Acorn woodpecker species accounts, v4442

Koenig, Walter D., 1950-

1976

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley

Original Source

Source Material:
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org

Acorn woodpecker Acorn woodpecker--Behavior--California Hastings Natural History Reservation (Calif.)

Document Pages

680 Pages

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

W D Koenig 1976 Hastings Reservation Melanerpes formicivorus

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Ranch, 1 mile SE of Jamesburg, Monterey Co., Calif. 23 November 945-1045. Watched the group 5 of Lambert that has a fair sized dead oak as a granary. At least 6 birds are in the group, at least 4 are ♂, while 1 ♀ was seen. None were banded that I saw. The group has lots of stores. (>3000) 1100-1130. Watched at the group North of Lambert up about 150m along the jeep trail. This group has a tall Valley Oak granary with about 1000 or so holes up at the top of this tree, where 1-2 roost holes are as well. Again I saw 6 birds, all unring, at least 2 of whom were ♀♀. Some interest was also being shown in one of the roost holes, where a ♂ was looking out for several minutes. Similar to the 1st group, these birds were hawking and working stores. 1150. About 75m further North from the above tree are 2 more granaries, the first a very large, living Valley Oak with thousand of stores and the second, another 50m north from the first, a rather more modest Valley Oak again with lots of stores (but not as many as the former). In the first tree was a ♂ looking out of a roost hole. I'm fairly sure that these 2 granaries belong to different groups, but the former large one may be of the same group as the 2nd tree watched, above.

No text detected

1926 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fuscicollis Lambert Ranch, 1m SE Jamesburg, Monterey Co. Calif. (22 November) 1230. In the first group, I saw 5 birds, 288 and 388. None that I saw (3-4 of them) were banded. I was not able to see the 2nd area well from where I was, where there were 2 birds at any rate. All 3 of these nearby trees probably are separate groups: ( slight rise ) (2nd area) x Fence is not visible, is probably further downhill → More likely the case. 1250. Continuing NW, there are several more groups (3-5) within the next 4 mile. This whole area is obviously prime habitat. The odds of finding a banded bird out this far are surely very low indeed, however, while the odds of my being captured back here are inversely correlated to the extent that I shall now return. (350) Poison Oak Hill, Hastings Reservation, 2½ mi. E. Jamesburg, Monterey Co., Calif. 24 November 1100. Walked up to look for banded birds. In a territory just north of the Arnold was no less than a full-scale revolution, with about 20 birds participating, none of whom were banded that I saw. There was no clear preponderance of one sex over the other, but activity and chasing was full-scale indeed. I watched for about ½ hr, then went down to get some nets. I returned as soon as possible and set up 3 nets by 1300, and then spent the remainder of the day (1715) doing nothing but taking birds out of nets and banding them—a total of 13 (+1 Fairy Wdper)—12 unbanded, and 1—#316, who had been

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Poison Oak Hill, Hastings Reservation, Carmel Valley, Monterey Co., Calif. (24 November) caught and banded during some of the disruptions at Plague last August! I left the nets low but up during the night. 25 November Returned just after dawn at around 700 and continued with the non-stop banding activities through 1030 when leaving to make it up to Berkeley for Thanksgiving dinner became imperative. Not including recaptures from yesterday, today's bounty was an equally impressive 11 more unbanded birds, and there were lots more to be had could I have been able to stay. ♀♀ clearly predominated- especially 1st-year ♀♀ - see the breakdown below - 26 November I was able to return about 1600, by which time the revolution was clearly on its last legs - very few birds and very little activity was noted. I did put up one net and get 1 last bird (#347) however - my 25th (24th unring) from the territory. 27 November 1230. Came down here via Jimmy Bell's Ranch: I'm not sure it's worth the extra effort driving around to his land. In any case, 3 birds were apparently here all sitting quietly- before I flushed them. At least 2 were from the last 2 days as they had wing streamers (RPEW and RRRW I think - probably #328 and then 332/343); all flew off and were not seen again by the time I left about 1315. Some coordinates of this territory were taken (see back of sheet). I also checked the stores, which are holding up quite well - probably 2000+ range, mostly Q. kelloggii. Perhaps when I find out who has stayed permanently I'll be able to speculate intelligently on what this revolution was all about in the first place.

Blonquist Corners 307° W From Compass North Pension Oak Ridge 222° SW from Compass North Arnold Field (A1) elev. 2420- 2466ft Just below the lower peak Pension Oak Hill x 2754

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Poison Oak Hill, Hastings Reservation, Carmel Valley, Monterey Co., Calif. (27 November) A summary of the birds caught here 24-26 November: ♂ ♀ Total Adults 2 4 6 1st yr 4 11 15 ? 0 4 4 Total 6 19 25 12 December 1535. Walked back up to the site of the revolution. Heard some activity up/near here along the way, but it was all pretty quiet by the time I got here. One big find along the way about 60m downhill and just over on the north side of the ridge from the revolution area: a mound of feathers and a Rocket Red wing-streaker. I couldn't find any bands, but it is certainly either #328 or 332; with luck E may be able to pin it down when I get back. 1600. 2 birds appeared just down the hill: ☺♂♂CALW #330 plus an unidentified second. A 3rd bird possibly here also; unfortunately I seem to be in a rather bad position to be observing any of it. 1607. #330 now over along the ridge looking down on the area. 1610. #330 just chased a Nuttatch out of the granary. 1611. #330 joined by a 2nd♂, apparently without a wing-streaker. 1614. ☺♀PRW #329 downhill a short ways, also chasing some Trebekey bird (or is it another wicker?) Possibly a 3rd♂ involved here. There are 3 birds in any case (2♂, 1♀). Going now to check calling around the hill a ways. Bring the hide next time. 1630. Several more groups here (5 of crest). Seen: ☺PRRLLW w/ Blue? was getting #343, probably intruding in a territory over one valley. (chested over there) #328 by feather wear and wing length. See Capture Records

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Poison Oak Hill, Hastings Reservation, Carmel Valley, Monterey Co. Calif. 28 December 1400. Back up watching the formerly beleaguered territory, where there are several birds. 1410. (1)♂LAW#330 here. A 2nd♂here also. 1418. A♀. Also (2)♂OrRW, LB-DB/L-D #325 here. 1420.(3)♂ub. By George, these birds are sapsucking-in a Blue Oak here! This is an early record for that! 1423. M. thinks a ♂LARW (?) just got chased from the sap tree. 1426. A♀ub just got chased from the sap tree by ♂325. 1430. There is actually a fair amount of activity here. 1431. (4)♀ub sapsucking. 1435. ♂325 back sapsucking. ♂330 near top of territory. Possibly 1-2 other wing-streamered birds around. 1440. A♀ub keeps getting displaced from the sap tree by ♂325. 1442. ♂ub sapsucking. 1448. Someone who appeared to be ♂RRW d. blue bar was in the sap tree very briefly. Either I was wrong, however, or I have a coup (♂249?). He left very soon and then ♂325 was back chasing off a♀again. 1505. Things have slowed down considerably. Time to explore- 1527. On my way down I saw a OrRW w/ornament, very likely ♀342, but not even the sex was seen. This was over the next canyon and on the way down toward the road. (See back).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo Hastings Reservation 27 January 1530. 2 birds (nowing-streamers) flushed from the storage tree when I arrived. Checked marked acorns, finding only 23/60, with 5 moved. There are a few Q.agrifolia acorns stored here, in case I missed them with my sample. Count: 944 (this is very hard to count, of course, but there are still a lot here). 1615. Surprise. 5 birds, all tame enough to come land in the storage tree while I was standing below it, did so and began working stores together, as if they belonged here; the catch is that none of the 5 were banded. They included 4♂ and 1♀. After 6-7 minutes they flew over to the sycamore roost area, again as if they belonged here. At no time did anyone protest. At this point I will not even bother to stab at what's going on. 3 February 945. Watching sans hide. A bird garricked over past the sycamore roost trees out of view. Several birds over that direction. 1010. Over below the far BlueCale roost tree a bird popped up who was a ♂ and I believe banded and possibly #234. 1030. After rechecking the storage/roost area, and still hearing some tapping downslope toward the 3 ponded fork in Matrone canyon, I went down to the fork, but did not come across any more birds. 1045. Now returning via the gulch, 2♂ were up in the storage tree but could not be identified. They flew over the gulch to Tregas's side of the canyon at 1050. Meanwhile more drilling continues downslope from The sycamore roost area by invisible birds. 1100. Noone's returned. I'm off-

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Change Hastings Reservation 4 February 1600. Came out to watch, but an incipient rain kept me from identifying any birds except an unbande d♂ who sat in the forest just up from the sycamore roost tree. At least 2 other birds were around, and it would still appear possible that a revolution has indeed occurred. 10 February 1705. Watching. A ♂ is down by the sycamore roost tree. 1750. No one else ever showed up. There was lots of calling directly below in the gulch; perhaps the birds are now roosting down there. 18 February 1300. Watching from hillside under cover. 1310. Quite a bit of kamit-cutting is going on from across the gulch, but I've been unable to locate any of the birds. Now have shown up on this side as yet. 1345. Left and went down to gulch; saw/heard nobody. My guess is that these birds are sap-sucking across the way somewhere, and that as a consequence they aren't at their storage trees much (that much is obvious!) Those strange birds seen here earlier in the year were probably just a "random", wandering group which stopped into feast for a time on an undefended stores (undefended because the true chongo birds are busy elsewhere); [similar to the initial group at Pump]. 8 March 935. Walked over to here. Several calls were heard along from across Madrone Canyon as I walked, but none of these birds were seen. Activity at Chongo itself was typically nil; stores do still remain, however. 1040. Several bouts of calling have been noted coming from across the gulch since 935; in fact, I even succeeded in finding several birds. But all were well up the other

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Keenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo (8 March) side, past where there was much hope of seeing legbands. I did hear one bird of this side once, but he disappeared before I could find him. Somehow I just don't think I'm going to be able to get much of a census here until spring. 15 March 1520. On the way here I flushed at least 2 birds along the side of Red Hill about 75 meters from the storage tree (S); unfortunately I still was unable to get a good look at one. The count was 937; the number of stores has decidedly declined. By the time I finished frequent calls were coming from across the creek, but I saw none on that side of the gulch. I sat by the storage tree to 16:5 watching the other side and saw or heard what are probably 2 groups, one focusing its activity up near the divide of the gulch up on the Buckeye Hill side, probably Chongo, and the other considerably down the gulch, probably Buckeye. I was yet unable to see anybody well enough to see a band. x Birds seen-probably Chongo o Birds heard-probably Buckeye At 1630 I watched 22 birds up on the side of Buckeye directly across from Chongo's storage tree eat buds from a Valley Oak which also had a likely looking roost hole in it. Still no guarantee that they are

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo (15 March) the right birds, however. 8 April 1515. Set here for ½ hour; as always, there was nobody on this side of the canyon. Only an occasional call was heard from the South side. 1530. *Flash!* A few walks from over across the way led my scope upon a cache of 5 woodpeckers (3♂♂, 2♀♀), of which 2 ♂♀ were identifiable (♂L.B/W7 = #234 and ♀ 4el-1m = #253). ♀#1 was probably also there. No wing streamers were seen, so these may have been the other 5 birds in the group. The location was in one of the conspicuous large Blue Oaks (8) directly across the canyon but a little more up and to the left: [view from above storage tree] looking Southeast sky ValleyOak ValleyOak Blue Oak Wetland Live Oak Zone Big Creek 1610. leaving. 5 May 1130. Despite (rather due to) the drizzly morning I walked back up here to get a quick check on the group. I saw nobody in any of the holes (in the storage or sycamore roost-trees only) but did flush ≥3 birds from the area. The tree is shaped sort of like this

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Change Hastings Reservation 9 May 1545. Wandered up here to check holes. One bird flushed from above the storage tree, as several did last time also; he flew across the gulch and greeted some bird(s) on the other side. Otherwise the holes were wickerless (all known holes were checked). Of interest, however, is that in the hole in the cycamore where I caught the birds last December was no less than a Pigny Owl, who looked out all the time I was beneath him and called once. Another to be added to the list of beasts which take over woodpecker holes (this is where I suspect the birds had their nest last year) Up above the storage tree are several small Q. douglessi with lots of AN sap holes: certainly the birds are sap sucking up here. 11 May 900. Just as I arrived, an AN was displaced from the storage tree by what sadly appeared to be an unbanded ♀. 912. One bird sitting in storage tree quietly. 918. Are 4-5 birds across the gulch. 930. Birds are now hawking over there. I can't identify any of them, however 935. They (3+birds) just flew to this side, but then returned (probably due to me). You better get the hide out here. leaving- Counted stores: 440. Something strange going on here. 12 May 1100. Watching from hide. (It's hot. Nobody here at the moment. ①♂ Blue/LP-LB #252 just landed briefly in storage tree. I guess things may be alright after all. 1105. Over in sycamore: (②♀LB /wn #1 ; ④♂[illegible], others - ③♂ formerly wing-streamer on Right wing, (#248? or possibly 234). Seen: ④♂ LB/wn#234. Also is a ♀ wnrung here. →④♀ub.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus Change Hastings Reservation (12 May) ⑤⑧⑥#301 seen; preening in sycamore. Birds are hawking overthere as well as sitting. 1120. ⑧ub now working stores in main storage tree. 1123. ②nd ⑧ub just landed in storage tree. Both seem to belong here, unfortunately If there is a nest, it's over in the sycamore. Most activity is condered over there. 1135. Now the unring ⑤ is preening in the storage tree. 1139. Alarm given-all quiet. ⑤ in storage tree is panting. 1200. leaving. I'm checking holes, I discovered that the Pigmy Owl still occupies their old roost hole in the sycamore, so it will most likely have to be somewhere else that they are nesting/roosting. As for the group's situation, what can I say? I find it most unlikely that these 2 extra unbanded Birds were here in December; I feel fairly strongly that everyone was caught during that ambush (except for ③01). Thus I am forced to conclude, albeit with only marginal supporting data, that they have moved here since then, possibly recently, as their behavior was a bit more skittish than your long-established group member. Clearly it also means that I shall have to try to ambush the group again - 3 unring Birds are rather too many. As for the others, all seem to be present except; perhaps, for ⑧248, but I shall wait until another watch before deleting him.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chonge Hastings Reservation (12 May) Add: ♂402. Moved to Chonge 0 March 1976, age unknown. ♀403. " " " " Both these birds were not present 12 December 1975, but were present 12 May. Most likely their move was more recent than March. 19 May 1215. Nobody at all in any of the holes here that I know of. 1230. Watching from hide. No birds (AW) around at all. 1245. Still zilch here, but some calling heard across canyon. 1251. Proof! 5 birds (4♂, 1♀, inc. Rub) showed up together in the sycamore roost tree. 1300. ♂234 there also (♂? / wh-) 1303. 2 brief mountings took place among birds sitting very near each other in the sycamore: one ♂ on ♂, other ♂ on ♀[ub] 1315. 2 birds out of the 4 just flew down into the sycamore. I'm going to go check - 21 May 900-1000. Started by checking the holes on Red Hill side, then went over to Buckeye to check out the birds' favorite areas there. The area over on Buckeye Hill is very interesting - mostly young Quercus douglasii, 2-6" in diameter, spaced 10-20 ft. apart. Occasional large Blue Oaks occur in groups of 2-4 in several spots, and it is here that the AW sit and one finds Magpies foraging. Several AW were over here, but I found no likely holes, nor any storage areas. By the time I sat down several birds were back around the sycamore on the Red Hill side, however, where I think they will nest eventually.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chonge Hastings Reservation 23 May 1005. Arrived. In hide. Nobody. 1015. A ♀ over by sycamore, sat only a short 15 seconds before flying down in the canopy of the same area (to the holes?) 1022. ①♀CB-Red/Yel #1 working stores in main tree; ②♂DB/wh-#252 here also, extra displaced a 2nd ♂(intruder) from the tree. 1024. ♂ub working stores now in storage tree. 1030. ♂ub still sitting in granary. Nobody else is evident. 1046. ♂ub in granary; 3-4 others over by sycamore eating acorns, etc. ③♂CB/wh-#234 seen over there. 1050. Birds have left, possibly going upcanyon and upslope a ways rather than across. I'm going to check holes. 1100. Nobody in holes, but my guess is that they will do me proud and eventually nest over here in the sycamore (where the Pygmy Owl no longer seems to be living - perhaps it was he who has precipitated the delay). 27 May 1000. In hide. 1015. Still nobody here. Birds are apparently across the gulch, where I hear some calling. 1027. An unringed ♂ and ♀ have appeared in the storage tree, but it's not clear who they are or what they're doing here. 1030. ♂ just chased the ♀, who looked rather out of place. She is now just below the hide. No vocalizations at all. 1031. ♀ unringed back in storage tree. 1035. Now 2 unringed ♀♀ in tree; unringed ♂ joined from across the gulch. ♀ finally flew off (presumably The intruder) up Red Hill. 1040. Birds are mostly hawking, but one just flew to the sap tree. 1050. Birds are now hawking in the small trees above the hide.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiceivorus Chenge Hastings Reservation (27 May) 1056. 2-3 birds now in sycamore, inc. own TLB-Rd #234. 1115. Still 1-2 birds in sycamore. Going to check holes over there. 31 May Watched here at dusk. Some scattered calling was heard both across the canyon and up along the gulch on the Red Hill side. Just before dusk 3-5 birds came to the storage area, where I suspect 3-4 roosted (in the same hole in the storage tree where I've caught birds previously). I did not see anybody roost in the sycamore. Needless to say, this doesn't solve the mystery here, but at least not everybody is successfully hiding across the gulch. 2 June 1645. Checked the holes and sat on the side of the hill and watched until 1930. The birds were heard regularly across the gulch, but could not be located, except for one bird seen briefly in the dead tree along the ridge. Otherwise an unwary & came to the storage tree for 5 min or so checking us out, but did not locate the others for us. 5 June 920-1015. When I arrived, 2-3 birds were in the storage area, while others could be heard across the gulch. After 10 minutes the birds more or less disappeared from my side, but over on the side of Buckeye Hill I eventually was able to find 4-5 birds intermittently, who seemed to be hawking and wandering among several feet of activity. One of these included a nice-looking hole, where I saw birds land at 3 times, but in none of these cases did the bird enter the hole, and I am encouraged but not at all convinced that it is their nest, at least yet. About 1000 one bird came to the storage tree again briefly to karrit-cut and eat some acorn bits. 1020. Time to wander off and check holes 4 buckeye hill. 1100. ! While over on Buckeye wandering around I

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo Hastings Reservation (5 June) came across the intact carcass of, sadly enough, bird #1, ♀ L. Blue-Red/Yellow, lying on the ground below 2 Blue Oaks well up the side of the hill going toward the hole I'd found earlier this morning. The body smelled rather strong, and had clearly been here for 2-3 days, but was intact with no obviously mortal damage anywhere. I did mark the spot with a pile of limbs and took the body for analysis and autopsy. I walked up the tree with the hole, which is about 90m E (upslope) from where the bird was found. There are actually 2 holes in the tree, both of which look relatively fresh and quite habitable. Nobody was seen or heard inside them. Below I could find one AW feather and some bird droppings, but no eggshells or other definitive sign of nesting. Upon closer examination, it was clear that the ♀ did have a rather deep gash in her right breast, enough to explain her death but not exactly why she wasn't eaten (unless she escaped and died of the injury later on). John Davis examined her briefly and decided that she did not have a brood patch, a decision I agree with given the numerous feathers in the area and the lack of any obvious thickening in the breast area. I put her up a few days later. Unfortunately most of the insides had been eaten and not much could be figured out concerning her reproductive status. 14 June 845-915. Watched the tree with the holes over on Buckeye Hill, where up to 3 birds were seen and I was consistently hawking.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo Hastings Reservation (14 June) Only I visit was made to the hole, and then, even though the bird entered it, he did not act like he was attending an active nest. I would not be surprised if this had been a nest earlier, however. An occasional call was heard on my side of the gulch, but most activity seemed to be across the way. 923. Another visit to the hole. Possibly something is going on. 930. Going to check holes. Also counted stores: 87 (I only noticed 1 marked acorn). 1000. No sign of life in any of the holes, including the one on Buckeye Hill. (The one in the far oale on Red Hill not checked). 2 July 1530. I bird a drilling in the storage tree was flushed when I arrived; others had just been heard across the canyon. Now I'm watching from the hillside, but with no hide I suppose I'll just survey the landscape for a spell and then check around. 1540. Soon after setting down several birds appeared down around the sycamore - including 8ub, 8cb/wa-#234 and a ♀. And guess what - soft wriles heralded the likely presence of fledglings, despite my conviction that there would be no nest here with ♀1 gone. Argh! That's 2 years running I've missed the nest here! This time, however, I shall endeavor to catch the beasts immediately and, with last year's trials under my belt, I can hope for early success. 2000. I returned intending to watch roosting but instead discovering that I may be better off than I'd thought - as the kids are apparently still in the nest, which is in a most improbably place in a knot not too far off the

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo Hastings Reservation (2 July) ground in the sycamore just below the one with all the other known holes in it. This is another of these holes which face up-further complicated by the considerable downward slope of the ground it faces, all rendering it quite invisible. In any case, a baby was looking out at me from it, and hopefully they'll all still be here tomorrow morning when I come to get them. 3 July A trying morning here, where I came about 700 to saw out the babies. The first problem turned out to be the hole itself, which was deep in the central cavity of the sycamore behind a good 4" of live, juicy, sycamore wood. The second complication was that I continued to hear a fledgling beg from the adults off on the hillside most of the time I was up at the hole, making it clear that at least 1 bird had already fledged and that I was therefore destined to end of with an incomplete set of babies, should I live long enough to get to them. Well, I eventually did so, circa [illegible] 1145; and a long haul it was. Inside I came upon 2 babies, #311 and 312, the latter of whom immediately flew off when I tried to return them to the nest. #311 #312 75.0gm Winglength 115mm 72.0gm W.L. 109mm When I finally completed this entire ordeal I was much to far gone to consider what to do next, but I will certainly go ahead and try to catch a few

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo (3 July) birds here, as there are several (3!) unbanded adults here now as well as the unrung kid. I do suspect that there is probably only 1 precocious bird who I missed; 2 (making a brood of 4) is of course not impossible, but it should be fairly easy to figure out once I catch a few more birds and/or do some serious watching here. At this point I feel rather fortunate to have gotten the 2 I did: I really had not expected them to pull off a nest with (One of!) the adult PQ gone suddenly in the thick of the breeding season. Just goes to show you how predictable these birds are. (we will not speculate on what it says about me!) 1930. Back in hide up on the hill. 1930. Calls have been coming at a low but steady level from just up the canyon aveys; across the gulch, however, are several (3-4) birds in the tree with the holes in it way up the side of Buckeye Hill. Several birds (4?+) roosted in the storage tree; nobody roosted in the nest area, as far as I could tell. (The call of the Pigmy Owl coming from there seemed to suggest that the beast was still living in their old roost hole). I never did get any good looks at birds, nor did I hear any juvenile calls; if they roosted anywhere it's likely to have been in the Blue Oak with the others. 4 July Set up for roost ambush in the Blue Oak. At dusk, 4 birds roosted there; several also were seen roosting in the far tree over on Buckeye. 5 July Ambush failed.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Change Hastings Reservation 11 July 2030. As far as I could tell, nobody even came close to Red Hill at dusk to roost. 17 July 945. Watching from hide. 1015♀ub in storage tree. 1025. ♂ub and (2)♂DB/CP-18 #252 displaced a ♂ub from storage tree who was probably an intruder 1030. ♂ub now sitting unmolested; probably same bird as above. ♀ eating acorn (drilling at whatever remains) in storage tree. 1115. (1)♂DB/CP-18 #234 now in storage tree with a couple others. 1145. The 4 birds (2 banded ♂, 1ub♂, 1ub♀) who had been here for the last 20 minutes or so have left; me too. As I expected, there are no stores to be seen here; the birds are clearly working over what scraps are left scattered here and there in the storage tree. 23 July 800. Watching from hide. 810. (1)♀ub in main storage tree. 815. ♀ hawk[ing now]; no others yet. 823. (2)♂DB/CP-18 #252 in storage tree now with ♀ub. 840. 2+ birds are apparently sapsucking in the live oak just below the storage tree. 920. ♂252 in storage tree again; others nearby, still sapsucking. 923. ♂252 just scared off when a Golden Eagle landed briefly in the top of the tree. 940. ♂ub now in storage tree drilling at and eating a green acorn. 950. 3 birds here now: 1, 2, and (3)♂ub. 1000. 3♂88 here now; (4)♂ub. 1030. 1 juv. in the storage tree; tarsi not seen. Flew down

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation Change (28July) to presumed sap area. 1100. A ♂ub just landed in the storage tree with half an acorn. 1115. Leaving. Birds still just below storage tree where they remain pretty well concealed. In any case, at least 1 juv. has made it this far (hopefully banded!). 11 August Purg: ♂248 last seen 18 Dec '75, gone by 8 April '76, Disappeared abt. 13Feb ± 2 months 17 August 930. Watching. Several birds low across gulch on Buckeye 945. 2-3 birds in view still on side of Buckeye; apparently eating green acorns; I probably (banded at least). Nobody on this side as yet. 1015. 1-2 birds on this side of the gulch now. 1100. ♂? ♀? #252 over in nest area. 1130. Leaving. An occasional bird still pops by, but nobody is coming to the storage tree and they are in general remaining quite well hidden. 4 September 815. Watching. Calls across gulch; nobody here at the moment. 830. Some birds called from just above me, but none has come into view yet. 840. ♂ub eating green acorn near the storage tree alone. 850. ♂ub in above spot preening. 910. ♂ub hawking from sycamore. 2-3 others within calling distance. 912. ♂♂ weight #252 plus 3 others in sycamore area. 915. A brief skirmish transpired between an apparent intruder and several of the residents in the sycamore. 926. ♂♂♂♂♂♂ #234 here. 1000. Leaving. No juvs seen/heard. Birds are around, however.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Change Hastings Reservation 4 October 930. Watching. 950. ①♀ub working acorns in the storage tree. 1010. ♀ub still here hawking; ②♂DB/ LP-LB #252 just joined. 1015. ③♂ub came and stored an acorn. 1050. ④♂ LB/Wn-Red #234 in sycamore. 1105. Several birds here storing/working stores 1110. Some poor unfortunate just got chased away from the storage tree and sycamore area by a coalition of all 4 of the above birds. 1230. Nobody new. The above 4 birds were here fairly consistently however; especially the ♀, who sat and hawked much of the time. Otherwise the birds mostly stored acorns and worked stores. The newly stored acorns attest to the activity seen this morning: 535 acorns. 5 October 845. In hide again; net up. 855. A raucous wark clued me to a ♀ getting chased out of the storage tree: ♀ LB/Blue/Red-Yellow [?] ! (By an unidentified 2nd bird). also possibly ④314 (caught at (Plaque) apparently #282 (juv from Finch) ♂LB or M / Red-Yel 900. She's still here: ♀ 4u(?) -Red / Yel-Red . A brief check through the listing doesn't give a clear choice for her identity. 930. ♂ub over by the sycamores. 945. ♂ub eating acorn in sycamore. 1000. ♂LB/Wn-Red#234 by sycamores with ♂ub; birds not spending much time in storage tree. Also ♂ Dark/Wn-LB #252 seen. 1045. Leaving, but the net will be left up. 1900. While coming to check the net I flushed a bird who had been quietly working stores and who obligingly flew into the net to become ♂319 (to replace ♂351ub). Taking net down.

No text detected

1996 Walker D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo (5 October) Today's "mystery bird" seems to be ♀ M/DP-yel /DP-yel #314, as I later saw j282 at Finch, where he apparently is still α-type. #314 was one of the birds caught during August at Plaque, and is rather more likely in any case. She possibly lives at Buckeye or one of the other nearby groups. 10 October Purge: j311. Not seen after banding/fledging on 3 July. j312. " " " " " " j455. The juv. seen 28 July will be presumed to have been this bird. He was gone by 4 Sept. → Disappeared about 16 August ± 2 weeks. ♀253. This bird was last seen (not too definitively at that) on 8 April, and was gone by 12 May → Disappeared about 25 April ± 2 wks 25 October 1445. Watching. Net up. 1500. 08'ub here with acorn. 1600. (2)♀ub now. 1645. Leaving. Birds were around much of the time, but mostly invisible or across the canyon. Virtually no storing was seen. Counted stores: 734, mostly Quercus (apparently the Blue Oaks have not done well up here - I've seen virtually none on the trees and note the problems being gone through by Buckeye, which is almost entirely a Blue Oak area, where the group has apparently abandoned the area entirely. Chongo is fortunate to have these live Oaks so nearby). 4 November 1610. Watching 1625. Suddenly lots of karrit-cutting from across the gulch. 1640. ♀ub came and fiddled with an acorn in the granary briefly.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus Chonge Hastings Reservation (4 November) 1641. 8'LB/Wh-Red #234 sitting in sycamore area. Pub also there. 1650. leaving. Birds here are definitely on their "winter" schedule; is they're mostly across the guleh. I bet they're roosting over here, however, and I probably ought to try and catch them sometime this winter. 21 November 1430. Net up; captive in cage as bait. 1441.00 18/wh. #234 has discovered him and is karrit-cutting cautiously from the sycamore area. 1445. Interest seems to have waned rather rapidly. 1545. There are birds here (mostly down by the guleh somewhere); nobody is apparently interested in what's going on in the granary; however. 1600. Pub and o M/Da #319 finally here in response to a long series of calls by the captive - Their interest was rather short-lived too, unfortunately. 1610. Pub returned; sat on far side of granary for a couple of minutes before flying down and away. 1614. There are 2 banded 8" (i.e. 3? I think) on Buckeye just over up from the fence line. 1615. Leaving. 29 November Went up here at dusk, finding several birds roosting in the large Blue Oak up on the hill up beyond the central area. 6 December 5 birds roosted in the large Blue Oak tonight - apparently the whole group. 10 December Counted stores: 1077.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes Formicivorus Buckeye Hastings Reservation 21 May 1115. Walked by here for the first time on my way back from Chongo. The storage tree is a good-sized Valley Oak and many stores remain. Their nest is in the tree also and is occupied by 3-6 day-old babies (a guess), but unfortunately is in a very oddly placed hole which would not be worth trying to get to, I don't think. The group itself consists of at least 5 birds, probably more, including 2-3 ♀♀. I got a fair look at 2-3 of them, none of whom were banded. 14 June 1005. Heard at least 4 birds in the vicinity. Up in the storage tree was one of the newly fledged babies looking out at me from a hole other than the nest hole; after a few minutes he flew away. Thus the nest here was definitely a success, fledging at least one kid. There are still plenty of stores here as well. 4 September 1040. Watching from hide. No stores remain here. 1140. Zero. 10 October 900. Walked up here planning on watching and netting, but there were only a very few stored acorns and no evidence of much going on here, so I put up a pair of lines and left. 19 October 1015. Watching with 2 nets up. 1100. Rub in granary now looking around. 1215. Leaving. The ♀ is long gone; nobody else ever replaced her. Clearly this group is in trouble: still there are virtually no acorns stored, and nobody seems interested in starting. There are birds coming here, but clearly the "group," as such, is marginally together, if at all. Very possibly the acorn crop here is a failure again, and they have temporarily moved (since this woodland here is practically solid Bluebells this is not unlikely).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Buckeye Hastings Reservation 4 November 1600. I was able to see 3 AW in the granary from the side of Red Hill, one of whom was working stores or holes. 5 November 1440. Watching from hide with 2 nets up. There are some stores here, and I saw more activity up here this morning. 1510. 1♀ub plus a 2nd bird here now working stores. 1530. An 2nd ub came and went. Possibly a 3rd bird also. ♀ was here most of the last 1/3 hr working stores, of which there are fairly many. They are apparently getting the acorns from down toward the guleh somewhere. 1600. There is a 3rd bird, at least, involved in all this. 1620. A 2nd ub♀: 3)♀ub is confirmed. The net is hopeless as is (definitely on the wrong side of the tree). 1530. Leaving. 10 December 1520. 1 bird seen working stores in the granary from Red Hill. 17 December 2 birds up here near dusk. The granary has about [illegible] acorns stored in it, no bad considering the productivity of the general area.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes Formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation. 19 January Saw all 3 wing-streamered birds during a short watch, 1530-1545. I also saw a ♂ (continuing my watch to 1600); I could not be sure that he was unbanded, but I assume as much. Following this I checked the marked acorns: I found 34, of which 5 (!) had clearly been moved. 22 January 630. I ambushed the '75 nest hole, but captured only j♀ PRW#156 (I had watched the hole previously and had sort of figured the other birds were here also). I don't know where the other birds are roosting. 27 January Saw j♀ LB#157. Counted stores: Main (Plague) tree: 586 2º Tree: 70 Other: 5 TOTAL: 661 11 February Saw ♀157 in passing up atop Plague. 16 February 1640. Watching 1650. Saw 2 birds, unbanded and ♀ yellow / red? (245??) atop a tree on the knoll toward Buckeye; the ♀ flew down toward Plague and the gulch after a few minutes, then shortly afterwards ♀UBRW and a 2nd ♀ (245 I think) came to the storage area, the former first to move an acorn and then to sit and preen. 1655. leaving. Saw ♀DLW (245) sitting in langish tree just down from crest of knoll near where the above 2 birds were before; I assume the ♂ was #387. The 3rd ♀ wasn't seen, but o is likely to have been the other bird that came to the storage area of (Bil).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation 18 February 1230. Saw ♀ WnLW (245) and ♀ LBRW while hunting some starlings. 1745. Watched at dusk. I only saw 3 birds at one time; they congregated twice atop plague tree. 2 were ♀ Wn and ♀ LB; I think the 3rd was the ♂ but I'm not sure (if so, this portends bad things for ♀ PRW#156!). The ♂ (or at least the 3rd bird) flew off to the roost (I think the '75 nest hole again, or at least a hole in that same area) first, leaving the 2 ♀. This did not deter them from pre-roost mounting, however: twice the ♂ 1st yr bird (#157) hopped atop the adult ♀ (245), both times sitting atop after briefly fluttering for but a short second, then hopping off. There was no vocalizations involved, but immediately after the first mount the 1st yr bird bobbed its head, as in a karrit-cut display, except without the karrit-cut. The adult ♀ did not reciprocate the event either time. 25 February 1650. Saw ♀ LB / yellow #157 in top of Plague tree. 1750. Watched at dusk, seeing ♀ 245 and an unwingstreamered ♀ who I think was #157. There are apparently only 3 birds here now, but it's not entirely clear which of the other 2 is gone (it is presumably ♀ PRW#156). Two of them (at least) roosted in the 1975 nest hole, however, where I will catch them tomorrow (I wish!). 1 March 1715. Watching. 1720. ♀ WnLW and 2nd bird over in the row of trees by the barn. 1725. Now ♀ LBRW / yellow [WS lost] plus 3rd bird in Plague at top. 1730. Just as I found ♂ [presumably #387] back in the

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Plaque Hastings Reservation (1 March) trees behind the barn a Cooper's laugh call rang out and an adult flew right through these trees coming from up Matrone Canyon somewhere. He did not get one of the wickers. 1732. Now all 3 birds are atop Plaque again, along with a Magpie (1-2 have been up here all along). The ♂ hopped up toward the one that remained, and temporarily appeared to get successfully rebuffed as he swung down to the underside of the branch just below the Magpie. Not to let the formidable size of the bird stop him, however, he quickly righted himself and jumped up to the Magpie, raising his neck feathers, and in a brief skirmish succeeded in having the Magpie fly off! 1537. The juv. ♂ (154) briefly walked up the limb to and mounted the adult ♀ (245) atop Plaque. After having driven off the Magpie, it seems odd to look at where the 2 ♀ still are in Plaque and see 2 Robins above them sitting unmolested — about where the Magpies had been. 1542. The Ad♂ just flew over to the Bluevale staging tree (up toward the hill toward MacRoberts) and was immediately greeted (and mounted?), no doubt by the ♂. 1545. The ♂, who is indeed unbanded, and the Ad♀ returned to Plaque tree; the ♂ took some acorn meat and flew to the top, where he eat it. 4 March 600. Finally ambushed, successfully getting 3 birds from the hole, but then having all except the adult ♀ escape as I brought the net down! She was weighed, etc. #156 is surely gone.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation 8 March 1115. ♀ LB-W/4el seen in tree 2, flying over to upper barn area. 9 March 1035. Some unusual activity was evident when I came to the saddle house, so I walked over to discover at least 6 birds here, some being chased. I first saw 2 of them up in the sycamore by the creek, they then flew to the 2° storage tree, where soon there were 56 birds at least. Only ♀LB-W/yel #157 (Plague) and ♂ub6 (intruder) were seen, though several other unbanded birds seemed to constitute the intruders. They then all disappeared uphill, returning at 1040. The intruding group is apparently noone I know. 1042. ♀ yel/m #245 eating acorn alone in 2° tree. 10 March Purge: #156, (juv♀), last seen on 22 January (caught roosting alone in '75 nest hole), gone by 16 February: Disappeared about 3 February 1976 +/- 1 week 15 March 1500. Counted stores: Plague: 478 Total: 485 2° tree: 7 Saw ♀157 over by the upper barns in the process. 1655. Both ♀♀ (157 and 245) sitting together up in the top of the sycamore at the creek; a 3rd was up in Plague, where the ♀♀ eventually flew to. 17 March 1630. All 3 birds (♀whlW#245, [illegible], ♀157, and ♂ub6) were up in the Plague tree doing some wake displaying while working stores. 22 March 840. ♀245 plus 3 others in 2° tree; I was being chased by the A♀.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plaque 8 April 1025. Watching. Several birds here. 1028. 2 88 atop Plaque with Starling. (1) 8 LBlue/yellow #157. 2nd flaw over to Sycamore by creek where she was greeted. 1033. 88W chased a bird who was in the lone tree above the labs; continued after it when it flew into main area. 1036. Unbanded 8 atop Plaque for a minute; looked furtive up until chasse being displaced by 8245 and (3) 8387. More birds around than there should be. Some Garricle calling, but not entirely clear who. 1041. All 3 group birds in sycamore at creek. An unknown bird still in upper tree toward MacRoberts. (a 8) 1045. 2 88 still in view. 1050. 8 in upper tree is 8 LGRW#162 from MacRoberts. 1630. Saw 8162 again in '75 nest area; then flew to sycamore, where one of the 8 landed above him. After balancing for a minute and reaching up and pulling off a couple of new sycamore leaves, which she dropped (displacement? or was she trying to hit him?), she finally displaced him from the tree. All 3 group birds were seen in Plaque a few minutes later; several Starlings are still making trouble here. 11 April 730. More intruders here. I saw 3 birds, including the 2 88, up in the Blue Oak next to the Hastings Cabin, while a 4th bird, a 8, was beant cutting by the Pump. A mounting was seen among the Plaque birds, apparently the juv 8 on the ad.8? (with the 8 about a foot away). A few minutes later the intruder flew toward the labs, and was vigorously chased. Later another mounting was seen, possibly with copulation, and possibly between a 8 and 8. Activity was at a high level [illegible] All 3 birds w in 1/2m of each other The mounting of the 8 provoked no perceptible reaction from the 8 whatsoever, who was facing the other direction.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes forficatus Plague Hastings Reservation (11 April) Throughout the time I was here. Birds were calling and flying around several more remote areas of the territory. I did not have my scope, however, so I left after 20 minutes or so. 1020. Unbanded picked catlein from top of Plague. Previously more chasing was taking place; possibly sexual inasmuch as QARLW was the chase! 1030. 9CB-w/yel drilling at acorn in main trunk of Plague. 8 still flying up to small twigs at top of Plague to get catleins. Perhaps not who he seems, as he occasionally kaas. 1035. An unbanded 8 is in tree 2; was seen checking out a small hole. This probably explains the kaas of the other birds; intruders are still here. 1039. Several birds flew to top of 2° tree and waka displays - 2 grappled together upon landing and fell a few feet to the ground. QARLW is here. 1040. I thought I'd seen this awhile back, but am sure now: atop the 2° tree were 298 (QARLW and 8ub); and 8ub. The unbanded 8 began peeking at 8wh, who assumed a submissive posture. The ub 8 proceeded to "mount" the resident and poke at her from her back until 8wh flew off. Meanwhile the 8 sat a foot above them unmoved. I will refrain from wild-eyed speculation concerning this one for awhile! [Previously (twice this morning, in fact) I'd seen 8wh in chases when she'd looked more pursued than pursuer. They apparently were real after all]. 9CB-w/yel still eating acorns along main trunk of Plague.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (11 April) 1100. leaving 1600. looking out of hole in telephone pole - planning on nesting here? 15 April 1730. Was outside the lab looking up at Plague when 2 birds flew suspiciously quickly and quietly into the trunk area. Just as suddenly 1 flew out and silently over to the telephone pole, where he zipped into the roost hole. A few seconds later the cause became apparent when a Cooper's Hawk (adult) flew out of Plague and up the canyon. 17 April 930. #245 involved at Y. See Y notes. 1300. Florence saw #245 here in home territory. I saw at least 2 unwings treamered birds (probably the other 2 group members), but some chasing was going on as well; the frenzy at Y is evidently carrying over to here to some extent. 18 April 1030. ♂162 from Mac Roberts was seen with another bird over in the lone tree toward Mac Roberts. Apparently there's considerable carry over from Y here, as there is lots of chasing, involving 8+ birds. Birds seen: ① ♂162 [MacRoberts] in lone tree only. ② ♀ ub. in central area. ③ ♀♀ 4/Y [Plague] Chasing intruders in main area [#15?] Two birds, #15? and one other, seem to be doing most of the chasing; those chased seem to be mostly unbanded ♀♀, of which there are several (4+ intruders altogether).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (18 April) 1045. Took a break to try and put the net up. By the time I got back, no birds were around, all activity being focused back at Y. $157 was sitting quietly in tree 2. 1055. Some birds back. $157 and $166 (presumed #387) up atop Plague together. $245 must be over at Y, as yesterday. 3rd bird, unringed ♀, in 2nd tree. 1100. Some chasing again; at least 4 birds here. Again, chased birds seem to be unringed ♀(♂). 1105. 2-3 intruders seen, all ♂♂. Apparently what is happening here is that the birds are "replacing" the adult ♂♂, who of course is not death, but at least temporarily involved over at Y. A second hypothesis would be that this is all related to the fighting which I saw here earlier in the month; the reason for the intrusions then of course being unknown. More likely, the raucous at Y has attracted many birds including $245, leaving these 2 birds alone. Some of the birds at Y wandered here, discovered the situation, and are now attempting to take advantage of it all. The outcome will no doubt depend on what $245 decides to do at the conclusion of the Y episode. 1110. Leaving. 1200. $245 is still at Y. Net up in Plague tree. Watching. 1205. $245 back home! Activity is down; though lots of greeting among the 3 Plague birds. A mounting was

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (18 April) Hastings Reservation seen involving #245 and the unringed ♂. 1208. ♀ 6 flew into Plague, threatened/displaced by juv ♀. Things are noticeably quieter just in the last 10 minutes (presumably since the adult ♀ returned) 1210. Some chasing continues, but most displaying is now waka's among the 3 group birds. 1214. Several intruders around, including at least one ♂. 1220. Activity still relatively low. #245 still here. Chases occurring conspicuously less frequently. 1228. Still one intruder around anyway, but things are reasonably quiet. 1230. Off to Y for a stint. 1445. Things seem relatively quiet here too by now. A ♀ is in the telephone pole hole, but besides that there are no other AW in evidence. Correction: ♀157 is sitting quietly atop the 2° tree. The bird in the ⚫ hole is no doubt ♀245. The ♀ just came out of the hole, followed by the ♂. Maybe they usually copulate in the nest hole after all. With the set up in Plague, I caught 2 birds, one an unringed ♀, now #262, at 1500, and ♀157 at 1540. The latter was processed and released quickly. The former had been in the net longer and was held overnight to recover. 19 April 830. All 3 group birds are atop Plague; a 4th bird (unringed ♂) is eating leaf/flower buds in 2° tree; a 5th bird is also possibly in the area. Fair amount of waka'ing going on,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (19 April) some squire (begging as well (source?) 839. One of the ♂ displaced/threatened the other, presumably the intruder. The former greets the 2 ♀ normally, 840. An AW called up by Hastings cottage; hid for 15 seconds while karnit cutting several times, then flew off toward MacRoberts. 845. Are 2-3 intruders here now, apparently all ♂. Birds now in sycamores and live oaks at creek. 850. There are still 1-2 extra birds here, and a low but regular series of displacements takes place. But in general most interactions are positive, among the 3 group members. The extra ♂ are rather peripheral to the entire business. 900. More of the above. My guess is that no permanent changes in the hard core group are imminent, though it's always possible that one of the odd ♂ might make it eventually. 20 April Lots of activity and birds here all day, but I didn't watch today. 21 April Saw the 2 ♀ in passing. I watched for awhile in the mid afternoon sans scope, and though the birds were flying around alot I didn't see any chasing or evidence of intruders. One thing, though, was that the birds clearly seemed to be sapsucking in the tree by the lab near the '75 nest hole. 22 April 900. Finally released ♀262, whose powers of flight now seem normal. She flew to the creek area, and was soon

