;wa=
x&quot;, and I've seen them do that&nbsp;here. I assume Tree Swallows also =
do this.<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Of course, as noted, the shrub grows&nbsp;especially&nbsp;plentifully on=
 coastal beaches. For a few years these were devastated by&nbsp;salt kill&n=
bsp;from hurricanes, and I believe&nbsp;wintering
<span style=3D"font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-siz=
e: 18.66666603088379px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">
&quot;Myrtle&quot; Warbler</span>&#8203;s&quot;&nbsp;were accordingly fewer=
.&nbsp;&nbsp;Should be easy to check this assertion from a formal analysis =
of CBC records and hurricane occurrences and&nbsp;tracks.&nbsp;<br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>Ian McLaren<br>
</p>
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