1979 Ronald L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus [illegible] CALIFORNIA, Contra Costa Co. O.P. Pearson residence on Miner Road, Orinda 4 March Beth Braker and I stopped by the Pearson's house to check out a group of Acorn Woodpeckers that had moved into the canyon behind their house. According to Pearson, some birds appeared during December and began drilling storage holes in some dead stubs of a Blue Oak. The granary tree was shallow in a ravine, surrounded by Live Oaks & Buckeyes, with an open, grassy area nearby. We estimated about 400 storage holes had been drilled, although most were very crude and appeared unfinished. The holes were small, and fairly evenly spread over a large area, so the effect was one of no part of the stubs looking like a "finished" granary. The bark had been fluted off (Pearson says by the birds) and the holes had been drilled in what appeared to be soft, partially rotting wood. Beth & I saw 2 birds, apparently sapsucking in a nearby Blue Oak, and Pearson said he had never seen more than 2 when they appeared in December. 18 March The Pearsons, Peter Lois Myers, Mercedes Foster, Dave Winkler and I wandered over here from after having breakfast at the "Howards" where Peter & Lois were house sitting. O.P. Pearson said that someone had seen at least 3 birds simultaneously recently, although we heard just one or two. Also at least three birds in a different (?) group north of Howards.