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (22 April) investigated by the other birds present. 1750. $157 atop of Plague alone. 27 April 1710. $245 seen sitting in Plague tree. 4 May 1035. On hill watching. None here at the moment. 1045. $unning now in Plague. Flew to sycamores by creek. 1048. All 3 ($245, $157, $ub) in sycamor; $245 flew to Plague to displace $unning (intruder), who flew over to the 2° storage tree before disappearing. 1105. Birds are moved up the East gulch a short ways, apparently dealing with an intruder, among other things. 1105. leaving. 5 May All 3 birds are roosting in the telephone pole. 6 May Having set up to ambush to pole, the birds roosted in the '75 nest hole. 7 May Birds roosted in '75 nest hole again (all 3). Lots of pre-roost mounting beforehand. 8 May $245 seen again at dusk. Only one bird roosted in '75 nest hole- others up the gulch somewhere, apparently. 9 May 1535. $245 and the $ are in that dead tree about 100m. up the gulch on the Red Hill side. ✓ 11 May 1200. Counted stores: $245 (all in Plague). 12 May 1040. $245 and $ub atop Plague. 19 May 1100. Bird in '75 nest hole by labs: could be a nest. Bird seen in this hole every time I checked during the day (about 3 times). 21 May 1500. I went up and opened the nest, which is about 6" deep than last year, and found an incredible 7 eggs! -? 60 to P.13.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plaque Nest Record 19 May Bird first seen in hole 21 May 1500. Nest opened: 7 eggs (!) ① 20.1 × 15.6 ⑤ 25.9 × 19.6 5.1gm ② 25.0 × 19.5 ⑥ 25.9 × 20.3 5.2gm ③ 26.1 × 18.9 ⑦ 25.3 5.0gm ④ 26.4 × 19.7 ⑧ 25.5 × 19.7 5.2gm 25 May Estimated hatching date 30 May 1300. Nest checked: 3 babies, 1 unhatched egg, no trace of anything else [egg removed] [5] 30 May 1300 22.5 ① Manuel R ⑦ Pink L ③ 12/23 15.1 10/19 8.9 9/12 [10] 4 June 1645 44.0 ② 25.9 - 18/39 10/44 38/28 74.2 [23] 19 June 1600 68.8 ③ 105/69 - 10/44 41/29 → fed by me to 93.7gm [26] 20 June 1400 66.5 ④ 106/73 - [27] 22 June 1930 56.0gm Dead in nest. 106/73 Hastings Reservation

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 13 Melanerpes fornicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (21 May) One was a dwarf, but the other six were all quite healthy looking and already opaque. Unfortunately there are not 2 good sets of different-sized eggs, but it would seem fairly sure that both ♀♀ have contributed - incredible given that ① the first ♀ is new ② the 2nd is a 2nd-year bird and ③ there is only one ♂ in the group. Of interest, however, is that the 2nd-year bird is not the offspring of either of the 2 adults - potentially an important facet of the circumstance. In any case, this is the best evidence to date for ① potential breedability of 2nd-year birds and ② lack of "pairing" among group members. Pretty incredible! Especially considering the size of that limb! 23 May 1115.3 birds atop Plague: 2 ♂♂ (1 unring) and ♀157. Both ♂♂ flushed to the lone Blue Oak; I don't know what their story is! (Possibly neither was the Adult ♂ that lives here). 1120. All 3 group birds meeting each other atop Plague: ♀157, ♀245, ♂ub. 1122. leaving. 25 May 1830. 1-2 birds getting chased and displaced from the 2nd tree by at least an unringed ♂ and ♀245. One of the intruders had heavy tail spotting - probably a 2nd-yr bird. 26 May Heard nestling sounds coming from the nest at 1730. 30 May 1230 ♀245 seen going to feed nestlings. I went up and checked the nest, discovering only 3 nestlings and one unhatched

No text detected

1976 WalforD.Koenig Melanerpes fomiceivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (30 May) egg, which was opaque but not ivory and was removed. Two of the 3 looked alright; the 3rd was very thin. Evidently 6-7 young was too much for this nest. Also possible is that none of the eggs laid by the 2nd-yr. & were fertile. 4 June 1645. Debbie Cox opened nest and took out the babies for me to measure. Only 2 are left; their eyes are not quite open. 6 June 1200. All 3 birds seen here; earlier Pepper Trail also saw 283, both of whom were probably intruders. He also saw one of the resident birds eating tearing apart and apparent eating sycamore buds, which are still coming out by the creek. 1207. & in nesthole. 1210. All birds are going heavy on the acorns, flying from the nest to the storage area and immediately beginning to drill at acorns stored there. It's another rather cool day, and the usual plethora of flying gooties are notably non-existent. Checking the storage trees, I discover that the stores are indeed on their last legs - only a very few remain, mostly low in Plague tree (the low snag). 7 June 900. Looked around and was able to come up with a total of 8 stored acorns. There are probably bits stuck elsewhere, but clearly things are getting rough. 17 June 1030. ?15? in telephone pole. 18 June 1630. 2 stores found. &ub seen well in Plague tree. 19 June 1600. Banded and bled the 1 remaining bird, #306. 20 June Mark Jenkins found the adult ?245 dead beneath Plague this morning. I put her up as #191. See below.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus Plague Hasting Reservation (20 June) Being now rather concerned about the remaining kid, I opened the nest to find him weighing 2 gm less than yesterday and voraciously hungry. To be sure he lasts until I can watch to see who, if anyone, is still feeding him I stuffed him with 7.7 gm of dog food and water, hopefully enough to pull him through until late tomorrow. A brief walk around the territory produced no wickers anywhere to bolster confidence in the group's fate. 22 June 1730. The baby is dead. As I walked back to the lab, I heard a bird over by the upper barn, however. Nonetheless, the loss of the adult female clearly spelled the doom of the nest. 1945. Watching. 1953. Cub atop Plague. 2000. Walked down to Blue Oaks in nest area, flushing 157 out of the sap area. Evidently both birds are here intact; either the sap was not good enough to allow feeding of the kid or they just were not interested enough to keep the nest going by themselves. 24 June Birds are roosting in the 20 storage tree. 810. 157 in Valley Oak just up from the bunkhouse most likely capsucking. Earlier, considerable hawk ing had been going on in the area. Cub seen atop Plague tree a few minutes later. 10 July 1600. I passed by the bunkhouse on the way to the lab and saw the 2 birds here up in the Live Oak just over the bunkhouse where they were clearly sap sucking. 16 July 1500. Birds sap sucking above bunkhouse again. Re: 245. MalRaff's autopsy revealed no obvious mortal

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (16 July) difficulties. Thus the only strange circumstance surrounding the carcass remains the beetle lodged (stuck?) underneath her tongue. She did not, however, starve, and why would this have caused her to run into a limb? 20 July 1250. About 3 times as many birds here as there should be, including juveniles. ①♀LB-W/ye1#157 (Plague). ②♂ub just Garricked in Plague; also some drumming taking place. Several banded birds here. ①157 is flying back and forth but merely looks rather bewildered; is not chasing anybody. 1310. About 8 birds here; some good chases but all in all not too hectic, though there is lots of wake greeting and occasion Garricks and a high level of activity. ①157 seems to be greeting birds, not chasing them nor being chased. Some banded birds: ②♂ DB-Red/GrorLP #22 (formerly of Y)!! ③♀ DB-light/DB [?] [#193 School Hill (?)] What begging I've seen so far has all been submissive behavior by adults; no confident juveniles seen as yet. 1315. Activity seems to be increasing. Lots of unwary ⑧♂; more chasing; one bird Garrickering constantly. 1330. Put net up in Plague tree. 1340. Back. Birds are in sap tree above bunkhouse (!) 1350. Birds are flying down to the sap tree; only 3-5 are out in the open at any one time. ①157 still conspicuous in her rush to wake at everybody. She is primarily in the 2nd tree. 1355. ⑧22 just displaced a bird, ①157 I think, in the 2nd tree. 1400. Several birds just flew up towards MacRoberts. 1403. ⑧22 and ①157 together in the telephone pole now.

No text detected

1976 Walter F.D. Koenig 17 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (20 July) 1410. The above 2 seem to be the only major banded birds around; most others are unringed. The 2 banded birds also seem to be hanging around together more than randomly. Right now only 5-6 birds are active outside the sap area; chasing is not great nor is activity extraordinarily high. 1415. Some chasing again. 1418. $157 remains notable in that she seems to rush off and wakes greet any bird (who is almost always a ♀) that lands in the 20 tree, where she almost exclusively is staying. 1420. I caught a bird: ♂ DB-LP/DB 812-35735/LP#193 from School Hill 1445. $193 let loose. Generally high level of activity present still. 1455. Just caught another bird. An unringed ♀, now #313. 1530. Put a 2nd net up. Caught an unringed ♀, #314. 1630. Caught a 2nd unringed ♂, #315. 1715. All birds released. Things are quite quiet outside now. 1830. Watching irregularly, very few birds had been around during the last hour. Suddenly 4 appeared and after some brief commotion and fighting flew to the sap tree. 1848. $157 in Locusts by the bunkhouse; others still in Live Oak sap tree 1850. 2 birds in 20 tree; others by bunkhouse. 1900. Birds are engaged in heavy sapsucking over there; there is not a whole lot of activity and they are virtually invisible. I'm off (nets will remain for now). No more birds had been caught by the time I took the nets down at 2030. At dusk, I only saw/heard 2 birds; the others had all apparently gone home.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Milanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (20 July) This entire episode was very interesting particularly considering that there are no acorns stored here anymore: the only bird I saw eat what may have been an acorn had just flown in from off somewhere and had most likely brought it with him. Thus, for the first time, a territory was being invaded by numerous outsiders who could not draw on the home groups stores to maintain themselves, and as a result the entire interaction was considerably toned down by the necessity for a steady flow of birds to go sapsucke by the bunkhouse or possibly return to their home groups temporarily. The inter-individual inter- actions were rather ambiguous and provided no other clear cue for the raison d'etre. The 2nd year (resident) ♀ was certainly not cold-toward any of the numerous ♂♂ that were here; unfortunately we don't know what's up with the (former) adult ♂ here. But the invasion was definitely skewed toward the ♂♂, and most fighting seemed to be among themselves. The ♂♂ here (♀1973 from School Hill plus one that I caught) seemed to be peripheral in their activities here at best. Unfortunately only 1 of the ♂♂ was apparently initially banded (822), but he, of course, is an excellent find inasmuch as he is apparently a floater, still looking for a group since he left Y after the 17-18 April Revolution there. Perhaps he has found a place; if so, and only if so, I will be able to say for certain that the adult ♂ here was replaced. Interestingly enough, most everybody seems to have returned "home" at dusk to roost; it will be nice to see when/if they return early tomorrow before I leave.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation 21 July 715. One bird flew to Plague from the bunkhouse a minute ago; otherwise all is calm and quiet. 720. 9157 drilling alone in telephone pole. 725. Now 9157 preening peacefully atop the 2nd tree. 735. 822 flew up to top of Plague; 9157 immediately flew in to greet him. A 3rd bird also flew here from the bunkhouse. The 8 and this 3rd bird then flew down to the sap area, where they greeted at least a 4th bird. 741. 822 back preening in Plague; again greeted by 9157. 745. 8ub flew up to Plague from bunkhouse and is now sitting next to 822. No antagonism between them, nor did they greet each other overtly. 800. No change. 888 still quietly atop Plague; others silently sapsucking. Leaving. My guess is that after a necessarily slow start due to birds sapsucking to fill up after the night that activity will again pick up and eventually get to a fairly high level in the afternoon. Rocky reports relatively little activity here after I left, or on succeeding days 25 July 1550. Nothing here at the moment. 1600. A bird just flew up atop Plague, then to the sap area, where he greeted a 2nd bird at least. 1603. 822 just pulled same maneuvers as the above bird. 1606. At least 2 birds by the bunkhouse now. 1620. Going to take care of my bread. 1645. Back. 9157 hawking for several minutes before returning to sap area. Apparently 3 birds here.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 20 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (25 July) 1720.leaving again. 30 July 1105. 2 birds atop Plague: ♂♀ub. 1110. All seem to have moved to canyon up behind the upper barn. 1130. ♀157 eating an acorn (green, I presume), in 2º tree. 1140. Birds back above bunkhouse. 1215. ♂22 in the Live Oak sapsucking with the other(s). Looks like 3 birds here now; ♂22 being the only apparent addition from the festivities last week. Later, while at the labs, I saw at least 3, but possibly 4 birds fly from the Plague area up to the upper barn. 2 August Rocky Cautierrez reports watching a Cooper Hawk swoop upon and "most likely" catching a woodpecker up at his house this evening. Apparently, the wicker was 4 feet away with 100 feet to go to cover. 4 August 1300. They're back at it here again. At least 6+ birds are here & chasing, garrickling, drumming, and making a lot of noise. Watching for 30 minutes or so, I picked out (1)♀(bird)/yel #157, (2)♂22, (3)♂sp/ub-w #191 (2nd-yr.♂ from School Hill), (4)♀w/dp-yel#314 (banded here on 20 July), and (5)♂ub. A ♂ub was especially noisy, garrickling and drumming in Plague for 5 minutes. I put the net up and went out for lunch. 1500. Caught 2 birds: ♀191 and ♂ub, now #316. Still lots of activity, though slightly less than earlier. 1645. Birds up above Upper Barn; nobody in view here. 1655. One bird just flew from the 2º tree up Matrona Canyon at least as far as Buckeye (!) Another just went to the sap area above the bunkhouse. 1710. ♂22 and a 2nd bird (♀157) now atop Plague.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 21 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (4 August) 1720. Things have definitely come to a standstill. The few birds that are still here are sapsucking in the usual areas. 1923. 8'22 back atop Plague. ♀157 joined. Then flew to sap area, where there apparently is at least a 3rd bird. 1730. leaving. 5 August 845. ♀157 in Plague; others in the area, but not a lot of activity. 850. Birds have gone to Blue Oak up between labs/MacRoberts. 4-5 birds probably here altogether. 855. 8'22, ♀141, one other atop Plague; at least 2 others in Live Oak above bunkhouse. 900. Are more like 8-10 birds in the vicinity, including at least one unrang juvenile. ♀157 and 8'22 are together much of the time. Some chasing is taking place, but at any one time most/many of the birds are about the bunkhouse sapsucking. 915. 8'6 Garrickling in Plague. There remains a steady flow of birds into/out of the sap tree. Going to put up net, 1000. Caught ♀157. See her capture sheet for strange tail molt. 1040. Back on hill. A fair amount of activity, mostly greetings. 5-6 birds in evidence. 1046. 7 birds together atop Plague briefly. At least one 8'6. 1052. 8'6 in 2nd tree picked 2 green acorns (rather small) all the while garrickling rather muntedly. 1055. ♀157 and 8'22 both getting at some green acorns in 2nd tree. 1102. 8'22 and a Garrickling 8'6 atop Plague. 1105. Now atop Plague: 8'22, ♀157, 8'6, 8'6. 8'6 threatened 8'6 who flew off. 1120. At least a 2nd 8'6 seen (one threatening the other).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (5 August) 1125. Several birds still in sap area; even an occasional hawkery flight seen. 1130. 822 threatening and chasing an cub 8. 1135. 915? in some good scraps with 946 at the pump house; 822 there also along with a 4th bird. @ 1145. Leaving 1400. Caught a bird: 9 now #317. 1845. Things are quiet here indeed. 2, maybe 3 birds are [illegible] in the sap area above the bunkhouse; otherwise all is slow. Ruth was in front of the Plague tree causing her usual problems. Some calling was heard from the upper barn. I took the net down. 7 August 1600. 3 birds (at least) sapsucking above the bunkhouse. 822 seen among them. No excessive activity noted here today. 9 August 1920. Cub flew from sap area up to the top of Plague, where he's sitting by himself. 1905. At least 2 birds in sap area above bunkhouse. @822; 1910. 822 up there alone at the moment, sapsucking. 1912. 915? landed, the two birds giving rather muted wales to greet each other. By the time I saw them several seconds later, 822 was peeking at the 9, while she turned away and tried to move down the limb away from him but did not give any vocalizations. She continued to move away from him as best she could, stopping to sapsuck at several holes only to be forced away before she finally was left alone. She left the vicinity soon thereafter, however. 1914. 822 up here alone again sapsucking like crazy. 1925. There are now 3 birds sapsucking: 822 remains

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 23 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (9 August) in the lower area; also present is #157, who arrived and repeated the earlier performance with #22, and a 2nd δ, presumably unring, who was not molested and was higher in the tree. The δ again got pursued out of the lower area where the δ is concentrating and was last seen sapsucking on the smaller limbs in the upper section of the tree, above the main area being usurped by #22. 17 August 1145. δ in sap tree sitting; chased a Nuthatch. 1153. #157 here sapsucking now; δ not in evidence. 1155. δ returned; soft wake given by δ; no direct interaction. 20 August 1800. #157 and δub seen sapsucking in the Live Oak above the labs. A storage limb has fallen from Plague tree, losing about 150 holes. 21 August 1730. #22 and a δ atop Plague; #22 eating a green acorn. 915. Birds are next to the upper barn and past it up Chongo. 924. #157 and a 2nd bird (landed at) the 2º tree. 933. A bird (δub?) landing in 2º tree was displaced. 942. 3 birds just flew from the barn up Chongo; a 4th, again no doubt an intruder, had just headed up beyond the Hastings cabin 1005. Several ub birds found above barn; eating green acorns. 1012. Some of these extra birds may very well be Buckeye birds, as I've seen them fly up and off towards that group. 1018. A little chasing going on here. 3 September 1630. δub and a 2nd bird in 2º tree; 2nd bird with a big green acorn. Both flew to forest by upper barn, where there was at least a third bird. 1637. #157 by upper barn preening. 1850. An ub δ is in the tree just past the woodpile: are these Buckeye birds? 1659. There are now 2 ub δs by the upper barn together.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 24 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (3 September) 1976. There are other calls coming from the lower edge of Red Hill - clearly many birds are in this vicinity getting acorns. 4 September 1530. ♀️ / or #22 and a ♂️ briefly in 2º tree; birds come here occasionally (in this case the ♂️ was eating a green acorn), but are otherwise spending their time in the forest just up Chongo with the other foreign birds, where all are getting green acorns. 7 September 1130. ♀️157 atop 2º tree. 11 September 1330. ♂️22 atop Plague tree. ♀️157 and ♂️ub near upper barn, ♂️ busy eating a green acorn. 17 September 1800. ♂️22 atop 2º tree with the ♂️; a 3rd bird by upper barn. Meanwhile, 2 birds (1 a ♀️, the other a ub ♂️) were up between Red - the Hastings cabin and the water tank; their affinities are unknown. 28 September 1800. ♀️157 and a ♂️ in 2º tree; a 2nd ♂️ in the roost hole of the telephone pole. I was unable to find any stored acorns. 4 October Noticed that the rotten limb used as a nest last year and this year in the Blue Oak by the labs broke off, no doubt during last week's storm. 8 October 1045. All 3 birds were around here, storing, hawking, and trying to keep Magpies out of the granaries. ♀️LB/LB #22 seen, Also ♂️LB-ub/ub #157. To get a vague idea of maximum storage rates, I counted again, 10 days following the 28 Sept. check revealing no acorns: Plague tree: 280; 2º tree: 41; tel pole: 10; TOTAL: 331, or 33/day, or 11 acorns/bird/day. (Certainly not unbelievably high!) 10 October 1130. ♂️22 hawking atop Plague. Storing going on also.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 25 Melanerpes formicivorus Plagues Hastings Reservation 15 October 900. All 3 birds are here in the 2° tree frantically but futilely attempting to keep the Scrub Jays, of which there are about 8 at any one time, from stealing acorns still in on the tree. 1000. I watched the storage tree (2° tree) counting the number of flights made out of the tree by Jays, Crows, and Magpies. These birds were only rarely seen leaving without an acorn in their bills. The woodpeckers were here attempting a defense, but I have the not up to see, perhaps, what happens without them later on. Real Time Scrub Jay Magpie Crow 1000-1015 (15min) 89 (2 possibly (unsuccessful) 1 2 1015-1030 (15min) 136 1 0 1030-1045* (15min) 90 0 0 *822 caught at 1036 in net. No AW chasing from then on. 2 Scrub Jays caught also. 1130-1145* (15min) 69 0 0 *Woodpeckers did not chase at all; apparently they've more or less given up. 1145-1200* (15min) 24 0 0 *No jays at all here for first 10 minutes. Then they and the woodpeckers both came. 1200-1215* (15min) 54 0 0 *Woodpeckers were in the tree a small percentage of the time, but were harvesting/storing acorns, not chasing the jays. 1430-1445* (15min) 22 0 1 1445-1500* (15min) 16 0 1

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 26 Milanerpes formicivorus Plaque (15 October) *Woodpeckers rarely in 2° tree. Nuttatch also seen carrying away a [smallish] acorn harvested here. 1500-1515* (15 min.) 27 *No chasing by the woodpeckers again. Clearly the woodpeckers don't stand a chance when it comes to competing with the jays under these circumstances: that is, a very concentrated area of food. I might add that a similar level of jay harvesting by jays was first noticed yesterday morning; clearly after only 2 days of this they must have harvested several thousand acorns from this one tree. 16 October Day activity is definitely down finally. One 15 min watch was done: Jays Nuttatch 1145-1200* (15 min) 8 1 *The woodpeckers were in the vicinity some of the time, mostly hawking, which they never did yesterday. 26 October 1200. Counted stores: Main Tree [Plaque]: (10+7/6)? 11.59 2nd tree: 31 9 November 1510. 2-3 birds here. ♀ or #22 seen. 21 November 1000. The 2 banded birds up in top of the 2° storage tree. 1145. Only the 2 banded birds seen sitting around. Woist dordreiste? 6 December 1645. Both banded birds seen; ♀ first seen in a sycamore up Madrone Canyon. While watching these 2 together a 3rd bird (♂ub) flew from Plaque (?) to the trees by the upper barn; I presume this to have been the ub ♀, but he behaved slightly furtive and perhaps was someone else. If so, the 3rd bird may very well be gone.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation 9 December Counted stores: Plague tree: 1135 2° tree: 102 Tel pole: 50 (over half as halves incervices) Barn: 4 Total 1291 10 December 1600. #157 plus a ♂ flushed from Plague. No 3rd bird seemed to be in the vicinity. 17 December 1620. An unbanded ♂ flushed from the 2° tree and flew over to the trees in the row by the upper barn. Apparently he does still exist. 18 December 1130. Several birds in Plague; since there was no vocalizing I figured they were Plague birds, but closer examination over the next several minutes revealed otherwise. Seen was first ♀ R-w-B/M #170 from Lower Haystack, who was accompanied by ♀WHRW#308 also from (Hay (1st yr), Also here was ♀DBlue-LP/DB#193 from School Hill. All these birds were being displaced now and again, but none vocalized at all (!) and it wasn't even clear whether other intruders were chasing themselves, or whether the residents were (eventually #157 and ♂22 were seen together atop Plague). By 1150 only these 2 apparently remained, the others having left, again silently.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation 25 January 1315. j♂O+RW#164 was in the storage tree; ♂ub and ♀ub were seen in the vicinity a few minutes later. 28 January 1030. j♂LRW#162 plus a ♀ were in the storage tree when I arrived. Checking the marked acorns, I found 44/70, of which 6 had been moved. The acorn count was 1078. 25 February Watched 1545-1620. Only an unbanded ♂ and ♀ showed up, presumably the 2 adults. Otherwise they disappeared over onto Blonquist, leaving the overall activity level low deed. 1 March 1500. 2 birds seen here again only. I was an unwing- streamered ♂. 3 March 1015. Watching from hide ♂ub over in perch tree to right of storage tree sitting 1027. ♂LRW #162 now in same tree, ♀ not seen. 1025. ♂ flew over to storage tree; sitting. 1028. ♂♂ub and ♂♀ both came to storage tree; jawaled with jw. seen. Birds getting acorn bits and eating them now. 1032. Adults gone, only ♂ remains sitting in storage tree. 1050. ♂ returned to eat some more acorn bits. ♂♂ still here. 1054. Both adults are now eating acorns in a snag in a tree the the left of the storage tree (the one just over on Hastings about 30 meters left (~SE) of storage tree along fence line. I stayed until 1200, during which time the birds returned to the storage tree twice, at 1130 and 1155. All 3 were seen several more times. Unfortunately I'd say that the prospects for either 163 or 164 look very poor.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation (3 March) See journal for more comments. 9 March 1330. Flushed ⚫JLRW#162 and another unwingstreamered bird when I came up to move the hide. 16 March 1045. 2 birds flushed when I came to count stores: 1085 (!). Only the ones formerly stuffed into cracks in in bark seem to have been notably diminished. 8 April 8LRW(Or dot)#162 at Plague. See Plague notes. 1100. 8ub.30 in storage area; greeted another bird when flushed. 1630.#162 seen at Plague again. Displaced first by a Magpie near one's nest near the labs, then by one of the woodpeckers in the sycamore by the creek. 17 April ♂162 involved at Y. See Y notes 18 April 1000. ♂162 seen at Plague. See Plague note. 19 April 1015. ♂162 flushed from home area near storage tree. 1-2 other birds flycatching up the canyon in vicinity of '75 nest and beyond. 1022. Both unring adults (♂/♀) came to storage tree; & then flew toward Y along fence to chase an intruder in the next tree. One minute later ♂162 joined them in storage area. 1024. AW, apparently the intruder, suddenly took off from the tree near me and flew down over the road past Griffin's house and app 2/3 up the hill separating Griffin's from Davis! Acorns still remain here. 1030. These 3 seem to be it. Obviously none incubating yet (unless a 4th bird is present). The other 2 juveniles are no longer long gone. Things seem relatively normal here.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation (19 April) Purge: ♀163. Last seen 9 Dec.'75, gone by 25 Feb.'76 → Dis. About 17 Jan. ± 1 month ♂164. Last seen 25 Jan '76, gone by 25 Feb.'76 → Disappeared ~10 Feb. ± 2 wks 3 May 1045. A running in main storage tree tending and eating acorns. 1055. A♂ here now too. ♂ flying and sitting in storage tree and a tree over toward the barn along the fence line. 1059. A 3rd bird joined them in the trees near the storage tree; it begged and was probably the 1st-year bird. In addition, a bird is being chased, a ♀ (unrung, I think), who stayed around for several minutes and then flew off toward Plague. 1112. ♂CWR#162 came to storage tree, ♀, who had been sitting there, immediately took off down into Blonquist's in the same direction the young bird had come. I'm off to see what's down there. 1140. ♂ in storage tree flycatching. 10 May 1930. Nobody in known holes (but a Kestrel is nesting in a large hole in their '75 nest tree [different hole than they used]). 11 May 1130. All 3 birds hawkling from storage tree. ♂ A♂ub. ♂CWR#162. ♀166. Watching for trip to a nest. 1200. ♀ went into the gulch out of sight; going to investigate. 14 May 1550. Nobody here. 1605. Still nobody. Going to check holes. 1615. One bird (♂) in storage tree as I walked back. He flew next door, and his karrit-cuts brought the 2 other birds. 21 May 1230. Checked holes and counted stores: 906. Saw nobody, but heard one karrit-cut from down over on Blonquist's. 1250. Sitting near the storage tree, an unrung ♀ came and landed in it, but then flew off towards Blonquist Knoll to greet a bird who had Garricked.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation 24 May 1310. At MacRoberts on Blanquist side. 8162 in storage area; greeting another bird a minute ago. 1313. 9 with him now. 1320. Both flew down and out of sight. 1325. 1-2 birds back in vicinity of storage tree. 1340. 9 in storage tree, flew over to the hole in main trunk, I think. Flew away before I could walk over and check. That could be it, but clearly if so it's still only a thought in their minds. I never did see the 8, however- maybe he's already in the nest somewhere. In any case, there was no indication that they are going to nest way up where they did last year again. All the activity I saw was near the fence line from the storage tree toward the barn maybe 60-70 meters. 26 May 1500. Watching 1520. A couple birds finally appeared, 8162 one of them. Watched them sit and preen, but still no interest in any holes that I know of. 1540. Intruder displaced from area near storage tree by 8162, who gave several fervent barrit-cuts. The intruder is a 8, and the calls brought the other 2 birds to the area (from up the canyon?) to continue and escalate the defense. 1545. Intruder gone, me going. 30 May 1630-1700. Sat on hill and watched storage area. At 1650 8162 flew from the storage tree and sat nearby, then apparently returned, but not to a hole, which I shall now go and check. While walking to the knoll, one bird (8) was sitting in a tree there who flushed toward MacRoberts. No hole here though.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes forficivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation 4 June 825. Flushed one bird from the storage tree, who flew and landed silently somewhere in the forest between there and the knoll. Now watching from the hill. 837. Pub in storage tree pecking at holes. 839. 9 flew to blue oaks just toward knoll, greeting another bird. 841. 9 162 in storage tree hawking. Pub here hawking also. 842. Both gone. 855. Both back again 915. Now both gone into forest again. 925. My distinct impression is that the patterns shown here indicate that this group is not breeding, and the reason is that the adult 9 is gone, having left only the adult 9 and her son from last year, a pairing which I suspect is non-viable. Activity is clearly being split between the storage tree and the mostly uncharted forest between there and Blon Knoll, a small but hard to watch area without holes to my knowledge. In any case, both birds show up, often simultaneously, at the storage area to flycatch or sit and there is no indication that they are saving what they catch or taking it anywhere in particular; surely incubation is not in progress unless, of course, that's where the 9 has been the last several weeks. 8 June 930. Watching 935. Some calls heard. 937. 9 came to storage tree briefly to chase away a Mourning Dove, then flew down into forest toward Blon Knoll. 950. Pub in storage tree again; moved acorn, then began hawking. 1000-1030. Pub in storage tree, mostly sitting and preening. A 2nd bird heard. She seemed in no hurry to feed anybody or get anywhere.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation 13 June 1215. 8LRW#162 hawking in main storage tree when I arrived. Pub arrived in tree a little later. 1240. Been watching 8162 in tree toward barn hawk for some time. Finally disappeared, now going to look in the area. Found the 2 birds over on Blonquist's, where they were sitting around and apparently not near any holes that I knew of. A kearnit-cut by 8162 when he saw me drew only the unmong &; the adult & is certainly gone - Purge: (see 5 August) see 17 Feb 1977 8310. Last seen 26 May (all'3 birds seen then), gone by 4 June → Disappeared about 31 May 1976. 18 June 1640-1710. Sat and watched. About 1650 the & came to the area next to the storage tree, where she sat alert and preened the entire time to 1708. At that point she kearnit-cutted twice and flew to another perch, where she sat until I went to count stores. Stores: 709 2 July 915. 8162 sitting atop storage tree when I arrived. Watching. 920. Pub now eating acorn in storage tree. 925. & sitting. 928. Possibly chased a bird (silently) who flew way down to Blonquist Field (but it may have been her). 935. & back alone. 945. Leaving. & still here. 25 July 1915. Counted stores: 196. Heard 2 birds down in the woodland on Blonquist's. 5 August 1145. Pub eating acorn in storage tree, acting slightly frantic (but very possibly because of me). A & nearby 1202. 2 birds back together in the granary; Pub one of them.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation (5 August) 1205. 8ub in storage tree; 3rd #162 below him (ws gone). 8ub landed and greeted 8ub. 1215. leaving. Looks like either the adult 8 has been replaced or that I've been too hasty in deleting him; unfortunately in lack of more convincing evidence otherwise I suspect I'll be stuck taking the conservative route and assuming the latter. 1 September 1110. No stores remain, but there were 2 nice (big green acorns in the tree recently stored, but already eaten as well. No birds seen. 11 September 1400. Within a minute of my arrival 4 (!) birds were all peacefully coexistent in the storage tree, 288 and 299. 1412. 299, both ub as far as I can tell, in storage tree now. One just chased off an intruder who landed in the tree briefly. 1418. 8ub here now preening. 1450. Both 88 atop granary; 8 just landed with green acorn. Have seen only 18 consistently since 1400. 1570. A 3rd 88 was just displaced by one of the 2 already there. ADD: 8458. First seen as adult at MacRoberts 11 September. 8162 not seen, but "presumably" is the 2nd 8 here at 1400. 1515. [illegible]. The ub 8 landed in the granary and between several hawkling flights displaced/chased both the 88 here! He did this again after a few minutes. By 1520, he alone was in the granary, while the 88 were still nearby but no longer in the same tree. 1525. One of the 88 returned soon after the 8 left. 1530. Leaving. 12 September 1015. In hide watching with net up. 1022. 8ub landed in granary. see 17 Feb 1977

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation (12 September) 1025. 3 birds here suddenly; one ♂ & doing some chasing again. 1045. A bird just landed in the granary with a big green acorn. 1105. ♂ub eating acorn next to granary 1120. 2nd ♂ub ♀♀ in the vicinity; both in the granary for a short time 1145. Leaving. I need a net on the other side of the tree! 15 September 1000. 4 [illegible] (maybe 5) birds here; one getting chased. ♀ eating a green acorn. At least 2♀♀ harmoniously in granary. 1200. Nets up. 1345. 1 ♂ub ♀ in net →#318. 28 September No stored acorns; no birds. In fact, is there a group still in residence here at all? 9 October 1815. Flushed a bird from here when I came to check 1840. Leaving; I did find two good newly-stored acorns, so perhaps somebody is still living here after all. 10 October 1630. Watching from hide. Nobody flushed on arrival. 1705. Wowee - a ♂ arrived and began drilling at an acorn in the granary This a ♂ub. 2nd bird now calling maybe...? 1912. The ♂ sitting quietly surveying the area now after having [illegible] cutted for several minutes, without response. 1715. The ♂ has left. 1730. Leaving - but somebody apparently lives here - Clearly, however, the events occurring here in the last month or so need some reevaluation. 1735. No sooner said than some [illegible] cutting revealed the presence of a bird again, who flew to the granary, still calling, and was a ♂ub. 1750. The ♀, after sitting here looking for the last 10 minutes,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation (10 October) took off, first flying to the large ValleyOak North of the storage free on Blokquist's and then continuing north from there into unexplored territory. Maybe nobody lives here after all and these birds are merely checking the place out? 15 October Florence watched here, seeing the 2 unbanded birds and ♀176 (from Hay Blom); see her notes. 19 October 830. 3 birds flushed from near the granary to the N perch tree; one possibly was "unacceptable" as a lot of karrit-cutting commenced when all 3 were in the same tree. 26 October 1430. Counted stores: 36. Not much, but definitely something. Apparently the 2 birds are still here, but taking a tough time of it. 27 October Florence watched for 1½ hrs this morning, seeing none. 4 November Florence reports 4 birds seen here today. 9 November 1530. ♂ub in granary. 1540. ♀ub now here working stores. 1545. ♀ub still here preening. 1546. A bout of wakas by the ♀ preceded the arrival of 1, then a 2nd ub ♂. One of these ♂ was clearly both dominant and rather intolerant of the 2nd, and for the next 2 minutes walked after the first, pecking him maliciously and even jumping on his back to peck him while the latter bird persistently assumed a submissive posture and tried, unsuccessfully, to keep ahead of the attacker. The ♀ left and had nothing to do with this at all. After the 2 minutes, both sat up near the top for a few seconds before the dominant bird flew down, perhaps to greet the ♀. A minute or so later, the ♀ flew up to the top

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 10 MacRoberts Hastings Reservation (9 November) and was greeted with a full opened-winged walk by the subordinate ♂. Seconds later the other ♂ flew up as well and proceeded to pick up where he left off. The subordinate bird did not leave, however. Perhaps this is how such an entry into a group can be achieved - a ♂, for example, may under some circumstances be accepted if he fully and clearly understands that he is a subordinate 1600. Leaving, to return at dusk. At dusk only 2 birds were present, a ♂ and ♀. The ♀ disappeared rather early, leaving the ♂ on the granary, where he mostly flew hawked (probably for the oak moths). At roost time he headed over my head directly toward Chongo gulch, where I lost him. This is probably the same hole where they were seen going by us in September. But wow - when I lost him he was near the path leading around the hill that I take toward Chongo. This may be a first - birds roosting somewhere entirely off their territory. (An alternative explanation, perhaps, is that he is budding from Chongo (or Buckeye?) and still returning there to roost. 16 November 930. Sub hawkling from granary. I'm going to set up a net. 1000. Net up. 2 birds came briefly while I was setting it. 1015. Sub in granary working stores. Flew to tree on left along fence. 1025. Flurry of karrit-cuts and a chase - certainly an intruder - who is ♂-w-? /m #194 from 1500 (formerly School Hill). 1030. Leaving. Net still up. 1240. No catch. Captive AW in cage in tree now. 1245. ♂ sub came almost immediately. Very interested in

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts (16 November) the cage. No vocalizations by either, but the ♂ is investigating the caged bird carefully. Finally is atop the cage, pecking carefully at the bird. A barrift-cut by the adult brought the ♀ briefly, but she did not investigate the cage, stored her acorn and left. 1300. ♂ still ♂ walking around the cage pecking at the bird. On top of the cage some of the time or in the tree at its cide, but not in the nest. He stands inches away from the occupied cell, but does not fly at it - knowing the captive can't get at him. This continued to 1315, with the ♂ walking around and around the cage, while the ♀ came in a couple more times but again paid little attention to the captive. At about 1315 I walked up behind them and flushed up the ♂ enough to get marginally into the net, but he extricated himself before I could get up to him. 1345. He finally got into the net after pecking around on top of the cage for another 10 minutes. - banded and processed as #323 and released. Net taken down. 22 November 1600. Captive and net up. 1635. ♂323 here looking; a 2nd bird definitely in the vicinity; but interest, with the sun setting, is ♂ certainly waning. 1640. Net and bird coming down. 23 November I still don't know exactly what to make of things here, but it is at least time to purge #162, last seen 5 Aug, gone by 11 Sept, thus disappeared about 24 August ± 2 weeks. 29 November Scared one bird out of the granary near dusk, but I still don't see what they're eating, as they still only have a very few acorns stored

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacRoberts Hastings Reservation 7 December 1455. Watching 1505. 2 ♂♂ landed together on top of granary; one is ♂ M/LB #323. Other is presumably ♂ the 2nd ♂ whose existence has been questionable. This second bird is an ♂♂; he is presently working storage holes (I don't know why, since there aren't really any acorns there!) I suspect that these 2 birds moved here together (more than likely they are a ♂-♂ set from some group which has moved together here, replacing the old ♂♂. Of course, I won't be able to claim quite that for my individual records, but we'll see. 1515. Both together now drilling in the granary again. No ♀ as yet. 1520. Going to check stores: 43. They can't seriously think this is going to be enough... 16 December 1555. 5 birds flushed from the Blue Oak down in the field toward the lower Barn (on HNHR), all flew up to the woodland toward MacRoberts along the fence line. Could see no bands on any of them; one had an acorn and was chased. (see map) 1600. Watching. 1 ♂ in granary. 1620. Nobody returned after ♂ left. Nothing big going on here apparently, however. Still virtually no stores. 22 December 1600. ♂ M/LB (#323) flew into granary. What the hell are they using for food up here? 1610. Flew up and way off NW over on Blanquist's. I walked up over on Blanquist's, roughly along the fence line and came across one old granary and a young Blue Oak with an ♂ in it who

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation 11 January 1545. 2 birds were in one of the Black locusts on the south side of the barn by the trough; one was unbanded. 12 January 1000. Unbanded in tree next to storage tree, flew to telephone pole. Stores appear to have diminished considerably - only a few marked acorns seem to remain. 1605. ♂CB/CB in Live Oak just above road across from lower barn. His activity not at all clear. (♂#22) [Probably Sapsucking (2/4/76)] 19 January Counted stores: only 50 remain. Of the marked acorns, I could find only 6. These birds have really torn through their stores. At 1650 I finally saw ♂or/R-w/n sitting in the locusts by the barn by herself. 28 January Only 13 acorns remain in storage. 3 February 1540. I'd heard some calls from over here, so I stopped to look- at a bird sitting in the large sycamore at the fork, who turned out not to be a Y bird at all but good old j#192 (♂RW) from School Hill (where I'd seen her this morning). She flew up to the next sycamore by the tall telephone pole and sat for a minute or so until ♂or = #16 displaced her; I lost her movement subsequently. Meanwhile I saw ♂ unbanded #309 eating an acorn in the locusts & in front of the barn. 1550. ♂ub and ♂DBlue/or = #22 were seen up in the sycamore by the tall telephone pole together. 5 February 1020. With 3" of snow around, 2 birds were up high in the pinetrees by the Schoolhouse karit-cutting through as I was leaving. I watched one for a short time, but he was apparently only sitting up here and not feeding.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Boening Melanerpes formicivorus 2 Hastings Reservation 18 February I finally checked today to confirm that there remain no stores here. 23 February Birds have discovered the bonanza at Pump - see Pump notes. 1 March Walked by here about 1400 scaring one bird in the tall sycamore between the telephone pole and the barn and a 2nd from the storage tree. Thinking that they had perhaps transferred some acorns from Pump, I checked the storage area, but saw no acorns. Meanwhile, a group (clearly not Y) was down at Pump. 3 March 945. A bird (8) which I figured was from this group was sitting atop the Black locust on the road side of the lower Barn. As I approached he took off, going first to the tree out in the field closer to the barn, then over to the one by Plague where those birds stage at night, then to the Plague tree itself. I didn't actually see him there, but I did hear a wake display over in their 20 tree, and when I looked 2 birds were atop Plague and at least one in the 20 tree. One of the birds in Plague then flew to the top of the next tree there, and before I could see who he was for sure flew off back in Y's direction: [illegible] 9 March 1600 - Caught the 2nd year male from here (#22) down at the net at Pump.

