1980 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (5 may) Back at 0900, ♀496 working on hole for [illegible] about 2 min. 0905, these guys must be serious about nesting there, ♀494 now working on hole. 0907, another population, ♂♂73 at ♀496, this time ♂521 flew over. Didn't see exactly what happened. The last 3 cop-mounts I've seen have all taken place on the same horizontal branch at the northeast end of the nest tree. ♀494 out of nest building 10 min, ending at 0913. 0919, ♀496 back building, only a 30 sec. bout. 0926, she's building again. Stops after 2:25. 0945, ♀494 starts bout, ends after 3 min. returns almost immediately, 5 more min. 0958, returns almost immediately again, ends after 3:30. 1005, ♀494 starts again! Ends after 3:20, then starts again, 10 more min. End 1020 6 may Start again 0725. ♀496 45 sec build nest bout. 0745, another, this 30 sec. 807. Uh Oh, 3 birds call save for ♂521 fly off toward the Buckeye Hill canyon. Could be a bad sign. Haven't seen much work on the nest hole this morning. 0811, everybody back here. 0835, ♀494 30 sec hole bout End 0840, pretty boring 1800, again from cabin. Still dullsville. Birds mostly in granary but 3 may have been in the roost hole canyon for awhile 7 may Start 0745. A ♂ intruder here for awhile, 2 birds head up Buckeye canyon. Going looking: 1010, ♀494 looking out of a hole in a Blue Oak not 30 meters from the Hastings fence line, directly in Blue Oak (Buckeye) canyon near the fork. A second bird