Rios & Merriams in Western Washington?

[dawei]

Why do Rios and Merriams thrive in Western Oregon and not in Western Washington? Here is a population density chart: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/upland_bird/species/WildTurkeyBrochure.pdf

[bobcat]

I really don't know, but western Oregon, at least the southern part, is quite a bit more open and drier than western Washington. From what I've seen of southwestern Oregon, which admittedly is almost all just from the I-5 corridor, but there are a lot of oak trees and it reminds me a little of the Klickitat County area here in Washington. So that would be my guess, the habitat is just different and Oregon is more suitable for the other subspecies.

[Wacenturion]

Because its the Wong type of habitat.  Look at Oregon's density chart, particularly the area from Corvalis north to Astoria, but even more specific, the area from north of Salem to Astoria, which is similar to western Washington in habitat appearances.  You'll notice that the light green area represents a density of 1-5 birds....which basically means very few or close to none.

Then if you research ODFW's harvest reports for the units in the areas north of Salem to Astoria you will find that no....again....no harvest occurred.  So don't start thinking western Washington should have Rio's or Merriam's.  They didn't take in similar Oregon's habitat types.  Oregon also hybridized all it's Merriams with Rio's during the 80's and 90's thinking they were the bird of the future...the most adaptable.  Not so....all their Merriam's populations needed was an infusion of new blood like the Washington Merriam's got at the same time.  It was more a matter of declining genetics rather than better adaptability. 

You'll also see that the higher densities of Rio's and hybrids in Oregon occur in areas like Roseburg....there is a reason....it's the perfect open, oak, conifer woodland type Rio's like.  I would much rather have our 3 subspecies opportunity than Oregon's Rio/Hybrid turkey program.....