1980 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus 3 Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation 26 April Start 0630, nobody around. 0750, a pretty boring watch overall. Again, ♂307, ♀515, ♂461 all here, not doing much, but hiding is granary very well. Again, ♂307 + ♀515 seem to be together more, but I lack good data (didn't have them in sight often enough). At one point, a ♀NB intruder chased (without a lot of élan) by ♀515. Going to check hole. Whoops, with another ♀515 chase of ♀NB. 30 April Start watch 1610. ♂307 + ♀515 here. ♀515 chases (without a great deal of enthusiasm) a ♀NB intruder from the granary. 1730, these guys still don't look very interested in nesting any time soon. Both birds fooled around in the granary most of the time I was here. Very difficult to watch, though. 1 May Trying again in a bowling wind 0700. ♀515 huddled in the granary, near the "hole" I thought I flushed a bird from yesterday! Oh No! 711 a bird heads out there, flies off. 711.50, ♀515 enters. The ultimate pisser! Incubating already. Back at 1630, a struggle to get into the nest, but 3 eggs 2 May Another watch here. high point was ♀524 intruding here, chased (presumably) by ♀515. ♀515 very suspicious of opened nest. She is indeed a wiley one. Seemed like 4 birds here for awhile, perhaps ♂511 back from his wanderings. Roosting was pretty neat! I think ♀515 was in the hole when ♂307 came to the hole. The bird in was reluctant to leave, until ♂307 pecked at it a few times! Anyway ♂307 roosted alone!