1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New1500 Hastings Reservation (7 May) 850. 8'orion #44 is now drilling on an acorn at an anvil up in the wide side. (Whew! Maybe this group is still intact after all!) On the other hand, some excited barrit-cutting and garricking continues intermittently up in the upper sap side. Perhaps these strange birds are regular intruders. 857. Of 3 birds seen up in the upper sap side, 2 are 99 (1 unrung); one of these is the bird constantly Garrickle displaying at the moment. The 3rd bird was aggressive and displaced another bird up here; he perhaps is 0'44 and was displacing one of/the intruding 99. 900. The garrickes continue regularly up there (one bird). 905. As I walked up the wide side, the garrickes stopped and one bird headed out over the road. I'm leaving. 9 May 10 May 11 May 1940. Nobody seen/heard in passing. 1815. Nobody " " " " 1330. " " " " Stores: 0. 1335. Flash! A Garrickle brought me back, where there were 2 birds in tree 3: (1) 0'44 or #44 and (2) ?wn / . ? (definitely banded). Both flew off to the upper sap side. Don't know what's up: either 9 has been replaced, or a banded 9 was merely checking her place out (maybe 942 from 1800, his mother?). 14 May 15 May 16 May 1630. 0' (bands not seen) flushed from tree 1 to lower sap side. 1035. 1 bird flushed from tree 1 (main storage tree). 1105. While walking by, I saw 2 birds in tree 3 and a 3rd landing there; one of those in the tree was barrit-cutting nervously. The 3rd bird, once landed, displaced the other bird who was sitting. Thus, it would appear that 26 birds are still here. ♀260