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Y Hastings Reservation 15 March Checked storage tree: still 0 acorns stored. One bird seen by lower barn, ♀ use / Red#16. 16 March 1343.♂ub(309) flycatching in area of the tall central telephone pole inside the Y. At least one other bird was in the vicinity. 17 March 945.♀ Or / R-w sitting in locust trees next to lower barn. ♂ Red-DB/OR # here also. Both scattered without a sound when at 950 a Red-shouldered Hawk landed in the same tree. 29 March 1055. 2 birds flew up to the '75 nest tree; 1 to a limb above the hole, the other briefly landed at the hole itself. 10 April 1800. Caught the AD♀ and the 2nd yr ♂ plus a strange ♀ at Pump. See notes there- 17 April 915. A veritable frenzy here, in particular at the locusts by the lower Barn but extending to a lesser extent to Blonquist Knoll, from the telephone pole toward School House, and the Y storage area. I estimate at least 10 and probably more birds involved, resulting in the expected frenzy of constant wakeas, along with infrequent Kaas and Carrickes. The participants included ①♀245 [Plaque] seen only at telephone pole, not in main frenzy ②♂16 [Y] in the thick of it ③♂22 [Y] " " " " ④♂259 ["Pump"] in the heart. Perhaps ♂309? ⑤♂162 [MacRoberts] Seen only up in '75 nest area on Blonquist Knoll ⑥♂194 [School Hill] Conspicuous participant, but primarily at telephone pole.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 4 (17 April) ⑦♀195 [School Hill] Same as 194. ⑧♂ unbanded; possibly several other unringed birds. As expected, lots of calling, chasing, etc. is going on. Birds are constantly working over the trees for acorns and occasionally come up with a piece or two. Several mountings were seen, but the participants were usually unknown. Everybody seems to be chasing everyone else. ① As for the mountings, I think ♀16 was involved in at least one of them (they are brief, and posta probably do not result in copulation). 1015. Everything is still going strong. 1033. Watching telephone pole. Mainly ♀245 and School Hill juveniles here. ④♀92 [School Hill] seen. Also seen: ♂195 [School Hill juvenile] mounting ♀245 atop telephone pole; no copulation. 1215. Males continues. 1230. A peak at the telephone pole yielded ⑩♀YRW#257 ["Pump" bird; origin unknown]. 1600. More fighting. Saw ①♂261 [another "Pump" bird]. Took some pictures. It was clear that the 2 banded ♂ birds were doing more than their share of serious fighting. The numbers of birds were down to closer to 10 or so; I did see #195 and #245 again briefly, the ♂ hopped on to the ♀ again when I did. Otherwise the intruders were primarily

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation (19 April) unbanded birds plus 8259 and 8261 ("Pump" birds). Fighting continued unabated. Birds were still occasionally coming up with acorns, particularly from the locusts; perhaps the stores have something to do with it after all (in any case, this group clearly is not as bad off as I'd thought). Other possibilities? A group trying to takeover Y's territory maybe? Arg. 18 April 900. Noises make it clear that the spectacle continues. Some of it is clearly carrying over to Plaque, where there were at least 8 birds when I began watching at 1030. 1100. Watched the telephone pole toward John's house for 30 minutes or so, taking lots of pictures of fighting and displaying birds. Seen were ① 8245 [Plague] still here, seen being mounted by ② 8195 WW [School Hill] again. Both 10 here. ③ 8194 [School Hill] here also. Activity was also concentrated at the locusts, but not to the same degree as in this area, where there were 6-9 birds. I didn't have the spotting scope at this time. 1235. Watching telephone pole again. ④ 8259 ? ⑤ 8261 } Both here again ["Pump" birds] ⑥ 8 unbanded. One here at least. ⑦ 816 [Y] Came here at 1245. School Hill birds not here now (now 8245 from Plague, of course). Lots of activity in triangle among lower barn, here,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation (18 April) (the telephone pole) and the Y storage area. 1249. ♀16 [Y] landed on telephone pole above ♂ub and ♂259; woke greeted both, did not chase or supplant but went into looking for acorns in dessication crack after greeting. 1252. More greeting and less chasing seems to be going on now. 1300. Moving to different vantage point. 1300. At storage tree (3194) ♂ [School Hill] working over holes here. (3195) ♂WLW [" "] in storage tree also. ♂ running here also. Drummed briefly in storage tree. Some chasing is occurring. Lots of Garrick calling. Birds are flying up to forest edge on side of Schwell Hill. 1322. Lots of fighting and chasing have near storage tree. Net going up there. 1600. I came down to finally put up the net and discovered nobody here. Eventually I discovered several birds more or less quietly sitting in the locusts by the barn. They all flew over to the knoll, then returned several minutes later. There appeared to be 4 birds (!), 1♀ and 3♂ (‼), including ① ♀16 [Y] ② ♂ running ③ ♂259 ["Pump"]

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 7 (18 April) ④♂22 [Y 2nd yr bird] Also perhaps a 5th bird: ⑤♂261 [other "Pump" bird] This suggests strongly that the whole rigamarole was a replacing of the unbanded adult ♂ here, #309. All 5 of these birds seem to be coexisting relatively quietly at the moment, though I'm sure the activity is not over entirely. In any case, no other activity is going on here at the moment (besides among those particular birds). There is lots of calling from Plaque area, though, where I'm going next. 1635. To Plaque. Still signs of harmony here, though lots of wakas are being given, match. 19 April 910. Still greater-than-average activity (flights + wakas) here. In locusts: ①♀16 [Y] ②♂ unrung ③♂DB/W [259 "Pump"] ④♂DB-LP/DB [261 "Pump"] 915. ♀16 in telephone pole, drummed, then barrit-cut ed several times. Within a few seconds ♂#261 landed in pole, began to mount her, but didn't make it. ⑤♂ unrung [? see below] The birds, when not greeting one another, are clearly eating acorns found from the locust trees. They are flying in turn to all parts of the territory, more or less being led by the ♀, with all the ♂'s following her. 936. Another mounting and apparent successful copulation

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 8 4 (19 April) between the ♀ and ♂261 in the telephone pole (!) 940. Birds are beginning to hawk steadily (it is quite warm and sunny out). 1000. The 5th bird apparently is not ♂22, the 2nd year ♂ here. I watched carefully to 1000, seeing the same 3 banded birds over-and-over, as well as the unbanded ♂, who could never positively be shown to number 2. Nonetheless, it seemed clear the ♂22 was not here, while the 5th bird was - and most likely was unbanded. At one point one of the unbanded ♂ was seen to move his bill and make soft squeak noises - surely he, at least, is not the former adult ♂ here! 1003. Flash - both unring ♂ just seen together in the boarst. Oh boy. 2 April 1115. At Lower Barn. 1117. ♂259 in locusts standing bark gleaning. 1119. ♂261 just landed here also ♀16 and ♀ running now here too. There is a fair amount of calling (wkeas) and flying here, but at least at the moment activity level is not extraordinarily high. 1127. Birds have moved over to the storage area. 1134. Two intruders, an unbanded ♂ and ♀, were in the locusts briefly; flew out immediately when other birds returned. Flew up toward MacRoberts. (1140. The ♀ and an unring ♂ performed a good "copulation": the ♂ fluttered on the ♀ for a few seconds, hopped off,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 9 Hastings Reservation (21 April) followed by a reverse mounting, which ended in the ♀ sliding off the back side of the ♂ while seemingly turning down her tail - exactly the same behavior I saw at 1500 last May and assumed at the time was true copulation! ☺ I've just realized that the reason the ♀ seems so ubiquitous (she's nearly always the first bird I see anywhere) is because she invariably flies toward and makes displays at every other bird (all ♂) whenever they enter the area or move within the area. Her wakas, in addition, are of an intensity bordering on solicitation more than greeting. The birds are still managing to pick out acorn bits from crannies within the bark of the locusts. 1155. I have thus far been unsuccessful in fixing on a 5th bird - apparently one of the warring ♂ has gone. 1200. Birds are occasionally flying to Blanquist Knoll, at least in part to the old fallen storage tree, which they are looking over. 29 April 1250. Watching. ♂ Dub in locusts, storing an insect. 1256. A bird just went into a hole in a tree on Blanquist Knoll next to the '75 nest tree. It better be checked soon. 1257. A bird came out of the hole. 1259. Another bird came out of the hole as another was next to the entrance. 1300. Taking a look. [Nothing - maybe still building the hole?] 1915. A♀16 and 4 ♂ together, peacefully, at the barn.

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Y Hastings Reservation 2 May 1140. Went over and checked the nest hole. No eggs yet, but it's obvious that the birds are still building it, as it is probably at least 2" deeper now than when I opened it a few days ago, but is still very rough inside. 4 May 1015. Watching. Birds flew from Y area to knoll. 1023. Now 916 and 1-2 others are sap sucking in the Blue Oaks down from and between the 2 nest trees on the knoll. 1028. All 5 birds together on the telephone pole in the Y (briefly). 1030. They are also apparently sap sucking in the Live Oaks at the creek across the road from the barn. → leaving. Watched at dusk. Birds did not roost up on the knoll, but apparently over on the side of School Hill somewhere (presumably where they'd roost last winter). Concerning the revolution, it seems semi-reasonable that the event was a replacement of the adult ♂, and that ♂22 decided to leave when the ♀06 got to be too much for him (I realize that doesn't make a whole lot of sense). Looking over the capture records, it seems likely that both ♂♂ which were banded at Pump and have now moved to Y are 1st-year birds, and thus not ♂309, the former adult ♂. Unless I can catch the 2 running ♂♂ that are there now, I of course cannot prove or even claim plausibly that neither of them are not ♂309, thus one of them will have to be dealt with as such, whether I believe it or not (I don't). Thus 3 ♂♂ must be added (♂259, ♂261, and ♂401) and ♂22 will have to be purged (hopefully I can eventually See [illegible] 19 April- one (at least) is prob. 1st yr.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Y (4 May) figure out where he's moved to - I can't believe he died!) Purel: ♂22 Disappeared immediately after 18 April 1976, probably moved. Add: ① ♂259 Banded at [Pump] Moved (as Juv) to Y ♀ (9 April) ② ♂261 Banded at [Pump] Moved (as Juv) to Y 17 April ③ ♂401 (unring) Moved (as Juv) to Y 17 April *see notes from 19 April - this one of the unring ♂s now here (at least) is not ♂309 and behaved as a juvenile. ♂309 will remain as before unless I can get evidence that both [illegible] unbanded ♂s are 1st-year birds and thus definitely not the former adult ♂ here. ♀16 remains in good stead. 8 May 1145. Flushing a bird out of the incipient "nest" hole, I opened it and found it still in a state of formation, the bottom still very rough. It is rather deep enough by now I should think, however. 10 May 1825. Watching from Live Oak in 8 corner of Blomquist's. 1830.①♂DB-1&DB #261 now in sycamore across road with 2 others. ②♀? or ! #16 here also. ③♂unring here also (one, at least). 1840. Birds now in locusts at barn. ♀22 with acorn cotyledon. 1850. Birds are up on the knoll. 1905. There are still 5 birds here - all just flew from the locusts to the knoll. 1915. Going. All birds probably here. Should watch the knoll.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation 12 May 1420. Birds did not seem to be in the vicinity when I checked the hole they are building. It is quite deep now, but still has to be widened considerably before it will be of much use to them. 13 May 1000. These birds all over at Pump, at least briefly. See Pump notes, 945. At least 4 (probably all 5) birds in locusts at lower barn, including 8 Blue/White #259. 19 May 24 May 1115. 816, running, and one of the 2 banded 88 in the locusts (right leg seen only). A few minutes earlier I'd flushed one bird from by the Pump tree who flew to here, then flushed at least 3 birds from the big Live Oak right at the corner of Blomquists to the knoll; they had no doubt been sapsucking there. 1125. 8 DB/wn #259 back in locusts. I looked over the locusts and was unable to pick out any acorns still in them, but of course the cracks in them are very irregular and it would no longer surprise me to discover that they still have some pieces stuck up here. 1137. 8 DB-CP/DB #261 now in locusts. 1145. leaving. 27 May 822 seen wandering at School Hill as an intruder! See School Hill notes for details. Clearly my suspicion that this bird just left after the revolution rather than dying was correct; he is now apparently a floater looking for someplace he can live (and I hope he succeeds—as long as it's someplace on the reservation!). 2030. I finally discovered where these birds are roosting: in the sycamore

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiceivorus 4 (Hastings Reservation) (27 May) by the creeks just down from the Y - there is clearly a root hole here that I did not know about before. 3 June While standing near the barn with Debbie, Ted, and Kelley watching various goaties in the area we saw 3+ birds here, none of whom were identified particularly conclusively. However, we did see a brief 1-part mounting, apparently involving the 8 and 8"259; thus I had best keep my eyes open over here because something may happen yet. 9 June 955. I went to look at the old cut nesthole right at the Y, where I'd seen a Bluebird previously, but saw nobody. I did, however, happen upon looking up in the tree for once, where there was a limb with 3 pretty good holes in it, one with an AW looking out at me! 1330. Opened the nest: they have 3 young babies & plus 1 infertile (translucent) unhatched egg, which I removed. 10 June 1630. Despite seeing a bird back in the hole yesterday evening, there seems to be nobody within now and I hear no sounds. It seems clear the nest has failed, not too surprising given the really poor condition that even the heaviest of the 3 kits seemed to be in yesterday afternoon. 1815. Opened the nest to find the 3 dead babies. I must be sure to try and find out whether or not this group still has acorns in the locusts; I suspect not. It's now also obvious why nest success can only be overestimated. One more day here (without my purely random discovery of the nest yesterday) and I would have missed it entirely. 12 June Birds roosting in the sycamore along the creeks. 8"259 seen. Go to P.15

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 14 Melanerpes formicivorus Y Nest Record Hastings Reservation 9 June 1000 1330. Bird first seen in hole Hole opened: 3 babies + 1 unhatched, infertile egg (removed) ① Bilk ② DG ③ [~5] 9 June 1330 28.8 18/25 25.4 17/24 12.4 9/17 10 June 1630 Nest had failed by this time. See notes. p. 13.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation 13 June Watched at dusk, seeing/hearing [all] 5 birds and watching most or all of them roost in the sycamore, where an ambush may be called for. 15 June Set up for an ambush, but everybody roosted in a different hole in the same sycamore! 18 June 1735. One bird found sapsucking in the corner live Oak; nobody else around, as I suspect they're all in there. 1445. 8261 in locusts at the barn. I watched him probe into the tree bark and come out with what seemed to be a small acorn bit, which he drilled at and ate. Clearly, though, remaining acorn stores here consist of little more than scattered bits and pieces, few and far between. 1750. 8259 below the 1st 8, also in the locust. This bird I watched for at least 5 minutes busily probing into a crevice between the bark and wood, several times coming out with a juicy morsel clearly of arthropodan affinities. Probing consisted of 5-10 second bouts during which the bird would often bend his head 90° or more in toward the tree and then pump his head back and forth ½" or so into the crack in search of his quarry. Only once, after several minutes of the above, did he go ahead and actually drill at the spot for a few seconds; during this brief interval he succeeded in breaking off several small chunks of wood. Then, after a several more probing ventures, he came up with what looked like a fair-sized (bill-length, perhaps) moth (Noctuid?), which he promptly moved up the branch with. The other prey seemed to be considerably smaller, not easily seen, but definitely soft, juicy things (larvae?), not hard, dry acorns.

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Y Hastings Reservation 20 June 1210. Several birds in the corner Live Oak; some aggressive postures and an work indicating an intruder. The apparent intruder flew around about the Y and while in one of the near sycamores was identified as ♀[illegible]/♂[illegible], which is ♀166 from 1800. She soon took off toward Plaque. 22 June Only 2 birds roosted in the sycamore tonight; 3 were seen (the 3rd went up the side of School Hill). 24 June 1915. Saw the 2 unringed ♀♂ together on the knoll; once again one was very obviously submissive to the threats of the other, begging and squealing when the dominant bird pecked at it for getting in the way. 1930. 3 ♀♂ here at least; ♂[illegible]/♂[illegible] #259 seen. Second unringed ♂ not positive. Birds sapsucking in the Live Oak. 1940. 2 intruders appeared and were displaced and worked at by 2 of the ♀♂ and ♀16; one was an unringed ♀, who was not chased particularly vigorously; the other was ♂[illegible]/♂[illegible] M/-, who was displaced rather abruptly. Unfortunately, those bands don't seem to indicate anyone off hand especially likely. 1945. Leaving. 2300. It would appear as though I either missexed the banded "intruder" or that it was ♂259 (?). Certainly there were 2 intruders here, however, even if I did look at the wrong bird. 1 July Only 2 birds roosted in the sycamore again tonight; nobody else was heard. 2 July 945. One of the banded ♀♂ was up on the knoll. 1000. ♀16 and a ♂ have come to the Lower Barn area.

No text detected

1976 (Walter J. Koenig) Melanerpes formicivorus Y Hastings Reservation (2 July) 1030. 8ub now back in the locusts. 1032. One of the banded 88 just joined him; 8259 I think. 1042. Some conduction down along Big Creek over something. 1045. Leaving 1103. 8261 now in locusts. 5 July 750. Several birds doing some serious hawking in and around the field between the Y and Griffin's House. 8ub seen. 830. 3 birds, including 816, hawking from the perch tree on the lower edge of School Hill. A 4th bird landed here briefly but was displaced by the others. A 4th bird, probably a group member, is hawking in the background about 60 ft away, however. 840. All 4 together now - no 5th bird. 845. Going. I am seriously beginning to question the presence of that 5th bird (for once it's one of the unbanded birds, at least). 13 July 815. 8259 and [4th] 8 hawking from field between Y and the telephone pole. 830. Again, 4 birds seem to be hawking from the lower side of School Hill. No 5th bird seen. 17 July 4 birds were seen/heard roosting at dusk. 28 July 4 birds seen: 3 in the sap tree (2 sap sucking, one flushed; 8ub seen) plus one flushed from the lower barn area. (time ~1730) 7 August 1930. At least 3 birds in the vicinity. 8ub (!) seen at the barn coexisting with at least one 8? A 3rd was in the sap tree at the corner. [illegible] Some censusing better be done here soon. 8 August 1825. Watching. 1830. 8 or LD-#16 by barn (whew!) 1835. One of the banded 88 here now also. 8 DB-LP/DB #261. 816 cock chasing Dickey birds from the locusts now.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus (8 August) 1857. #261 probing inside the bark/wood interface of the dead Black locust at the barn, inserting his tongue numerous times in this area a particular spot without tapping with his bill. 3 times he seemed to pull something quite small out, which he then apparently stored in a nearby round storage hole which necessitated moving 3-4 inches over to his left. After reaching and inserting his bill in this hole, he would return to the crevice to continue probing some more, often turning his head up to 90° in order to gain a better angle. The third time he moved over to the storage hole, however, he worked at it a few seconds longer than previously and pulled out what appeared to be part of an old stored acorn, which he quickly moved up the limb with and began to drill at. 1910. Nobody else as yet. Leaving. 830. Noticed that the rotten limb where they nested this year has broken off at the location along three through the hole itself, probably after the rain and during the storms of a few weeks ago. The birds themselves were apparently in the valley on the side of School Hill. 3 September 915. Birds are up on the lower side of School Hill eating and picking green acorns. #16 was seen along with one of the 2 banded 88. 980. One ♂ ab here also working on an acorn. 945. 3 DB-CP/DB #261 eating green acorn in telephone pole now. 7 September Purge: 2nd ♂ ab #451: last seen 13 June (all 5), gone by 5 July. Disappeared about 24 June ± 2 wks.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 4 Hastings Reservation (7 September) This bird disappeared awfully soon after its appearance during the April revolution, but was certainly here for a short while, at least. 11 September 1930. 8ub in '76 next tree; one other bird (at least) up on School Hill edge. 28 September There are no stores in the Valley Oak granary here as yet. There may, of course, be a few in the locust, but the birds have not been there very much so I suspect that they are not big into storing as yet. 15 October 1530. (1) 8ub in locusts at the barn. 1550. (2) 3? D3-LP/D3 m/ #261 now storing in the locusts. 1610. (3) 916 just joined them from over on the side of School Hill. 1630. There may, in fact be 2 ub 83? [still] here. No sign of 8259. 1645. Confirmed: there are 4 birds storing here, and 2 are ub 83?. Looks like I may have to resurrect the 2nd ub 8? and knock off 8259 (if he doesn't show up soon). In any case, the birds are all busy storing in the locust, and further evidence should be easy to obtain. 18 October 900. There were 5 birds around the barn when I passed by, One may have been being chased off, however. 1145. 916 storing in locusts. 8261 seen also. 24 October 1600. 4 birds were seen here, picking acorns from the knoll and storing in the locusts. Identified were 916, 8261, 8ub; the fourth was presumably the 2nd unringed 8?. 1620. 2nd ub 8? seen. All storing relatively furiously. 1630. Leaving. 25 October 1100. Have put the captive out in a cage in front of the granary here with a net next to it. So far the birds have not returned and junior is quiet.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes Formicivorus 20 25 (25 October) Hastings Reservation Y 1110. Junior has "karrit"ed (or "unrked") 2 times, just before all 4 birds returned. 2 of the birds were looking at him, but they did not immediately go down to investigate. At 1115 they flushed away when Florence came with the 'potting scope. 1120. Both w6 &8 back, one looking intently at the cage. 1125. Cagefell over 1130. Birds back: $16 among them 1136. 8261 here. A good "karrit" from junior didn't bring much response. 1142. A loud karrit-cut by junior brought everyone's immediate attention, resulting in several of the birds dropping down toward the cage; but the interest was not sustained enough for them to go to the cage itself. 1150. Now the birds are pretty much going about their business regardless of whether or not junior calls. 1205. After a prolonged bout of karrits one of the birds flew down to him, but managed to avoid the net. It is working, however - at least after a fashion. 1235. There is no doubt but that the birds know he's there, and aren't quite sure how to handle him, but being in a cage the way he is (and also, perhaps, making 60by karrits) I don't think he poses much of a threat to them; at least not enough for them to go down and attack. 26 October 1100. Net up in the locust. 1530. 8261 caught, processed. Left leg bands switched finally. 27 October Net still up 1000. While walking back from the Malaise Trap I

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 21 (27 October) heard a scream from the net and looking briefly up saw a flash of white which I presumed to be a Magpie. I walked past the Live Oak and looking up again to a burst of activity saw a Rat-shouldered Hawk in the net immediately below a Woodpecker, who was in fact the one making all the noise! I burst over, but by the time I got to the strings the hawk had disengaged himself, leaving the screaming woodpecker, who was losing a few feathers and looked as though he had been attacked. I pulled the net down (it got hung up and was totally destroyed in the process, not aiding the bird any), and removed the bird, who was rather ruffled and bleeding slightly on the wing and by the thigh, but was strong and apparently had not suffered anything more than some scratches from the net. He was an unwrung & and was processed as #322. Still looking strong and well, he was released at 1400. 29 October 1510. ♀16 here; chased nuthatch. 1520. ♂6 came with acorn. 1530. ♀261 went down to get a drink at the sport. 1540 leaving let us hope the newly banded bird made it through his ordeal. As for stores, there are lots, but I think they are uncountable. 9 November 1030. Watching. 1035. An unb bird just got chased from the locust. 1040. ♂6. ♀ 0-10th-LP#16. ♀ D8-CP/D8#261 here also. All working stores. 1110. The absence of #259 is certain. The presence of #322 questionable

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation (9 November) Purge: 3259. Last seen 13 July. Should have been seen at least by/on 3 September. :: Disappeared about 8 August ±2wks. 16 November 1045. 816 with acorn in locust. Meanwhile one of the 88 was in a V alley Oak 1/2 way toward the pond hawking and eating/harvesting acorns. Several Crows were there too-and I watched one to actually fly off and then be buzzed by the 8 woodpecker as he left the area. Apparently the above tree is another of the big producers this year, as - lots of Woodpeckers, Crows, and Magpies are vying for its resources. Florence reports seeing the AW chase several Crows and Magpies this morning when she passed, some apparently successfully (before they could grab an acorn). Two birds would usually gang up on a Crow, but one could successfully intimidate one if he tried hard enough. 1125. AW are still harvesting from the above Valley Oak (by the teleph) but no crows are coming by at the moment. 21 November 1200. 816 zooming into the locusts at the lower barn. 5 December 1100. Birds still busy storing in the locusts, harvesting their acorns from the side of School Hill. No stores in the Valley Oak yet. ①♂ DB-LP/DB #261 seen. 1120. ①♂ M/LP- [?-Maybe #322?] Yes: 8 yellow / #322. Yeah! ♀ have also. ③♀ub. All 4 Girts apparently here and doing fine. 1135. Leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation 2 February Drilled the first 100 holes in the willow tree, using the ½" (42) and 7/16" (58) drill bits. I did not put in any acorns. About 1½ hours later, at 1350, I came by to take a couple pictures. Lo and behold, there was an Acorn Woodpecker in the willows just besides the incipient storage tree. I wonder what took him so long? I could not get a very good look, and he apparently left shortly afterwards. (He had probably come to drink). 1700. Drilled another 100 holes (50 ½", 50 7/16"). Total now of 200. While walking by again at 1715, a bird was calling again in the willow trees downstream from the storage tree: I went over and discovered 2 birds there, both 8" and neither banded, I don't think. While watching 2 more birds flew in from Bloquist somewhere, also landing in this area. Meanwhile one flew over to the willow thicket by the Storage tank. Shortly after this I left, but returned about 15 minutes later, when all 4 were still in the × area. Very soon after my return 1 flew over to the Valley Oak on Bloquist's by the pond (— on map). The other 3 flew over to a tree on top of the 1500 knoll; two went together at first and the other followed shortly: I could not follow the eventual disappearance of the 4th bird over the pond. 3 February Drilled another 200 holes, 60½" and 140-7/16". TOTAL 400.

No text detected

1976 (Walter D. Koenig) Melanerpes formicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation 16 February Drilled another 100 holes (total 500) and stuffed 100 acorns into the holes that were there. ½" is about as small as will be generally useful, as it turns out; I put in mostly old Quercus acorns and they tended to be on the order of 9 or 10/16" of an inch. Rocky suggested I not give them a roost hole, at least for now, in order to separate out that as a factor affecting the presence/absence of birds on this territory. 17 February 1620. Drove up in order to drill more holes and add acorns - as I opened the truck door an Acorn Woodpecker flushed from the storage tree! He flew to the larger willow toward the pump, then after a minute sailed out and flew over into the main thicket, landing with a greeting (waka) to an apparent 2nd bird. At this point I moved the truck around and proceeded to watch. 1625. Bird still hawking in thicket out of view 1630. 3 birds came to the tree - 1st 2 unbanded 88, initially went to the tall willow but both of whom soon went to a small limb on the far side of the storage tree to drill! Then an unbanded 8 flew in from toward Y to the top of the storage tree. The 8 went to one of the stored acorns and proceeded to drill at it and eat it! 1633. The 8 flew up and was soon after replaced by one of the 88 at the set of stored acorns; The 2nd 8 is sitting on the far side of the tree. These birds are clearly members of the same group, as some greeting is taking place and no chasing or fighting or aggression is evident. The birds seem to have some difficulty walking on the wood - they slip occasionally as if it were too smooth or some such.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fumicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation (17 February) The was over an area of cleared wood for a minute as if she were looking for insects, then after slipping on the wood flew up to the stored acorns. 1643. Once again a bird moved his leg and the entire leg refused to cling to the barkless wood. I should perhaps make a point of roughing the wood up whenever/whenever possible. 1645. A 2nd is now in evidence, possibly having just flown over from Blouquist side. A is eating an acorn in the storage area while a is eating an acorn half on a small limb on the far side of the tree. 1650. Again a bird slipped as she was probing into one of the grab holes laid bare by the debarking of the tree. About time for me to do some more drilling. Birds flushed to Blouquist Knoll. I added another 100 acorns, enlarging most of the holes used but adding no net gain of holes. This makes a total of 200 acorns put in the tree. I also put up strings for a net to be used tomorrow to catch some of these birds. I finished at 1750, in time to see if I could find any body roosting here (presumably this would be at the telephone pole). 1805. No one has reappeared as yet so I've opted to go return chez moi. 18 February 910. No birds here when I came to set up the net in the storage tree. 1130. Returned; again nobody in the tree (or net). I added another 50 acorns, again with no real net increase in the number of holes, thus bringing the number put in the tree to 250. Though I haven't seen any birds here today yet, several of the acorns that I put in yesterday evening had been eaten; thus apparently there were either visitors early this morning or in between my visits.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump. (18 February) 1155-1215. Sat in the truck, but no birds came by. 1415. Still woone when I came by. 1800. Took net down. Still nobody. 23 February 1210. Came by to discover ① nearly all the acorns have disappeared since the 18th and ② a ③ unbanded and ④ ⑤/Red-Wt #16 from Y (⑥ presumably #309) working over the storage tree. Rather than stay I left to get the net. 1600. Watching. Several birds are in the oak-willow forest, some distinct begging was heard. At 1610 ⑦ ⑧/Red-Wt or #22 (from Y) was working stores in the storage tree. 1645. ⑨ #22 is back in the storage tree eating acorns. I'm going to drill holes. I drilled another 100 holes (total 600), all large, mostly >½". There are literally only 10 or so of the 250 acorns I put in last week remaining. 25 February I came by at 1200 to drill holes; there were no birds here, but then again there weren't any acorns left either. I did see one bird land in the large Valley Oak just up from the willow while I was drilling, however. I drilled another (and probably final) 400 holes for a grand total of 1000 in the tree. I also stuck in another 50 acorns to try and bait back some of the birds into the net, which I put up also. 1 March 1430. I came by and scared away 4 birds (not Y, as I'd just seen 2 of them, but possibly the same birds as had first shown up when I first put acorns in). All the acorns were

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation (1 March) gone that I'd put in last week. I put in 60 more (all old Q.douglasii) and put up the net. 2 March I'd left the net up and so checked it during today's snowstorm at 800 and 930 before taking it down. Noone was in the net nor had apparently visited the tree. 3 March Acorns still apparently untouched when I checked today. 8 March 930. All acorns had been eaten, no birds were around. In addition, one of the side limbs fell during the storm, taking nearly 100 (my count: 91) holes with it. I put in 75 more acorns (all Q.agrifolia) to keep things lively. 9 March 1230. Noticed a bird here, so I came over to put up the net and discovered that all 75 acorns were already gone! So I put it up anyway and stuck in 50 more acorns which I happened to have handy. 1600. Caught a bird, who turned out to be B#22 (the 2nd yr. bird from Y). He was processed and released at the lower barn. 10 March 700. Came by to check the net, discovering 2 Scrub Jays in the tree, one of whom appeared to fly off with an acorn in its bill. 900. Bird in net: unbanded ♀, probably 1st year bird. She was banded as #257 (with a Yellow wing-streamer on her right wing) and released at 1000. 1030 Cooper's Hawk perched in storage tree; flew off towards Hill. 1100. Banded Brown Towhee (#702-57146) in net. 15 March 14(5). Put in another 97 acorns in the holes; none of the others remained, of course. 1430 Saw a Scrub Jay in the storage tree trying to filch an acorn as I drove by. 16 March 1100. Nearly all the acorns are gone; eaten perhaps mostly by Jays-

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump (16 March) Just before dark I drilled another 100 holes here to make up for those lost with the fallen limb and also stuck in another set of year-plus old Blue Oak acorns (75 of them). 17 March 955. An Acorn Woodpecker was in the willow thicket area adjacent to the Pump when I walked by. Noone was in the storage tree, but once again, virtually instantaneously, it appeared from the ground as if many of the acorns were already gone. 1305. On returning, 90r/R-W*16 was in the Valley Dale just up & along the creek from the willow; after sitting there for several minutes she flew off toward Y (her home territory). 1440. Sitting up in the storage tree was an adult Cooper Hawk. 24 March 700. Put 30 more acorns in the tree. 28 March 1630. Put in 63 more acorns. 29 March 900. At least 2 birds were taking acorns; both flew off toward Y (where I suspect they came) with one in their bills. Also 2 Scrub Jays trying to dislodge them (the acorns). I put the net up. 1015. Caught a 1st year ♂ in the net - banded and released at 1045 as #259. Origin unknown. A 2nd bird was in the vicinity when I took him out of the net. 1400. All acorns gone when I came to move the ladder. I also took down the net. 8 April 1400. Put in another 100 acorns in the tree here. 1815. Saw a bird in the tree as I drove by. 9 April 900. One wicker flew from here towards Y when I drove up. Nearly all the acorns are gone already.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation 10 April 1530. While walking toward here, a bird (AW) flew to the storage tree (where no stoves remained), later flew off back toward Y. 1545. Added 85 acorns. Net up. 1815. Came by (after seeing a bird here but none in the net at 1900) to find 3 birds all together in the net - virtually destroying my brand new one that I'd used! They included the adult ♀ and 2nd yr ♂ from Y (#16 and 22), who were both released before dusk, and an unbanded ♀ (#260) who was kept overnight. 11 April 1000. I had the suspicion that the above bird, #260, might be the ♀ from 1500, so I walked down there. As I stopped to check from the road, one bird flew from tree 3 toward Pump; a 2nd flew up to the upper sap side and was the ♂ (#44). So I walked back to Pump and found 2 birds there (there had been none when I'd passed a few minutes earlier); an unbanded ♂ and unbanded ♀. Do so much for that bit of speculation. In any case, I put in my remaining 25 acorns (the others were gone (!)) and the net again. 1200. Caught and banded an unringed ♂, #261, who flew off to Blomquist Knoll. At least one, probably 2 others were in the vicinity when I took him out of the net. 17 April 930. ♂259 involved at Y (indicating that he probably is a group member somewhere or another). See Y notes. ♂261 also there. ♂257 seen briefly there as well. 18 April ♂259 and ♂261 still at Y.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump Hastings Reservation 19 April See Y notes for more on 259+261. 1045. Drove by: sure enough there was a bird here (despite the lack of acorns!), an unbanded ♂. He was still sitting alone in the storage area when I left 10 minutes later. 23 April 920. There are 2 AW in the storage tree here, one searching around for stores. This is the first time since 19 April that I've seen someone here. 4 May I've seen nobody here since the 23rd of April, despite frequent passes. It is perhaps time to bait the place again, especially given my "successes" with birds from Y & getting themselves caught here previously. 6 May 1000. 125 acorns in tree and the net up. 1130. Scrub Jay caught in net; released No woodpecker activity was noted here at any time during the day; the net was left up the entire time- 7 May Net still up most of day, only catch was an Ash-throated Flycatcher. Acorns still intact. No one's found it yet! 8 May Caught 2 Screech Owls during the night 1900. Finally, got a wicker- 1st year ♂, now #263. Processed and released at 1945. 9 May 1300. Net has been down all morning. Acorns look pretty well cleaned out. Net taken down. 13 May 1000. 26 birds in area, 1 sitting in storage tree, other in willows. Conceivably coming for water. 1003. Correction- there are 56 birds here, all now looking for acorns in the storage tree. One ♂ is ♂♂ up, one of the ♀

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 9 Melanerpes formicivorus Pump (13 May) Birds (who was originally banded here & anyway). No doubt this is the entire Y group. Wish they'd come when I had the net up! 1005. Birds gone from storage tree. 24 May 1100. Flushed an unidentified AW from here who promptly flew to the lower Barn, having most likely come from Y. 26 June 730. While walking toward here, an AW, an ub &, landed in the storage tree. A minute later For/wn? [=pro6.#16] came up the branch below her and threatened her, following which she flew off (the first bird). After another minute the banded & flew over to the pump, where she is no doubt going to water. Several AW were here at the water and around the willows. At one point a Western Kingbird chased one through the willows for 50m or more, over I know not what. At least 4 birds, 288" and 299, were here. 2 July 1050. Lots of birds heard in the willows behind the pump—these are all no doubt birds coming to water. 1055. One bird just flew out and across the road to the lower side of School Hill. 3 July 1915. Rub sitting alone on top of the storage tree here. 13 July 1100. j297 from School Hill here at the seepage. 11 September 1615. I'd been hearing lots of activity over in one of the far, lone Valley Oaks over on Blonquists for well over an hour; finally getting to look, I first saw 4-5 birds in the tree, and then noticed one with a Rocket Red wing streamer on the left wing (!) Needless to say, I walked over (scaring everyone off of course) and watched for a spell. 1645. I followed these birds for ½ hour or so while they stayed in the area eating acorns, etc. Eventually they all flew up to the top of Hagstack Hill,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pump (11 September) presumably on their way back over to the road. There are only 2 possibilities for the above bird (8238 from Gate or 8249 Road); given the single marking on the wing streamer he was most likely 8238; since this group was more or less a Haystack offshoot originally anyway it is probably not so improbable that they might wander over here. 23 November 1030. A 8 hawking in the far, tall Valley Oak at the (dry) pond on Blouquist's flew over above me to the willow for a few minutes where he tapped at an old acorn husk. His bands seemed to be 8 [green-dream / green-yellow]; but unless I can uncover someone better it must have been 8 la-da/la-dream #298, a 1st-year bird from School Hill. He next flew up to one of Y's perch trees where he was quickly diverted before even landing and then disappeared somewhere on the knoll. 6 December 1030. 5-6 birds in the willow thicket, 3 of whom flushed out toward Y, the others presumably from 1500. They are either coming to the water or possibly harvesting acorns from the live Oaks (?) near [illegible] here. 1310. 8 cp/m #86 from School Hill sunbathing in the willow thicket. Other birds here also. 1313. A bird just flew from here to 1500. 1315. Don't see anybody else here except for one bird on the tel.pole going up Haystack. To be continued after lunch. 20 December 1640. Noises down here while cleaning out the insect traps led me to the willow patch, where at least 7 (!) AW were sitting. All flew off down the valley within a few minutes.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New 1500 Hastings Reservation 11 January 1130. Several (3-4) birds were in this territory; seen were a ♀ (probably unbanded) and a banded ♂ (M? / Red? , most likely not one of the former inhabitants). A ♂ was furthermore chased off of tree 2 by the banded ♂; the intruder flew up the creek a ways and sat unidentified in a large Valley Oak for quite some time. 1-2 other birds flushed early from tree 1 to the sap side and were not identified either. I continued on about 1145. 12 January 1015. Arrived. ♀ sitting in tree 1. Apparently she is unbanded; no other birds are in evidence. 1045. Banded ♂ returned from sap side; both in tree 1 for several minutes; ♂ flew down to Live Oak by creek (towards 1800). 1115. No birds in evidence. Leaving. 1145. Watching 1210. ♂ Da/DP #44 (formerly) of 1800, flew into top of tree 1; he is surely the above "banded ♂," and apparently has taken over here after the disappearances of the other 2 ♂'s in recent weeks. These may be the only 2 birds here now, the entire original group having disappeared one way or another. 1215. Tracking. A banded ♂ [Red/Dark?] landed in 1; was chased. Obviously I probably do not have everything here quite straight yet. 1225. Leaving. 1545. ♂ sitting in Lower Sap Side. Never identified for sure, but banded and probably #44. A couple minutes later 3 other birds appeared making 4: a ♀, and 2 others, one of

No text detected

1976 Walter F.D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New 1500 (12 January) Whom was j♀#166 from 1800, the other not seen but flushed back to 1800. The ♀, who was somewhat above the 2 other arrivers but below the ♂, threatened the juv.♀, but did not follow up; rather, she flew off after a minute, leaving the other 3 birds. Both lower birds eventually flew back to 1800, the ♂ eventually was left alone, then gave an alarm and tucked down below the canopy. 18 January 2 birds (♂,♀) were here at dusk, the ♀ roosting over by the road in the hole where 1500's nest was began last spring. 19 January Checked marked acorns. I could only find 45, of which 3 had clearly been moved. 1230. I returned to watch, and only had to wait a few minutes before the 2 birds returned: ①♀ub and ②♂r/0-#44, who has clearly moved permanently. Purges: ♂34, last seen 3 Novem 75, gone by 10 December → Disappeared about 23 Nov.75, ±2 weeks. ♂31, last seen 11 Decem 1975, gone by 16 December → Disappeared about 13 Dec. 75. Add: ♂44, moved to New 1500 about 16 December 75 (from 1800) 2 February Set up net at 1300. Also counted stores: Tree 1: 270 Tree 2: 94 Total 364. Obviously stores are going fast. Meanwhile I did see one bird flycatching in tree 3. 11 February 1605. ♀ub#371 sitting in Tree 1 alone. 1625 Leaving There was also a ♂ in tree 2, but the little fart did an admirable job of remaining incognito.

No text detected

1976 Walter-D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New 1500 Hastings Reservation (11 February) Just before departing the ♂ returned to the lower sap side and showed enough Orange on his left leg bands to convince me that he was ♂44. 18 February 1515. ♂DG/DP#44 was in the top of tree 1. He sallied out for insects once during the 5 minutes that I watched him. 9 March 1630. Came by to pick up the remaining acorn bags, and not seeing any birds atop tree 1 as usual, I checked the stores, finding none! I should thus check carefully to see ① if the group (26 birds) is still here at all and ② if not, if the ♂ has returned to 1800. I walked by again a little later on and apparently flushed 26 birds from tree 3 up - so perhaps the birds are still here. 10 March 1400. A bird was sitting in the favorite spot in tree 1, so the group still exists. Later, about 1545, I came by and saw a bird up in the lower sap side sit for a short time and then depart for the side of School Hill. I didn't see anyone else in the territory. 16 March 1120. One bird (♂ I think) atop tree 1; flushed to sap side. Official acorn count: Ω. See 1800 notes for observation on the ♂ here at 1200. While I was watching at 1800, the 2nd yr ♂ among them, I checked at 1500 several times but saw no trace of the ♀. 1330. Found her: Unbanded flycatching in perch tree just across the road (tree 5). 24 March 1030. 1 bird atop tree 3 when I drove by. 29 March 925. ♂44 sitting in tree 2.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New 1500 Hastings Reservation (29 March) 930. 2 birds, including 844, flew up into tree 1. A chase ensued, in which one of the birds was forced out of the tree, flying over to the lower sap side. Left in tree 1 was an unbanded 8, presumably #371 but if so why was she chasing the 8? (unless he has "forfeited" his position here by having "returned" to 1800 since the stores ran out here). Following this, the 8 set just below the top of tree 1 and 2 times gave several "Garrick displays. After the first set a Cooper's Hawk flew overhead, perhaps explaining it. 940. 8 still atop tree 1, eating leaf buds. Just gave another two Garrick displays. 945. 844 flew into tree 1. No chasing or greeting; 8 flew to tree 2. Both in their respective trees for several minutes. 950. 8 hawking from tree 1. 8 not in evidence. 952. Found 8 - still in tree 2, probing into storage holes in outer snag pointing toward tree 1. 954. 8 flew to tree 1, not near 8 but with wake calling. 955. Both sitting in 1. Me going. 11 April 1000. Two birds seen flying from tree 3: I was 844 who flew to the upper sap side, the other headed toward Pump. Where there was an unbanded 8 (plus an unbanded 8) foraging a minute later. See Pump notes for more details. 18 April 1740. 36 birds seen in 1; somebody getting chased. Only 2, 8 (?) and a 8 unbanded after a minute. 22 April 1720. Watching. 8 unbanded showed up eventually in tree 1. 1732. A bird suddenly flushed from tree 4, right above me,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 5 New 1500 Hastings Reservation (22 April) off towards 1800. ? 1735. I don't see anyone else here. 29 April 940. Occasional 'Caa' (Garricle) display led my attention to the top of tree 3, where 844 was sitting. Perhaps he wonders where the 8 is? He has garricled 8-9 times now at 15 sec-1 min intervals. 945 I hear a Cooper Hawk in tree 1 - surely this is the reason. 955. Calling has stopped, the hawk is somewhere over by 1800. I no longer see any birds here, however. Apparently, though, the group itself remains intact. 1000. 2 birds in lower Sapside; I flew over to side of School Hill, other eventually flew over to 1800. Identities not known. See 1800 notes for more comments on 1500-1800 interactions. 3 May Nobody seen in a pass of the place at time 1500. old style 6 May 1110. While walking toward here from 1800 a PPLW [wn?/red?] flaw into the storage tree, began investigating the place unmolested. This bird is apparently 8172 from Lower Haystack, very interesting given the bizarre state of that group at the present time- 1120. 8172 still here; up in tree 3 when I left. No one else seen. 1150. The Lower Haystack Bird was silent while I was there at 1500, but I now hear some Garricles (from the Pump) which not implausibly are from here. 1330. Nobody here now; everything quiet. 1400. Still nothing. Going- 7 May 840. 3 birds in tree 3, some karrit-cuts and Garricles. All flew up to hide side of forest. Identities unknown.

