1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road I (10 February) Hastings Reservation birds. My guess is that this group is probably Art, too (or the group in ARF) and that they just chased the 1st year R! down from what must be very close to the group boundary. (On the other hand, this is not really very far at all from The storage tree, though it is a fair vertical distance). 1215. Gone 1230. Discovering that a reasonable vantage point of the gulch with its attendant frenzy of activity could be had from the road, I watched for several minutes. The situation appeared to be a good wholesome fight - perhaps territorial pessa (over a sap area?) as a real takeover would be attempted at the storage tree itself rather than a goodly distance from it. At least 10 birds are involved, probably >12, and all are in a constant state of activity - chasing, hiding, wake-ing, etc. Among them I could pick out several wing-streamered Rl birds - 3RRW#249 plus juns 180, 181, and 182. Sometimes they were chasing other, unwingstreamered birds, other times they were hitting or being chased themselves. One grappling was seen, the combatants falling 10 feet or so before disengaging. Meanwhile I noted j♂183 back down in the storage tree eating an acorn. There was no sign of the 2 year old juveniles, and, alas, I fear they have peeped out on me. 1250. Going to check Finch again. My guess is that my previous conjecture is still the best hypothesis - these are ARF birds and they are fighting here for some even less clear reason, possibly a sap tree or territorial dispute.