1976 Walter J. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation 8 March Prepared for an ambush at the Westgate roost/nest hole. When I came back at 1730 to check roosting, the net itself worked fine, but some activity in the hole turned out to be a Starling rather than a woodpecker! Needless to say, I drove precipitously back to John's house, borrowed his shotgun, and returned. My mistake was to shoot him directly into the hole, however—thus leaving the hole a semi-permanent fixture consisting of one dead Starling. The birds, naturally, did not roost there, nor did they even investigate it. I thus checked all the other holes I knew of, only scaring up one bird from the old tree just on the other d side of the creek who then went and roosted in the gate storage tree. Hopefully, at least their new roost holes will be rather more accessible, at least. 9 March I walked across the creek and over to the Live Oak roost tree, where somewhat to my surprise there were 2 birds. There was something even more odd, however, in that one seemed to be in the area of the roost holes. Both left, but I watched for a few minutes, during which time 2 different birds came and investigated the area with the holes. None went in, but the situation was strange enough to induce me to get the rope ladder and find out what's up by checking the hole I'd opened last year. Meanwhile the birds were either in the storage trees or flycatching along the side of Haystack (see map). Of course there was