1980 R.L. Mumme Melanorpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (20 April) 0742 ♀383 enters nest. 0751 head out 0752 leaves 0757 ♀269 enters 0800 head out 0803 leaves, followed by ♂486. 0804 ♀383 enters nest 0809 out 0810 down 0815 ♀269 arrives at nest, ♀383 [illegible] leaves, ♀269 enters 0818 head out [scribbled]. 0829 leaves 0833 ♀383 enters 0837 leaves 0844 ♀269 enters ♀0845 ♀383 half enters, backs out, ♀383 + ♀269 fly off. 0845 giving up 22 April An interesting watch here, despite my suffering from frozen feet (cold and very wet). It looked to me that, as egg-laying would down and incubation began in [scribbled] earnest, the well-marked pairs of the past two days began to break down. ♂486 initiated flights away from the ♀269, and even failed to follow her once or twice. He was also spending longer periods in the nest. Furthermore, ♀269 seemed especially conciliatory towards ♀294, opening waiting to him at least a few occasions. Certainly something to take data on in the next week or two. 0500 watch starts 0510 ♀ head out of roost hole flies off [scribbled] Forget all that crap! Also should note that I saw ♂294 ♀269 joining in crow mobbing with ♂294. I really need to get data on "pairing" in these guys, soon. 23 April 5hrs + of nest watching from the road on this rainy day. Talk about enthusiasm! 3 birds in the nest at once on some occasions ** → (weather related?), see compilation. Roosting, ♂486 Alone