No text detected

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

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 Hastings Reservation 19 May Nobody seen in pass during late morning. (later #42 seen here (at the road). See 1800 notes. 24 May 1045. One bird over in sap area, but disappeared before I could identify him. Nobody else seen. 30 May 1230. A ♀ was in tree 2 over here giving several karit-cuts. She flew off after a couple minutes and landed in one of the fall trees just up a ways toward Pump at the creek. 1 June 1845. Nobody seen during a brief pass. 2 June 1145. Nobody. I suspect strongly that these birds have abandoned ship, at least for the time being. The only birds I've been seeing here have appeared to be wandering more than anything else. 9 June 1055. Heard a call here (karit-cut). Went over to find a banded ♀, gw/w #42 I think, in tree 3. I lost her when she flew down after several minutes. A little later she flew over toward 1800. The former 1500 group is certainly gone. 12 June 2010. Looked over here only to discover one bird up in tree 1 and then walked over to find a second flushing from what may be a roost hole (?) in tree 2. Neither could be identified, but some watching is definitely called for. 18 June 1815. Watching. 1830. ☐ Nothing I should mention that the former nesthole atop tree 3 (used last in 1994) has finally broken and ☐ nearly fallen off - definitely unusable. It has been getting like this for 3-4 months now. 19 June 1230. While walking back along the road, we flushed 2-3 birds who had apparently been sap-sucking just up from the road on the School Hill side across from 1500. They all went up and out of

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 (19 June) sight, but one was seen to have bands and to be ? White/DBlue ; this suddenly reminded me that while watching at 1800 last week (9 June), I'd seen a bird with WD/DB on his right leg, a ? I think but maybe not, and had not written it down because it didn't correspond to anyone I expected to see (thus eventually deciding I'd made it up). This sighting confirms the existence of such a bird in the vicinity, but is not quite enough to identify it (though $260 banded at Pump in April seems a good candidate). Evidently the possibly along with several others are living in the near vicinity. Yes. | 20 June 1330. Nobody seen here in a brief pass either in the main area or over where the birds were seen yesterday. 24 June 2000. One bird in the sap side. I wasn't able to get a good look, however. 2005. A ? is hawking in the lower Sap Side. This bird seems to be alone and may be banded. 26 June 1055-1125. Sat reading under tree 3 waiting for any sign of life here. And, at 1125, I was rewarded when none other than ? Darcen/Orange #44 came to the tree above me and sat for a few seconds before seeing me and flying to the upper sap side. Apparently the group persists here after all. 5 July 12 July 900. Zero. 1930-1945. Zero. 1950. Flash! A banded ? appeared in tree 5. I watched her until 2015, at which time she flew [illegible] over to tree 3; no 2nd bird was seen. Her bands were ? W/DBlue Which makes her the suspicious bird noted above on 19 June,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 (12 July) Furthermore, it means that she is almost certainly ♀ WH/M #260, a ♀ banded at Pump in April, and that she is clearly living here at 1500. A question that I cannot resolve immediately is whether or not she is the unbanded ♀ that used to be here or [illegible] has replaced that ♀. Checking over my notes, I see that I had originally speculated that ♀260 might be the ♀ here when I caught her on 11 April, but that I abandoned the idea when I saw an unbanded ♂ and ♀ [illegible] after seeing a bird flush to here there from 1500. Not convincing contradictory evidence, I should think. Otherwise, I saw an unbanded ♀ here on 22 April. and ♀260, who I confused for ♀42- from 1800 the first several times I saw her, was seen 19 May, 9 June, 19 June, and then 12 July. My guess is that she indeed is the formerly unbanded ♀ here; in any case, that is the conservative route to follow. 13 July 900. A ♀ in the lower sap side; later a bird was seen in tree 1. 11 August 1000. 2 birds heard here; 1, a ♀, seen in lower sap side, then flew up to upper area where she greeted a 2nd bird. 20 August 1015. Several birds (4+) in top edge of the territory here picking acorns from the valley oaks. ♀ WH/M #260 was here; the others were apparently School Hill birds, as I saw ♂ WLL#195, an unringed ♀, and heard a begging juvenile. 22 August 1900. 3 birds in tree 3 proved to be ♂ Pub, ♂ R-W/R/M #194 from School Hill, and ♂ Ad-dark eye, most likely #256 from School Hill; the ♀, at least, flushed up to School Hill. Meanwhile, as these birds merely sat

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 (22 August) Hastings Reservation and preened, a 4th bird, β DA/DP? #44, sat in the old favorite position in tree 1, flushing over across the creek. (His bands were barely discernable, but I do believe it). Why do the School Hill birds persist down here? 1 September 845. 3-5 birds in the area here, eating green acorns and hawking. One of the birds was identified as δia-da/m #298, a School Hill juvenile, and I suspect that the others were all predominantly School Hill birds as well. 900. j M/L/DnB #296 hawking from tree 1 here now (also a School Hill juv.). 907. ♀ Wm/YDB #260 plus 2 others (at least one SH bird) atop tree 3. 11 September 1900. I strolled down to find a ♂ sitting complacently in the top of tree 1; I assumed he was #44 until I got a fair-good look at his right leg: δ Or/Yel-Darn, which makes him nobody that I know of offhand. He eventually flushed across the creek and party up the side of School Hill above tree 5. The identity of the above bird is pretty tenuous even after checking through the color list, but the most reasonable, save that it was merely δ44 incognito, is ♂ Red/Am-Yellow#88 from School Hill. 28 September 1530. From the road I could see 2 birds, a ♂ and ♀, in tree 3, and I believe at least a 3rd in tree 1. Walking up, I was able to get a definitive look at ♀ Wm/M #260 before she flushed to the upper sap side to join the others. 1550. ♂ Or-LB/Or #194 (School Hill) flew to tree 3 with a big green acorn. 1600. ♂ LB/M #195 (School Hill) preening in middle sap side (note: he was seen at School Hill yesterday, while ♂194 was not).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 Hastings Reservation (28 September) 1600. Some occurrence along the road brought 6 birds out and down to that locality. Clearly this is where all the "missing" School Hill birds are. 1630. Birds still out along the road. Before leaving I checked stores, of which I found 3 acorns, mice and green, in tree 1. Obviously whoever is actually in residence there has just begun. 4 October Numerous birds were here when we came to set up the Acorn traps. 6 October 1130. Watching from hide. Numerous birds here. ①♂ LB/Or #195 in tree 1 (School Hill bird). ②♂ ca-Bk/yel ③♂ ca-Bk/M ? (maybe #298?) in tree 2. Yes: #298 (SH imm.) seen storing an acorn in tree 2! ③♀ yel-LB/Bk? in 1. only→③♀ ④♂ Or/ yel (#88??) Yes: ♂ Red/yel #88 (School Hill) storing in free 1. ⑤♂ Or-LB/Or #194 in tree 2. No chasing or fighting at all. There are stores here now; these birds aren't just playing around. ①95 storing acorn in tree 2; 2+ other birds in tree 4 area. 1300. Leaving. These birds are living here, by any definition I can think of. Clearly the "split" of School Hill," if indeed that is what it is, isn't entirely through yet, as at least one bird (♂195) is still findable at either locality. It is a very interesting move, however, particularly in regards to the 1st-yr bird(s) apparently going along with the adults. It will be interesting to see what happens next. ? 1-2 other birds may be here also besides the above 5.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 Hastings Reservation (6 October) These birds, like the other "regular" groups, are busy storing acorns. 9 October 1120. Watching. Several hundred acorns adorn the storage trees here. 1135. ①♂ (B/Or #95 and ②♀ WH/DB #260 both storing in tree 2. also ③♂ R.W.-R/M #194 and ④♂ Re?/La-y #88. Now all in Storage area. 1155. The ♀ is eating an acorn in tree 2, where the ♂♂ are storing; it's perhaps too hot to be doing much hawking right now. 1205. Leaving. All 4 birds busy storing. These are the only birds here today; (presumably) the young bird(s) have returned to School Hill (like #298). 10 October Rurze: ♂44. I most certainly saw this bird here on 26 June; I last claim to have seen him (rather poorly) on 22 August, just after the School Hill birds apparently invaded. If this latter sighting was he, he was still certainly gone by 28 September. Disappeared about 9 September ± 2 weeks. The implication is thus more or less that he was "forced out" by the invasion of School Hill birds; this may indeed have been the case but if so why were "revolution" conditions (chasing, etc.) never observed here? It was a quiet coup indeed! I will officially move the School Hill birds here in a few weeks when it's clearer who's staying and who's returning. 18 October 125. ♂ m/or #88 chased off a jay from tree 4 as I was sitting there watching at 1800. Add: ♂♂ 88, 194, and 195; all 3 moved to 1500 about 15 August.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Kornig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 Hastings Reservation 26 October 3 Birds here in tree 1. Counted stores: Tree 1: 1257 } Tree 2: 561 } 1818. Not bad. These birds are serious! 7 November 1500. A ♀ here: ♀ M1 #191 from School Hill. Maybe the lines aren't so clear yet. 1515. Haven't seen the first ♀ again, but several of the other birds are here, storing and working stores: ♂260, ♂194, ♂195. 16 November • 1025, ♂194 at MacRoberts. See notes. 7 December 1000. Counted stores: Tree 1: 1259 } Tree 2: 457 } 1716 1200. 3 Birds flushed from tree 1; ♂ R-W-R/M #194 flew to tree 3. Also seen: ♂ LB/or #195, seen hawk[ing] in Lower Sap Side. Also in the LSS: ♂ M/or #88, preening. 12 U.S. leaving. Everyone o.k. here, it seems. ♀ is surely around somewhere. Counted stores: 0 stores: 29 December 1115. ♂ LB/or #195 plus others here. Have come to investigate the relatively large amount of activity here. 1135. ♂ W-B/Or #258 in tree (!) First time that this School Hill bird's been seen here. 1146. ♂ R-W-R/M #194. Also 21 more♂, 1♀. 1150. ♂ LB/LP #296. 1st yr bird from School Hill. 1155. ♂ LP.? / Red, prob.#191 in tree 1, flew up toward School Hill; heard greeting birds upon her arrival there. 1235. The 4 ♂'s are still here; no ♀.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Keenig 14 Melanerpes formicivorus 1500. (29 December) 1240. It's suddenly become too windy to see from this distance. Still 4♂ here (not definitely the same 4 I've identified, though) and no ♀. Hastings Reservation

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Ksenig Melanerpes formicivorus New 1800 Hastings Reservation 12 January 115. At least 3 birds were over here in the old tree on the extension of Haystack where I'd see them last winter. Earlier several birds had been in the main tree here. Seen were ① 843 and ② 8166. 1132. ③ 842 in nest tree; others have returned to storage areas also. 1140. Leaving Later (a) 844 was seen at 1500 where I suspect he has now moved permanently. See notes for observations of 1800 birds at 1500 for late in the afternoon as well [time 1545]. 19 January 1200. Flushed ① 83/w when I came to check marked acorns, of which I could find 30, 3 of which had clearly been moved. Purges: ⑧ 49, Moved about 16 December 1975 (to 1500). 2 February 1430. Counted stores: Main Tree 327 Total 799 Next tree 472 One-2 birds were in the territory. 11 February 1550, ⑧ 83/w and ⑨ 8n?m working stores, eating acorns in the main storage tree. 1605. No others seen. One flycatch flight seen. ⑩ 845 Purse was also. Purges: ? juv #168, last seen 24 Sept. 1975, gone by 30 Oct., Disappeared about 12 Oct. ±2 wks, 10 March 1600. Saw at least 2 birds here; there are stores remaining in both storage trees. 16 March 1145. Watching from 1500 side.

No text detected

1976 Walter D.Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New 1800 (16 March) 1148. ♀ LB-W/Bilk preeing in main storage tree; ♂ there also. (2)♂LB/Wh seen (43) 1153.(3)♀ wh/T returned to main tree (#42). 1200. A call brought my attention to a bird flying from the direction of the main storage tree past the nest tree and up to the knoll separating 1500/1800 just above where I was sitting (at tree 4a). It turned out, of course, to be the former 2nd year ♂ here and now the ♂ at 1500, ♂Da/Bpink#44, who acted every bit as furtive as a regular intruder immediately upon his return, and indeed was probably chased away from here in an attempt, perhaps, to filch some stores from his old groupmates. 1209. ♀LB/Wh hawking in main storage tree. 1222. One of the birds (the A♂ I think), who was working stores in the low main limb in the storage tree, suddenly headed for the ground and stood there, stretching his head up above the rather sparse grass cover, for 10 seconds before dipping down twice and coming up with an acorn (or at least an acorn shell), which he proceeded to ♂ store in the storage area. 1230. The A♂ flew over to the opposite side of the tree from where she'd been in the main storage tree and greeted ♂Da/OP#44 there! He proceeded to sit with her for several minutes and then flycatch from the top of the tree for at least 5 minutes during which time all 3 other 1800 birds were working stores lower in the tree. About 1238 he flew over to the

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New (800) (16 March) Hastings Reservation Live oaks on the Haystack knoll above the main storage tree, and returned several minutes later. 1245. All 4 birds have flown up to the Live Oak slightly up & on the knoll along the same line as is made by the 2 storage trees. They are apparently sapsucking up there. Count: Nest tree: 550 Total: 829 Main tree: 279 I went up to the Live Oak area and was unable to find the sap area, though I suspect that is what they are doing up here. I did find a possible roost hole in one of the Live Oaks, however. Purge: jur. #167, last seen 30 Oct. 1975, gone by ~11 December, Disappeared about 20 November ± 2 weeks. 22 April 1640. Watching. In the Main tree are apparently 3 birds, mostly doing no more than sitting around alert. Identified were ☺♂LB/W#43 and ☺♀LB-W/8ik#166; The 3rd bird was a ♀ as expected. 1913. ♂166 eating acorn. The tree is entirely shaded, but no one's made the move to the other (lighted) storage tree. 1945. I'm off. Surely the 3rd bird was #42. (Jespere) 29 April 1010. Watching. ☺♂LB/W#43 in Main tree. 1015. ☺♀#42 in nest tree; a strange, but banded ♀ over in old tree toward Gate; #44 flew to nest tree, landing wake, but was immediately chased violently by a 3rd bird, identity unknown. Meanwhile, 1-2 others in main tree. Wow.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus New 1800 Hastings Reservation (29 April) 1030. ? , unwrung (?) chased from storage tree, headed out across creek. 1032. 8LB/10 just chased a bird toward 1500 [844?] from about me near the border. 1035. 8L66 hawking in nest tree. Another bird just got chased down to the creek. 1040. 2 adults now in nest tree, juvenile down by the creek (?) 1042. A bird from 1500 just flew down along the creek. 1043. A bird got chased from here in trees 4-4a to 1500, apparently by an 1800 bird. Clearly the boundaries, physical and psychological, are not yet quite fixed between these 2 groups. 1055. There are still strange birds in the vicinity: one seen in the old tree again, another well up on School Hill wandering briefly down the slope toward 1800 territory. 3 May 1450. One bird flushed from storage/nest tree but nobody in any holes and everything else quiet. 9 May 1930. Nobody in holes in the 2° storage tree; one AW silhouette seen over in the main tree, however. 10 May 1735. Watching. At least 1 bird in main tree. ?9 W/B1k #166 greening there. 1740. ? flew over my head to trees [illegible] above crossing area [ ] Pretty quiet. 1947. 2 birds in 'nest' tree. There does appear to be interest in one or the other of the holes there. 1955. Bird in '75 nest hole. No doubt that's it, but my guess is that it's still quite early (i.e. eggs just about to begin being [illegible]).

No text detected

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

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 Nest Record Hastings Reservation 10 May 1800 Activity first noted at nest 15 May 1200 Nest opened: 4 eggs (near hatching) ① 27.3 × 19.9 ② 28.2 × 19.6 ③ 27.8 × 19.8 ④ 27.1 × 20.4 20 May Estimated hatching date [6] 26 May (1130) ① DG ② BSP ③ Or ④ 34.8 15/30 34.2 15/30 29.3 14/28 19.2 10/20 8 June Nest failed due to interference. See p. 5.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus (800) (9 June) 1017. ♀♂B/W/Bike hawking in main tree (#166). 1035. [illegible] ♂ back in main tree barrit-cutting. 1050. Calls over at 1500 took me over there; in tree 3 a banded ♀ who was ♀wn/− #42? was seen. Nobody else was in the area, and I lost her after 2 minutes or so. 1102. The above ♀ more or less headed toward 1800. Over in the main tree at 1800 was ♂B/W#43. 1110. Leaving. Surely the 3 adults are intact here, at least. Some activity seems to be going on up behind the main tree. Also, of course, they seem to be at least casually interested in the vacated 1500 territory. 18 June 1830. Counted stores: Nest tree 248 ? 444 Main tree 196 Nobody seen. 19 June See 1500 concerning ♂wn/DB above. 12 July See 1500 again → ♂wn/DB is ♂wn #260 and lives at 1500. 13 July 900. Watching. 903. ♂B/♂B/♀?#43 in nest tree [illegible] acom around. 2nd bird in main tree. 930. ♀B/W/Bike #166 in main tree. ♂ just drummed (!) once in nest [illegible] tree and flew off to the Live Oaks [illegible] from the main tree. 1045. Leaving. These 2 birds remained in the vicinity most of the time. I never did see the adult ♀; she is either laying very low or is gone. 14 July 830. Back again. ♂166 in main tree. 840. ♂ there briefly, then flew over to middle side of School Hill, where the ♀ had gone also. I watched the 2 of them go around together there for 10 min. or so; no 3rd bird at all. Saw some hawking and Hastings Reservation

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes famciivorus Hastings Reservation 1800 (14 July) leaf gleaning. 905. Both Birds back in Main tree hawking mostly. ♂ identified. 930. Nothing new. The adult ♀ is gone, at least for now. Counted stores: Nest tree: 152 ? Main tree: 194 } 346 5 August 1745. ♂(B/W) #43 in Main tree. 1752. Flew to trees by • the creek; another bird probably there. 1815. Nobody's returned as yet. All pretty quiet except for occasional calls down toward the gate. 1825. ♀#166 eating acorn in nest tree. 1830. Leaving. 1 September 900. Counted stores: 56, all in the main tree. Also in the main tree were ♂43 and ♀166. 28 September Counted stores: Nest tree: 8 } Main tree: 91 } 99 2 Birds seemed to be in the area. 18 October 915. Watching. 920. ♂LB/W#43 chasing some jays around in the main tree. 930. ♀LB-W/ B#166 in nest tree. 1000. Leaving. Birds are storing acorns, though rather slowly. Purge: ♂42. Last seen 18 May, gone by. This bird was last seen more or less "for sure" on 29 April, and should have been seen posteriori to that time; perhaps her disappearance had something to do with the loss of the nest? (It of course could have been vice-versa). She was presumably around at least through 4 June, and apparently gone by at least by 13 July: Disappeared about 23 June ± 2 wks.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 Hastings Reservation 26 October 1500. Counted stores: nest tree: 43 } 525. Coming along. V Main tree: 482 7 December 1215. ?lb-wm /B1k #166 in main tree. ?lbs/wm #43 working stores here also. Counted stores: Nest tree: 84 } Main tree 294 } 38!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Hastings Reservation 28 January 1240. While sitting on storage tree on Hastings side, I saw watched ♀ Wh-DP/Or #247 sapsuck (for sure) in a Q.lobata about 90m WSW along the fence line on Blomquist's side. The holes were near the top of the tree, where I observed her for some time. 1246. She went on one hawking flight, then returned to the sap holes. 1252. Noone else has shown up. Going to check stores. 1255. The ♀, still in the sap area, is occasionally stretching out and grabbing insects flying around her with her bill (her body being otherwise stationary). ⚪♂ ORW#246 is up with her capsucking now. 1300. ⚪♀ 4el/81k #196 (wing streamer lost) arrived, joined ♀ sapsucking. ♂ 246 has left. 1303. ⚪♂ Unbanded #329 has joined the other 2 to sapsuck. 1315. going to check stores. Acorn count: 980 Marked acorns: 47/75 found, 7 of which had been moved. 1400. ⚪♂ chased a Nuthatch out of the storage tree, despite my presence here. Others have threatened birds in the sap area including Nuthatches and Yellow-rumped Warblers, both apparently going after the sap. During this period ①,③, and ④ were all conspicuous; other juv. still not seen and is conspicuously absent. 5 February 930. I flushed 4 birds who had all been sitting quietly in the sap tree as I wandered up to take pictures in the 3" of snow that was still falling. They were not actually feeding when I

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Hastings Reservation (5 February) arrived, however. 18 February 1445. Stopped and picked out ♂OrW#246 and ♀YRW#178 (not seen last month) down the slope a ways in one of the perch trees on Blomquist's. I watched for a few more minutes but saw nobody else (the birds were not in their storage or sap area) and moved on. 9 March 1400. 24 birds were in the vicinity of the sap tree; I saw both flycatching and some sapsucking taking place. The storage tree also still has acorns. Seen were (1)♀247, (2)♂OrW#246, and (3)j♀Yel/Blk#176; also (4)♂ub#329 sapsucking for sure. 17 March 1000. A heavily tail-spotted ♀, flycatching from the '75 nest tree here, flushed down apparently to, but at least toward, 1800. 1015. At H-B itself, an unbanded ♀ (of which there isn't a representative in the group) was flycatching in the trees near the storage tree, then flew down to the perch tree below and North of the storage tree where at least 3 other birds were sitting, including (1)♂OrW#246 and (2)♂ub 329. After losing the ♀ while checking out the other birds, several of them flew out and closer to me. One, [illegible] (2)♀Wh-DP/Dr#217, flew to the sap tree. Another flew to the area somewhat below the sap tree and sat in the canopy eating the buds for several minutes before flying over to the sap tree. It turned out to be a ♀ again, but was immediately chased by ♂246 when she landed in the sap tree, and flew off toward lower Haystack with nothing other- than a Violet green Swallow on her tail, who took up the chase as soon as the resident ♀ left it.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Hastings Reservation √ (17 March) The count: 786. (all from Blomquist tree). 1255. 3 birds sitting in lower perch tree when I was walking back, ♀♀yellow #176 among them. "budding" 1256. ♂247 flew to the sap tree (now a Valley Oak) coming into and began sapsucking. 17 April 1345. Walked by. Nobody. 20 April 8246 involved in a minor revolt at Road 1 (!) See Road 1 notes. 3 May 1350. One ♂ downhill in perch tree, but I saw none else until some noise led me to look at the '75 nest tree, where a bird was checking out the old hole. Presumably this is or soon will be their nest. 1445. ♀♀Dark/Orangish #247 sitting preening in the storage tree on my way back. None in the nest hole. 4 May 1300. Went up and reopened the '75 nest hole - not so easy inasmuch as the formerly 2 foot deep hole is now about 2½ ft. deep, necessitating a further sawing. (In any case, there are no eggs inside yet. 6 May 1000. Walked by-nothing. 1030. On the way back, I heard some wakas down the hill out of sight, then ♂247 flew in from behind me up the hill and landed in the storage tree before flying down to the perch tree. About the same time, ♂170 (Ch RW) from lower Haystack landed down in the next tree over and down from the storage tree, then flew to the same perch tree where the adult was. 8 minutes later the 'intruder' ♂170 was still in the tree (eating oak flowers); I did not see the adult ♀.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blouquist Hastings Reservation (6 May) 1100. ?AD and at least one other bird still in [illegible] (lower edge of area, possibly in forest edge down by old county road. I can't find than to see, however. 9 May 1800. Flushed a ? from the '75 nest hole, where there turned out to be 2 eggs. ✓ 10 May 915. Counted stores: 378. Also checked nest, where only 2 eggs are still present. I hope nothing's wrong... 13 May 900. Opened nest: 4 eggs. Apparently it can be 48 hours between eggs sometimes. 15 May 915. Bird in hole. 19 May 800. Bird in hole. Also ~3 others seen, including ?Dr RW (#246), in scattered parts of the territory. 24 May 815. Bird in hole; 3 other AW in area. 26 May 1030. Hole opened; 3 babies in hole, not trace of 4th; but 1 was quite small and I suspect that he and the 4th were from the 2 late eggs, thereby increasing the size/age differential and decreasing their chances of survival. The elders, at least, are about 5 days old. 31 May 950. Bird in hole, 1-2 others seen in vicinity. 1115. ?yellow/. #176 seen on way back. 2 June 925. Watching nest from 'hide'. 937. A ? (banded?) came and fed. 945. ? wh-DP/or #247 came and fed. 1002. #245 fed again. 1025. (? Dr RW) #246 and #247 6oth came and fed. 1029. #247 fed again. ? still in hole. 1050. #246 fed. 1101. #247 fed.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 5 Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Nest Record Hastings Reservation 3 May 1350 First activity at nest - no eggs 4 May 1300 9 May 1800 ♂ flushed from hole; 2 eggs present 10 May 915 Still 2 eggs, measured: ① 24.9 × 19.1 ② 23.8 × 19.2 Nobody in hole when I passed. 13 May 900 4 eggs: ③ 24.9 × 19.6 ④ 25.1 × 19.5 [illegible] 22 May Estimated hatching date 26 May 1030 Nest checked: 3 babies; no trace of 4th →300 →301 ① B? - wh(n) ② LB (③) [4] 26 May 1030 19.3 " / 22 13.8 10/20 7.2 8/18 [6] 7 June 1230 80.3 15/14 65.9 10/8 - 16 June 1330 93.4 11/27/88 90.8 11/12/84 53/37

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Hastings Reservation (2 June) 1112.8246 came and fed; 9247 who was still inside, left. 1121. 9247 fed. These 2 birds are clearly doing most/all of the feeding (even though there are at least 2 and maybe 3 others still in the group), and are very nearly doing it in shifts: one feeding and remaining in the hole until the second comes, then leaving and reversing the protocol. 1125. Going. Will make a quick search of the area for others in the group. 4 June 955. Watching from uphill nearer the storage tree. 1000. One bird in the nest tree flew to the forest at a right angle to the fence line. 1005. 9247 or #247 in large valley oaks perch tree handling hawked insects. 1015. 9247 came to storage tree and began searching for acorns. 1020. 9247 still here, drilling. 9242 / #176 here also. 1030. Feeding birds still tend to fly to the forest perpendicularly to the fence line 1035. Leaving. 7 June 1230. Went up and checked nest, measuring the 2 surviving babies. 16 June √ 25 June 1230. Measured and banded the kits, who are #300 and 301. 1230. Counted stores: 77. One bird seen down in nest tree. (924h-?P / or #247). 26 June 800. Watching. 810. 9247 and a ? in view; fledgling sounds in the vicinity. ? has no wingstreamer (apparently Sub?) 825. Everyone's disappeared.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Hastings Reservation (26 June) 850. The occasional calling to be heard is coming from well down the hill, possibly from the pond. 905. 8DrRW in storage tree. I thereby assume that the other 8 was the unring bird. 925. Found the birds, who were over toward Far Tortuga. First seen was the A8 again, who had flown into an Elderberry Bush (Sambucus) and was hanging at an inflorescence of green berries picking them off. She stayed about a minute, getting 20 berries at least, then flew over to a Valley Oak, where [illegible] 8ub, and perhaps others were sitting. She later seen after was seen feeding the kid. 933. Another trip to the berry bush. 945. 8Yel/Ble#176 and the A8 below. 1000. j m/ Da-Feo #39 in Valley Oak below, killing time waiting for the adults. 1005. No doubt he is rather inefficient, but the kid, while waiting to be fed, walks slowly along the limb, pecking and probing into the bark in a good attempt at bark probing. He perhaps occasional even gets something; it's at least one thing they can do without flying. 1020. Both babies are here. 1030. Leaving. Everybody here except 978, who I strongly suspect is gone. Some of the Elderberry berries were collected for later study. 4 July 1150. Most or all of the group is down [illegible] on Blomquist's just below the old "fence" in the Blue-Willow Oak forest sap-sucking. One jaw seen; lots of other birds here. This prompted me to go up and check the storage tree, where sure enough the remaining stores (there hadn't been many) are gone.

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blonquist Hastings Reservation 5 July Runge: ♀178. Last seen 18 February, gone by 17 March → Dis. About 2 March? Cubs 20 August 1130. Watching. (1) j301 seen in telephone pole hawk ing when I arrived; several other birds in the vicinity. 1145. ♂ now ing streamers, presumably unbanded, picking green acorn from Valley Oak on Blonquist’s. 1205. ♂301/RW#246, a ♀, and a juv. together over on Blonquist’s. 1245. Both ♀♀, ♂247 and ♂301/ble#176, hawking from the telephone pole. j301 came and begged from them. 1302. I’m fairly sure, but not positive, that I saw the 2nd juvenile: j ♀? #300, hawking from the storage tree. He then flew over toward Lower Hay (to the tree up where I often sit) and I followed him there, but couldn’t get a better look at him. 1430. Both babies seen on the way back (though again the bands on #300 were not seen well, but 2 juvs were definitely here). 14 September 1430. Watched with Pam here for ½ hour while the birds were very busy eating acorns, storing acorns (5+ flights with acorns to the storage tree were seen) chasing scrub jays from the Valley Oaks where they were gathering the acorns (several of which had a very good crop), and hawking now and again. Seen were all birds except ♀246, thus ♂247, Dub, ♀176, j300, j301 were all seen well. The juvs were also seen harvesting and eating acorns. 1615. The birds are still in the vicinity harvesting, storing. One Valley Oak here has at least 8 Scrub Jays in it harvesting acorns; there are frequent chases twixt AW and the jays. A few newly stored acorns are in the granary.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Hastings Reservation 16 September 830. Saw ♂♂ORW#246 and ♂♂247 here along with several others. 900. j LP-Rob #301 probing in a dead branch of a Blue Oak down toward the pond; 1-2 others here also. The activity by the juvenile seemed not unlike the exploring done by the captive. Down by the cabin were 4-5 birds whose identities were unknown but who probably live over on Blomquist's somewhere. No doubt they were getting some unclaimed acorns. 6 October 1000. On the way up to Lower Hay we stopped to look at the numerous birds which were here working stores and hawking. Seen were ♂♂247, ♂♂ORW#246; and the 2 young birds, both still ♂-type, ♂♂300 and ♀♀301. 1020. ♂♂Yell/Blt #176 came and stored an acorn. 1030. Leaving. Birds are storing acorns regularly, but seem to be mostly hawking for their food. 1115. Counted stores: 837. 15 October ♀176 at MaeRoberts. See Florence's notes. 18 October ♀249 in storage area. √ 29 October Counted stores: 1224. 7 November ♀176 at Lower Haystacks. See LH p.16. 1645. ♂301 in granary: seen catching one of the oak mothers ♀ on the wing. 15 November (1000) ♂247 hawking near granary; others toward the knoll. ♂246 and ♀Yell/Blt#176 seen toward knoll. Both eating acorns. ♂♂/Dark #301 with the above 2 birds, +150. ♂♂/Blt#176 at L.Hay - But I'm fairly sure of the above sighting. 1145 ♀-IB/Yellow #300 hawking up above L.Hay - see LH notes. 10 December Counted stores: 1642.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blonquist Hastings Reservation (10 December) 1145. Several birds were around when I came back through; seen were ? LP/DB-Reb #301 and ♂Or RW#246.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation 28 January 1410. A few birds flushed to unseeable locales when I arrived (mostly near the nest tree); I did see ⑧RRR sap-sucking in the border tree on the saddle, but otherwise everything was quiet. Seen during the storage checking: ⑦jL6W#1974, ③jCHRW#1970, ②j#1971, ④j#1973, ⑥j#1972. At 1520 all 5 of these 1st yr birds came to the Upper Haystack tree to work stores. The count: Main tree: 4250 2° tree: 251 TOTAL 4501 Ull Tree: 0 Marked acorns: I found 72/100, of which 2(!) had clearly been moved. 10 February ⑧#60 seen for sure at Gate! See notes — A new interpretation of his history is also under Gate, for 16 February. 18 February 1500. Stopped by briefly; one bird flushed from the main storage tree (⑧RRR I think) but none was anywhere that lent itself to observation. 9 March 1415. In hide. 1430. A few birds are around, but they are down the gulch and out of view. 1450. ①⑧RRR eating acorn in 2° tree. ②⑨CHRW there also working stores (both just arrived). 1455. ③⑨PLW eating acorn in main storage tree. 1507. ④#1973 and ⑤#1974 both in storage tree working stores with several others including ①⑧RRR. It is quite chilly and windy up here and the birds do seem to be eating acorns mostly. 1515. I found ⑥⑨NOWINA STREAMER eating an acorn in the main storage

No text detected

1976 Walter-D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (9 March) tree; I watched her for 15 minutes (mostly as she preened) until she flew off, only getting the slightest glimpse of a yellowish band on her right leg, making her most likely ♀52. 1530. It's rather to cold and windy for me to bother continuing- 17 March 1105. In hide. (1)♂WNLW#173 in perch tree over in the depression of the saddle. (2)♂RRR#236 plus several others over above nest area. 1120. Several (25 birds) flew into storage tree, including (3)♂LBRW#17H. A ♂ had been chased from the nest area a few minutes before and had flown by here before the birds arrived. Also in storage tree (4)♂L6LW#174, (5)♀RLW#172 eating an acorn. 1130. ♂RR working stores in 2° tree. Several other birds eating acorns. ⚫ No flycatching seen yet. 1142.(6)♂ub#325 working stores in 2° tree. 1150. It is perhaps too breezy up here for the birds to be flycatching much. The Violet-green Swallows, on the other hand, were thick ⚫ in the area (~25 in the near vicinity). Off to count acorns: MainTree: 3537 2° tree : 80 TOTAL: 3617 Not bad. 17 April 1400. Checked nest area hole first; no sign of life. Watched. Only a low level of activity, mostly up on knoll area. 1415. Found a cache of birds sitting up on the knoll (to the south of the telephone poll) including-

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koening Melanerpes formicivorus 3 Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (17 April) ①♂RRR #236 ②♀CHRW#170 ③♂BRW#171 ④♂WLW#173 ⑤♂LGLW#174 All were sitting, preening, and flying around to a small extent on this windy hilltop. ⑥ 6th bird present up there, probably one of the unwing- streamed ♀. ⑦ 7th bird seen. All together in same tree on knoll. No flights elsewhere seen. 1425. All chased an intruder over to the NE part of knoll. I'm going to check any holes I can find over there. By the time I got to the knoll the birds were over in the general nest area. I found no likely holes on the knoll, however, and none had gone into any of the holes in the traditional area by the time I'd walked back over there. 28 April 1635. Arrived. They've pulled their old trick: they're all spurlos verswunden. Watching. 1705. Still O. Going to check holes and walk around the place. 1930. Finally found somebody: ♂or/Black#173, well over on Blomquist's by the old road down toward the Valley. 3 May 1400-1430. Absolutely nothing. I did not go over to/past the knoll, however. 4 May 1330. Watching up from hill. As has become usual, I don't see/hear a trace of the birds anywhere.

No text detected

1976 Walder D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (4 May) 1415. Wandered all over. Zero. Obviously the group is engaged elsewhere doing something. It might be worth trekking over Blonquist's sometime soon in search of them. I would be very interested to know what's going on (I should be so lucky!). 6 May 1010. Walked through again, finding none in holes but finally coming across 3 birds in the vicinity. One was unwingstreakered and was seen eating acorn bits over by the next tree before flying up into the far field somewhere. Second was ?RRR#236, who I flushed from the perch Valley Oak between fields; he flew first to the storage tree, then over to the crest of the knoll, then flew back into the main area somewhere apparently in response to a karrit-cut coming seemingly from there. These birds were not seen again as I walked back through, but then over by Haystack-Blonquist a short karrit-cut off down the hill brought the H-B adult ? and ?CHRW,#170 from Lower Haystack, who remained in the vicinity at least 10 minutes unmolested by whatever H-B birds were aware of her presence (see H-B notes). 1110. A strange bird down at 1500 turns out to be ?172, also from Lower Haystack! What's going on here? It would appear that someone loaded all these birds from this group in a shotgun and fired it - see 1500 notes. 9 May 1830. At least some of these birds (25) are where they're supposed to be for once - over next to the "nest" tree and

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koering Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (9 May) also downslope in an area where I've not seen them previously. I suspect that nesting is imminent, at least. 1845.3 AW just flew into main storage tree from knoll area, where one had flown a minute ago. 1856.8171 and another bird are sapsucking in a large Valley Oak just below the old BlueOak sap area (near nest tree). 1900. Intruder just got itself displaced displaced from the sap area; flew off toward Hay-Blom territory. 1905. I'm going to sneak around the top to check out holes. Several birds ♀♀ preening in sap tree. 10 May 800. Watching. Nobody seems to be in the vicinity. I take it back - PRRR and 1-2 others are in middle forest area separating the 2 fields 808. 5 birds congregated in main storage tree, where among other things they displaced an unwary ♀ intruder. ♀CRLW#174 was among them. ② WLW#173 over past "nest" area. ④ ♂CHRW#190 now flew into main storage tree. 820. Another intruder getting chased. Several birds back in main storage area. One intruder seen is ♂CRLW (small), who at 825 was being vigorously excluded from the storage area. This appears to have been #237, one of the plethora of juveniles who was banded up here during the revolution of August 1975 and not seen since. 835. Some drumming and Carricks coming from knoll area. 838. ♂CRLW eating acorn in main storage tree. Others still on knoll. [illegible] 850. Birds seem to have disappeared over in the knoll (Howard H-B) area. It's off to black holes. Fog cover is moving in and it's already cooling off.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (10 May) 855. Running getting chased by 25 other birds including ♀PLW#192, #3 190, 194, 236. All this in main storage tree and Upper Haystack tree. 900. Checking holes. Bird bacle in knoll. 13 May 740. Numerous birds in the area, particularly down in the trees around the 'nest' tree. Seen were ♀190 and ♂191 plus at least 2 others, probably more. 755. Birds at least in part seem to have gone over to the knoll somewhere or other. 800. One bird seen flying from knoll way off into Blouquists. 806. ♂RRR just flew from knoll to the big Welly Oak in the saddle to displace an intruder who apparently had been sitting there. Intruder is an unbanded ♀. 815. Intruder finally run out of territory 820. Lots of hawking. Birds are shifting their foci of attention frequently; no one place or section of their territory seems to be getting particularly overrepresented. 825. Intruder displaced from storage tree again, flew uphill as did the other bird. Intruder returned to storage area after a minute. Possibly 2 intruders involved. ♀192 seen, 845. That seems to about sum things up: lots of activity here spread out among numerous birds, but also spread out over most of the territory. My guess is that nesting has not yet begun, but probably will within the next week. Holes will be checked before I leave. 15 May 920. Watching. Nobody in sight. Looks like they may be pulling their disappearing number again on me.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 7 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (15May) 930. Flash! 2 birds in "nest" tree. 932. 3 birds flew to main storage tree from nest area; 8 RRR among them. 934. Several birds in nest area; some interest in '75 nest hole. 937. Birds gone; apparently off in area past "nest" tree. 947. Some chasing around going on in nest-sap forest.+3 birds then. 957. Several birds in storage tree, including 8WLLW#193. One bird in storage tree sunbathing. 8191 the birds sunbathing. 1005. Unbanded chased from main storage tree, flew to UH tree, much like 8 intruder seen in previous visits. 1020. Birds still in storage area and in forest area in and around the nest tree. Going to check holes. 1021. Just as I was leaving, an unbanded 8 in storage area was displaced several times by 3-4 birds, including another unringed 8 (#325, presumably), and 8LBRW#171. 1024. Chase continuing in knoll area; 8192 involved. 1030. Nobody in holes, but once again I strongly suspect that a nest is imminent. 19May 810. About a minute after arriving, a 8 (unringed, I think) intruder was vigorously being chased away by one of the 8 group members. 818. 8 intruder still being chased (now in saddle seat area) by 3+ birds, including 8RRR #236. 8190 there also. 820. 8 intruder now here; displaced to UH tree from UH. 828. 8173 and 8174 both in saddle with 2-3 others. 848. Another (?) intruder being displaced by 8190. 8Pub#325 there also (in main storage tree). 855. Same story - nothing definite. Going to check holes.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 8 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (19 May) Over at the knoll, I discovered a young Blue Oak totally ridden with AW saphules; this is where the birds had been flying to (today and occasionally in the past) and I suspect it may very well have been for the sap. 22 May 1230. Nobody anywhere that I can see. 1240. A series of wakeas are coming from several spots on the knoll area (Far Tortuga). 1300. Nothing in main area yet. Going to check holes and knoll. I wandered way the hell over towards the main road, eventually finding 2 birds well out in the middle of nowhere (see L19 and L20 on xerox sheet). No hint of what's going on, however. My guess is that perhaps they split entirely from the area in the afternoons to go water down at Finch Creek, perhaps by Warners, or at some other distant water source. I wish I knew what their breeding plans are in any case! 24 May 830-930. Watched the area, finding the birds almost entirely over on the knoll, where they were avidly sapsucking. All 5 2nd-year birds plus 8 RRF (all 6 wing-streamered birds) were seen. They began to split up particularly after an adult Cooper Hawk scattered them at 915, making at least 3 unsuccessful passes at the birds. Several gave alarm calls, alerting the entire entourage long before I saw anything. By 930 all the birds were still silent and stationary; at that point I went off to make my usual rounds. Before I left, a 2nd intruder was chased from the 20th tree by the univing 4. Counted stores also: 2075 (all in main tree).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation 26 May 900. Most of the birds are hawking in the saddle tree; #s 236, 171, 192, 193, and 194 seen. Hawking was continuous until 1920, when several of the birds flew to the Blue Oak sap tree along the knoll. 930. Intruder being displaced from saddle area, where several birds are still hawking. 950. #170 seen. Birds still moving around alot; lots of greeting and flycatching, no interest in any holes. 952. #190 chased intruder from edge of chaparral. 954. Intruder still being displaced; now by several birds in saddle area. 1000. Birds now in saddle again, still hawking. Time for me to check the holes and depart. 31 May 1000. Watching. I don't see anyone off hand. 1005. 8WLW#173 hawking in front of "nest" tree; remained until 1010 when he flew to the sap tree along the knoll. 1015. 8171 in storage tree; others in sap tree and in between. 1020. 9190 here. #171 also. 1100. Leaving. All birds have slipped into the woodwork. 2 June 745. In "hide" One 8 over by "nest" tree. Is 186LW#174. 757. 18RRR#236 flew into main storage tree. 802, 39ub over by "nest" tree; flew into forest between it and stores. Some calls coming from knoll area also. 815. 3 and 4 8CHR #170 over by "nest" tree; 3 flew to storage tree. 925. 5 8171 by "nest" tree now. Birds also in storage trees. 3 eating an acorn there, watched by 3 835. There is a constant low-moderate flow of birds and level of activity centered about the "nest" tree, possibly one of the holes in the low limb.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (2 June) 845. Several birds are in the storage tree pecking away at acorns; it is apparently too cool for good flycatching. 852. ⑮⑧WHW#173 flying from 'nest' tree area to storage tree, lots of flights back and forth here. 855. Going to check the holes over there. Nobody in holes. Thought I might finally have them, too. Also some more serious watching will have to be done to discover whether or not ⑮⑧ is still here; I suspect as much, but she's hard to find among everybody else. 910. ⑮⑧ chased from storage tree; flew to Upper Hay tree and sat until I left at 915. 4 June 1040. All quiet, though tapping in main storage tree indicates one bird there, possibly. 1050. ⑮⑧173 landed in storage tree from forest area by 'nest' tree. ⑮⑧174 here now also. 1105. ⑮⑧172 just flew out of storage tree, going to forest below 'nest' tree. 1110. I'm going to search around down there. All quiet here. 1035. Over in the area by the road (between the 2 knolls) I find several birds: ⑮⑧192, ⑮⑧171 on the far knoll; ⑮⑧236 + 1 other on the near knoll. Activities here not clear. 7 June 945. 1 bird in 2° tree, one other on knoll. 1000. Birds seem to be mostly over in the knoll, probably at the sap tree. 1007. ⑮⑧194 permit-cutting in storage tree. ⑮⑧173 there also. Some drilling going on. 'central' 1010. ⑮⑧236, 2 others over on knoll. 1020. Over on the knoll, ⑮⑧236 and ⑮⑧173 are 'hawking' from about

