1976 (Walter D. Koenig) Melanerpes formicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation 16 February Drilled another 100 holes (total 500) and stuffed 100 acorns into the holes that were there. ½" is about as small as will be generally useful, as it turns out; I put in mostly old Quercus acorns and they tended to be on the order of 9 or 10/16" of an inch. Rocky suggested I not give them a roost hole, at least for now, in order to separate out that as a factor affecting the presence/absence of birds on this territory. 17 February 1620. Drove up in order to drill more holes and add acorns - as I opened the truck door an Acorn Woodpecker flushed from the storage tree! He flew to the larger willow toward the pump, then after a minute sailed out and flew over into the main thicket, landing with a greeting (waka) to an apparent 2nd bird. At this point I moved the truck around and proceeded to watch. 1625. Bird still hawking in thicket out of view 1630. 3 birds came to the tree - 1st 2 unbanded 88, initially went to the tall willow but both of whom soon went to a small limb on the far side of the storage tree to drill! Then an unbanded 8 flew in from toward Y to the top of the storage tree. The 8 went to one of the stored acorns and proceeded to drill at it and eat it! 1633. The 8 flew up and was soon after replaced by one of the 88 at the set of stored acorns; The 2nd 8 is sitting on the far side of the tree. These birds are clearly members of the same group, as some greeting is taking place and no chasing or fighting or aggression is evident. The birds seem to have some difficulty walking on the wood - they slip occasionally as if it were too smooth or some such.