1980 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Blom 2 4 June Opened the nest in the Valley Oak that Walter + I independently discovered yesterday & today: 4 eggs! 22 July Roosting, and I see 2 birds roost in the hole just above the next hole. An ambush may be in order. 1 Aug I set a ambush (first solo effort). 2 birds roost, but I saw a third bird flying around, so may be 3 in the group 2 Aug NO dice! flap doesn't close properly. Such is life. 26 Aug Try roosting here again. I flush 2 birds out of the same hole (above next hole). But 3 go back in later. Definitely 3 birds in this group. 29 Aug Successful ambush here! Very confusing roosting on 28 Aug, but I saw at least 3 & perhaps 4 birds go in. This morning I bagged 4 birds! All banded, and all from Gazebo, M516 J (M)569, J (M)571, and J (M)572. J572 stayed in the hole a full hour past everybody else (!) only emerging when I reclimbed to bring the bag down. Questions: 1 Have these 4 M really moved here, or has Blom 2 been abandoned after failed nesting this spring, and Gazebo birds are just hanging out & roosting here, former possibility supported by the fact that all M including juveniles, and they looked like they were pretty settled here. I'll have to watch at Gazebo, 2 if they have moved here, was it to replace a dead male, or occupation of an abandoned territory? 3 Do they have a female? while processing others where is she roosting?