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (7 June) '2meter above the ground within the canopy of a small Blue Oak; on one occasion 8173 even went directly to the ground in order to get something. Meanwhile, 8171 landed in the storage tree with-yes- food in his bill. Finally getting the hint, I watched him manipulate it a little before flying within the tree and clearly entering a hole to feed. Finally. I suppose I shouldn't feel so bad, inasmuch as the hole faces upward on a knob and is virtually invisible from the ground. 1330. Returned to open the nest, coming up with 4 babies about 7-8 days old. The hole is tilted 20° from being vertical: but there is a limb just above it which no doubt protects it. 16 June 900. Measured and collared the babies; in hide at 930. 945. Several birds over in '75 nest area. ①♂GLW#194. ②♀CHRW#190. ③♂LBRW#171. ④♂WHLW#173. 1015. In same area: ⑤♂De/SP-OG#236. ⑥♀PRLW#172. 1025. ⑦♂173 in storage tree with acorn bits in mouth, possibly about to feed. 1130. No one ever fed. Went and undid the kids; now back in hide at 1145. 1155. ⑦♀ub in Up Hay tree hawking. 1215. Several birds here now; drilling going on in storage tree. 1257. 8173 fed. 1300. Leaving. By now I've seen everybody at least twice and without much difficulty - making it rather probable that the banded ♀, #52 has disappeared somewhere or another. 25 June 900. Banded and bled the kids, who are #s 307 to 310. 1000. Watching from hide. 1012. A strange ♀ [Fun-Dark/White, possibly formerly with →G6 to p.13

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Nest Record Hastings Reservation 7 June 1020 Nest found in main storage tree (345) Opened: 4 babies ① or 307 ② LP-LB 368 ③ Wh 309 ④ 310 7 June 1345 33.0 16/34 30.8 14/29 34.0 16/35 26.8 13/25 16 June 900 76.6 -/137/97 74.1 -/74/48 74.9 39/84/55 72.7 33/65/38 25 June 900 88.0 67/43 86.6 67/40 83.3 -/144/98 87.1 -/122/82

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Kornig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (25 June) wing streamer on leftwing] flew into nest tree. A minute later ①⑦①H was here. 1020. ⑧①⑦H is sitting in Uptay tree with, among other things, a grasshopper (~1cm long) in his bill. 1024.②⑧①⑦④ hawking from telephone pole. ③⑧①⑦③ hawking from UH tree. ④⑧②③⑥ in UH tree a minute later. 1035.⑧①⑦④ fed babies. (insects) ⑤⑧①⑦② in storage tree. 1120.⑥♀ub hawking; has another Acridid (grasshopper) in her bill. 1130.②♀ R-w-B/wn #①⑨⑩ in nest tree; she's apparently lost her wing streamer. 1200. Enough. I am pretty convinced that ⑧⑤② is gone. Stores: only ①③①⑥ 4 July 920. Watching: 945. ⑨⑧①⑦BREW#①⑦① flycatching in storage tree; begging jun. there also. 1000. These birds are clearly pulling one of their disappearing numbers on me again. Oops-⑦⑨⑧①⑦W now in storage tree preening. 1004. Several birds down here now feeding babies: ⑤⑧①⑦③, ④⑧①⑦⑩, ③⑧①⑦RR #②③⑥. 1040.♀ just fed ②③①⑩ acorn bits. ⑩⑩⑩ 1120. j310, several others still in storage tree. No birds seen elsewhere so far. 1130. There is clearly a 2nd focus of activity somewhere, possibly in the canyon below the storage tree. In any case, I'm not seeing much, as even those birds here are staying on the opposite side of the storage tree. Goodbye. TURGE: ⑧⑤②. Last seen (none too well) 9 March, gone by 17 April,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (4 July) 19 July → Disappeared about 27 March 1976 ± 2 weeks. 845. Watching from "hide." ①♂RRR#236 here. 945. Several birds here w/o: ②♂1971 eating acorn; ③j309; ④j307; ⑤♀172 eating acorns; ⑥♂173; ⑦j310 fed by ♂173; ⑧♀ub; at 1003 most have gone off down into the canyon. 1100. ⑦♀R-w-B/wn#170 feeding j309 acorns. 1125. Several birds back finally; j309 is getting the shit beat out of him by ♂173 at a snag where he and j307 were making [illegible] nuisances of themselves. 1128. j309 pecked at and tore off j307 while begging at ♂236. 1145. Enough of this. I'm going to jaunt down the canyon to see if I can find out what they're doing there. ✓ 28 July 20 August Counted stores: 487. j310 in telephone pole when I arrived. Heard lots of calling over here while at H-Blom. 1300. Began watching. Birds are all over, except there is not much activity on the knoll. Apparently, however, the reason is merely the activity involved in hawking, which is primarily what they seem to be doing; I saw no chases at least up to 1330. I did see all 4 juveniles (307-310), ②236, ⑥♀ub, ④♀170. [It occurs to me to mention that the right tarsus of the ♂ub was slightly swollen and quite yellowish, the same characters noted in the ♂ub ♀ here since the spring of 1975]. 1340. ⑧♂LBRW and ④♂WLLW here now also. Still lots of waking, hawking, but no chasing. 1345. Everyone's still hawking feverishly; jwus are hawking and doing some begging from hawking adults. A ♂ with no wing-streamer

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (20 August) hawking by the 'nest' tree would seem to be most likely 8174. 1350. 10 Prew#172 in storage tree. 1410. A 8 just got displaced from the territory by several birds. 8 nows seen again. 1420. An unmated 8 is with a 8 on the edge of the hill toward 1800 hawking; probably not groupies. 1430. Leaving. I suspect everyone is here, though I never got the definitive look at 8174. Their stores, by the way, are functionally depleted (I saw one possibly intact acorn); a first since I've been here. Note, however, that the new crop is well on its way, and nearly full-sized green acorns are available, even from the storage tree here itself. 14 September 1515. Brought Pam up to watch here. Nobody seems to be around, and nobody was in even the far areas. There also seemed to be no evidence for newly stored acorns being in the granary. 1650. 8236 in perch tree in front of 75 nest tree. Others possibly in the valley below him. Yes -> 82Brew#171 in Valley. 16 September 900. Brought Pam back up to watch. See her notes.. 6 October 1040. Saw several of the birds when bringing Florence up to watch - 18236, 28171, 38173, 48309 (young bird, seen storing acorn) and 58309. Counted stores: Maintree: 1946; 2nd tree: 0. These birds have clearly been quite busy! Florence ended up seeing everybody except 8174, who is certainly gone, and j310. All 3 young birds seen were still 8-type; since they fledged so late I suspect that they perhaps haven't finished molting yet.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation 10 October Purge: 8174. Last seen 25 June, gone by 19 July. Disappeared about 7 July ± 1 week. (The alternative is that this bird has escaped detection recently by virtue of having perhaps lost its wing-streamer (see 20 August notes, p15)). 18 October 1030. Watching. Nobody in central area when I arrived. 1035. 1♂OrRW#307 in forest just below storage tree along with 2♂DBRW#309. 1040. A few others showing up. 1♂LBRW#171, 1♀R-w-B/M#170. 1♂RRR#236. 1♂WLLW#173. 1♀CWLRW#308. All in Upper Hay tree hawking/eating acorns 1110. 1♀ub storing acorn in UH tree. 1130. Leaving. Storing continues, but not at any record-breaking pace. 29 October 1615. Counted stores: 2° tree: 503 } Main tree: 4399 } 4902 7 November 1600. Watching up here, where an unringed ♀ and at 1625 ♀ Yel/Blk#176 from Hay-Blom were being chased around by 8236, 8170, 8171, 8173. The ub♀ was here persistently for 15 min or so; the 8176 was just seen at 1625. 15 November 1130. 8RRR#236 plus others in Live Oak up on top of Haystack (Howard(80)) 1132. 8LBRW#191 flew down to Main granary from up there; swooped out in a hawking flight. 8WLLW#173 in UH tree. 1135. ♀Yel/Blk#176 of Hay-Blom up there - not being chased (but possibly why so many other birds are up there). 1136. Correction - is 8Or/Blk#173, not 8176. 1145. Double correction - not #173 either, but rather 8 Blue/Yellow#309, one of the

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (15 November) Hay-Blom jwvs. Is not getting chased much, but there is some action up there provoked by the co-occurrence of the 2 groups. The birds there are primarily hawking. 1155. ?WARW #308 at UH top. dDBRW #309 also. All hawking 1200. ?ub in UH tree. 1205. ?OrRW #307 landed at (his) nest hole. 1255. ?ub I believe just threatened (lightly) and displaced a 2nd ?ub, presumably an intruder, in the UHay tree. 1300. Leaving. Nobody in upper area since 1215 or so. ?8' 17land 173 still seem to be around in the main storage areas more than anyone else. 23 November Purge: j310. Seen by Pam Williams on 14 September, gone by 6 October → Disappeared about 25 September ± 1 week. 10 December 1025. ?♂ 236 eating an acorn over by the '95 nest. 1040. ?♀ (Blue/Reddish) #308 in granary briefly. Left but returned soon with ?♂ (BRW) and ?♂ (WLW) #s 171 and 173. Also ?♂ OrRW #309. Everybody scattered but all eating acorns. 1100. Counted stores: Main tree: 5678 20 tree: 497 } 6175 Could be a new record for the reservation, folks! 18 December ?♂ 170 and 308 at Plaque, see Plaque notes, p.27.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation 13 January Apparently all the birds were roosting in "Westgate's" nest tree; several spooked and moved over to Gate's sycamore, however (I saw jRRUW among these). None roosted in Gate's LiveOak nest tree, however. 10 February 1600: ♀ unband ed (notail spots -#321) and ♂ La/La #58 were in the snag at Gate; there was also a bird in the roost hole at Westgate. 1615. Also here: ♂ LPink/Da da/m Adult, seen pretty well, preening amongst several others in the top snag at Gate: this is #60, whom I never had quite figured out. Apparently he had indeed moved/founded Westgate, though I've seen him back at Lower Haystack subsequently several times. ♀ unband ed seen, probably adult (#322). 1620. ♂ 238 in tree between Gate/Wgate storage areas. ♂ 242 here also - I did not mistake him for #60 seen above! At least a couple others here. I've really got to catch these sweethearts somehow! The birds are mostly busy eating acorns. They are clearly ranging all over the flat on the Northeast side of the road here. 11 February Saw the 2 wing-streamered (1st yr) birds (238,242) as I attempted to get some pictures at the Gate tree. Also began setting up for an ambush at the Westgate nest/roost hole. 16 February I've decided that the most rational course in regards to #60 at this point is to essentially replace #391, an unband ed ♂, by him; having him found Westgate on 9 March 75 and then takeover Westgate in December with the rest of the group. #391 had been listed as "Present at" westgate 1 October 1975; the ultimate fate of this bird will of course depend

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate (16 February) on my catching some birds here in order so that I can eventually figure out exactly who/how many birds are here! For now, however, it's a fair guess that this banded ♂ moved here with ♀58, his group mate, originally; he had been seen since up at lower Haystack, but I now interpret this as return visits, not a "permanent" return. (The very fact that he was not chased away is of interest - also indicating that his move was voluntary, not forced by other more dominant group members). If 9 birds are indeed here, which is possible, #391 will no doubt be reinstated, but otherwise he is best forgotten. It occurs to me to ruminate over the possibility that these two groups (former New Gate and Westgate) merged in December rather than Westgate taking over Gate and Gate disappearing, thus accounting for the extraordinary flush of birds living at Gate now, numbers which certainly never seemed to be present back at Westgate. Catching the birds may help to solve some of the mysteries, but the precise events surrounding this area are never going to be very clear, I fear. 18 February 1000. Counted stores: Westgate tree: 605 [there are quite a lot of snags with a few to many holes acorns, several of which have no doubt been missed in the past, and a couple of which were no doubt missed even today!] Gate tree: 162 Total: 767 [In contrast to the Westgate tree, where holes are essentially filled with untouched acorns, here they have clearly been well worked over, with mostly hulls only left sticking in the holes] Lots of birds were around in both areas. ♀58 and unband (prob. juvenile by I shape #320) were seen in Gate tree.

No text detected

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

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate (9 March) nothing inside the hole, but nonetheless they were devoting more than the usual amount of attention to it, and hopefully they may nest here. Haystack) area where five birds were (~20ft up side of hill) Live Oak 53 field Road Gate At the limb just below the vertical limb with the holes were numerous body and a few red-tipped crown feathers, clearly from an Acorn Woodpecker. Perhaps where one had been eaten previously? (What may have been Bobcat scat [which I should check for remains] was on the next limb down). I returned at dusk to watch roosting - and it looks like I may be in luck! 5 birds roosted in the willow just across the creek between the Westgate tree and the Live Oak, a hole where I can at least attempt an ambush. A 6th almost roosted here, but left at the last minute, apparently to roost in one of the holes facing (in fact, right above) the road in the Westgate tree, where a bird was peering out at me when I passed. 10 March I was ready for an ambush, but only 3 birds apparently roosted in the willow this evening - and 1 of them in the top hole! I think I think jPRW#242 was one of the 2 in the bottom hole. 15 March 1745. Counted stores, noting that none remained in Gate tree! Meanwhile sitting atop Westgate were 4 birds

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 5 Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (15 March) including the 2 wing-streamered immatures (238 and 242). The count: Gate tree: O 355 Total: 355 Westgate tree: 355 Another bird was in the top of the Westgate tree, making 5. When I walked by several flew done to the sycamores by Hallisey's, where there was at least a 6th bird, and a 7th was in one of the holes in the Westgate tree above the road. One of the birds atop the Westgate tree was a tail spotted, un- banded ♂ (#320, presumed juvenile). ♂ La #58 was one of the birds who flew into the Westgate tree at 1955. At dusk, 6 birds roosted in the willow by the creek, 3 in each of the 2 holes (2 were the wing-streamered juveniles). I saw none looking out of any of the holes in either Gate or Westgate. 17 March Only 1 bird roosted in the hole tonight. 21 March Birds are now roosting in the willow and back in their '75 nest hole. 9 April 915. lots of movement in both Wgate and Gate areas; occasional chasing of somebody. lots of flights between storage trees and from one side of road to the other. Birds seen: ①♂ub with tail spots. Assumed #321, who should probably be assumed a juvenile from last spring, rather than adult. ②-3 2 unbanded ♂; #322 and 374. ④ ♂ 258 ⑤ ♂ RRLW#238. ⑥ ♂ 58 ⑦♂ 60 ⑧ ♂ 242. More birds? lots of walea greeting, lots of flights.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (9 April) There is definitely some chasing going on, but it is not clear who @ are the victims. 940. Breaking. Things are quiet. A couple Grits just headed up the road. At dusk, birds were roosting in the Westgate nest hole (4 birds scared out in an unsuccessful attempt to catch them the next morning) and the Gate nest tree (the Live Oak), where I will be careful not to disturb them. 12 April More fiddling around to catch Grits at the Westgate sycamore, all unsuccessful. Bird (i) is (are) still roosting in the nest hole in the live Oak. 18 April 1900. Birds roosting in '75 nest holes of Westgate and Gate (the Live Oak). 20 April I went ahead and stuck up the net in front of the roost hole, but caught only 1 bird (the others spoke in such a situation) who malheureusement turned out to be 858, who I undid and released. Also seen was 8RRC#238. 22 April Most or all Grits roosted in the Live Oak. 28 April 920. Fair amount of activity - lots of Garrigue displays, some chasing of apparent intruders. One bird seen [illegible] sallying from bark low in trunk of a Live Oak within the canopy, apparently looking for insects. He fluttered 3-4 ft. but from the trunk, still within the canopy, and returned to the trunk a second or so later. He did this 4-5 times before sitting and eventually flying up to greet a 2nd bird in the vicinity. None was identified. flights 2 one flight.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation 29 April 1450. Walked through the territory, finding birds only out along the road. Two of these I noticed had wing- streamers who were sitting peacefully in the Westgate tree, then flew to one of the sycamores by Hallisey's, then went about 1/8 miles further down the valley to a large sycamore @ Warner's. A third bird flew in that direction as well, but not with them. The two turned out to be 3PRW(183) and 3DSRW(222), both first year birds from Road 1. *there [illegible] Warner's Hallisey's Gate Hastings Road Group 30 April 1015. 8242 and 8238 in Westgate tree; several others there and in Gate tree. 2 May 830. 6 birds seen flying into Gate storage tree, probably from Gate '75 nest tree. Several then flew up across the road a ways. All two known holes were checked, but none was in any of them. 3 May 1615. 25 birds around the field across the creeks, including 3RRLW#238. None in known holes. 4 May 1900. Again numerous birds in the field across the creeks, including a & (and, as it turned out, a 2nd bird as well) in the Gate '75 nest hole in the Live Oak. So I went ahead and opened it, but there was nothing inside. Perhaps I should consider going ahead and ambushing here.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate. Hastings Reservation 7 May 1835. walking back here, I initially flushed several birds from the inner field, who promptly flew across the Gate over to the side of School Hill just above the road to Tregea's; the same place where the [illegible] revolution occurred several months ago. This time everybody appeared to be here again (though only ♀6, ♂238 and ♂242 were identified), but I only saw 1, possibly 2 intruders. They, however, were being displaced rather vigorously. 1850. Everybody gone from up here, except for one ♂. 1855. Birds returning. 1857. ♂242 here still chasing somebody; other calls from a main road area can be heard. 1915. ♂238 still here, others gone. Me going 9 May 2000. Checked holes. The hole in the willow tree used at least for a time as an AW roost hole is now inhabited by a Flicker. Otherwise, the only hole with AW in it ♂ seems to be the "Gate" ?S nest hole in the Live Oak. Probably roosting rather than nesting, however. The roost festivities were exciting indeed: all the birds assembled in various spots around the inner field about 2015 and all proceeded to karrit-cut at the top of their sprinkles for a good 5 minutes or more. It was positively exciting - almost enough to make me want to start bobbing my head and karrit-cutting myself! Eventually the birds started sorting themselves out for roosting. At least 4, possibly 5 roosted in the Live Oak. At least 2 other holes were used: one in the Gate Sycamore storage tree and the other in my favorite, the Wate

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (9 May) tree. I don't know how many birds roosted in either of them, however. Unfortunately, one or the other is likely to be the (forthcoming) nest at this point, I'm afraid. ♂242 was one of those roosting in the Live Oak. 19 May 1140. ♀ in one of the holes in the Gade sycamore tree; unfortunately it looks as though it may be the long-awaited nest. 21 May 1820. Nobody in holes; 2 birds in Gade tree. Then I noticed several birds well up the hill towards ARF, where eventually, 5+ birds were visible in and around a large Live Oak which stands out up there. I watched for 10 minutes or so before several flew down to the road. I did not see any evidence that there might be a nest up there, but I wouldn't be too surprised were it so. 22 May 1715. Toured around, finding numerous birds only up the side of School Hill where they were involved in chasing somebody or other. ♂238 seen up there. 2020. Only hole anybody seems to be in is the one in the Live Oak. Staying for roosting- A whole lot (6+?) of birds roosted in the Live Oak- this is clearly their main spot. Nobody appeared to roost in either of the sycamores, but there was a slight hint that 1-2 birds may have used a second hole in the Live Oak unknown to me- 25 May 900. ♀ in hole in Live Oak. Could finally be it, I hope. 1800. Went up - nothing in the hole yet, but it has clearly been worked on, as it is 2-4" deeper than last time. Thus, I set up for an ambush instead. Also checked stores, of which I could find none!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (25 May) I guess that this could explain why these birds are all over the place these days - School Hill, up the side of the Arnold, etc. They probably are wandering around looking for sap trees, flowers, and other more widely scattered resources. It also makes it rather less certain that they'll nest at all - it will be interesting to see in any case. 2020. Birds didn't roost in the Live Oak, as far as I could tell. 26 May 815. Took down rope ladder. Followed a bird who flew from Westgate's tree up into the hill where he joined at least 5 other birds who were all hawking and wake-ing about a dead oak tree (approximately spot G17 on the Yerex map). I watched as best I could for several minutes. The birds were quite active and noisy, but I did not notice any chasing which might indicate another group's involvement. What was evident, however, is that they were frequenting a hole in the tree facing the road. Several visits, often by 2-3 birds simultaneously, were made to it and into it; following which the birds would fly out and join the others on the top of the dead trunk. Evidently they are interested in holes to the extent that I'm sure they do not have a nest yet, but would like to start. This one would be a pain to get to, but better than many of the alternatives. Later today I'll try to get to the tree when I go up the Arnold. 1830. Stopped at ARF and walked to the above tree, where nobody was. It is very close to ARF, too and almost makes me wonder whether it could have been ARF too birds rather than Gate birds, or a mixture of the 2 (as I did see a bird fly from Gate up there). Evidently there is more to be learned about all this.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation 27 May 2005. Nobody in any holes anywhere, in fact, nobody at all. 2020. Several birds now over in the Live Oak field across the creek. 30 May 1800. First walked by the Live Oak, flushing one bird who flew over to the side of School Hill to greet several others. I followed, finding at least 5 birds up there, including ①♂ub, ②♂238 and ♂242, the latter of which held something in his mouth as though he were about to feed somebody. I checked around, flushing the birds up above the chaparral even higher on School Hill, but did not find any holes. Later, as I wrote, several of the birds had come down to the Gate sycamore. I think they may have a nest up there; I'll clearly have to watch to find out. 31 May 1330. ♀ in hole in Gate sycamore ♂ storage tree: ? 1730. Watched these birds up the side of School Hill, where lots of birds and activity was taking place. (♂RRLW seen). One definite displacement of an intruder was seen, otherwise the birds were seemingly wandering up the side of the hill and at various spots along the slope 1745. Several birds flew down to main storage area. 1755. Noone has returned to School Hill slope yet. I'm off. 1 June 1945. Nobody much here. Several (5-6) birds were seen flying along the edge of Haystack Hill quite far up (nearly at the edge of the clearing above the chaparral) toward the Big Creek canyon; these birds were almost "pack-like" in their movements and may have been this group. Following this I could find noone except for 2-3 birds heard by the Westgate tree. → 2015. ♂m/la #58 2015. [illegible] in field edge at side of Haystack. A couple others there somewhere.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes famicivorus Gate (1 June) 2020. Pretty quiet. 858 still preening on the other side of the creek. No other calling or birds in sight. 2025. Made a final pass of the holes, finding bird(s) in one of the holes in the Live Oak—not the usual one, but the one 2 levels up from it just below the mess of them at the top of the trunk. 5 June 1500. At least 2 of these birds were way up the side of School Hill at the edge of the School Hill West area. They flushed down toward Gate. 1920. 4 birds flushed from sap (?) live oak; another 3 at least already in the opened hole in the Live Oak. 7 June 1545. 1 bird flushed from opened hole in Live Oak. No baby sounds coming from inside, but perhaps this is it at last. 9 June There continues to be activity in the Live Oak everytime I check, but I never see a bird consistently in one of the holes. Surely something is going on, however. 10 June 1630. Nobody in Live Oak. About 5+ birds, though, were more or less quietly in an oak right by the fork in the roads leading to Tregea’s and Hastings. I looked around but didn’t see any good reason for them to have been there; possibly they were sapsucking. 12 June 1930. Bird in Live Oak opened hole. None seen/heard elsewhere. 13 June 1945. Nobody in/near Live Oak. 1 bird along creek up from the Gate; others along side of School Hill, where I saw ①③ RRI #238, ② Rub, ③ Rub [② w/ tail spots]. Fighting and chasing was going on and lasted about 5 minutes until 1950. Birds were quite active; drilling, bark gleaning (?) was observed; one bird was trying to dislodge an oak gall and possibly succeeded in one

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (13 June) case, following which he possibly drilled into it. 1815. Things are pretty quiet here now. No birds in sight. 1825. Birds back, for on near the gate itself. I continued to chase around here to 1900; at that time several birds were again up the side of School Hill, but they all seemed interested in obtaining food one way or another and not in attending a nest anywhere. 1905. (D^8 BP-w) M #258 up on side of School Hill. Birds are drilling, pulling at oak leaves (?), and bark gleaning. 1905. leaving. 15 June 1130. Several birds in and around the holes in the gate sycamore. Nothing more definite; birds probably merely thermoregulating. 16 June 1730. Most or all of the group was flushed from the Live Oak next to the creek where they are presumably sap-sucking. Nobody in the holes. A ♀ and [illegible] ♂ RRL #238 seen. 23 June [illegible] 1945. Birds here were just up along the road # toward R1 a ways, flushing up the side of the Arnold. Later several came to the storage/sap area. 2000. 8238 and a 2nd ♂ in a Live Oak up in the midst of the chaparral on Haystack hawkings. Nobody else seen. 27 June 2000. Birds roosting in the 2 sycamores 28 June 1040. ♂ with heavy tail spotting in Gate sycamore. 1730 - 1745. Numerous birds around the Gate Field, most presumably sap-sucking. A ♂ seen. No evidence of any hanky-panky. 14 July [illegible] 1030. Several birds hawkings from the Gate Sycamore. 2 unbanded ♂ here together (!). A ♀ have also; several others over in Gate Field.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (14 July) 1050. 8 red w/n #238 in Gate Sycamore with 8ub. 1105. Birds have disappeared, mostly up toward ARF. I'm going. 28 July 1730. 8 238 and a 2nd 8 atop the Gate tree. 4 August 1200. These birds are pretty much invisible as they are obviously sapsucking in some live Oaks by the creek. 1215. Got a good glimpse at 5 birds nearby: ① 8 m/lq #58; ② 8ub; ③ 8 red w/n #258; ④ 8 238; and a ⑤ bird, another 8. 11 August 930. Quite a few birds here; at least 3 flushed from the Weate sycamore and others at Gate; all going across the road and up the side of the knoll, where 25 birds were hawking and fairly actively flying and wakeing. 18 August 1230. Birds up side of Arnold Flat Hill; at least 4 there. I climbed up, seeing one 8ub while the others flushed without being seen. See map for approximate location. One bird was flushed from a small Live Oak and may have been sapsucking; the others I would guess were getting green acorns. 1 September 945. Quite a few birds around; 8238 in the main Gate sycamore and an 8ub 8 in the Weate sycamore were identified. 6 September 740. 8 m / -? either 58 or 60 seen, very possibly the latter. 1130. 8 or-w/n/or #258 eating green acorn in Gate sycamore. 1140. 8 m / no band #60 eating green acorn in Weate sycamore. 7 September 1230. ① 8 lc/lq #58 in Weate sycamore. Others toward ARF. 1245. ② 8 or-w/n/or #258 in Gate tree. ③ 8ub there also. ④ 8 RRLW #238 in Weate tree [illegible] . 8 now hawking in Gate sycamore. 1255. ⑤ 8 Da/Da - #60 now in Weate tree. 1300. ⑥ 8ub just flew down into Gate tree. 1330. Birds still appearing now and again, but nobody new.

No text detected

1976 (Walter) D. Koenig 15 Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation (7 September) 1332. ♂ LA/LA #60 landed at a high limb in the Westgate tree where there are already 7+ big green acorns stored. Let the fall begin! 11 September 1615. 4-5 birds on Blonquist's near the Pump were most likely Gate birds, ♂238 seen among them in any case. They were clearly harvesting acorns from this otherwise unclaimed area, see Pump notes for more details. 14 September 1700. While walking from Hay-Blom down to 1840 I heard several birds (3-5) on top of Haystack (see map); suspecting more of the shenanigans of 11 Sept. I checked them, and was fortunate evenough to see ♂ RRLW (a Blue spot) #238 of Gate, from whence these birds no doubt come. 15 September 1210. While pulling up nets at Mackberts, ♂ RRLW #238 briefly flew into Rogranany! Clearly these birds are wandering around all over! 8 October 1150. (1) ♂ Or-Wm/Or #258 in Gate sycamore; several others here storing, etc. 1200. (2) ♂ Da/Da #60. (3) ♂ Or-Da/Or #238. (4) ♀ub. (5) ♂ ub. 1235. Leaving. ♂58 not seen for sure, but I think I may have gotten a glance at him as well. Stores: W.Gate tree: 290 Gate tree: 0 290 10 October Ruge: ♀ 424. Last seen 9 April, ♂ no good evidence for her again and apparently gone; next good series of birds were seen here on 4 August -> Disappeared about 6 June ± 2 months. ♂ 242. Last seen 30 May, gone by 13 June -> Disappeared about 7 June ± 1 week. This bird was always rather conspicuous and I felt its absence rather early. 14 October Saw ♂238 on my way up to the Arnold.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation 27 October 1145. 8'258 in Waate tree when I came to count stores: Waate tree: 471 Gate tree: 160 { 6.31 23 November 1200. lots of birds here, mostly sitting around in the 2 storage trees: 1) 8 BP-w/m #258, 2) 8 RRLW #238, 3) 8 m #60, plus 2 unbanded 88 together in the Waate sycamore. Offhand I don't know where this 2nd ub 8 is to come from, but he is apparently here indeed and will have to be dealt with somehow. 10 December 1500. Counted stores: Waate tree: 545 Gate tree: 408 { 953 Waate tree in particular pretty well full.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Warp 5 Hastings Reservation 6 June 1910. Walked up here for the first time this year, hearing a bird in the vicinity but not seeing anybody. I did check the storage areas and found a few acorns remaining; though stores are low it would be worth looking for a nest here. I found one fresh-looking beautiful hole, but I didn't hear anybody inside and I suspect I'm better off returning when it's earlier and warmer. I also ran across an old large Valley Oak which had a fair number of holes, but no stored acorns, down between the other storage trees and the road which I'm not sure I'd seen previously. 9 June 1530. Up above storage area. Nobody seen/heard when I walked up. 1540. Some calling heard in the vicinity. Nobody seen. 1550. ♂ seen on opposite slope from me sitting. 1610. By now it is raining hard enough to induce me to leave. In the meantime, the above ♂ has done nothing, but some calling down below me indicated a 2nd and maybe a 3rd bird. 1815. Back again. There is now a ♀ in the same tree where the ♂ had been a couple hours ago. 1827. 2nd bird appeared again briefly. 1845. Everything's exactly as it is when I arrived, except that it's beginning to rain again. I'm going. 16 June 1800. Here on the hill again. But soon walked up and around the culvert here in search of birds. Eventually Florence flushed one who flew down past the storage trees, while a couple minutes later I flushed a 2nd over near where I'd seen them sitting previously. Probably there are only 2 birds here; I suspect they do not have a nest. Following this I continued around the hill to a 2nd

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Warp 5 Hastings Reservation (16 June) culvert, this one almost just up from R1, where there are a few more storage areas, some stored acorns, at least one beautiful hole, and one bird in the vicinity. This is another group, and I will come up to check it out again later, as it is not as hard to get to as Warp 5 and is situated in a small nearly level open area which will make observation fairly easy. The group name is undetermined as yet, but when decided on will follow the notes for this group. 5 July 9 October 1045. An unbanded adult 8 was seen storing an acorn in the storage tree down just above the road between R1 and gate; presumably this is a Warp 5 bird. 3 November 1440. Watching from hide. 1507. A bird landed in the granary - but was gone almost immediately. Possibly a second bird here also. 1525. ? down below; a 2nd bird is calling off to the side. 1540. Some more calling off to the side 1610. No return yet, but clearly a group (probably a pair) does indeed reside here. Already the sun has sunk below the level needed to illuminate [illegible] of any but the top of PO Hill; perhaps earlier would be better. A bird did just return, but I scared him off when I looked to see where he was. 4 November 1140. Back for another watch. 1205. ?ub appeared briefly. 1210. The ? sat here for 5 minutes: I didn't see her well, but I think she is unbanded also.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Warp 5 Hastings Reservation (4 November) 1240. ♀ is up, and is presently sitting below me preening. No doubt these 2 birds, the ♂ and ♀, constitute the group. Since activity at the granary is minimal, however, I'll have to find the roost hole if I want to catch them. 9 December 2 birds seen here at dusk, both in the large Valley Oak down by the road.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Valhalla Hastings Reservation 16 June First discovered this territory, stuck in a culvert above Road I and below ARF, today while reandering around from Warp 5, which is in the next culvert down. One beautiful roost hole in a Valley Oak caught my attention (the entrance to Valhalla); just down from this, across a smell field, is a granary with a few acorns in it. One bird was just across the ravine from the area, but otherwise no activity was immediately obvious. 30 June Got here just at dusk, which was probably too late to see much. However, one bird did fly up from below as it was verging on night but then saw me and flew up and around the area. Nobody else was seen here, and nobody that I saw roosted in their beautiful hole. 25 September 1130. 2 birds flushed from storage tree where storage has begun; they went up, not down toward R1. Watching. 1230. Nobody returned, though some calling was heard up the hill several times (toward ARF). 27 October 1715. Watching. Contrary to my expectations, there seem to be few if any acorns stored here. 1800. In keeping with the storage situation, nobody showed up. 3 November 1415. I was coming up to get the hide, quite ready to write this "group" off, when I looked up to find a bird in the lovely roost hole! He eventually flew out and over toward Warp 5, not down to R1 area. I should perhaps watch here at dusk. There are still no stores here.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation 11 January 1430. Removed 70 acorns from the Valley Oak storage tree here and 30 from the Sycamore. Acorns marked: Main tree (Valley Oak): ① 15 Yellow on N fork of middle limb. ② Red 15 same facing road: ③ 15 Blue facing Finch, center main trunk → ④ 15 Green, 5 high, 10 low, same limb low → high ⑤ 7 Sienna in a column below ④ (light) Sycamore: ⑥ 17 Yellow: below 2nd nest: ⑦ 16 Red above ⑥ Total marked: 100 No birds were identified; things were fairly quiet.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation 10 February 900. Watching ①♂183 (PRW) in storage tree 920. ②♂RRLW#249 storing acorn, ①183 begging below him with sque-titr calls. ③♀unbanded #346 eating acorn in storage tree. There is lots of activity up above me (mostly waka greeting calls) on the hillside. So far only an occasional bird has come down this far. ②♀69 or-ta/da in storage tree. 940. ⑤♀ LP/LB#92 " " " to store an acorn briefly. 945. ①♀ here for the 3rd or 4th time. No other 1st yr. birds yet, but still lots of calling above me. 1010. Same adults have returned several more times to eat/work stores. Still no more 1st yr. birds. 1015. ⑥♂unbanded#347 moved an acorn in storage tree, left shortly afterwards. 1020. Intruder chased by ① and another bird first from the storage tree down to the road, then across the road. 1021. ④♀PRW#180 came to storage tree below①. 1045. I'm going to attempt to find out what's going on above me. Nobody here. 1052. ⑧♂OrLW#182 down eating acorn in storage tree. 1105. I've circled around the knoll and survey well up the canyon directly up from the storage tree. There are several trees here where birds are frequenting. Most have been unbanded or unidentifiable, but in one of the more out-of-the-way spots I did see BPRW#181. + sap(?) Livebark ⑩181 seen here x other spots where thenanbirds Road Storage Fimble Creek

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (10 February) 1125. Several birds at each of the 2 x spots now. No wing-streamered birds seen. Birds are apparently sapsucking in a Live Oak in the bottom of the gulch here (+ on map). 1145. I moved down slightly to scare off the birds on the knoll that I could not see below me (⊙ on map). I could not tell what the birds had been doing; they were in a patch of young Blue Oaks and flushed first to a large Live Oak below (if I were forced to guess, I'd say they were probably sapsucking, but I could see very little resembling sap holes, and in any case, what would douglasii be doing with its sap running this time of year?) The birds, ☺ at least 4-5 of them, eventually flushed across the road and then all went up the ridge of Poison Oak Hill about 100 meters before stopping in a Live Oak there. In the group I saw all 4 of the early juveniles (180, 181, 182, 183); 181 had been definitely come from the area where I'd just flushed birds. I did not see any other wing-streamered birds: almost ½ way to first saddle ↓ Saddle PO Hill (×) Saprance of last year. 1200. Now I'm lower, and above me again several birds are greeting (about where the ☺ is). A chase occurs, then a minute later ♀ PRW is still in the tree where the chase occurred and then flies down rather than up to the other calling

No text detected

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.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road I Hastings Reservation 11 February 930. Counted stores: Main Valley Oak: 2049 Nest sycamore + Misc: 522 2571 Marked acorns: 76/100 found with 5 moved. During this, occasional activity was noted above me on the hillside (not so much over toward yesterday's foci), where I saw 3RRW and several others. (also j9BPRW) 1125. Back in The hide to see if I can get some pictures. 1230. I did get a few pictures, but nothing too exciting. jwh and jDrLW did come by, as did jBP. 8 March 1430. Saw 8183 over in storage tree eating an acorn. lots of calling from over here at various times during the afternoon. 29 March 1545. Several birds over in the nest tree here remind me that spring is well nigh upon us. The Count: Main Valley Oak: 1396 Nest Sycamore: 413 TOTAL: 1969 Miscellaneous: 160 8 April 1845. Saw at least 7 birds roost (5 in the 2nd nest hole, 2 in one of the holes on the opposite side), including 8DRW#182. I better start keeping a lookout here pretty soon. 16 April 1630. Watching roost/nest tree from hide. 1650. 5 birds are together working stores in one of the miscellaneous branches by the creek, including ① 8ub346, ② 8BPRW#81, ③ 8PRW#183, and ④ 8DBRW#222. + other 1707. ⑤ 8WRW#180 there now. ⑥ 8ca-or, #69 now working stores/ eating acorn in same area. A few cells have come from main storage tree, but none has flown to the sycamore roost tree as yet.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koening Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (16 April) 1715. Walked down to nest tree; a bird flushed from the late '75 nest hole. I therefore immediately walked back, retrieved the ladder, returned at 1800, and opened the hole; no eggs were inside. It does seem like the likely site for the nest this year, however. 17 April 1200. No eggs in the hole yet. 18 April 1700. Nothing in hole. 1900. Birds roosting in the above hole and the old nest hole on the other side cut open by Michael. 20 April 900. Lots of birds in storage area when I came to check holes. I didn't find any woodpeckers in them but there was a Starling (!) in the early '75 nest hole who will have to be dealt with. 905. As it happens, the activity is again being caused by the persistent presence of several intruders here, putting the circumstance into the standard frenzy, complete with all symptoms. The only difference is that in this case the resident birds far outnumber the intruders by an estimated 8:2; and thus have the situation relatively well in hand, as someone is just about anywhere in the territory at any one time and as a result the intruders never get to stop anywhere for more than a few seconds, and certainly do not make it to the storage tree. I watched to 945, seeing 8 residents: (1) RRL #249, (2) Pub, (3) #669, and 5 1st year birds - #180, #181, #182, #183, #222. One intruder was unmarked, unwilling streamer, a second was OrRW w/DBlue Bar, neither was sexed. This makes him #246 from Haystack-Blouquit, no less.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 7 Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (20 April) As far as I could tell these 2 were the only constant intruders, though a 3rd could have been present. Meanwhile similar-sounding noises are coming from up the road further. 952. ⑦ ⑨ m/⑫ ⑩ ⑫ in storage tree. 1000. I better see what's up the road. Chasing and frantic activity continues. Purge: ⑧ 223. Last seen 2 Nov.'75; Gone by 10 Feb.'76→Disappeared about 22 Dec.±1 month 23 April 1100. No eggs, but still lots of activity, including some good fighting with intruders - similar but perhaps even more intense than on 20 April. ⑧ 180 and ⑦ 182 seen. I will come back to watch later. 27 April 1715. Activity noticeably subdued. ⑧ 249 seen. Nobody in holes. 29 April 1450. ⑧ 183 and ⑧ 222 (both 1st year) over at Gate and beyond. See Gate notes. 1600. ⑦ 182 seen at R1. 30 April ⑧ 249; ⑨ 180 seen while watching at Finch. Also ⑧ 181. 1 May 1930. Checked the territory, flushing one bird only near the nest tree. Returned to watch the nest tree at dusk. Most of the birds roosted in the low hole facing the road (including ⑧ 180, 181, ⑧ 182); 2 birds, however, roosted in the late nest hole of last year. Apparently nobody roosted on the other side of the tree, however. 2 May 845. Saw ⑧ 249; he and most others were up above the storage tree eating Black Oak catkins and flowers. None in lower known holes.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koerig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (2 May) I returned about 1100 and even though nobody uses in the holes I checked the 2 likely ones anyway. Nothing, however. 4 May Drove by about 800 flushing a bird from the lower hole facing the road in the sapmore. Could be it, I suppose. 7 May 1920. Flushed a bird from one of the upper holes facing the road - I sure hope that's not it! I've seen nobody in that other hole since the May 4 entry. 8 May 1150. Bird flushed from lower hole facing the road again. 1330. Hole opened: 6 eggs! 9 May 1250. I'm in luck. Eggs! Yahoo! 10 May 1530. Egg check yielded no more eggs. 20 May 1130. Counted stores: main tree: 1265 Nest tree: 407 Others 23 } 22 May 1815. Measured babies, 6 of whom made it. They are 3-4 days old, so I suspect that one egg just didn't hatch rather than the alternatives (starvation, [illegible] accidental injury). 30 May 1105. ♂222 flushed from the road (he was on the road) while driving 6q. 1 June 1855. A bird was flushed from the nest tree, possibly from the late '75 nest hole - a 2nd nest possibly? 6 June 910. ♂181 flushed from on road right near the nest tree. 1030. ♂183 seen at nest hole. 1740. Watching from hide (at nest tree). Flushed 2 birds from late '75 nest hole - were these birds roosting already or do they have a second nest? Nobody in storage tree, but some calling coming from forest above the storage area field. (go to P.10)

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Roering Melanerpes famicivorus Road 1 Nest Record Hastings Reservation 4 May 800 Bird first flushed from nest hole 8 May 1330. Hole opened: 6 eggs, Measured: ① 26.9 x 20.4 ④ 27.1 x 20.4 ② 27.1 x 20.0 ⑤ 27.3 x [illegible] 20.3 ③ 26.0 x 19.5 ⑥ 28.0 x 19.0 also, 3,2, and 5 are noticeably ① wider at one pole than the other; 1,4, and 6 are quite regular: ② All are translucent 9 May 1245 7 eggs: ② 25.9 x 19.7 shape 10 May 1530 7 eggs, unchanged 18 May Estimated hatching date [illegible] young 22 May 1815 First check: 6 young, no trace of 7th [4] 22 May 1815 10 June 1900 291 ① JDB - Maure ② Maure ③ P.W-B.B(n) ④ LB ⑤ LP ⑥ - 292 293 294 295 17.3 11/19 18.5 11/21 21.1 12/22 16.6 9/20 21.0 11/21 13.2 10/19 -10790 -8/-199 -1/-94 -7/27/87 -7/-94 72.7 62/42 86.4 67/43 83.2 64/40 78.6 59/36 79.1 61/41 Not in nest

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 10 Melanerpes jamicivorus Hastings Reservation Read 1 (6 June) 1800. O9ub seen by creele in sycamore. Nobody at nest as yet. 1830. A & finally visited the nest. 1840. O183 came and fed the babies. 1846. 846 landed at hole but did not go inside; 8183 is still in it looking out. 1848. 846 came and fed. 1900. Above birds still in hole. leaving. Just as I left 8222 landed at the hole with food but did not go inside. 1515. 8249, several others in usual areas near nest or by storage tree. 9 June 1800. Opened hole just to make sure that somebody's still intact, and blissfully there are several kits inside ready to be banded. 10 June 1700. Banded and bled the kits, of whom 5 made it. (The runt did not.) 16 June 1745. OPRW#182 flushed from nest area, ORRLW#236 flushed from nest hole. 17 June 1845. OP RW#183 and ORRLW#249 plus 3-5 others over on the side of PO Hill in their sap area. 19 June 1715. 9181 seen near nest area 28 June 1200. Counted stores: Main tree 1030 } 1275 Supernore: 245 30 June 1430. 8182 and [illegible]. 2 juns, in nest tree, WPRW sitting in storage tree elsewhere. 8232 and another jun both resting nearby in the nest tree. 1645. 2 adult 99 and 8222 flushed over to side of PO Hill. 3 July 1820. Birds here are up on the sunny side of PO Hill, sapsucking surely. One jun. seen; also 9181. Unfortunately, the birds

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (3 July) all flushed far up the hillside (up to the ridge in several cases), before much more could be ascertained. There were lots of birds, however. 28 July 1800. $181 and $222 in nest tree when I drove by (latter in a hole). Counted stores: Valley Oak: 728 ? 839 Sycamore nest: 111 31 July 745. Watching. Still cool with low clouds. 835. Several birds have now finally. One got chased briefly. Seen: (1) $ or/la/ - #69; (2) $^Lp/#72. (3) $^M^-#293. (4) $ub. (5) $181. Cub got an acorn from the storage tree; otherwise there's a lot of tapping going on in several areas. (6) $DBLW#222. 855. Another brief chase of an intruder. Several birds above me on the hill. 905.(2) PRW#83 being harassed by a jw. Who wasn't seen. 930.(3) $ r-w-r, #180; wing streamer probably gone. Birds still mostly up above me with 1 or 2 flying down into view periodically. 940. Both (3) j294 and (10) j295 together in storage tree. 945. j294 trying to dislodge marked acorn in the storage tree. j293 looking over stores also. 1000. In storage tree right now: Cub, $72, j295; $72 drilling at stores. 1010. Another brief chase of an intruder by Cub. (10) OrLW#182 by road. 1100. 3 $s in storage tree; hawking. $181 squaw displaying - $72, by the way, has very conspicuous tail bars. 1107. 3 birds atop storage tree: j293 right next to $72, $181 just below them. $181 chattering and begging occasionally. j293 is sideways on the limb, oblique with his tail toward $72. His head is down in a clearly submissive posture. $72 looks at him, and possibly has pecked at him already, but the first act I see

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (31 July) is her actually hopping briefly on the juvenile's back in a good imitation of a mounting. She hops off after but a second; the juv. remains as before, vocalizing a few soft squees. The ♀ looks around a few times, then turns to the juv again, this time moving up on him and pecking at him several times. She stops again after a few seconds; the juv. finally raises his head and comes to sit more vertically alongside the ♀. After a minute the ♀ flew off. 1245. Looks goin for the other 2 babies - I've seen the 3 5-6 times apiece (by now) in and out of the storage tree. But what of ♀249? He's never been one to hide before. Clearly it will take another good morning of watching here before I can conclude much. 9 August 925. Watching. Warm and sunny today. 933 ♀♀#28 hawking in dead sycamore by the road. 935. ♂♀ub atop granary, preening. Another bird in tree. She was acting a little strange at first, but she apparently belongs here. 943. ♂ub still here. Another ♀ hawking below in the dead sycamore. 945. The ♂ub may have just been chased out of the granary by a 2nd ♀, but if so she came right back and is in the granary again. 952. ♂ub in storage tree. 1000. ♂ub, ♂ub, and 2 juvs together in-top of storage tree; ♂j 293, the other either 294 or 295. j293 eating an acorn now. 1005. Someone was chased briefly out of the granary by 2-3 ♀ints. 1007. ♀972 appeared with a freshly picked Q.lobata acorn, which she proceeded to eat. ♂j294 in granary now. 1012. ♂♀ or-lg/dg#67 flew down here from above the hide area. 1015. j294 just flew off with an acorn from the granary; ♂j 295

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koening Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (9 August) landed here; #69 still sitting on the other side of the tree. 1016. @BPRW#227 down below in the sycamore. 1018. @♀ Red-wh/LP #180 in view in the granary. @BPRW#181 down below @♂ORLW#182. 1030. Within 15-20 seconds 5-6 birds had congregated atop the storage tree, including 2 j-u-ws, #181, #72, #66, and #ub(?). #181 and the j-u-ws chattered loudly and constantly in submissive behavior, but this did not keep the adult ♀ from pecking mercilessly at the j-u-ws. However, even as one was doing so, as a third bird came up behind them the attacker would stop and chatter briefly in a flanker display of appeasement to the approaching bird. Thus, for several minutes, a great deal of chattering, some wing-flap begging, pecking, and even one grapple was taking place here among the heterogeneous mix of group members all briefly in one place here. 1125. j294 back in storage tree eating an acorn (from the stores). 1145. #69 still here hawking; others down below by the creek and nest tree 1200. j293 working stores and eating an acorn here by himself. 1225. Leaving; nothing new. Down between the nest tree and the creek is @♂BPRW#183. 11 August Purge: j291, j292, not seen after banding on 10 June 1976. 1 September 1000. Counted stores: Main tree: 397 Sycamore Nest: 17 414 Lots of birds were around, but none were identified. 15 September Pan watched here this morning, 24 September #180 intruding over at Finch - see Finch notes. 25 September 1015. Seen when arriving: ♀ - /Yellow heavy tail spotting; #292??

