1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation 7 May 930. ♂ in hole. 1200. Hole opened: 4 eggs. 8 May 1830. Nest checked - 4 eggs, unchanged and warm. ♂ flushed from hole. Incubation is on. 15 May 1645. Walked by, flushing 2 birds from nest hole, but heard nothing when they left - hatching probably not taken place yet. 20 May 1500. Checked nest and counted stores. The babies have hatched, all 4 are about 2-3 days old and in good shape Stores: Central area: 945 Side: 148 About ½ of the central area stores were gotten by counting from the rope-ladder, thereby probably seeing more than I usually do from the ground. 23 May 1700. Disaster has really struck this time. Somehow or other ♂103 got his foot stuck in the tape I'd used to put the nest back together and there, hanging just outside the nest and blocking the entrance, he died. There was little I could do - what a fucking waste! This effectively eliminates this group for the year, though with luck they will try again. Somehow, all the effort I've put into a group like this makes it all the worse. I can begin to understand why Michael fooled with nests as little as he possibly could. ♂103 will have to come under a category just eliminating him from consideration. Shit. His wing was saved as #186. Go to P. 6