1980 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 9 April " 0715 ?265 2 birds in granary and one in nest hole as I arrive. ?184 enters nest 0723. 0733, ?184 leaves, eats acorn (F) fies to sycamore next to ?68, ?68 chatters this time!! ?68 then enters nest. 0738, ?68 leaves, 0742 ?265 enters, (could there have been a cloacal bulge?) 0744, ?186 enters, then she leaves. 0800, coopers hawt. 0805 ?68 flies to nest, both chatter, although ?68 does more, ?18? leaves, ?68 does not enter 0809, ? flies to ?18?, ?18 joins, chattering like mad, ?184 chatters a little, but not much. 0811, ?68 in nest. ?0820, ?8? leaves, flies to ?184, ?184 chatters this time (Bird approached chutters?) ?265 enters. Out at 0830(outside hole) back down at 0838, 0850, ?68 drives. She leaves, he enters. End 0900. Back at 1630, and I feel like an idiot! This time I looked in and saw 5 frigging eggs. How could I have missed it on Monday!!? Geez! At any rate, the birds have apparently deepened the cavity since last spring, because I could not reach the eggs. Anyway, the 1980 nesting season has begun, a record early start. 10 April 5 eggs (1) 25.3 x 20.6 mm (2) 25.4 x 20.3 mm (3) 26.2 x 20.2 mm (4) 24.9 x 20.1 mm (5) 24.2 x 19.6 mm 17 April ?184 roosted