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 (25 September) 1030. Watching from hide. 1040. ⚪♀ub came to storage tree, gave a formidable alarm call, but remained mainly in the tree. 1055. ⚫j♀Red/DB-w/n(u) #295 eating green acorn (newly picked) below by the road (nothing to ♀) 1105. ⚫♀r-w-r/light #180 eating acorn below. Birds seem mostly up the road a ways; only occasionally coming down to here. 1110. ⚫Dub down below now. 1120. ⚫♂or - 3ul/da #69 above me doing some hawking in a Valley 1125. ⚫♀ M /Rid-la #293 preening in the storage tree 1130. Moved up to Valhalla temporarily. 1230. Back at Rl. Only birds seen were up the road 100m+. 1250. ⚪♀M/DB-w?#92 in main tree with Dub. 1305. ♀295 just landed on top of who was apparently an intruder, who disappeared forthwith. 1315. ⚫♂PRW#183. 1325. ⚪♂Red/DB-w/n #294. (still♂) 1330. Briefly 3 birds (one who appeared to be ♀ /yellow#292? again) were frantically hawking from a Valley lake nearby- each making short 3 second flights followed by 2 second intervals for about 2 minutes. 1340. left- 1500. Back again. Birds flew to PO Hill when I arrived. 1525. Several birds back, inc. ⚫♂DBRW#222. 1605. A ♀ in the storage tree just caught a Bombbylid fly. 1615. Walked around, finding several birds way up on PO Hill. 1645. More storing going on by several birds

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (25 September) 1703. ♀180 storing an acorn. Various ♂♂ (69, 180, ub) seem to be of the storing. 1705. leaving. Two comments: the "♀" - seen earlier, feared to be j292, is much more likely to have been ♀ - LP#180; finally, I certainly do not know what happened to ♀181 and ♂182, but either they are playing very scarce or are gone- very possibly involved in a move somewhere or other, I should think. 27 September Counted stores: Valley Oak 570 Sycamore (nest): 25 } 595 [many prob. from last year | A few from last year remaining in both trees] ♂PRW#183 seen; several birds in the granary working stores. 29 October Counted stores: Valley Oak: 1568 } Nest sycamore: 562 } 2130 A couple birds were around but • their main center of activity was not apparent. 3 November 1625. ♂rawe/m#183 in nest tree. 2 others in Sycamore perch tree: ♀DBEW#222 and ♀M/or-#293. 8 November 1640. ♀R-w-r/m#180. 17 November 1100. Watching. 1140. Finally someone: (1) ♂red/DB-wr(m)#295. 1220. Ridiculous. Leaving and returning later on. 1420. Back. Net up; captive set in cage up in tree near nut. 1422. Several karrit-cuts by the captive. 1423. (2) ♂B&/DB-yel#294 here and interested. (3) ♂180 here 30 seconds later. both looking. 1424. No vocalizations. ♂294 left. 1425. Both birds gone. 1429. ♂294 back. 1431. Buzzed the cage. 1435. 2 more passes at the cage. (4) ♂PRW#183 here now.

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation (17 November) ♂294 is clearly quite concerned. ♂183 gave several karrit-cuts, and flew off. 1439. ♀6ub here. ♂294 on cage pecking at captive. ♀Fia-or #69 here now too. Several birds karrit-cutting. 1440. ♀Fum/Red-LB #293 here too. The 2 juv ♂♂ sitting together karrit-cutting like crazy. ♂DBLW#222 brought in. 1443. ♂294 back on cage. Others still karrit-cutting. 1450. Lowered cage. At the time ~8 birds were in the tree, but ♂294 was still the only one on the cage, while ♂295 was the only bird buzzing the cage. Lots of calling (karrit-cut) by the others though. The captive was clearly upset as well. Somehow the adults just didn't seem quite so upset about the whole business, or at least were being considerably more cautious. 1502. ♂294 right back. ♀293 back 20 seconds later. 1505. 3rd bird re-arriving is the 3rd juv: ♀295. ♂294 back on cage. 1506. Bird in net. ♂294 is really being vicious toward the captive, who is making submissive calls to no avail. Bird is ♀295. 1515. Back hiding while I weigh her. 1524. Several birds back. On cage again already. 1532. Stopped. The captive was getting the shit kicked out of him. 18 November 1030. Watching. 1040. ♂Red/DB-Yel#294 with green acorn by the road. 1050. ♀W10-LG #293 eating acorn in granary. 1105. ♂294 now eating green acorn in granary. 1106. Somebody was being chased down by the road (presumably an intruder). ♀F69 down there. 1117. ♂DBLW#222.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 (18 November) 1135.⑤♂ub down in sycamore perch tree. 1140.⑥♀ red-wm /12# 180 down in the sycamore. This whole group is amazingly ♀-dominated. 1145.⑥♂ub now in granary with 3 other birds. 1200. Leaving. Nobody in evidence. 23 November Purge: ③249. last seen 0 17 June. Gone by 31 July. Disappeared about 9 July ± 2 wks. 11 December Counted stores: Main tree: 1340 ) Sync Nest tree: 708 } 2172 Misc (by creek): 124 ) 1505. No birds at all anywhere near the storage areas. Finally found several (3++) way up on the ridge of PO Hill hawking from a Blue Oak; I presume they are these birds

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation 11 January 1300. I collected a sample of 100 acorns from the storage trees here, 34 from the Sycamore and the rest from the Valley Oak. I marked 80 acorns in the Valley Oak as follows: (1-3 on snag pointing towards PoisonOak Hill) ① 15 Yellow ② 15 Red above ① ③ 15 Green above ② (4-5) in middle snag pointing vertically ④ 15 Red ⑤ 20 Yellow above ④ A couple birds were around but were not identified.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation 10 February Lots of calling and activity here from about 1000-1115 while I was watching at R1. I did see ①♂WRW#233 sitting in the Valley Oak perch tree above the creek/road. 1255. ②♀(BLW)#232 up in Valley Oak perch tree. 1258. An intruder suddenly appeared in the storage area here, attracting 4-5 other birds including 232,233, and ③♂63. They quickly returned above me. 1300. Another intruder. Unbanded seen, but identity unclear, to say the least. 1306. ④♂ Red/LB-WT #66 in Valley Oak perch tree. ⑤♀(ALLW) here also. (#231). 1312. Flycatch flight by ④#66 in Valley Oak perch tree (VOP). 1315. Going up to Road 3. 1500. Counted stores: Sycamore 289 7 1812 Valley Oak 1523 Also checked stored marked acorns finding only 43/80, with 4 moved. 11 February 1000. I've been attempting to see some birds here - they've been up above the Valley Oak Perch tree, however, and have been pretty unidentifiable. I did see ①♀(ALLW) and ②♀(BLW) earlier, however, and also thought I picked out a ♀ unbanded (if so; she brings up the continuing question of whether there is another 1st year bird here). At 1020 I sat down to watch for a short while. 1035. ③♂66 came to VOP, ate some acorn bits, and sat in the shade. 1043. ④♀232 came to VOP plus a 2nd ⑤♀(ALLW) Several flycatching flights seen. 1048. Now ⑥♀#782 up in perch tree ~60 meters past VOP. 1103. ⑦♀232 flew down to Valley Oak storage tree where she apparently chased out another woodpecker, who may have flown down here concurrently.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservations (11 February) 1115. Leaving. Nobody seems anxious to get where I could see them. 16 February Purge: ♂#196 (jun.) Last seen 2 Nov. 1975, gone by 9 December, Dis. about 21 Nov. 7-2 wks. This bird does have a small probability of still existing, inasmuch as he apparently had lost his wing-sheath. I suspect that he's gone, however. 1 March 1645. Saw jLaRW#231, ♂rad/light#66 + 1-2 others all up in the Valley Oak perch tree during a short pass. 8 March 1330. Came by to see what's up. Found ⚫♀CBLW#232 • up on the knoll toward ARF, flycatching despite cool, cloudy conditions. 1430. 28° in another perch tree a little further away; one begged from the ⚫ second and was apparently unbanded (@8349), the adult couldn't be identified. Still nobody down at storage trees. 1440. ⚫♂Rw/1B-w#66 went to eat an acorn at the top of the sycamore nest tree, then flew across the road to the area where the other birds are. 1500. I went out and climbed up the hill; just as ☀️ I passed the Valley Oak perch tree I heard a call and at least 5 birds appeared in another Valley Oak a little further up; I saw ⚫♂La-Blk/1G-Blk#63 and possibly ♂yellow, 1 am (the adult I haven't seen since December). 1525. All of a sudden birds began showing up at the Valley Oak perch tree (now below me); possibly a bird (intruder) was chased. Seen were ⚫, ⚫, and ⚫♂WRW#233, ⚫♀CBLW#231. Birds are definitely spending much of their time up here in the gulch area down as far as the perch tree, and up probably almost to ARF. 1540. Success! ⚫♂ye/1Bor1G-#87 came to the Valley Oak perch tree,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation (8 March) sat for about a minute and then flew down and across the road and up to the live cale sap area on the side of Poison Oak hill. I saw no other birds in either area. Down I go- 1745. Saw 866 plus another bird in passing the 1995 nest tree (sycamore) 29 March 1200. Count: Sycamore: 340 } 1752 Vally Oak: 1412 No birds seen or heard here. 18 April 1700. 5 birds sitting atop nest sycamore, all flushed up hill. 20 April 1015. There is lots of flying and calling here, but unlike the current situation at R1 the flying all seems to be hawkking, which the birds are doing like crazy, and the calling seems to stem from a general level of excitement resulting in wake displays everytime a bird comes back from a hawk flight. One bird at least, 8349 (ub), was storing his insects in the Vally Oak up on the knoll other perches were the sycamore storage tree by the creek. No chases were seen. Birds seen: (1) 8arm-Blk/ arm-Blk #63 (2) 8UBLW 232 (3) 8WRW 233 (4) 8LP-LB/M 67 (5) 8LGLW 231 (6) 8ub 349 This is everyone except 866, who is most likely around somewhere, I suspect. 1045. Frantic level of hawkking activity continues throughout the territory. I'm going.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Malanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation 27 April 1725. 8^233 and ?2 others in sycamore nest tree. No others seen. 29 April 1540. Several birds in the sycamore nest tree and the live Oaks on the side of PO Hill. An intruding ♀ (unrung), landed in the nest tree while no one else was around, but several birds, including #232, flew down from the live Oaks to chascher. 30 April 915. 8^233 and 22 others in sycamore nest tree again. 922. Birds are suddenly hawking like crazy by the creek; also an intruder was being chased. Birds seen and identified were ①♂ Cm-Blk/Cm-Blk #63; ②♂ Red/Lb-w #66; ③♀ ColW #231, and ④♂ unrung #349. Lots of activity (hawking, wake displays) here. Some Garricking 925. One of the intruders in an unrung ♀. Probably at least one other: lots of chasing. 932. 8^232 seen. Still chasing. 935. There are several unrung birds here in one tree (hawking) between RL - Finch: 18' and 28'. 942. ②♂ 867 seen also 950. There are still more birds here than there are supposed to be - 8-9 instead of only 7. Lots of wake displays, flights, now mainly hawking. Not too much chasing. 1005. At least one bird still getting chased. Much lots of activity, wakes, hawking. 1015. There are still birds all over. Leaving temporarily. 1 May 1930. Things are very quiet, due in part at least to the fact that most/all of the birds have already roosted apparently. 88 were in 2 adjacent holes in the sycamore storage tree, where I pray they're

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation (1 May) Planning on nesting! As I drove by 5 minutes later or so, 5-7 birds went zooming across the road in front of me headed, apparently, for the sycamore nest tree. 2 May 850. 9231 seen; she and ≥5 others are over here. None in holes in the sycamore storage tree, however. 7 May 1930. 9231 plus one other bird in sycamore nest tree. Several others up in Live Oak area on side of BisonOak Hill. 8 May 1915. Things look grim: 0" in '75 nest hole in sycamore tree, possibly incubating. And I'm going to be foolhardy enough to go up there, I know it! 9 May 1240. Nobody in any holes. Maybe there's still hope yet (or incubation merely hasn't started yet). 10 May 1530. Looks definite. Bird in hole in sycamore again. 11 May 1400. Bird in hole again: incubation has no doubt begun. Counted stores: Sycamore: 82 Total 1246 Valley Oak: 1164 12 May 1700. Came by, considering going up to nest, but nobody was in the hole, and after toy ing with the idea for awhile I pretty much decided that this was a climb I only wanted to make once, or at most twice. 14 May 1800. Birds in 2 holes in that stupid sycamore: the same one as before and the one below it. 19 May 1145. Bird in upper hole in sycamore nest tree. 20 May 1100. Astounding myself with my own death wish, I went up and opened the nest. The kids have hatched, as it turns out; their eyes weren't open yet, however, and their back 760 TO P.8

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Nest Record Hastings Reservation 8 May 1915 Bird first seen in hole 11 May Bird in hole regularly now; am gathering my wits to get up there and open it. Estimated hatching day 20 May 1100 Opened nest: 5 chicks, each given 1 band. 6 June 945 Banded, bled babies ① 278 ② 279 ③ 280 ④ 281 ⑤ 282 6 June 945 83.2 62/41 81.5 68/42 80.5 65/42 76.5 62/42 90.0 58/42

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 8 Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation (20 May) Feather tracts had not coalesced into a solid mass yet (thus they are about 4 days old, I suspect). There were 5 of them, thus I strongly suspect that there were 5 eggs, laid by the one adult ♀ here and that they all hatched. All the babies looked fine. I gave each one a single solid color band: Orange, Yellow, L.Blue, D.Green, and Red. 5 June Birds seen feeding about 1230. 6 June 945. Nest opened; babies, all 5 of whom are fine, were banded and bled. They are #278 to 282. 14 June 1700. One baby was sitting atop the nest tree looking too scared to go anywhere; fledging has obviously taken place. 17 June 1815. Florence saw ♀ [BLW]#232 and ♂[GLW]#281 plus another bird. 19 June 1715. Several babies in holes in the nest tree; j281 DB-IP- seen on the side of the tree. 23 June 2015. ♂ub flycatching from V0 perch tree overlooking the creek 28 June 1130. Several birds around. Counted stores: Sycamore: 37 TOTAL 814 Valley Oak: 777 30 June 1515. ♂ in sycamore nest tree. 1525. ♂233 and ♂266 in Valley Oak storage tree; latter feeding a fledgling acorn bits. 1532. ♂63 in sycamore nest tree. (4) 281 eating acorn in storage tree. (5) 282 here also. (6) 232 and a juv. both eating acorns in nest tree. 1537. ♀237 in nest tree briefly. 1545. Everybody's gone up edge of POT hill; ♂ub seen there. 1550. Birds back. ♂own - [prob.#67] here, eating acorns and

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch. Hastings Reservation (30 June) chattering submissively to ♂ wh/wh #233 who is next to him. 1600. leaving. 3 July 1800. ♀231 atop nest tree 12 July 1145. Lots (6++) of birds just up the side of PO Hill. ♀♀231 and 232 seen. Several fledglings among them all. ♂233 also. Light not so good, unfortunately, and I was not able to confirm that they were sap-sucking. 16 July 1015. (1)♀231 in sycamore nest tree; also (2) j 1025. (3) j or ♂da /or #279 in nest tree briefly with (4)♂ red/#66. 1035. (5) ♂233. (6) j DB-LP/LB #281. (7) ♂? LP/wh #67. 1045. (8)♀232 and (9) j Dark? ! yellow #280 (?) [not 279, who was seen here also]. (Still questionable) [Could have been #282] 1055. (10) jun/DB #298. (11) ♂ cam-13/12 /cam-13/12 #63. 1105. Birds have spread over to Arnold side of road. 1115. Leaving. Flash! j lg. Brn/Lam #280 eating acorn next to nest tree! 23 July 1800. Birds all over in storage tree and up side of PO Hill. Counted stores: Sycamore: 0; Valley Oak: 562. 1 September 1800. There are no unambiguously whole stored acorns remaining here in the Valley Oak. 24 September 1740. Watching 1745. ♀ R-w-R / m° #180 from R1 came over, was quickly pursued by ♂ red/LP #66 for 3-5 minutes from the nest-storage area here. 1810. ♂ M/da #233. Some hawking going on. 1830. Leaving. Several birds scattered here, but it's too dark to see much. 25 September 1630 Several Birds here during a pass, inc. j wh/m (tailspots) #278 (still ♂) Others way up on the sunny side of PO Hill.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation 27 September 1645.♂ DP/LP #66 eating acorn in nest tree; others way up PO Hill. 1655. j♂ Tan-Red/Tan-Red #282; in nest tree. #66 still working stores in the Valley Oak granary. 1708. j♀ wh/M #278 working stores in sycamore granary. 1745. Leaving. Birds are here, but are mostly picking/eating acorns far up the hill and out of site. 1810. Flushed about 6+ birds from the Valley Oak storage tree when I returned! Counted stores: Sycamore: 22 Valley Oak: 140 162 5 October 1800. Watching. ♂♂ wh/DB #278 storing in Valley Oak. Others scattered all over. 1815. ♂♀ LG-Bru/LG #280. Both these juveniles storing acorns 1830. ♂♀ Yel/DB-Yel #232. Wing streamer not seen, but neither (I think she may have lost it though). was left wing. Also ♂♂ Or/Yellow #279. 1840. Several birds up in Valley Oak overlooking the creek on West side of road, inc. ♂ Tan-Red/Tan-Red #282, who I believe is a ♂ (as I earlier reported) excluding him as the bird I saw at Chong this morning. Leaving. 9 October 1020. ♂♂ Or/LB wh #28 in perch tree on W side of road. Also ♂♀278 working stores in VO granary with 2 others. 18 October 1615. Watching. 1620. ♂ M/Red-Tan #282 storing acorn. ♂♂ Ca-Blk/Ca-Blk #63. ♂♂ Red/wh- #66. ♂♀ M/Blue-Yel #232. ♂♂ wh/M #278. ♂♂ Light/M #67. 1640. More: ♂♀ LG-Bru/LG #280. ♂♂ ub. ♂♂ 67 has apparently lost one or the other of his left leg bands (probably the Yellow-Red one) 1715. Birds are starting to cross the road, etc. as the shade has overtaken the principal trees here. All birds are still

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch (18 October) primarily engaged in storing acorns - virtually the only activity witnessed during the hour - save for some resting and a little preening - This includes the young birds, 3 of whom were in evidence. One other (♂279) was seen 2 weeks ago at any rate, the 5th (♀81) is probably defunkt. 27 October 1600. Several birds around as I counted stores: Sycamore: 303 Main VO: 1333 Next, nearby Sycamore: 100 3 November 1215. ♂DB-Or/4L #67 in nest area. 1225. ♀DB-Or/4L #232; ♂DB-Or/4L #66 here also, ♂66 eating an acorn. 1240. ♂DB-Or/4L #279 sitting in VO granary. 1300. Leaving. Not a lot of activity, but it is fairly hot out. 4 November 1120. 3 birds over in old Road 2 perch tree just up road from the Sycamore storage tree: ♂wn-B1k/wn-B1k #63, ♀L6-Bm/L6-Bm #280, ♀M/DB-WN #232. 8 November 1600. ♂DB-Or/4L #66 at roost hole in sycamore granary. 1615. With ♂66 still sleepily at the roost hole, I heard a soft call from the nest tree. Suddenly several birds began some more fervent kermit-cutting over by R1, and some further calls ensued from Finch. Soon numerous birds were in the area: 1 poking his head out of a roost hole in the nest tree, possibly a 2nd bird there also, 2 others suddenly appearing out of nowhere. All suddenly became active and began eating acorns & up the side of P0 Hill. ♀DB-Or/4L #232 seen. ♂M/ #282; ♀DB-WN #63. ♂DB-WN #280. ♂63 & ♂67 preening 3" from each other atop nest tree.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finchs Hastings Reservation (8 November) ! 1635. 2-3 of these birds (inc. ♀ 232) have flown directly past the nest tree towards (and apparently well into) Rl territory. 1645. None seen over at Rl. leaving. 9 November Purge: j281. Last seen 16 July. Gone by 5 October. ::Disappeared about 26 August ±1 month. 9 December 1545. 4+ birds in the area, mostly sitting and/or working storage holes. [illegible] #67 [illegible]. ♂ Red/18-wn #66 seen. Also ♀ua-Bm/ua #280. ♀ M/Red-Tan #282 and ♀ Cam-Blk/Cam-Blk #63. Others here also. 1625. There were definitely several other birds here, but they are all making themselves scarce over on the W side of the road now. 11 December 1330. Counted stores: Main tree: 1528 } Sycamore: 320 } 1923 Misc (nut, etc.): 75 }

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 11 January 1200. 3 birds are apparently still in the vicinity; ♂PRW #184 and ♀ub#337 were seen. 50 acorns were taken as a sample from the Valley Oak storage tree. None were marked due to difficulty of access. 10 February 1325. Watching 1342. (1) Unbanded #337 working stores in nest/storage tree. 1402. (2) DBLue or/DBlue #68 landed in Valley Oak storage tree, flew to Sycamore where the ♀ still sits. 1420. Leaving. Other ♂ hasn't shown up. Count: Valley Oak: 459 ? 1184 (As usual, probably low) Sycamore: 725 11 February 1245. I drove by and saw 3 birds in the sycamore perch tree across the road from the loka storage tree. I couldn't identify any of them well, but one ♂ seemed to be ♂wn / black and was no doubt #184. 29 March 1115. All 3 birds seen well in storage area. They were mostly flycatching. Count: Valley Oak: 444 ? 116! 717 One way or the other, stores are clearly not greatly diminished here as yet. 18 April 1900. None seen in/out of holes in a quick pass of area. 1900. 3 birds flushed from nest/roost tree at dusk. 20 April 1000. All 3 birds seen and identified in storage area (184,337,68). I watched them hawk for a few minutes and none else seemed to be present. Stores definitely do remain.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 29 April 1515. One bird was sitting in the perch tree when I drove by; the ♀ flushed from the lower hole in the sycamore nest tree when I investigated. 30 April 1000. All 3 birds seen (but not individually identified) plus - maybe a first - an intruder, who was briefly chased from over in the perch tree across the creek. Birds are hawking 1 May 1940. Drove by, finding one bird sitting in the sycamore nest tree and the other two each in their private holes. 2 May 1000. Flushing the ♀ out of the low hole again, I went up and opened it, finding 5 eggs, not quite fresh (e.g. barely translucent). 6 May 1600. Still 5 eggs. 7 May 1945. One bird in nest tree eating acorns, noise in nest hole. Take it back - somebody is in the nest hole. 12 May 1435. Watching hole. One bird flushed from nest tree, but nobody in hole. 1445. Well, there is indeed a bird in the hole - he just stuck his head out to pant awhile (excuse me - gular flutter). 1453. ♂ is still looking out of the hole waiting for someone to replace him. It would appear that hatching hasn't occurred yet - this is still incubation. 1815. Opened nest: nestlings sure have hatched! Estimated day 4 or 5 (0 = hatching day). I didn't have bands, so I marked them with Higgen's Eternel; hopefully it will last until tomorrow. For measurements, see today's Journal. The kids' eyes were closed, the back feather follicles were clearly visible. 14 May 1730. Measured the kits, who all look fine. Eyes not open yet, but back feathers just about to break through the skin. [go to p.4]

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Nest Record Hastings Reservation 29 April 1515. ♀ first flushed from nest hole 2 May 1000. Hole opened. 5 eggs 6 May 1600 5 eggs, unchanged. Measured: (1) 25.8 x 20.5 (2) 25.1 x 19.5 (3) 24.9 x 19.7 (4) 25.0 x 20.1 (5) 25.5 x 20.4 7 May Estimated hatching day [5] 12 May 1815 31.7 9/28 23.9 8.5/27 26.8 8/26.5 23.8 12/23 16.5 5/18.5 [7] 14 May 1730 39.9 17/35.5 37.2 16/35 35.1 16.5/34.5 32.0 14.5/35.5 24.3 13/25 [9] 16 May 1230 46.8 22/45 44.1 20/43 43.3 22/44 40.2 18.5/38 29.9 14.5/32 [12] 19 May 1545 59.0 8/6 29/58/35 60.6 8/5 56.3 31/59/34 54.6 4/12 43.7 27/42 [15] 22 May 71.9 21/16 37/70/55 68.7 20/15 68.3 20/15 69.8 17/12 54.3 10/7 [23] 30 May 1136 84.8 64/40 77 2 69/40 80.0 60/40 82.6 59/37 75.1 56/31 14 Oct. 1978 I have no sure record of which birds the nestlings are. I assume I did them in order.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation. 16 May 1230. Measured the babies. Put up the nest trap and almost caught the F at 1400. 19 May 1545. Measured the babies. Trying to catch F again. 1630. Got her! She was banded and processed as #265. Also counted stores: Valley Oak 193 663 Sycamore 490 22 May 1730. Measured the babies, all of whom seem to be in fine shape. 30 May 1130. Measured, banded, and bled the babies, who are #268 to 272. 1 June 1900. Watched the nest a few minutes. 1907. (1) 8"DP #68 in sight with food in his bill. 1911. (1) 8"184 came to feed. 1914. F sitting on limb with food in her bill. 1922. She's not fed yet, but I finally saw enough bands to call her #265. 1925. Leaving. Group of babies clearly still intact. 5 June 1220. Watching the hole. 1230. F got acorn bits from limb in nest tree, but didn't feed. 1235. Fledged already maybe? No sign of the kids (nobody looking out of the hole). They 'must' have fledged already and be off in some far part of their territory. 6 June 1730. Baby looked out of hole at me when I walked underneath. clearly they haven't fledged yet, which is not too surprising as this is presumably their 30th day. 12 June 1945-2000. Watched, seeing the F DB/WS #265 sitting in the nest tree for much of the time (where there are plenty of stores) and 8 PRW #184 briefly. Began to worry about the kids, but then one stuck.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation (12 June) his head out of the hole in the nest tree above the nest hole (just under the knob), where they were presumably put to bed earlier. 14 June 1645. Babies are in both the other main holes (other than the '76 nest hole itself). 1648. 8PRW #184 karit-cutting in nest tree 1650. Going. 23 June 2010. Nobody seen in brief pass. 26 June 1930. 8265 and a juv. sitting in a Live Oak sap tree just across the road from the nest tree. At least 2 juvs seen; j269 identified. j272 seen also. 8184 here. j272 flycatching! At least a 3rd juv. belonging here was probably seen. Counted stores: Valleydale 66 384 Sycamore 318 28 June 1050. Sitting in the storage/nest tree waiting for it to cool off are ①♂ or/♀LB #68, ②♀/♂?/sel - LB#265, ③j271 and ④j272. 1105. Finally something happened: j269 flew to the ♂, began begging, then the ♂ flew over a ways and began feeding the babies acorn bits. 1110. Leaving. 30 June 1605. 868 in the vicinity. j269 near him in Valley Oak perch tree. j271 poking around up there also; it's hard to tell what he thinks he's doing but the symptoms are: slowly working his way around the limb, sticking his head in here and there; no drilling. The only close foraging type is probing; but of course it may not be "foraging" at all. 1620. Leaving. 3 July 1800. ♂ eating/drilling at acorn in storage tree (bants seen later - 8265) Soon after j264/da-271 was there to be fed.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 12 July 1025. (1)♂Dblue - #68 and (2) ♂/DP-or #272 in sycamore. Watching. 1025. Now (1) and (3) j.m/- #269 here. (4)♀265 here. Burts possibly flying down to sapsuck in the area on the NE side of the road. (5)j271 now here; j272 and j269 eating acorns 1040, (6)♂184 here; all 3 juvs in storage tree. (Finally lost his streamer). The juveniles still beg and squeeze at any adult in the vicinity, but when none are here they go ahead and drill at acorns anyway by themselves. They do this rather unconvincingly, to be sure, but not totally ineptly, as shown by the bits they eventually manage to extract. 1125. Juvs. still busy being fed in the storage area. leaving. Purge: j268 and j270. Not seen after banding. Disappeared about 30 May. As I was leaving, I found j271 in the sap area, most likely sapsucking. Only 2-3 flycatching flights were seen the entire time I was here. 16 July 1130.♀265 eating acorn in sycamore, (1)j269 begging. (3)j272 eating an acorn himself further up the branch. (4)♂268 around also. 1200. Everything pretty slow. I'm leaving. 28 July 1745. Counted stores: Valley Oak: 34 Sycamore: 190 Two birds in the vicinity, one in the same tree. 17 August 1500. Before sitting down to watch I meandered about to find several birds, some in odd places (see map). Seen were a juvenile, ♂ - #184 on the side of PO Hill up past the gate here (he flushed around the hill). ♀ Dblue/LP-IB #265 along the creek up past the gate; she flew down to the Live Oak sap tree across from the next tree. Now watching.

No text detected

1976 Walter J. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation (17 August) 1515. ♂ DB / #68 flew into the storage tree. 1530. j DB-w(n)/w#269, j or/ #272, plus the adult ♀ and ♂184 all appeared in the storage tree and began working at stores and eating acorns. 1538. All gone; 1or 2 possibly in sap area. 1545. Starting to rain (!) 1600. Everything pretty quiet (to say the least). I'm off. ✓ 1 September 1015. Counted stores: 24, all in the Valley Oak. 2 birds were seen in the vicinity. 12 September 1430. ♂ or/ ♂#68 eating acorn across the creek. ♀265 in same area. 1440. jor/DB-or #272 came to storage tree with a green acorn. 1450. leaving. 16 September 1700. As far as I could tell, an impressive 6 birds (as many as I believed to have been here in July) flushed when I arrived. The only bird remaining behind to continue eating her acorn was ♂ j♀ M/wn-DB #269 (molting to ♀). 1910. ♂♀ DB/wr-DB #265 returned. 1950. ♀ remained sitting here alone the whole time - the barmit-culted for awhile, but nobody ever responded. 1815. Back. ♀265 by slope of PO Hill. ♂ j♂ M/Red- #272 there also (still♂). 17 September 1910. ♂ j♂ wn-BDB/qDB-wrn#184 eating an acorn in the nest tree along with the other 2 adults (#265 and #68). 1950. Once again the ♀ returned and nobody else ever joined her. 24 September 1900. ♀265 in nest tree with a juv? who's eating an acorn.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 27 September 1800. Counted stores: Valley Oak: 149 ) Next tree: 168 } 317 total. 9 October 850. Watching. 910 Birds here: (1) ♀ 265, (2) ♀ 76-ω(?) / ω #269, also a banded ♂ intruder, who hid atop the VO storage tree for several minutes while these other 2 birds worked stores in the sycamore, then flew over to them, where he was instantaneously chased away out of the storage area altogether. 920. Several returned with acorns; inc. ♂ Da #68. 926. Bird in sycamore is ♀(?) or / 1st - clearly #272, who apparently has molted to ♀ (unless I'm confused!) 930. Good find: ♂ La-Bm/M #271 landed in the sycamore with an acorn. 942. ♂ ωχ-Bk/Bk-ωχ #184. 1015. I haven't seen #272 again, so her sex will have to remain somewhat indefinite (though I will assume she is a ♀ for now). Just changed my mind - having seen what I'm fairly sure was a young bird, or, i.e. #272 not 68, and who was a ♂ type even though the red front was hard to see. 27 October 1445. Watching. 1455. ♂ here eating acorn; 2nd bird flew in; neither was identified. 1510. ♀265 and ♂184 here now. 1515. Stopped to check stores. Counted stores: Valley Oak: 426 ) Next tree: 728 } 1154 Between the nest tree and the creek was a small aggregation of ATW feathers, mostly down, covert, and several secondaries. My guess is that the body they belonged to will not be seen flying again.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 3 November 1300. Here. 2 birds hiding 1315.①♂ or /LB #68. 1330.②♀ 26S. 1339.③♂ 184. Where are all the kits? Adults are busy storing. 1345.④? my wn-blue #269. 1400. Leaving. One kit here, at least, but I do wonder about the others. 4 November 1030.♂ 184 here. 1052.♀ 26S. 1115. Slow. Leaving. 8 November 1530. Once again. ①♂wn-Bik/Bik-wN #184 storing. ②♂ or/LB #68 across the creek. ③♀ DB-W(n)/W #269 in nest tree. ④♀ 26S with acorn. 1600. Leaving. ⑧⑧ 271/292 are pretty surely gone, rethinks. 18 November 1215.♂ Dblue #68 in nest tree along with a ♀ 1220.♀ DB-W(n)/W #269 here. Also a 3rd Girl_ 1230.♂ My/Bik-wN #184 in Valley Oak on N side of road working storage holes (?) 23 November Purge: j♂ 271 and 272. Last seen 9 October, gone by 3 November, : Disappeared about 21 October ± 1 week. 10 December 1420. 3 birds around when I came to count stores. Stores: Sycamore: 912 } Valley Oak: 698 } 1610 18 December 1215.⑥♀ M/W-DB #269 have working stores. 1225.⑦♂ or/LB #68 storing. 1232.③♀ DB/LP #26S now here working stores. 1235.④♂ wn-Bik/Bik-wN #184 just flew in. That's it.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New School Hill Hastings Reservation 11 January 1600. Came up to set the trap over the nest/roost hole. While waiting for dusk, 8 birds flew down to the main storage area, one by one, at one point. Some pre-roost mounting was seen at 1705 up above the deer enclosure. Roosting apparently occurred somewhere up here as well. (at about 1715). At least 3 did roost in the nest tree, however. 12 January 1400. Removed a sample of ~75 acorns; also marked 75 all in the climbable 2nd tree: ① 10 Yellow just above fence (low) ② 10 Blue main trunk, past 2 limbs (tough) ③ 10 Red on trunk low ④ 15 White above③: ⑤ 15 Green on E facing limb, Red House ⑥ 15 Red above⑤

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New School Hill (12 January) I returned at dusk to watch roosting again. At least somebody did roost in the nest hole, but several birds, including jwrs #193 and #195, roosted in the hole in that small tree up toward School Hill "B". Just before roosting, #195 and another bird were in School Hill "B"'s former storage tree, now certainly taken over by New School Hill. 13 January 730. Only managed to catch j♀#192 in the nest tree; I don't know whether other birds managed to escape from the roost or not. She was weighed and measured and released. 25 January Florence saw several birds up here this afternoon, including j#193 and 194 and 195. 26 January I was to ambush them up at the small roost tree by School Hill "B", but the net was entangled somehow. 23 birds had been roosting here (24 January), and it will be attempted again. 27 January More entanglement; this time I scared the 3 birds out of the hole, however. 28 January I watched at dusk, seeing 3 of the babies (192, 193, 194) plus lots of other birds. Activity at dusk was focused on the 2 storage areas (School Hill and School Hill B); the latter had 3 or so birds working in it (and pre-roost mounting there) while others (3-5) were in the main storage area; a couple others were in between. Final roosting occurred in the school Hill "B" hole, the other nest hole (down from main roost hole) and the other hole down from it; also I suspect strongly that there is yet another roost in the Valley Oak at the East end of the enclosure.

