1979 Ronald L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation (22Aug) times in several (about 5) different places to harvest one of the green Blue Oak acorns before he succeeds. Twice I watched him pluck leaves, then twist off the entire branch, only to have the branch and acorn(s) fall. He finally got one that he could yank off. FD. 1030 Juv 500 Red/LGreen seen, working and eating a green blue oak acorn, in an anvil perch of the big Valley Oak near the Blue Oak. ♂66 and ♀282 also in Valley Oak, 1050, a third baby, almost certain was 502 (DBlue-(Blue/OBlue-L(Blue) also eating a green [illegible] Oak acorn. Four birds (an ad♂, 3 babies) were all perched together on an anvil, all working acorns. 1055. 2 birds fly up toward sap tree on PO hill. ♂282 Tan-Red/Tan-Red seen in top of Valley Oak, also flies off toward sap trees. 1115 NBO♂+♀ in Valley Oak, nobody around to chase them. Making themselves at home, both eat bits of acorn left on one of the anvils. ♂ drums very furtively once Both Fly off at 1122. 1127 Now some chasing!! Not much else happens, save 2 Accipiter cooperi cruise through at 1145. Where are ♂63 and juv 499? End at 1210. 27Aug Start watch 0950. Juv 500 Red/Lgreen in Valley Oak. ♀283 Metal/ and ♂66 DPink/Lpink show, too. 1100, 3 adults in sycamore toward Rd 3: ♂66, ♀283, and ♂282 Tan-Red/Tan-Red. Looks bad for ♂63. 1125 Hey, juv 499 Dblue/Lgreen-DBlue, Metal/Lgreen-O Blue still OK! End 1145 6Sept 1030. At long last ♂63 GreenBlack/Green Black here, working acorn (FO) Metal/Dr-Lgreen M/Red-Tan Red/LGreen ♀293 ♂282 Tan-Red/Tan-Red, juv 500 Red/LGreen