1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 Hastings Reservation (10 May) 1805. leaving. Birds over in main tree; quiet. 11 May 1330. Nobody in holes. Birds over in Main tree, however. 14 May 1645. Bird flushed warily from hole in nest tree. Early nesting stages, I suspect, but definitely a nest. 15 May 1030. ♀ in '75 nest hole. 1200. Hole opened: 4 eggs. This is another of those nests that was easy to reach last year but ☺ has now been excavated down about 2 feet- 16 May 1100. Counted stores: Main tree: 295 } 667 Nest tree: 372 19 May 1820. I flushed a bird off the road while driving down to the gate. She was across from tree 2 of 1500; even a little bit up from there. In any case, she was ♀ wh/m =#42 (apparently). Odd that she would be way up here, but perhaps she was watering at the creek and wandered up here (though there of course doesn't seem to be much to chase anyone intruding there away). 25 May 1645. I hear nestling-noises emanating from the nest hole: the kits have hatched. 26 May 1130, Measured the kits, all 4 of whom are in good shape. They are already about 6-7 days old. 4 June 1205. ♀ care and fed babies 8 June 1930. Another disaster. The keyhole (about 8" of it) had fallen; the nest was empty. It's hard not to believe that these my sloppy workmanship did not deal the ultimate blow here somehow or other. 9 June 1010. Watching. 9 in main tree. 60 to p.7