No text detected

1976 Walter-D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New School Hill Hastings Reservation 29 January Ambushes at 3 holes produced 3 birds (out of 6 apparently in the holes): ① j♀193 (out of the School Hill "B" hole, 2 others missed); ② j♀191 (out of "other" nest hole at School Hill) and ③ A^ unband, formerly 342 now 256 (also out of this hole, 1 other missed). 2 February 1500. Counted stores: Tree 2: 944 School Hill "B" tree: 355 Tree 1: 371 Total 1315 w/ SH."B": 1670 Saw ♂86 at 1510 when he flew down into the storage tree while I was counting. Up at School Hill "B" there were ≥3 birds, and I watched for a short time: 1550. Watching. 1610. Leaving. This will be too easy from ahide to be wasting my time out here without one. Saw j♀193 as I passed the main storage area. 3 February 1130. Flushed 5 birds to upper part of territory when I arrived to watch down at the main storage area. 1140. ①♂LP/M#86 in tree 1. 1145. ②♀ / LPink #193 in tree to my left: 1147. ③♂ORW#192 flew to main area. 1150. ④♂/Red#191 working stores in Tree 3, lower enclosure area. 1210. ⑤♀ub#343 now working stores down in tree 2 of lower enclosure area. 1210. ⑥♂wn-DBlue #256 working stores here 1255. Moving to School Hill "B" tree. 1300. Watching. 1312. 2 birds now karit-cutting here out of view, 1315. 3 birds came to storage tree virtually simultaneously: ③♂BRW#194, ⑧♂Red/am-yl#88, and ④♀ub#344. ⑧ began working stores, ④ begged softly, giving intracellular, ⑧ the ♀. I presume the ♀ to be

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus New School Hill Hastings Reservation (3 February) the 2nd unbanded ♀, different from the one down in the main School Hill area. It will be interesting to see how complete the "split", which is gradually forming here, goes. This takes care of all the birds except #195, who was last seen last week. 1322. ♂ub and ♀LBRW both in storage tree still. ♂88 flew up over me to top of field. 1324. ♂86 returned, greeted by ♀, while the juv. sat and squeed begged just below where he landed. 1325. Juv. still in tree; adults briefly disappeared around the hill: 1328. ♀ eating acorn bit now. 5th Field A goodly amount of greeting and contact vocalizations, even when no one new lands, is taking place here, not unlike the high level of activity one finds in a group having recently undergone a revolution. Perhaps they have indeed split, through one or more of the 1st year birds (e.g. #193, who roosts up here but was just seen down in the main area) may not have quite decided where their allegiance should lie. 1330. leaving. Burts out of storage tree right now. 1545. jFORW#192 down at Y. See Y notes. 17 March 1650. Walked up to School Hill B area, where there was a notable lack of any woodpecker activity whatsoever. As an explanatory factor, the storage tree here was totally depleted of acorns. Meanwhile, calling was emanating from lower down in the main part of the territory.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New School Hill Hastings Reservation (17 March) While counting, ♂ mauve/m (#86) came into the storage area to chase out a Titmouse. It appeared as though he has heavy tail- spotting (?). The count: Tree 1: 318 Tree 2: 852 TOTAL: 1170 SH'B': 0 9:30. Possibly in response to a calling Hairy Woodpecker (or in pursuit thereof) an Acon W. flew toward and up to the '95 rest hole (the Hairy had flown by here going downhill), staying at the entrance for a few seconds before seeing me and moving around the trunk. 17 April 930. ♂194 and ♀195 involved at Y. See Y notes, ♀192 seen also. Later I checked all the holes I know of up here, seeing nobody in any of them. One or two birds were in the vicinity, but nobody was being particularly conspicuous. 18 April ♂194 and ♂195 still at Y most of the day. See Y notes. 905. Watching main area. 2 birds flushed or called up in SH'B' area when I went up to get the hide 912. ♂ mauve/m #86 in central storage area chasing dicky birds. Several other birds still in upper 'B' part of territory. 915. ♀9ub here also; flew with another bird up hill toward 'B' area. 925. ♂ wh - /LPinke?#256 here also. 928. W. Meadowlark got displaced from top of tree by ♂ (seen better). A 4th bird (♂) here also. 933. ♂86 has 2 distinct tail spots on each outer rectrix!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus New School Hill Hastings Reservation (21 April) 947. In the upper enclosure tree, calling had my attention to the hole inside the canopy, where @FORW#192 was investigating. She sat outside the hole for several minutes before finally moving up the tree. 1025. These 3-4 birds seem to be it down here. Moving to 'B'. 23 April 900. Walked up to check the holes. None was in any of them A or intruder was displaced while I was here (10 min.) 27 April Nobody seen in holes. 3 May 930. Several birds in lower hill area - perhaps nest is down there somewhere? Nobody in traditional holes. 8256 and one [illegible] seen. 950. Birds flew to upper hill area. There are only about 5 birds here, but what seems to be missing are wingstreamered first-year birds. 6 May 1430. Several birds in the vicinity; 4 congregated in the trough of the saddle in a large Valley. Pale there and seemed to be tied that this area (nest there somewhere?) Seen were 288 and 298; the 99 were unbanded (#343 and 344), one of the 88 was [illegible] Maw/Mane #86. Later, when I walked up to School Hill B area, a bird [illegible] cutted 2 times from off down the slope a ways; I have no idea who this might have been; it is not particularly likely that it was a School Hill bird. 8 May 935. Here. A couple birds in upper territory; nobody down in lower part at the moment. In hide. 945. 08 wh /or? #256 in lower area with 1-2 others. @4u6 here also. Birds hawking.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 7 Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation (8 May) 948.3? Maure/Maure #86 here hawking also. 1000. 8256 flew to and went into the '95 nest hole - a likely choice for the nest. 1010. Same 3-4 birds (possibly both 9? here) are hawking in the lower area. Still notably absent seem to be any of the 1st year birds. 1015. One bird just flew to the trough of the saddle (where the birds had been on 6 May). 1020. 9? flew to '95 nest hole; dipping inside. 1023. The 9? (ub) returned from the nest hole, greeting 8256 in the storage tree. After 10 seconds of sitting, the 9? took off and went into the nest hole. Definitely looks promising. 1028. Somebody just got aggressively displaced from the top of the storage tree. An intruder, it would appear. 1035. Birds still hawking down (below). I'm off to check upper area, etc. 1615. Opened hole: 4 eggs. Not only that, but 3 were notably smaller than the 4th. Also nobody was incubating, so egg- laying is probably not complete. Once again this group has a sanitation problem: eggs 3 and 4 were covered with shit, as it were (seems to me the same thing happened last year), egg 2 was clean (meaning that it was most likely laid this morning), and egg 1, the big one, was semi-dirty (in between 2 and 3-4). I suspect that both 9? are deed laying again. 9 May 1515. Well, it's not as conclusive as I'd hoped for - only a 5th egg has appeared, another small one. (goto p.9)

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Nest Record Hastings Reservation 8 May 1000 Activity first noted around hole 1615: Opened - 4 eggs: ① 29.6 × 21.4 (1) moderately dirty ② 24.3 × 18.9 clean (laid today, probably) ③ 24.1 × 19.1 quite filthy ④ 24.4 × 19.3 Nobody flushed from hole: incubation not yet begun 9 May 1515. 5 eggs: ⑤ 24.4 × 19.2 mm 10 May 1700 5 eggs, unchanged. 16 May 1015 5 eggs, unchanged. Egg #1 not opaque 19 May 1415 5 eggs, unchanged. Egg #( partially opaque. 20 May 840 1 feeble set of squeekers heard; hatching begun ① LP 296 ② Red 297 ③ Or 298 ④ LG 299 #1 egg not hatched [5] 21 May 1400 7.2 -14.5 5.9 -14 9.1 -115 8.3 -115 → [3] 23 May 1230 13.2 9/18 9.3 8/12 17.0 10/20 12.1 9/15 #1 egg removed [5] 25 May 1600 20.5 12/23 15.0 9/19 28.0 12/25 18.8 11/22 [7] 27 May 1330 30.2 13/28 23.0 13/23 38.9 16/33 24.7 13/26 [10] 30 May (1000) 41.2 18/37 30.4 14/30 48.4 20/41 31.9 16/33 [12] 1 June 1130 54.9 22/45 41.2 16/35 61.0 24/49 41.8 19/38 [14] 3 June 1645 64.9 27/55/31 5/2 52.5 29/62/35 8/8 69.4 29/45 50.9 [16] 5 June 1415 75.3 -1/68/59 11/6 61.5 41- 78.0 -1/75/42 13/13 60.2 27/57/29 4/- [17] 8 June 1115 83.5 -1/89/57 23/16 71.1 31/68/38 12/10 84.2 1/59 27/23 65.0 35/23/43 12/5 [21] 10 June 1200 85.5 38/101/67 35/22 72.8 34/77/45 18/16 89.8 42/106/70 38/30 75.2 37/82/51 20/13 13 June 1500 91.4 -1/123/80 50/81 83.1 32/126 92.2 55/38 88.0 1/88/65 84/20 15 June 1200 85.1 63/36 87.3 44/35 83.9 66/45 84.2 46/25 For measures, see Journal 1976, p.42

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation 10 May 1700. Looks like I'm to be left with the mystery unresolved: 5 Eggs. 16 May 1015. Checked nest: still the same 5 eggs. The 4 small ones appear near hatching; the 1st one, the giant, is not opaque like the others and I suspect is probably infertile. I wish I knew whether or not this indicates that it may have been laid by a different bird! I also counted stores: Tree 2: 560 ? 831 Tree 1: 271 19 May 1415. Checked the nest, expecting hatching to have occurred, but instead all 5 eggs were still there. 20 May 840. Went up to nest, and heard one set of very young squeales coming from inside. Hatching has begun; today is the day. 21 May 1400. Measured the babies, who are now 1 day old. As suspected, #1 egg (the gigantic one) has not hatched and probably won't. (It's not clear whether development took place in it or not; I think it did, and may hatch yet, perhaps. Otherwise I'll remove it next time I'm up). 23 May 1230. Measured the kids, who were unattended at the time. In fact, I didn't hear any birds anywhere, even up around S.Hill "B" area. The giant egg, which never did hatch, was removed. 25 May 1600. Measured the kids. They were hungry! The heaviest has feather tracts not coalesced yet; no eyes have opened. 27 May 1330. Measured the kids; set up a net trap and at 1350 I'm watching from the hide. 1405. Several birds back in storage area. 1♀ Red/Wh#191 among them. Also a 3" with a beafeul of gouties.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation (27 May) 1420. ♀ LB/or #195 there also. (his wing-streaker is intact). ♂? WN-DS/4cl #256 here. 1424. ♂ 191 still gives submissive begging squeales to ♀ 256 while she is searching for stores in a dead limb and he's in the vicinity. 1430. ♂? 195 making a general nuisance of himself by begging while the adults get beakful of insects they've stored. Noone's fed yet, however. 1445. ♂ Pub in storage area with food in her bill. 1455. ♂? Maup/Maup #86 here. Still no feeding! Birds are still hawking, though, and must be storing a lot of what they're getting. 1500. ♀ Red/WS #88 here. 1507. ♂ 191 begged and was fed by Pub in the storage tree. 1515. Wowie! Just about as one of the birds was finally about to feed he suddenly chased another bird instead, who then landed in the tree just below the nest tree and was, fantastically enough, ♂ 22? or ♀? , the 'former' 3rd-year bird at Y who disappeared after last month's revolution there! Apparently, he is off in search of someplace to live, as I suspected all along anyway but would not have been able to confirm otherwise! 1540. These birds continue to be so wary that I think I'd best quit for now and try again next time. 30 May 1000. Measured the kits, who are fine. The largest is just beginning to be able to open his eyes (Or); the others' eyes are still closed. No feathers have grown out to any appreciable degree yet. 1 June 1130. Measured the kits, who are all in good shape. Eyes are open in the larger, ♂ barely open in the smaller ones. Feathers just 1-2 mm long in sheaths.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation 5 June 1415. Measured the kits, then collared them from 1430-1530 but either the collars weren't tight enough or they weren't fed (I suspect the latter). 8 June 1115. Measured the kits. Near the end, several birds came and karit-cutted in the area, including 8 WLW #195. 10 June 1200. Measured the kits, set up the ambush trap and went on now in the hide. 1215. 8 & 6 in storage area. Several others there also; drilling on acorns can be heard. (2) 3 WLW #195 there also. (3) 8 BP / Ca? #191 there. (4) 8 - 7 La #256 too. And a 5th bird at least. 1225. (5) 8 Or-Lo/or Ed-W/M #194. No wing streamer. Reeled 8 195. At least a 6th bird around. (6) 8 Red/ yell? #88 here. (7) 8 ub with food here. 1235. Birds have left the vicinity. 1305. 8 256 fed. 1325. 8 256 and 8 191 over in storage area; former still beating up on the latter when they get together. Is this why 88 seem to leave groups more frequently? There continues to be frequent begging by 2nd-year birds from the adults. 1353. 8 256 fed acorn bits, possibly some insect material also. 1402. Birds are doing some flycatching now. 1407. 8 256 fed again. 1410. 8 (ub?) came to rest, fed briefly, then flew off karit-cutting (saw me?) 1436. 8 191 fed. 1500. Feeding rates are undisputedly low. 5 feedings in 3 hours (or 5 in the 2 hours since the first feeding) is pretty marginal. As for the birds themselves, several of the 88 nest begone (8 193; probably one of the ub 88, maybe even 8 192). 88 are intact.

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation (10 June) The birds have been in the vicinity virtually the entire time; it's only the actual feeding visits that have been short and far between. Flash! 1506. Looked up to discover ♀ DB/LP-DB #193 feed the kids. Guess she's not gone after all! NOTES: 1530. I waited around, as the ub♀ was sitting with food in her bill. But ♂194 persistently begged from her and at one point even grabbed some of the food, and eventually she gave in and fed it all to him instead. Obviously they are not getting enough to keep everybody happy. 13 June 15 June 19 June 1500. Measured and bled the kids, who are all filthy but ok. 1700. Measured and banded the kids, #296 to 299. 620. In hide watching. 635. 2 birds went and fed babies. (1)♂ wh-DB/yel in tree 1 with food in bill. 645. (2)♂ LP/m #86 there was too. 652. (3)♀ DB-LP/DB #193 fed kids. (4)♂ wh/LW #195 eating acorn in storage tree. (5)♂ m/or #88 and (6)♀ BP/um #191 here. 656. (7)♂ 195 fed babies. (8)♂ p-w-r/m #194 here. 701. # more feedings. (9)♀ub; one 2nd yr ♂ begging from her. 710. ♂256 atop tree 1 with one of those beige fuzzy moths in his bill. After a minute he ate it. Then made a hawking flight. 720. (5) feedings by ♂86, ♂256, ♂194, a♀, and ♂86 again 723. (6) More, by ♂256, ♀?, ♀?, and ♂194, and ?. Lots of hawking going on now. 730. (7) More, by ♀191 and ♂?, and ♀?. Feedings: 732. ?? /? /♀?/♀?/♀191/♂?/♂195/♀?/♀?/♀?/♀ub/♂?/♀?/♀191/♀193 [15 min] 747. ♀191/♀193/♂256/♀ub/♂256/♂?/♂86/♀193/♀86/♀191/♂256/♀193 [12 min] 750. After considerable, sustained hawking for the last

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill (19 June) ½ hour or more several birds are drilling at acorns in the storage tree now. 756. Back to hawking. More feedings 806. ♀193/♀ub/?/?/♀191/♀193/♀ub/♂256/?/♀191/♀193/♂256/[12] 812. ♀191/♀ub/♀191/♀193/♀191/♂888/♀193/♀191/♂194/♂886/♂888/♂886/[12] 830. ♀191 begged from and fed by ♂888. Stopped watching feedings at 0835: total of 72 feedings in 2 hrs—by far the fastest I've seen this year. Continuing to watch for 2nd ub ♀. Feedings are both insects and acorn bits, mostly former; the rate has already slowed appreciably from the madhouse earlier. 900. Going to count stores. It seems quite certain that ♂192 is no longer living here, most likely having been on the way to moving when I last saw her at 4 during the April revolution. The 2nd ub ♀ is most likely not here either (given the difficulties of proving that a 2nd ub bird is not in a group); I saw the one ub ♀ numerous times and each time she seemed to be the same bird (by plumage characters). I suspect that she moved right at the start of the egg-laying here (as I saw 2 ub ♀ around here 2 days before finding the nest with 4 eggs); in any case she apparently did not contribute to the nest this year, unlike last, and apparently left/disappeared sometime around the start of the nest by the other ♀. Stores: Tree: 180; 2: SDS; total 685 One of the larger limbs in tree 1 has fallen, resulting in the loss of perhaps ~300 acorns stored. About 225 holes (only 10 still stored in it).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Keenig Melanerpes fomcivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation 11 July 945. Watching. 1001. A ♂ and ♀ j298 now in storage area. 1007. ♂ R-w-R/m #194 in tree 1, where he checked over some sap holes in the top of the tree and then preened. 1021. ♀ M/Red #191 eating acorn in tree 1. 1025. ♀ 86 eating acorn in tree 2 and feeding a begging ♂191! A couple minutes later she flew up to a limb and began searching for an acorn herself, pursued by a current juvenile who she summarily pecked. 1040. Now ♀ j - m/Da/yellow #297 searching for acorns in tree 1. 1045. ♂ 195 here. 1100. All quiet at the moment. 1106. ♂♀ub with j298 on her trail. ♂ DB-LP/DB #193 here also 1120. j? [illegible] - (296 or 299) here also. ♂ DB/yel #256 now in tree 1. 1125. Birds spooked by a Cooper Hawk. 1145. Several birds finally back 1155. ♂ Red/DB-w #88 here; several others still in storage area. 1215. ♀ j - m/LP #296 now above enclosure area. 1220. Birds seem to be moving uphill; it's all pretty quiet down below. 1300. Leaving. Everybody expected was seen except for j299. Counted stores: tree 1: 152 tree 2: 337 } 13 July 1100. j297 at the Pump seepage. 20 July ♀193 caught at Plague; see Plague notes. 4 August ♀191 caught at Plague; see Plague notes.

No text detected

1976 (Walter D. Koerig) Melanerpes fuscicollis School Hill Hastings Reservation 20 August 1015. Several of these birds (3-4) are over in the upper part of 1500 eating/picking green acorns; see 1500 notes. 22 August 1630. Watching; nobody immediately obvious. 1650. ♀️ hawking in storage area. 1702. (1) ♀️ LP/IM #86 and (2) ♂️ ub. 1705. (3) wa-Dk/or - #249 probing into a storage hole. Wrong! This ♀️ wa-Dk/la #256 with a dark eye! 1730. Now (4) wa-Bk/or - #299 is here. 1732. ♂️86 just landed next to a Kestrel in the storage tree, managing to displace the larger bird. 1745. (5) ♂️W/W #195 here on side with the others. 1800. (6) ♀️ M/LO #193 eating an acorn (stored, I think) in the storage area. 1810. Several birds still in the vicinity; some interest in stores still definitely evident. 1830. All quiet. Time to go. As far as I can tell, they have finally run out of stores: even the low limb in the 1st tree have been cleaned. 1900. 3 birds at 1500 were no doubt of this group (I'd suspected them to be down there when I found nobody on my descent and heard several birds down there). (4) ♂️194 was identified for sure; also probably ♂️ub and ♂️256. See 1500 notes for details. 1 September 845. j298 (and possibly others) at 1500. See 1500 notes. 7 September I first walked up to School Hill "B", where there were no birds, but where the roost hole in the small dead Blue Oak has fallen. This is the only roost hole I ever found for this territory.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation (7 September) 830. Watching main area: no birds. 840. 2-4 birds here now. 845. ☐♂ #86 in storage area, flycaught several times. Was joined by ☐♀/red #191 who proceeded to devour a green acorn and a 3rd bird → ☐♀ub, who remained to preen. 920. A ♀ intruder being displaced by 2 of the birds. 950. Another chase of an intruder. 1000. Somebody getting chased by about 4 birds. 1030. A few birds scattered about eating acorns, but all still rather quiet. 27 September 1000. Watching from hide. 1007. ☐♀ /LP #193 in side area with acorn in her bill. 1035. ☐♂ _#297. Pretty slow. 1040. ☐♂ LP/m #86 wsw in storage area with several others. 1054. ☐♂ LB/m #195, wing streamer gone. ☐♀ub. 1058. ☐♂ _#256 (dark eye) 1125. ☐♀ red #191 hawking on side. 1150. ♂LB/LP-red ? possibly #299?? Lots of hawking going on now- 1300. Going. Nothing/ nobody new. Storage count: tree 2: 154 tree 1: 34 } 189 (all new) 28 September 6 October 12 October 930. Watching. 1015. Birds are here but are mostly invisible, staring in tree "2". 1025. ☐♂ _#256 storing.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation (12 October) 1026 ♂ DB-LP/DB #193. 1052. ♂ Name / M #86. Others here, but I'm having a hell of a time seeing, them. 1100. Several birds on W side: ♂♂ or / 4e-Ds #297, ? ♀ / LP #296, and ♂ LB [#195?]. 1103. ♂ La-da/M #298 staring in dead tree on W side also. 1105. ♂♂ LB/LP (Red?) #296. 1120. ♂ M/Red #191 1146. I heard a Cooper Hawk call, but when I looked all I saw was a Scrub Jay who was being thoroughly hounded out of the storage area by 4 woodpeckers and was chased by the birds to the upper side of the field. ♂296 still looks like ♂ LB / LP-Red. Might check this. 1155. ♂ 9u6. 1200. leaving. 18 October Changes: ♂♂ 88, 94, and 95: all 3 moved to 1500 15 August 1976 (these birds have been seen there rather regularly since 20 August). Purge! j299. Not seen since banding on 15 June 27 October 1730. 5+ birds in the area. Counted stores: Tree 1: 349 Tree 2: 1454 1803 18 November 930. Came up to get some pictures of the acom traps/deer enclosure. Saw no birds in the main area, then walked up to S.H. "B", where 2 birds were in the old granary. They left before I could get a look, but in one of the taller perch trees up beyond it was ♂♂ J.Link/M #88. The entire S.H. "B" roost tree has fallen, by the way.

No text detected

1976 (Welder) D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation (18 November) 940. Now several birds calling from the main area. There are apparently no stores at S.H."B". I doubt anyone has moved in here yet. 23 November 1030. 8298 apparently by Pump. See Pump notes. 1500. 8LP/M #86 and 8ca-da/M #298 up slope of School Hill by old unused granary. Nobody seen at S.H."B" 7 December See Pump notes for some SH birds down there. 9 December Counted stores: Tree 1: 432 ) Tree 2: 1773 ) 2205 Saw nothing at SH"B"; several birds were down in the main area, however. 16 December 1210. Watching from hide. 1214. 08M/LP #193 atop tree 1. 1240. 28 Red/ .wr #R1 here. Others here intermittently, but everything is rather slow. 1246. 38 wr-LB/Lcm #256 showed up with an acorn. 1307. 48 or/4el-Drb #297 here. Still quiet except for one bird barritting down the hill a ways. 1355. Leaving. Not picking up very much. 17 December Purge: 9192. Last seen 21 April (!), gone by 27 May -> Disappeared about 9 May ± 2 weeks. 8 "394" -> 2nd unbanded 8. I saw what was probably this bird on 6 May, but she was never seen again and apparently did not lay eggs like "she" presumably did last year. The next watch was 27 May, so -> Disappeared about 16 May ± 1 week.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation 18 December ♀193 seen at Plaque, see Plaque notes, p. 27. 21 December 1140. Watching. 1200. ⚫♀?DB-LP/0 #193 chasing off a fitmouse; now preening in central area. 1214. Wow! ⚫♂ Blue/LPink #296. Also ⚫♀m/Red #191 eating an acorn. 1223. Here also is ⚫♂ LG-DC/LG-Yellow #298. I had this problem before and figured I'd not seen him quite right, but this time I did: His upper right band is LGreen-Yellow not LG-DC. 1235. ⚫♂ wn-DB/ #256. 1250. There was an ub♀ here for several minutes who I guess is the one. However she may have been chased prior to landing in tree 2. There were enough birds around, though, so I would have expected her to be chased again while in the main storage tree (she apparently flew off on her own). 1256. ⚫♂ - /Orange #297. 1300. leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus School Hill West Hastings Reservation 21 April 1030. Walked over here for the first time this year, flushing 2 birds, one of whom was an unbanded ♂. There are still stores, remaining in their storage tree also. 29 April 1055. A bird, probably from here, was seen slightly down on the side of School Hill by 1800. Meanwhile, almost constant far-off Garricles can be heard emanating from this vicinity on top of School Hill. I have no idea what's going on up there, unfortunately. 25 May 1615. Walked by again, noting a fair number of stores remaining but wretchedly no birds at all. I checked the larger trees around for holes, but found nothing in the ones I found (all in the large Qkelloggii next to the storage tree). On the other hand, everybody seems pretty calm this time of the day. 5 June 9445. Wandered by here, flushing one bird from the BlackOak but not, I think, from a hole. If it was from a nest, they are still incubating, as I climbed up and did not hear babies anywhere. A few stores remain, but that's all. 13 June 1545. Flushed 2 birds who had, I believe, been sap-sucking in a BlueOak up from the storage tree. Saw nobody in the storage area itself, and there was little sign of action in the holes. 27 October There are a fair number (500+) of stores here; I didn't see any birds, but the group seems to be alive, at least.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arf, too Hastings Reservation 28 June Noting several birds in the tall perch tree as I drove by, I stopped to watch briefly. Seen were 2♀♀, 1 adult, unbanded, the other probably a 2nd-year bird as it gave good squeak begging displays when the other ♀ landed above her. Also 1♂, unbanded, and a 4th bird were around. I may have heard some juvenile begging, but I could not be certain. 1 July 1145. Flushed a juvenile as I drove by. Since there are lots of stores left, it's not surprising that these birds did, apparently, pull off a nest. 8 August 1215. Several birds in the central area here. Apparently they have exhausted their stores; I saw no definite remaining acorns in the storage tree. Let me revise that: only various bits and pieces remain (a juv. came and drilled at stores here for awhile). Seen were at least 2♂♂, 1♀, and 2 juvs; nobody seen well (which included a 1♂♂, 1 juv, and the ♀) were banded. They did seem to be hanging around this area fairly consistently.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation 21 January 4 February 1500. Checked the marked acorns, finding 62/70, with 1 moved. 1025. "Watching in the rain." Birds calling in the lower areas. 1031. A bird came to central area but couldn't be identified. 1033. 23 birds here momentarily. ①♀ unband#247, looks dark, probably ♀98 sitting in tall VO toward A1 field. (yes- seen well a minute later). 1045. ① flew down and away- toward "A1 field" 1047. ②♂ un-BLK/un#103 up in the perch tree now. 1055. 2nd♂ in perch tree; I heard a baby begging behind me (trtrtr call) 1103. ③♀ un-RW#197 over in side storage area. 1105. ④♀ un-LW #198 there also working stores. 1115. ⑤♂ un/yes#102 up in perch tree with 4 others, possibly 1 more too. Several of the birds are clearly eating the oak buds up high in this Valley Oak. They hang upside down chickadee style to reach them on small twigs or stretch out to reach them from larger branches. 1120. ⑥♀ unband definitely seen eating buds up in the VO perch tree next to 2 other group member; this may entail reviving #352, who I'd eventually decided had disappeared at the end of last April. 1125. ④♂ unRW is a MALE 1130. Birds also seen busy eating acorns 1156. ②♂ub seen well again, restoring/eating an acorn in side storage area with everyone else. 1205. Leaving. Only bird not seen for sure was ♂ unband#351, who I thought at one point I might have seen. In any case I suspect he is still here. It is, however, no doubt time to purge the 2 late juveniles I banded here in August (235 & 243).

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation (4 February) Burgess: ① j235 banded and last seen 12Aug75, gone by 5 October, Disappeared ~9 Sept. +1½M ② j 243 " " " " 19Aug75, gone by 5 Oct.75, Disappeared ~12 Sept. +1-2 wks. Note: I did observe an unbanded ♀ on 3 November 1975 but she assumed not was not a group member; thus it is not too unexpected to find an unbanded ♀ here. Whether or not she's the same bird as was here last year, is of course another question entirely, I'm afraid. 23 February 1015 Counted stores: Central area: 768 Side area: 364 {1132} I saw/heard no M.f. here. 21 March 1515. Heard plenty of activity here while at Bianca; an intruder there could also have been from here. I walked by to check stores, and there are still plenty here. 22 March Due to a conflict, #392 and 393, the late juveniles from last summer before they were banded, have had their numbers changed to 396 and 397, respectively. 9 April 1130. Count: central area: 908 side area 408 {1316} At least one bird was sitting in the perch forest. Clearly stores have at least not diminished significantly since February. 19 April 1755. One bird flushed from storage area in passing through, none else seen in/out of holes. 20 April 1605. 6 birds flushed out of central area (out of a possible 7).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation 22 April 1005. Watching. 1010. A pack of 5 birds landed together in perch Valley Oak in forest towards Briance. 1♂ univer #102 seen; other here but couldn't be identified. 1017. 2♂ running seen eating flowers atop the tree; conceivably an intruder but must be assumed to be 351. 1027. 3♀WRW #197 sitting up there now. 1034. The 'pack' just landed up there, joining #197. In it was 4♂ un-Biz, #103. This pack is externally identical (though smaller - only 4-5 birds) than that at A3 observed several days ago. 1102. 3♂ LGLW #198 over in side storage area (with everyone else). 1112. 6♀ No Wson Riving → presumed #352. 1115. Leaving. Checked all holes - none. But surely #98 is somewhere (?). 23 April 1255. 3♂ LGLW #198 suddenly cruised over my head and landed briefly in the Upper Arnold 2 sap area. See UA2 notes. 1340. Nobody in territory. 1 May 1800. Checked holes. 24 birds were in the central area, flushing to the lower side. Several were still in the "pack" formation when they did so. 4 May 1745. Several birds in central area again but still keen vogeln in holes. 6 May 1715. One bird sitting in roost tree up in forest by A1 - but + no one else was around. 1750. 2nd pass - ♂ looking out of '45 roost hole! Eureka!

No text detected

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

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation 27 May 1930. Nobody seen here in a brief pass, though I think I'd heard birds have shortly before walking by. 31 May 1700. Nobody during another pass, but birds again heard over here 5 June 1900. Nobody seen in a brief pass. 14 June 1715. ①♀WRW#197 plus one other sitting in lower forest area. ①♀ub there. ③♂wn/ye1 #102 in old unused storage tree. 1735. The above 3 birds are virtually immobile; the others are presumably in a similar state of inactivity somewhere or another. I'm 815. ♂wn/ye1 #102 seen at Arnold Spring; about 4 birds here at the time. 1215. Counted stores: Central area: 727 } 883 Side area: 156 18 July 730. Watching. ①♀WRW up in perch tree in forest toward Al. ②♂wn/ye1 #102 there also. 940. Now ②♂ub with the other 2. 943. 5 birds up there now - including a baby! 945. Baby flew off (?) ②♀ub. 950. Down to 1 bird; others on hillside somewhere. 803. Several birds in a Black Oak down toward the car, including jor/do or #28A from Lambert. Obviously, it will take more than a brief sighting to confirm the presence of a juvenile here, as these birds pass through here on the way to the spring. 830. There are birds, most of whom no doubt don't belong here, calling from several parts of the territory. 835. Several obvious intruders near some group birds now; some displacements. One ♂DB/wn? • here. 900. Up in the perch area now: ♂ye1/wn and ♀wn-/raddish Tank eye #132 (from LA2)

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 7 Melanerpes formicivorus Black-Oak Hastings Reservation (18 July) 910. There are still birds and calls (including those of juveniles) coming from all over. There is, however, an unbanded juvenile below me in the forest who just flew up to the side storage area here following an adult. 925. More displacing going on; it's hard to know for sure, but my guess is that the juveniles calling do not belong here. 932. ♀102 just picked a green Q. kelloggii acorn and is eating it! 945. On the other hand, the juveniles(s) are definitely persisting here. One is now sitting in the central storage area softly wrinking. 955. Except for the continued periodical chasing that's occurring and which succeeds in confusing the issue of who really belongs here, I'd say there are definitely 1-2 jwvs. here. 1025. The unbanded jwv. was just fed by PWRW #197 - they did indeed succeed in pulling off a clutch despite me! The calls indicate that there are most likely 2 of them. 1032. A Cooper's Hawk is causing some consternation down the hill. 1107. New information definitely is coming in very slowly. Next project is to find the roost hole here and ambush! There are definitely 2, but probably not more, juveniles here. I returned at dusk and found the tree with the roost hole (which also was most likely the nest also); juvenile squeeing was heard at the roost, confirming their presence. For now they will be #456 and 457. 20 July Stopped by to look for the roost hole, but found no unambiguous candidate in the tree where I heard them on the 18th. One of the unring babies was here, however. 29 July 1100. 4-5 birds here. Counted stores: side: 61 central area 495 } 556

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation (29 July) 2030. These birds are roosting in a PoisonOak-covered trunk in a hole pointing upwards. Maybe it's a good thing I didn't find the nest (which was probably here); I would have killed myself getting to it. 30 July 1900-2000. Made my way through the Poison Oak by cutting it branch by branch until I was able to reach the hole. 31 July As far as I could tell 2 birds roosted in the hole this evening. 19 August 1430. 4-5 birds here, inc. 1 juv, 2♂, and 2♀ for #197. 1605. See Braica notes for discussion of several Braica birds sitting in the lower part of the territory here. Meanwhile, 4 of those birds were in the upper section (nest area and perch tree toward LAZ), where I saw 2 unring juveniles and 2 adults. 31 August 1815. 8♂102 in forest toward LAZ. Meanwhile, in the far bottom edge of this territory were 2 birds, a ♀ and an [illegible] unring ♂, who were sitting in an old storage tree down there (see map). The ♂ climbed up and drummed once while checking me out; I assume these were Black Oak birds. I also counted stores: main area: 483 ? 508 Edge 25 ? 13 September 930. Net up. No catch. 9 October 900. Net up. Watching from hide. 902. A bird just got displaced by another AW (♂) in the central storage area. The flies are incredibly bad today! 912. ♂-type; very possibly juv., up in forest perch area. 925. Another ♂ub, this one certainly an adult. 930. This time the ub bird in the forest perch area was ♀-type with

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation (7 October) a very dark eye-I assume this to be a 1st-yr bird molting already to ♀. 941. The ♂ub up in the FPA eating an acorn and hawking has a darkish eye and could be the other 1st-yr. bird. 1048. Over in the side storage area is ♀WRW#197 with an acorn half. At least somebody's still banded here. The ♂ub Adult ♂ has a few peculiarities about his face: 1102. Near the ♀ is an ub ♂, while up in the FPA the Ad ♂ub is still hawking. Presumably this first bird is the 2nd juv. 1115. ♂4el/wn#102 storing in side area. 1130. Leaving. Something has to be done about the unbanded birds here! But despite them I did fairly well. As I got out of the hide a bird was in the net, who turned out to be one of Bianca's 1st-year birds molting to a ♀, ♂303. After doing her I counted stores: Inner Circle: 979 Side area: 380 } 1359 I noticed 18 of the old marked acorns still stored here as well. 10 October Purge: ♀98. Last seen 4 February (!) Gone by 22 April → Disappeared about 13 March ± 1 month. → (at upper Arnold 2!) ♂98. Last seen 23 April, gone by 18 July → Disappeared about 5 June ± 1 month. 14 October 830. See Journal for notes on several Gits, at least one from here (♀97) down next to the road toward the Spring. 930. Set up 2 mist nets. No catch by 1130.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation (14 October) 1310. Cheked nets - caught a young ♀ - formerly #456, now #320. 1700. No further catch. Nets down. 16 October 1430. Set up several nets. No catch until dusk, when I caught 2 birds, ♂102 (in the 30' net in the side storage area) and ♂ub #321 (on his way to the roost hole where I unsuccessfully ambushed this morning). He was surprisingly well developed (white eye, no tail spots) but was certainly a young bird also (formerly #457) as he had no flight/tail feathers being replaced (while his body/crown were in heavy molt) and his under- tail coverts were quite fluffy and juvenile-ish (I compared them to ♂102 and our little captive - they are quite distinguishable, and with this bird's definitely like the latter). Both were taken down, processed, and held overnight. 17 October 800. Released the 2 hostages unharmed. 28 October 1100. 2 nets up; counted stores: Central area: 1105 Side area: 432 } 1537 1500. No catch. Nets down. 19 November 1635. ♂197 over between LA2 and Bianca: see LA2 notes. Prior to this, we'd set up the net in front of the roost hole in the lower Black Oak (same as the hole where I unsuccessfully ambushed on 16 October). When we returned, 1 bird (♂102) was already in the net. 10 minutes later a 2nd (♀320) joined him, but her screaming brought a Great Horned Owl about 2 minutes later! The owl

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hartings Reservation (19 November) flew up from below and briefly struggled around in the net until I dashed down and scared him off. The 2 birds were taken down and held overnight. 20 November 820. Birds released. Both in good shape. 8 December 1300. Counted stores: Central area: 1465 } Side trees: 594 } 2059; nearly 100% Q. kelloggii. 22 December 1020. Watching. 1028. An unbanded ♀ landed briefly in the forest perch tree with an acorn, but then flew off towards A1: maybe an intruder? 1052. There are several birds around but all are playing hard to get. I think I've finally seen ⚫♂️ub however up in the forest perch area. ⚫♀️ub may also have been seen. 1100. ⚫♂️ub ok. 1130. ⚫♂️Or/#321 in main area. 1140. ⚫♀️ub eating acorn in side storage area. 1210. ⚫♀️Or-LB/M #320 over in side area. These birds continue to be incredibly difficult. 1235. ⚫♂️LB/yellow #102 hawking in side area. That's it except for ♀197, who was last seen making moves over at LA2 and may have left; but the birds have been hard enough to see here today that she may very well still be hanging around (after all, why would she move in November, of all months?)

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation 13 January 1010. Watching. 1017. 3 birds landed in the storage tree simultaneously: ① AQRW#105, ② AQRW#199, and ③ unbande d #353. All left after 2 minutes 1024. All 3 returned again briefly, retreating the tve 2° storage tree after a brief time. 1035. The 2 banded birds back. The 3rd was in storage tree briefly, then left. A♀ is drilling. 1040. Birds left for next area. Frequent flights back and forth are taking place. 1050. 4 birds were suddenly present in the storage tree - the 3 plus another unbande d ♂, who was chased by the ♀ and the other unbande d ♂. 1053. At least 2 more unbande d birds appeared, both ♀♀. One chased the other around, but she, in turn, was chased by A♀105. None of these extra birds seemed to belong to the group. Some chasing and one grappling took place until 1100. 1115. Another intruder being chased. 1125. "" "" "" by the 3 birds again. 1135. Continued accession intrusion, especially by unbande d ♀♀. 1137. Drumming given by one of the resident birds. 1150. Some more chasing. I am completely unsure of where the intruders are coming from (even their direction of flight is little help). I'm now leaving. Purges: #107,224. Both last seen 7 Oct.75; gone by 2 Dec.75; ~4 Nov. ± 2 wks #225,226. Both last seen 19 Aug.75; gone by 23 Sep.75; ~5 Sep. ± 2 wks #355. Last seen 28 June 75; gone by ~7 Aug.75; 10 July ± 1 month

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation 20 January Checked the marked acorns, finding 25/30, of which 1 had clearly been moved. I did not search the tree very thoroughly, however. 17 February 910-930. Watched from a short distance away through the fog, seeing all 3 birds (♂Wh, ♂Or, ♂Ub) in the storage tree. Later while counting, ♂Or,RW sat across the road toward BigTree and watched ( [illegible] ) A total of 2102 stores were all in the main tree. Of marked acorns, I found 21/25, of which 2 had been moved. 21 March Put out portion of '75 nest hole back in place. Saw several birds flying around here later on. Apparently something's up here—in walking by at 1620 there were 4 birds in the top of the 2° Valley Oak just above the storage tree, joined by a 5th from the storage tree itself. ♂Or or ♂Ub were not conspicuous among them. A revolution may have occurred here. Plenty of stores remain, in any case. 22 March 1000. Watching from hide above storage tree. 1005. 2 birds were briefly in the storage tree. 1010. ♂Wh,RW#199 came into storage tree. (♀Ub here also, plus others. 1015. ♂ still sitting here; ♂ gone. 1018. Several birds in area; some chasing; one chase by ♂ seen. 1025. ♂ is sitting around preening, etc., very much as if she belongs here. 1036. 2 unbanded ♀♀ landed essentially together in the

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 (22 March) storage tree where they both landed waking and proceeded to eat some acorn bits. The ♂ was in the tree also. 1043. While eating an acorn, first 1 and then 2 unbanded ♂♂ (!) landed near the ♂; one of them walked right up to the Adult and sat next to him just like a juvenile. The adult pecked at the unbanded bird several times, but did not chase him away. 1055. One of the unbanded ♂♂ is now sapsucking in holes over small tree on the laurel storage in the backpart side of the storage tree (Valley Dale). The ♂ is still in the storage tree itself. 1102. Birds ① and ② are now sitting quietly in the storage tree. No others are in view. 1125. I'm not sure what to make of this. Clearly ♂105 has disappeared and been replaced by at least one and possibly 2 unbanded ♂♂. ♂353 is seemingly still here along with ♂199, but the presence of a 2nd unbanded ♂ is unexplainable at the moment, unless he came with the ♀♀ for some reason. Only ♂199 and one of the unbanded ♀♀ are consistently around the storage tree; though some chasing is taking place, none of the other 3 unbanded birds were chased even when relatively intimate with one of the other 2 birds. Hopefully I can ambush some of them here; that and just watching roosting to see how many birds are roosting together will clear things up a little, I hope. Only the banded ♂ provides some semblance of continuity at this point. 1130. Leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation 24 March 1115. Put net up in storage tree. No catch. 29 March 1500. Numerous birds are up in the large Valley Oak on top of the hill between the A1 '75 nest hole and LA2-UA2; these birds were probably among them. The count: 1240. 23 April 1350. Watching. 1405. ① ♀ unring eating flower buds; in main tree with a ♂. ② ♂ Red/Metal Red/White #199 in main tree with ①; apparently has lost his wing-streamer. 1415. There are 2 unring ♂♂ in the vicinity, one of whom landed briefly in the storage tree before flying across the road to join the other bird in the edge of the forest by Big Tree. 1425. There are 4 birds here now, all sitting or working storage holes: ①,②③ unringing, ④ ♀ unringing. 1440. Birds are sap-pucking here, among other things (this is in the smaller tree next to the big storage tree to the west). 1450. It seems not unreasonable that what has happened is that ♀105 has merely been replaced by 2 other ♀♀. Purge: ♀105. Last seen Feb.17. Gone by 21 March. Disappeared ≈ 8 March ±2 wks ADD: ♀391 Moved to (Age Unknown) Arnold 1: 8 March 1976 ♀398 " " " " " " 28 April 1530. ♂199 and unringing ♀♀(391,398) in top Arnold Field tree (by '95 nest tree).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 5 Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation 29 April Watched at dusk. 4 birds zipped into the main storage tree (in another "pack" formation), but then fiddled around for several minutes before they finally settled back into the tree to roost in the hole in the weird limb. 3 May 1700. Set up a mesh trap over the above hole. 4 May 600. Trap worked; unfortunately the birds had apparently roosted across the road. In any case, 6 birds came flying in when activity began. At least one of these, and certainly possibly 2 were subsequently displaced, however. I identified ♀ Red/m #199 in the storage tree; one of the other birds I watched go up near the crown and begin eating some oak flowers. 10 May 2020. At least one bird was roosting in the hole in the storage tree here again. 12 May All 4 birds roosted in the storage tree. An ambush attempt is again called for. 14 May Walking by the storage tree in the late morning a bird was in the roost hole peering out. They may be about to nest, I suspect. 15 May Nobody in the hole during 2 passes of the storage tree. 16 May 1540. Bird in hole on the way down. 20 May 1815. Counted stores: 1050. Nobody in hole last 2 days. 22 May After having set up the trap again last night I thought I'd seen 3 birds go in and a 4th land at the hole and then leave. At 500 I hit and successfully trapped the contents, which turned out to be 2 unbanded 88's (!), both apparently adults with broad patches - leading me to suspect that they see 22 March notes!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation (22 May) may even have a nest here and these 2♂ may have been incubating during the night. A further complication arises in that my censuses in April had given me the distinct impression that there was only 1 unbanded ♂ here, along with 2 unbanded ♀♀ and ♂199. Obviously I was mistaken! For now I will merely add the 2 birds (#266 and 267; 266 formerly 353); #267 will have been #404 unring previously but I shall have to watch here some more before I decide how to handle him. 23 May No birds seen in hole this afternoon. 24 May After seeing birds in the hole, I went up to it in order to figure out what's up. I tried peering inside with my widget, but that didn't solve anything, so I went ahead and started to saw the thing open. I didn't finish, but made it much of the way so that it should not be much of a problem completing the job tomorrow. At one point I thought I heard a the feeble squeak of a newly hatched baby, but it may have been my imagination. I shall find out tomorrow, I suppose. 25 May 1000. Went back up and finished the rather arduous job at the hole, but was rewarded with 3 eggs; 2 good and 1 dwarf. The 2 good eggs were not freshly laid - they seemed to have been a few days old, as they were nearly opaque, though not yet ivory-colored. 26 May 1900. Up in the vicinity of the '75 nest tree were Zunrung ♀♀ who I presume to have been the ones living here. Nobody was in the nest hole itself, but incubation probably hasn't begun yet. → go to p.8

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Nest Record Hastings Reservation Activity first noted at hole 22 May dawn "Roost" ambush at nest hole yielded 2 unwrung 83° (#266, 267) both with broad patches. 25 May 1000 Nest opened: 3 eggs ① 21.7 × 16.1 ③ 26.6 × 20.0 ② 27.2 × 20.6 27 May 1800. No eggs in nest. See notes, p. 8.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Keenig 8 Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation 27 May 1800. Went up to check the nest, discovering that there was now nothing at all inside! Arg. This is the first possible case of predation to date, though obviously I don't know what happened. It's always possible that it was abandoned due to my disturbance (catching the 2 8"') but since birds were seen in the hole 2 days later when I opened it that would not seem too likely. Possibly they found a preferable site elsewhere, more or less as did Bianca a couple weeks ago. Or maybe it really was predation? If I get a chance I'll watch roosting here tonight to see if that can tell me anything; in any case I must watch here as soon as possible. I shortly after the above walked by the '95 nest tree, where there were birds looking out at me from both those nice holes in the small limb where I'd always hoped they wouldn't nest. In this case, however, it would perhaps be better than nothing. Just after this, a wandering bird seen at the top edge of Bianca's territory may possibly have been $105, but then again... (among other things, I noticed no trace of a former wing-streamer). See Bianca notes for more details. 7 June 1920. Bird in 'nest' hole in storage tree. 8 June 1900. " " " " " 10 June 1900. " " " " " . Plenty of stores here still. 14 June 1945. Nobody seen here anywhere so far. Watching. 2015. 1 bird, unidentified, chasing a Titmouse in the storage tree. Only saw one unringed & and ended up hearing only 2 birds - neither of whom roosted in the storage tree. I think more watching is definitely called for here.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation. 27 June 905. Watching. Flushed one bird out of the storage tree when I arrived. 912. (1) 9ub here now. 916. A 2nd bird was here briefly, but he may have just gotten displaced. 930. (2) Red turn #199 here along with the ♀. 950. (3) 8 yee7Bik#266 here; at least 3 birds in the tree. 955. A brief unkt and the ephemeral presence of an unring ♂ intruder. 1115. Things continue at a snail's pace. I suspect that the group is everybody may be here; the group, in any case, is intact. Counted stores: 839. 28 June 630. Watching again, this time from the truck on the road 640. 2-3 birds over on NE side of road; 9ub among them. 655. A ♂, acting furtive and intruderish, was in the storage tree for 2 minutes or less; one other bird is here. 710. I think the 2nd ub ♀ was here in the storage tree along with the first bird, until the 1st ♀, who had been working storage stores, flew across the road to get rid of an intruding juvenile (apparently, by squeeing sounds) 715. 1st ♀, eating acorns, flew off; 2nd ♀ then appeared in the same spot where the 1st had been. Both unbanded for sure. 720. An intruder passed through very briefly, being displaced from the storage tree within 15 seconds. 726. Intruding ♀ here briefly; chased out by one of the 2 birds here. 730 ♂ M - #266 in storage tree; 2 other birds entering. ♂ or turn #199 now working stores also. 800. Leaving. 8199 and the 2 99 were all fairly conspicuous. 8266 was again only fleetingly noted, while the other ♂ was not seen at all. Further watching, perhaps at dusk, may be necessary to see if he's still here.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation (28 June) Otherwise, the stores are being eaten, and the high number of brief intruders, as well as strange flights going high above and through the territory, were unusual. They are perhaps related to the location of the Arnold Spring nearly right below this territory, where many of the birds in this area no doubt go to water. 29 June 930. Up in Al is 8199; he has obviously seen me and is [illegible] alarm. The display he is giving is very different from anything I ever knew these birds to make: a short, relatively soft flicker- like "yep," whose only similarity to any other displays might be the first .3 second of a "wake". This bird gave this call 3-4 times while sitting and watching me, then flew up to another branch, repeated the process, then finally flew off. Now that I thing of it, this display ◎ is clearly only an abbreviated form of the alarm call, which definitely makes sense. The first .3 second of one of them would surely sound virtually identical. 2015. 8 in nest hole already. ✓ 29 July 1300. Counted stores: 217. 10 August 1100. 26 birds in main tree. 31 August 1830. There are a very few stores left in the tree: on the order of 15 or so. Otherwise only shells remain. No birds seen. 6 September 900. Watching. Lots of hulls in storage tree but few if any are intact. 905. ①♂yer/Bilk #266 came with an acorn and ate it. 915. There are 2-3 birds above me at the moment. 930. ①♂ or/♀? #199 in the storage tree with another 8? 935. ③-④ 2ub ⑧ here, 1 eating an acorn, plus ② ③266.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation (6 September) 1000. There is a fair amount of calling going on here, but nobody new was shown up. 7 September Pungi: ♂267. Not seen since his ambush at the nest on 22 May. Definitely gone next I seriously watched on 28 June → Disappeared about [illegible] weeks. 10 June ± 2 weeks. 13 September 945. Several birds here; ♂ub seen. Net up at 900. 1400. ♂ Red/M #199 seen back toward A3 in A1 territory; other (presumably A1) birds seen in this area earlier. √ 7 October Counted stores: 1926. Didn't see no birds, though. 28 October Counted stores: 3164. 2+q birds in the vicinity. 6 November 1045. Watching. 1105. Several birds appeared briefly, inc. ♂ub. 1118. !! A ♂ landed briefly next to the ♂ub ♂ (who was eating an acorn) who was no less than 2♂ wh/DB-wh(m) #267. This is the other ♂ I caught at the nest in May and not seen since! 1132. 3rd ♂ub ♂ showed up as the 1st was chasing Titmouse out of the tree. 1151. 4th ♂ Red/M #199 sitting in the granary. 1245. Activity here is more than minimal, but the birds are mostly hidden by the foliage. Certainly I would not claim that ♂266 is not here (especially after the ♂267 experience!). 6 December Counted stores: 3312. One ♂ub ♂ came briefly to chase a Titmouse; birds were otherwise apparently over in the '75 nest area. 17 December Florence watched here, seeing ♂199 and at least one of the ♂♂. At 1310 on our way down ♂199 and at least one other bird were in the forest down by the

