1980 R.L. Murme Melanerpes formicivonus School Hill (20 May) 2000, some early pre-roost mounting action. The core 3 plus at least 1 1st year ♀ in the 1st exclosure tree. ♀260 flies to horizontal branch where ♂86 is, ♀260 lands with tail up, wings drooped, ♂86 starts to mount. ♂402 then flies down, and hops on top of ♂86, leaving 3 birds piled on top of each other. ♂86 did not get in a good copulation, and the ménage broke up; ♀260 then took off to the SW (Maulise trap, RTHawk nest area), and the 2 ♂♂ immediately took off in hot pursuit. 21 May A fairly poor morning watch here. Really didn't get any good data on association. Birds weren't around very much, and the fog really put a cramp on things, nonetheless, another egg laid. 702 15 ♀260 enters, ♀523 at nest, chattering.. 711, ♀260 heads out. 71140 back down 713 ♂86 enters nest 719, ♀524 enters. 720 ♂86, ♂402 leave. 720 ♀524 leaves nest. ♀260 still in as I check nest at 0815. A 4th egg → egg, I marked as #4. I suspect the egg was laid when ♀260 first entered about 0702 (0602). They are definitely getting geared up for incubation, as ♀260 remained in the nest until at least 0800 (0700). Back in the afternoon, with weather deteriorating. The "packing" of the core 3 has subsided considerably, and ♀260 seems to be incubating with some enthusiasm. I even did a nestwatch, all ♀260. At Roosting, the core 3 flew into but I didn't see anything as far as mounting. One bird roosted in the nest, too.