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 1 Hastings Reservation (17 December) area where the road just comes out of the woods (down below Blade Oak and above the cabin.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus BigTree Hastings Reservation 20 January 930. ♂LG-Y/LG-Y seen at BigTree alone (#108). Later in the morning I checked the marked acorns here, finding 28/40, none of which had been moved. 21 January 1000. Watching from truck. ♂LG-Y/LG-Y #108 in perch trees. 1010. ♀♀ Red-LB/Red-LB #110 landed in rear storage tree. ♂♂ still out front. 1017. ♂♂ Or / Y-Or = Or-Brn / Or-Brn [?] #104 came to perch area, then flew across the road to TopTree. 1030. ♂♂ flew across road. None on this side now. 1030. 10BA Leaving. 26 January 1220. ♂ #108 seen in roost tree on BigTree side of road ( 16 February Purge: 21 January 76 9200 (juv.) last seen 22 Oct., gone by 22 Dec. 75+1 month. √ 17 February Count: 434 all in main tree. I saw ♀Red-LB/Red-LB #110 while here, plus several (at least 2) others were up with her in top field across the road. 23 February 1115. ♂ Yel #108 eating acorn at anvil near stores; also seen closing several flickers just behind the BigTree. √ 21 March Lots of stores remain 22 March 915. ♂Or-Brn/Or-Brn#104 is sap-sucking along the fenceline toward A3 (same area as last summer). Several other species are using sap also (Nuttall's Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker) He is the only AW here, but I'd previously flushed several others by BigTree. 920. Both the AW and a ♂Downy have been sitting in separate parts of the sap-tree since 915 with no interspecific aggression between them.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus BigTree Hastings Reservation (22 March) 1230. A bird (♂) was in the storage tree when I came to count: ✓ 378 (all in BigTree) 24 March 1130. What was apparently ♂108 (looked more like ♂y-Red/y-R) was sap-sucking in the tree along the fenceline. Within several minutes the other 2 birds were here also (♀104 and ♂110), all sap-sucking. 20 April 1400. 3 birds seen sitting in this area. 22 April 1440. 3 birds flushed from the BigTree sap tree (the one along the fence by Keep Out). Eventually all flew to this area, where I identified the 2 ♂'s (104 and 108) 28 April 1320. The 2 ♂'s seen and identified here. Holes checked. 30 April 1045. Something going on in the sap area up by the fence. See Keep Out notes. Most likely a dispute/1-2 intruders in this territory. 2 May 1330. Looked down and saw 4 (!) birds in the perch tree by the BigTree. At least 2 were ♂'s; one (the?) ♀ I looked at and couldn't get a good reading but from what I did see she appeared unbanded. Oh boy. A couple minutes later the ♀ returned followed by ♂108 2 adult ♂'s, the first of whom proceeded to mount the ♀ and the second of whom attacked the first when he arrived. One of the ♂'s was ♂ y-Red/y-led , who is still theoretically #108 (see 24 March above), but I'm not so sure any more. 1400. Well. As best as I can tell, the birds here are ① ♂104 → the mystery bird ② ♂108 → bands look y/y ③-④ 2 unringed ♀'s!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus BigTree Hastings Reservation (2 May) Apparently, unless I'm mistaken, ♀110 is gone and has been replaced by 2 new birds. The ♂♂ remain unchanged. The 4 birds appear to be familiar with one another. 3 May Confirmed the presence of 2 unring ♀♀. Unless some new development comes up, therefore: Purge: ♀110 last seen 24 March, gone by 2 May → Disappeared about 13 April ± 2 weeks Add: ♀399 Moved to BigTree about 13 April; age unknown ♀400 " " " While watching one of these ♀♀ in a tall Valley Oak by the storage area, it foraged in a manner that I've never actually seen before: up about 2 feet (below the crown, she would look up to and around a small dead twig above her, then hop up and pick off what appeared to be a small caterpillar, about as long as her bill and very thin. She would then hop down a short ways and after perhaps holding it dropping from her bill a few seconds turn toward the limb and peck at it a bit before eating it. She then would get back in position, look up and start over again. In all I saw her to this 4 times, but she could have been doing it for some time before I began to watch. On about 3 of these occasions I saw the small inchworm-like beast she picked off the bark, but it was so small I couldn't tell much more about it than that. 4 May 1630.8 Can-y/Can-y #108 seen well in top Arnold field.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koerig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus BigTree Hastings Reservation 9 May 1215. All 4 birds here; only one [illegible] identified (but a 2nd ♀ was present). Birds mostly hawking but some bark gleaning seems to be going on. Several flights made to the storage tree, but not apparently to a known hole. 10 May 2015. Birds are roosting in Valley Oak immediately next to the road across from the perch tree. All 4 were seen. 11 May 1700. I set up for an ambush here. It occurs to me in walking by here and flushing the group, however, how "pack-like" they are acting - not all being in one place, necessarily, but all flying together at the same moment and landing at the same place within inches of each other. This is very reminiscent of the similar behavior seen in a magnified form at A3 and BlackOak just before they began nesting, and I suspect that there's a good chance that the same phenomenon may be about to occur here. 12 May The ambush was ½ successful - somehow 2 of the birds (♂108 and one of the ♀♀) managed to get around (through?) - the wire net. In any case I did catch ♂104 and an unringed ♀, apparently a first-year bird (pointed 1°, very worn retrices) rectrices) who was #399 and is now #264. I also counted stores here: 📋 120 (definitely getting to the bottom). 20 May 1805. Walked over here, flushing 2 birds from one of the holes in the Valley Oak roost tree east of BigTree. One other bird was seen for a total of 3. 24 May 1520. Both ♂♂ (104, 108) sitting in perch tree. Holes checked; ♀ not seen. / Flash! ♀ found in hole in rear storage tree. That's it!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 5 Melanerpes formicivorus BigTree Hastings Reservation 25May 1040. 9m, #264 and a 8 sitting out in the perch tree. 1130. Returned and opened the hole where the 8 had been yesterday. As far as I could tell, it was still being built and no eggs were present. The problem is that the limb is virtually horizontal and the hole goes down at an angle and, connecting to the hollow cavity of the limb, continues sideways virtually indefinitely. Thus I suppose it's not impossible that their eggs are several feet back out of reach. Either way, I'm going to wait for something else more definite before digging deeper anywhere. 27May 1900. Bird in the hole in the Valley Oak- out toward Al near the road. Nobody in the other holes. Maybe that's it, but if so it will have to wait a few days. 30May 1845. 8/108 sitting in perch tree, nobody else seen in/out of holes. 31May 1530. Nobody at all seen in/out of holes. Also, these birds are out of stores. 3June Nobody seen in holes; 1 bird in the vicinity again. 5June " " " " " " (not perched). Some calling heard downslope. (Time 1845). 8June 1845. Pub sitting in perch tree; flew down and into forest in Lambert direction. Must be something back there. 10June 1900. Bird in hole in tree next to the road where I ambushed last month. 14June See Keep Out notes for brief territorial encounter between 88 of this group and KeepOut 8 along their border. Nobody seen when I walked by and checked holes about 1915. Several birds heard over here at dusk, however. 24June 1215. Both 88 seen in perch area. Bands not seen particularly well.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Big Tree Hastings Reservation 29 June 655. 8:04 thrashing a large, fuzzy, brown caterpillar back and forth. Pub here several minutes later. 7:10. Pub still here; 8:08 flew in. 7:16. An ub & probing in the tree below the & and & (?) 7:20. ub sitting comfortably 2 fl from 8:08; 7:25. Both these & still sitting (?) 7:30. Pub back. Pub finally started looking around him and, without being visibly displayed to, flew up and over to KeepOut, where I'm sure he doesn't belong either. 7:45. Leaving. A bird just 17:15-17:45. Watched, but only one bird & , came in view. He, however, was seen to eat an acorn in the perch tree, despite the fact that this group has "no" stores left (much like KeepOut this morning). 20:15. 32 birds in roost hole by the road. 10:10. 2 & over here. 10:13. A 3rd bird didn't even get a chance to land before getting displaced and flying over the fence line. 10:16. Pub alone in perch area now 10:25. The & having flown across the road, the perch tree has just had a banded juvenile land in it (coming from the spring, no doubt). 10:27. Jun. flew up to Lambert Group territory. Was not chased, but seconds later a & was back in the same tree. 10:35. 26 birds up above me in Top Field, but the light is inferior all over. I'm leaving. 11:15-11:30. Watched all 36 birds (28 & and 8 & ) together in 1 July

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Big Tree Hastings Reservation (1 July) the perch area virtually the entire time, mostly just sitting. The bands on the 88 were seen only fairly. It would definitely appear as if #264 is gone. 1 August 1140. 8 yellow - #108 in perch area. 1143. Pub here; 8 arrived with acorn (green?). 1145. Above 2 birds sapsucking in a Black Oak next to perch tree. 1150. 8 now eating a Black Oak green acorn; it is large and almost ripe to be storable. (155. 8 yel-Red/Yel-Red #104 (presumably!) preening in perch tree. 1200. 1-2 of these birds flew across road to Topfield. I'm off. 19 August 1700. 3 birds (2 88, 1 8) in the perch tree, 1 8 eating a green acorn. He was identified as 8 #108. 4 September Came past here at dusk not seeing anybody but noticing that that a good-sized limb off the rear Valley Oak containing 2 usable roost holes (only one of which I'd ever seen a bird in) and a very few hundred storage holes (used as a 2° storage area) had fallen. I do hope none of the birds were in the roost holes at the time! 5 September 1215. 8 or /or #104 in perch area alone. 6 September 1015. All 3 birds: 8 y/y #108, Pub, and 8 [104] in perch tree together. 7 September Purge: soon after #264. Another bird disappearing upon her being captured and banded on 25 May. She was last seen on 25 May, gone by 1 July -> Disappeared about 12 June ± 2 wks. 23 September 1400. 8 y/y #108 stored acorn. 26 September 1400. All 3 birds here: 8 y/9-14 #108 and Pub seen well, 8 or #104 seen barely. All picking, storing acorns.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Big Tree Hastings Reservation 7 October 1430. Saw both 88 (8a-y/a-y and 80r-/or-) when I counted stores: Big Tree: 290 ) Rear tree: 10 } 300 14 October 1615. ♀ub and ♂108 in perch tree. 28 October Counted stores: Big Tree: 382 ) Rear tree: 10 } 392 6 December 1230. Counted stores: Big tree: 469 ) 469 Rear tree: 0 } 1350. ♂108 plus a 2nd bird up here. 12 December 1045. ♂108 in Big Tree calling and eating an acorn.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus KeepOut Hastings Reservation 13 January 1000. ♂109 and ♀118 were both flushed from the storage tree as I drove up. Purges: #218, [illegible]. Last seen 27 June '75. Gone by 21 July → 9 July ±1 week #220. Last seen 21 July '75. Gone by 19 Aug → 5 August ±2 wks #219. Last seen 19 Aug '75. Gone by 31 Oct → 25 Sept. ±1 month 14 January 1230. Saw ♂or-?/♂-? #109 and ♀ PRW#250 in Middle tree up toward Lambert. 20 January Checked marked acorns, finding only 21/50, of which 6 had been moved. This seems abnormally low, so I counted stores as well, enumerating 556. 4 February ♂Lg/LB#118 in the "middle tree" by Lambert group; he flushed down toward KeepOut storage tree. ✓ 17 February 478 acorns counted here. Two birds were seen in the vicinity but not identified. 23 February 910. Several birds were on the territory here, including one in the storage tree. ✓ 21 March 1400. Saw one bird here. The count: 343. 29 March Returned to the cut portion of the '75 nest hole; it had fallen out apparently a month ago or so. 19 April 1400. Bird in '75 nest hole looking out. Nest already, no doubt. 1820. A bird is roosting in the very low hole in the tree in the gulch going west on Lambert's; surely must be from this group. 20 April Correction - bird seen in above hole was a Starling. 22 April 1300. Bird in '75 nest tree again (♂), but in the new hole below the '75 nest hole. To be opened as soon as possible.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus KeepOut Hastings Reservation 23 April 1200. Lower hole in Live Oak opened. Nothing yet. 27 April 1915. ♂ looking out of hole again. 28 April 1150. Watching. 1202. Birds are sapsuckling in the area next to and south from the Live Oak nest tree ♂ OR-Y/Oris #109 here. 1205. ♂ at hole in Live Oak; sat 3 minutes before flying up to sap tree. 1215. (2) ♂ LG/LB #118 eating catkins in Blue Oak near sap tree. 1300. Chased an intruder from storage tree (both birds). 1305. Possibly a 3rd group member is here. 30 April 1045. Something is up either here, Big Tree, or in any case in the "Big Tree" sap area up along the fence. A fair amount of activity including Garricles seen. At Keep Out itself, ♀109 was seen along with ♂250 finally. Also when I drew up a bird was in the hole again. 1100. I have yet to get a good fix on any of the central characters, but as there are at least 3-4 of them and the area of greatest activity is between the Big Tree sap area and Big Tree itself, I assume that it is Big Tree that is primarily concerned. About this time I went over to open the nest here, and guess what - 3 eggs! They were all clear and warm, and were numbered 1-3. 2 May 1430. Nest checked. Same 3 eggs. 5 May 1745. Nest checked and eggs measured. 9 May 1110. Nest still being attended. (@to p.4)

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out Nest Record Hastings Reservation 22 April 1300. Bird first seen in nest hole 30 April 1100. Hole opened. 3 eggs present 2 May 1430. Same 3 eggs present 4 May 1815 Bird flushed from hole. 5 May 1745 3 eggs, unchanged. Eggs measured: ① 25.8×19.3 ② 26.3 × 19.3 ③ 25.7 × 19.3 11 May 1730 Noises indicate hatching has occurred. 9 May Estimated hatching date ① LBlue ② LGreen ③ White [4] 13 May 1900 29.3 9/28 28.2 8.5/26.5 28.6 9/29.5 [6] 15 May 1730 41.2 17.5/36 39.8 17/34 38.1 18.5/38.5 [10] 19 May 1845 60.6 30/55/33 61.6 28/55/31 61.5 31/60/36 [22] 31 May 1415 91.9 40/-1100 90 40/-1100 85.7 35/-1102

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus KeepOut Hastings Reservation 10 May 1200. Bird in nest hole. 11 May 1930. The wicklers have hatched - good wicker-baby noises coming from hole, from which I flushed an adult. Also, amid all the excitement, I counted stores: 245. ✓ 13 May 1700. Marked and measured the babies, who are in there 4th day or so. All 3 are fine. 15 May 1930. Measured babies, whose eyes are just about ready to open; all feather tracts are solidly dark. 19 May 1845. Measured the kids, whose eyes are open and whose feathers are on their way. 23 May 1730. Noises still coming from hole. 27 May 1845. All 3 babies fine but not measured. 31 May 1415. Babies bled, banded, and measured. They are all in good shape, were given a dot of yellow on their foreheads, and are #273, 274, and 275. 3 June Several flights seen to the nest. ✓ 5 June A few stores remain here. Nest was quiet, but I suspect they're in there somewhere. 8 June 1620. Over in the sap tree usually used by Big Tree (right along the fence toward A3 about 40m from the gate) were 90r-y/or #109 and one of the babies, who have obviously fledged. Offhand I don't see anybody else, however. 14 June 1835. 90r/or - #109 and an adult ♂ in nest area. No babies heard. The ♀, although, bothered by me, flew to the Big Valley Oak over on Hastings, where she was shortly afterwards displaced by Pub, probably from Big Tree: [illegible] Here. KO - Fence Babies heard at 1845.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanarpes formicivorus Keep Out Hastings Reservation (14 June) 1900. Walking down from Lambert, I ran into j.m./dark #273 softly working in the forest just up from the storage tree. Meanwhile jor-la/ #274 was also softly working while sitting in the sap tree virtually immobile in front of a set of holes (the tree along the fenceline). Since this group is out of stores, it is not surprising that the kids are reduced to relying heavily on sap, as has been the case in other groups without stores in the past. j274 continued to sapsuck steadily until I left at 1910. 15 June 8'la/1B#118 hawking in middle tree toward Lambert's. (800) 823. Now being assaulted by the sque-trrr ing of j-/bike #274 (below) his flycatch perch. 849. Both 8'118 and 9Or-y/Or-y #109 in middle tree now with at least one kid begging below: 24 June 1200. 9109 near sap tree sitting. No stores remaining. One of the kits was seen sapsucking (j275) 28 June 900. j274 caught at Arnold Spring. See Journal. 29 June 815. j-black/orange #273 at storage tree, apparently extracting some [illegible] gorties from a storage hole (possibly a trace of acorn bits left here?) 840. Drilling in the storage tree led me to find the adult 9 and a begging juvenile (bands not seen on either). Though I could not be positive, it would seem pretty definite that some remnants of acorns remain stored here and are being used by the birds. 1840. 9109 sapsuckling. 29 July 855. 8'118 stole 'zanaacorn from Lambert. See Lambert notes: 950. 8'118 eating an acorn (green?) in forest on Hastings side next to Big Tree; 9 here too. Calls downhill (toward spring) indicate that others are there.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Keenig Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out Hastings Reservation 1 August 900. ♂ or-y / Dr-Y #109 sapsucking in Live Oak on slope towards Arnold Spring. Others hidden in the area. 1045. ♂ 1a/LB#118, a ♀, and ♂ or-/DB #202 (Lambert) in Middle tree together; the 2 KO birds flushed towards KO, the Lambert bird elsewhere. 8 August 915. ♀109 and ♂118 both seen in forest N. of granary on HNHR, apparently eating green acorns. A juvenile in the same general area turned out to be a Lambert bird. 1010. ♀ (109?) chasing a bird from area between storage tree and forest downslope. She landed in a live oak briefly at one point and immediately began sapsucking before going after the intruder again. 11 August Ponce: ♂250. Last seen 30 April 1976, gone by 14 June; Disappeared about 22 May 1976 ± 2 weeks. 31 August 1915. ♀ Orange / Or-yel #109 in vicinity of storage tree. 5 September 1230. Several birds, including possibly some young birds, hiding in the forest area on Lamberts between the fence and Middle tree. 6 September 1025. Anub ♂ Ad checking out the storage tree surely doesn't belong here? ♂ or-y / or-y #109 seen more or less among them. 13 September 835. ♀ R-Y/R-Y #109 near granary. 24 September 1200. ♀ R-Y/R-Y #109 picking green acorn near granary. 7 October 1345. Counted stores: 412. Saw no birds, however-- 11 October 900. Birds in the area included a j ♂ or / (#294?). Maybe someone is left after all-- Flash-- I take it back-- he is apparently ♂ or-/DB #202 from Lambert--

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out (11 October) Hastings Reservation 910. 8lc/LB#118 here with acorn half, 1other bird (no doubt the ♀). There probably are no young birds left here after all. 1200. While walking back through here I came over and checked beneath the nest limb of the LiveOak for no particular reason that I can remember. It was a lucky move, however, as right there, directly below the nest holes were the remains of an AW, including a most of a tail, a decomposed skull, various reniges in 2-3 small disarrayed piles, etc. Searching diligently I finally found the prize: 2 crumpled color bands, Or-LGreen and Black, leaving no doubt that this poor beast was #274. It's unfortunately hard for me to say how long he's been dead, much less what killed him, though as for the latter one would assume starvation ("caloric deficiency") or why else would he have died below the nest (=roost) - the implication being that he probably died in the roost one night and was latter later merely pushed out. The skull still has about 50% of the feathers intact, and is cracked in several areas, particularly the nape and above the left eye. My guess is that it is probably >1 month but less than 2 months old, as even though the remains looked rained upon, they are still fairly discernable to an extent which I rather doubt usually lasts more than 2 months in a bird like this. He will thus be listed as having been killed about 26 August ± 1 month. 18 October Purge: the other 2 babies: j273. last seen 29 June, gone by ~1 August → Disappeared att 15±?ules j275. last seen 24 June, gone by ~1 August → " B±?ules

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out Hastings Reservation 28 October 1215. ♀109 in storage tree. 1218. ♀14/13#118 how in granary. Counted stores: 880. 6 December Counted stores: 560. Haven't seen any birds here in some time now. 1345. A♀ in granary are the surrounding area. Couldn't get her bands, but she is not unlikely to have been dear old ♀109. 12 December 1040. Again a ♀ in the granary. She was banded, but from what I could see very possibly was not ♀109 (!). 17 December 1015. ♀ 26-4/2-40#109 in granary and the vicinity. 1300. ♀ still around, but still no 2nd bird.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation 14 January 1235 Watching. 1237. ①♂ LGW#202 here, Flycatching over by Lambert fallen tree. This bird still has tail spots (another instance of an adult with tail spots). 1243. ②♀ YRW in nest tree. ③♀ub#359 near here hawking as well 1310. A banded ♂, something like ④♂ Light/Pink/Pink or ♂ Pink/Black-Blue is here, but his identity is still not certain. 1340. I still got only a poor look at his right leg, but I believe ④ is ♂ LP/m DP/DP (60th old and faded); I assume he is ♂ #14, who I had listed as DP/DP LP/m . He certainly could not have been either #116 or #119 (the latter being a remote possibility, the former negligible). 1355. ③ seen begging to ④. #359 is definitely a juvenile ⑥ Another A♂ seen, bands not. 1410. ♂ Light/Band/Light#16 finally showed himself (assumed = ⑤) 1435. Leaving, Purrees #203. Last seen 21 July, Gone by 19 October. → Disappeared about 5 Sept. 1975 ± 1 month Re ♂ #14, I paid enough attention to him when he was captured on 9 June that I doubt I mixed up his legs. The identity of ④ should remain in doubt for now; perhaps #119 isn't so improbable after all. 20 January 1000. Watching. 1020. ①♀ YRW #201 . ②♀ub#359. 1050 ③♂ or/Blue #202 1110. A bird was chased. Minutes later a ♂,♀ unbanded pair

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation (20 January) Flew to Middle tree, leaving after a couple more minutes. 1110. [illegible] ♂ Pink/Whorm Pink/Pink . My "mystery" bird again. This time I got enough of a look at his right leg to force me to admit the strong likelihood that he is indeed #114, and that I did indeed screw up his legs, as it were, when I caught him last June. 1130. Leaving. I returned a little later to check the marked acorns here, finding 88/100, of which an impressive 8 had been moved (some from one tree to another). Later, I watched at dusk, seeing 5 birds roost (4 in the spring nest hole). 3 February 17 February Saw 9 YelRw #201, ♂ Pink/Pink #114, plus at least 3 others flush when I came at 1100 to count stores: Lambert fallen tree: 1004 Hastings Fallen tree: 1563 TOTAL = 2968 Nest tree: 165 2° Valley Oak: 236 I also checked the marked acorns, finding 73/88, of which 8 had again been moved. 9 April 1330. Several birds in the area. Counted stores: Lam. fallen tree: 556 . Decimated, partially to squirrels, not doubt. Hast. fallen tree: 1410 Nest tree: 77 2° Valley Oak: 60 Total: 2103

No text detected

{ "text": "1976 Walter D. Koenig\n3\n\nMulanerpes formicivorus\n\nLambert\nHastings Reservation\n\n20 April 1400. Watching.\n1440. ♂♀YRW#201 and ♂♂α/DB#202 (wing streamer lost)\nhawking in nest tree. A 3rd bird was here briefly.\n1445. An intruder flew in briefly from KeepOut; was\nchased by several birds including ♂♂♂♂UP/M#114.\n(by the way, it was clear that this bird had had a\nwing streamer on his right wing at one time).\nVery little vocalizing was done; after a few quiet chases\nthe bird left, returning the way he came.\n1515. Leaving. It doesn't particularly appear as though\nanything is going on here yet.\n\n2 May 1430. Walked over here, flushing ♀201 from one of the\nmiddle holes in the nest tree, which I promptly opened,\nfinding 3 eggs (labeled 1-3)\n\n3 May 1700. ♀201 in nest again - now 4 eggs.\n4 May 1820. 3 birds flushed from nest hole - including ♀201.\nNest was checked - 4 eggs, same as yesterday.\n\n10 May 1330. Nest checked; eggs measured.\n\n12 May 715. Watching\n722. ♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂♂ [TRANSCRIPTION_TRUNCATED_DUE_TO_LOOP]

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Nest Record Hastings Reservation 2 May 1430. ♀ flushed; hole opened; 3eggs, all translucent (fresh) 3 May 1700. 4eggs (4th egg#4) 4 May 1830 4eggs. 10 May 1330 4 eggs, unchanged. Eggs measured: ① 24.1 × 18.5 ③ 26.2 × 19.6 ② 26.2 × 19.4 ④ 25.8 × 18.7 12 May Estimated hatching date ① Red =284 ② LP =283 ③ LG =285 ④ Or =286 [2] 14 May 1000 10.9 9/18 6.6 8/17 8.4 8.5/19 11.2 10/19 16 May (150) 22.4 11/23 16.1 10/20.5 17.1 11/21.5 21.7 11/5/23 [6] 20 May 1700 42.6 19/39 32.9 15/32 34.7 17/34 41.9 19/39 8 June 1970 91.6 80/52 83.6 74/38 81.8 74/52 81.8 82/55

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation (12 May) 830. ♀ just went in to incubate. I'm off. Nothing definite, but I doubt that there are more than 4 birds here - possibly only these 3. Pierce: ♂119. Last seen 3 Nov.1975, gone by 14 Jan.'76 → Disappeared about 9 Dec.±1mo 14 May 825. watching from hide. 845. ♂ Pink/Pink #114(?) leaf gleaning (?) in Valley Oak up along the fence line. One other bird there also. Activity at nest as well. 852. Looking at ♀ again. Looks more like [illegible] in which case I don't know who he is. I'll have to wait until I get a better view. 857. A chase going on in nest tree, but I can't see well at all. Definitely an intruder here. 925. Things are simply not going well. Nobody is going to a visible spot. ♂ is most likely #114, but I should prefer to wait for a better watch before marking him as such. Again, if nothing else, I would say that there is no reason to feel that there are more than 3-4 birds here now. 930. ♀201 is now atop nest tree. Leaving to count stores. Stores: Lambert fallen tree: 382 Hastings fallentru: 1337 Other Valley Oak: 0 Nest + misc : 0 Total: 1719 The babies have hatched. I weighed and measured them at 1000. 16 May 1500. Measured the babies, who are all fine.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation 20 May 1700. Babies measured. Eyes not quite open yet. 23 May 1730. Noises still coming from hole. 8 June 1900. Banded and processed the kids, all 4 of whom are fine. They become #s 283 to 286. 14 June 1900. Nothing seen in a brief pass up here. 15 June 745. Watching from hide. [illegible] Moving farther into Lambert's land. 802. ① YRW #201 in view. 808. ② 3or/ Blue #202. ③ 3 LP/M #114 822. ④ LP / Dark? #116? possibly in view. 834. ⑤ j BP/DG-BP #285 crawling around the west tree near the nest hole. 900. Flushed ⑤ j M/Reb- #284 and, better yet, ⑥ 3rub when I went up the hill a ways. 915-1000. Interlude during which time I walked over to the 2 neighboring groups - one up further along the fence line and the other south toward the national forest. Both of the groups have lots of stored acorns, the 2nd in particular. Also during this time I saw ③ and ⑥ again in Lambert territory. When I get my portable hide I should watch the above groups to look for banded birds. 1007. ② 3or/DB in view. This bird still has some tail spots, by the way. 1045. Nobody else has shown himself. All quiet. I'm off. Counted stoves: Lambert FallenTree 28 Hastings fallenTree: 632 28 June 830. j 284 seen at Arnold Spring. See Journal. 29 June 1900. ③ Or/DB #202 and ④ LP/M #114 seen. Now watching from hide. 1925. 3rub in nest tree; baby squeet-ttrs nearby.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation (29 June) 1935. Left to wander around awhile, coming up birds now and again in the Flat but nobody for sure from this group. 1 July 740. Watching. 750. 8 Or/DB here briefly (202) 820. 8 202 back in nest tree 840. 8 DBLue/LP in nest tree - #116!? Sound of Baby chatter coming from deep in territory. 858. 8 LP/M #114 eating acorn in the vicinity. 853. M/DG-Or #284 here. 901. j BP/M #283 begging from 8 202. 922. The sudden appearance of an imm. Cooper's Hawk has just sent everybody off. 930. Walking around. Found 8 Pink/Pink going into a Blue Oak with sapholes over a ways 940. leaving. An unbanded fledgling is just down from the nest tree (between it and middle tree); don't know what (who she is. I would be quite sure of #116 except that my look was very brief and 10 minutes later the 8 in the tree, who I thought was the same bird, turned out to be 8 114. I'm not sure how I could have mixed up Pink/Pink into DBLue/Pink but it is possible. Nonetheless I suspect that the bird was indeed the one I'd been looking for. Still, where are the 88 these days? 18 July j284 seen at Black Lake in the morning, when several of these birds were on their way (apparently) to Arnold Spring, where at 1120 there were j284, 8 Or/DB#202, and 8ub. Also here: a 2nd ub 8, an ub 8, and 8wn (90)/M LP/LP !!! (I don't know why that freaked me out - it's obviously 8"DP/DP"#114).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiscivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation 20 July 730. Watching. Nobody in the vicinity. 830. Nothing. Birds are clearly off somewhere (at the spring?) In fact, several of these birds are at the spring: see Journal. 29 July 800. Watching. 830. A ♀ passed through, but acted strangely and probably doesn't belong here. 840. ♂ Or / DS#202 in nest tree now. Pub joined him a few minutes later. 855. ♂ w/LB#118 (KeepOut) flew from near the corner of the fence to the lower snag in the nest tree here, where he ate some insects he apparently had been hawking. He then flew to the ValleyTale down on the Hastings side. He wasn't chased, but I didn't see any Lambert birds in the area either. Meanwhile, an adult ♀ (109, I imagine), was in middle tree, where 2 minutes later ♂118 flew with [illegible] half the inside of an acorn, which he clearly had pilfered from lamberts! 930. Pub went down, got an acorn from the Hastings fallen tree, and ate it. Leaving. Counted stores: 105, all in the Hastings fallen tree. 1 August 930. j o / D6-Or downslope towards Arnold Spring. 945. ♂114 in A3 (?) sap area; see A3 notes. 1030. ♂202 and Pub working stores in Hastings Fallen tree. 1045. ♂202 in Middle tree with KO birds (see KeepOut notes). 1100. ♂202 now over in field up from KO (same area where ♂114 was at 945: [illegible] ) ♂114 still here, eating green acorns (bellozgii) AM... [illegible] BP-WH(?) / M #283 here; picked a BlueOak acorn to eat. 1110. j "" 1125. j283 now in KeepOut territory; at least one Adult here: [illegible]

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation 8 August 915. j BP-W(n) /B1k #283 eating green Q. kelloggii acorns near the KeepOut birds on HNHR. See KeepOut notes. 945. 8 or /DB #202 in same general vicinity; downslope towards the spring further however. 11 August Burge: j 286 not seen after banding on 8 June 1976 31 August 1900. 8 202 and 8 114 plus 2 others flushed from the vicinity when I came to check stores, of which there were none (O). 7 October 1400. Counted stores: Lambert Fallen tree: 397 HNHR fallen tree 1636 Nest tree : 100 VO on HNHR: 298 } These birds have been busy indeed! 11 October 10 8 or /DB #202 in middle tree. 930. Watching. 942. There is a bird working stores (rather nervously) in Lambert Fallen tree who I hesitate to call "Bud" the Ad 8 ub because she is clearly a juv. nearly but not quite finished molting to 8, as she still has several distinct red-tipped feathers in her otherwise black crown band. She also has a dark eye. Her nervousness perhaps reflects intruder status? 950. Now working stores: 2 8 or /CP #114 and 8 202. 1002. Several birds showed up on Hastings Valley Oak: 3 8 y-49/DB-B1k #116, 4 8 ub (not the above bird!), and 5 8 BP-EP(n) /B1k #283. 1025. 6 8 or /Da-or #284 in nest tree; unsuccessfully tried to displace a kestrel sitting there. 1110. Birds continue to work stores, coming into view regularly. 1130. Leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert Hastings Reservation 18 October Purge: j285. last seen 15 June, gone by 1 July : disappeared about 22 June ± 1 week. 28 October 1300. Counted stores: Lam FT 1357 Nest tree: 255 HFT: 2124 HVO: 423 6 December Counted stores: Lam FT: 1545 Nest tree: 302 HFT: 1825 HVO: 340 Damn granaries are still a pain to count.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hostings Reservation 13 January 1225. Net up in storage tree; watching. 1300. Unbanded calling in vicinity of storage tree. One other bird (a σ) seen previously (♀#362). 1305. ① returned, karit-cutting loudly on the storage tree alone. 1315. ② j♀#207 seen through the foliage. 1-2 others around now. 1332. ③ j♂#204 (illegible) seen by bands near storage tree (we also seen). 1342. ④ j♂#205 here as well with ⑤ ② eating acorns. Occasional flights are being made toward UA2. 1356. ③ (jCBPW) with another bird sitting in Valley Oak above UA2. [sketch of area with labeled points: UA2, A3, N, etc.] 1400. An intruder apparently being chased away be ① [illegible] among others. 1402. ③ Pub and ④ ⑤ Or / Dull = ⑥ Or / Nauwe #122 seen with several jurls. 1420. Intruder chased from 2° storage area by Lambert. 1425. Pub being chased. 1430. Leaving. 1530. Net taken down. 14 January 1015. Watching 1020. Somebody got chased, j♀207 here. 045. 3 birds returned briefly, one being chased. 1102. ② Pub moved to storage tree. 1105. ③ j♂205 here also 1115. Leaving. Birds are off elsewhere (this trilling can be heard).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 2 Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation 20 January Put up the net between 930-1400, catching 2 birds: ♂#120 at 1250, last seen in November, and ♀ unbanded (Adult), who is now #254 after having been #362 (at 1400). No blood was taken, furthermore the ♂ was only observed and clipped, no measurements were taken. Later a bird who flew to the top of UA2 from this side flushed by circling back around toward A3 nest tree. 21 January 1145. Watching. 1150. (①♂ub ②♀ub in tree near storage tree (group members?)) The ♀ had landed in the storage tree briefly. 1153. One of the above flew over across gulch, landing in same tree as (③♀LBRW#207. No greeting was given, but no chasing either. 1155. (④♂ RRR flew to same area. 1200. A ♀ (ub?) now being chased by (①♂ ub below storage tree. 1210. (⑤♂ Red/DA-Or #255 below storage tree w/ ③; possibly involved in more chasing. 1220. (⑥♂ LBRW#204 came to storage tree to chase off a dickey bird. 1222. (②♀ub returned with acorn bit to tree above storage tree, at least in partly in response to my tape. She apparently does belong here. Perhaps #254 does not? (Or their were 3 ub ♀ instead of 2). 1250. (⑥♀LB is chasing a j♀ub [tail spots] from above the storage tree. She is not (②), who is here also and does not have tail spots. 1308. Things are not so clear: A♀ub responded to my tape, landing in the tree above the storage tree, but was soon followed, and subsequently chased and threatened, by (③♀#255. Perhaps whoever she is,

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (21 January) she is attempting to move in here after all. [illegible] Leaving. The conclusion to be drawn is that ①#254♀ may have been an intruder when I caught her last month, thus there may still be an unbanded ♀ here. Obviously, however, several of the birds here are playing (successfully) hard to got, and 254 may be among them. Alternatively, there may have originally been 3 unbanded ♀♀ and now, having banded 2, there is still one left. My guess, however, is that something odd is going on about the unbanded ♀ here today; if ♀254 does make a showing again I would assume this unbanded bird either moved here (if she stays) or was intruding here (if she disappears). The unharmonious way she's being treated (chased by some, not by others) would indicate to me that she's merely visiting. Of marked acorns, I could find 78, but only carry up with 1 that had been moved. 26 January See Upper Arnold 2 notes for several birds from here or presumably from here seen there. Included was ♂121, last seen here in October and a good candidate for moving/having moved over to UA2. 27 January ♂121 seen at UA2 again - 8/5 830. Net up and watching. 850.①♂CBRW#204 working storage holes over on storage tree by Lamberts. 905.②♂ or /m #122 sitting in perch tree along Lambert line; several others up here also.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 (27 January) 915.③♀LRW#207 drilling in tree between storage areas. 922.⑧#126 maybe over by Lambert line, but could have been #123 925.④♂ub 360 between storage trees; also ⑤♀Rat/DaOr#255. 942.⑥♂ub [will have to make her 361, replacing #254 who apparently does not belong here]. 955.④♀wn/wrn 205. (but I did not see a wing streaker). 1035. Intruder! By storage tree: ♂Orange/LBlue Orange/LBlue = #210 Bianca Juv.♂ One A3 bird barrat-squawking and garrickling like crazy over him, 2+ others here; one bird threatened him as he hid. Also ♀WWRW Black-wr/(Narrow) intruding here also, flew off with another bird toward A2 area. ! She, apparently, is #229, ♀Blue-Wh-Pink/Blue-Wh-Pink, who was one of the birds I caught last May during the replacement proceedings at Arnold 1! 1100. Several birds came to tree between storage areas, possibly to chase someone out again. Included were ③♂PRR, ⑤♂255, and ⑧♂DB/yell(n) #421, who was with the others loud and clear. Obviously he has not necessarily moved to UA2 yet. 1104. j♂LBRW#204 ran into the net. He was weighed, etc., and released at 1140. 1207. Several birds finally returned, inc. ♀255 and ♀205 (RRR) 1809. Koenig has been around since 1208. Entering net, going in and leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (27 January) 1225. j? [illegible] #209 returned to tree between storage trees, appeared to be probing into holes in this Valley Oak (sapsucking?). 4 February Purge: j? 206 (whlw) last seen 19 August 75, gone by 23 Sept. Disappeared about 6 Sept. ±2 wks. 1300. Watching. No birds flushed when I arrived. Weather is cold, windy, and mostly cloudy on this first day in a long time that resembles winter. 1313. [illegible] (LARW) eating acorn in tree between storage areas, 1315. [illegible] Red/DA-or eating acorn low in same tree- 1330. [illegible] still sitting low, inactive. No other birds present. 1335. There was a brief flurry of activity as a 2nd bird (intruder?) flew over near the main storage tree, followed by #209, but things died back down very quickly. 1348. 3 birds just whizzed by headed toward UA2. 1400. Still pretty darn dull. I'm off-- 17 February Counted stores, still coming up with a very impressive 4809 for the main storage tree (none over by [illegible]). They're certainly not using them at any appreciable rate! 21 March 1400. Set up net. No birds flushed from storage tree. 1600. Took net down. Lots of stores, but no birds. 22 March 1200. 9LARW#207 here in sap tree (between storage/next trees). A couple other birds around also - 9 unbanded was one but it wasn't clear whether she was a group member or not. 1210. An unbanded ? was briefly fooling around near the stores, but was summarily chased by 9Red/DA-?#255. 1215. Leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation 24 March 1150. Seen was ♀207 sapsucking near UA2. See UA2 notes. 1220. Watching. 1240. Numerous birds appeared from the sap area going to the storage tree including (1)♀207 (2)♂205, (3)♂121, (4)♂122. 1300. Gone 1355. Back 1415. 2 birds eating acorns near '9S nest tree. 1430. Hard to be absolutely certain, but I'm pretty sure that I finally have (5)♂ w/w/DB-w #126. The left leg was seen well (looked w/w), but he was not #205 (no wing streamer). (6)♀255 seen also, 1448. Got a somewhat better look at 126. He, ♂, and a couple others are now in/around the storage tree eating acorns and flycatching. 1452. (7)♂ w/w/LB-w #204 over between storage and nest trees. 1500. One bird went over to sapsuck again; others still eating acorns. 1515. (8)♂ white/dark ♂#120 seen (marginally, but likely). 1520. Going. 9 April 1300. Count: Main tree/total: 4530 [1580,1550,1400] 19 April 1445. Watching. 1515. So far I've seen only one single bird; the rest have been in the form of a pack of 6 or so which have occasionally taken over a tree in the area. At 1520 they took over the Valley Oak just up from the main storage tree; there I saw (1)♂3rd /r#122 and (2)♂LB/R-w-R#204; also 2 other ♂'s and a ♀. After

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (19 April) sitting for several minutes they all headed abruptly for the sap area at UA2. No kidding - the cohesion in this flock of birds is really odd - it's exactly like a small flock of finches. 1540. Sitting in tree just below storage area: ①,②, ③♂120 ④♂ub#360 ⑤♀255 plus a 6th bird still (a♂). All just sitting, all within 10 ft of each other in the tree. ⑥♂DB/light#123 here also. Now he and several others are in the storage tree eating acorns. 1550. ④♂wn/DB-w#126 seen in tree above storage tree with several of the others. 1600. Birds have all disappeared again. Time to go. No sign of interest in holes (but where's the 2nd♀?). I'll check them before moving on. 1600. While getting out, the birds all flew to the upper part of UA2. I walked over there, and ended up flushing ♂RRR#205 plus another bird from the UA2 nest area! (The others had returned to A3). The general idea: [illegible] Arnold field The 2 birds (♂RRR+other [♀128?]) flushed across the canyon, like ♀128 always has in the past.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (19 April) 1815. While walking up to Arnold Top, I flushed what was surely the A3 pack from the top tree; the gang consisted of 8 birds. They flew across the fence and a bit south, where they all sat for several minutes. This time, even more than before, all the birds flew off in as tight a flock as I've ever seen: 7 of the 8 all took off and remained within [illegible] 3 feet of each other (1 straggled behind). Later I watched here at dusk. The birds did not croost until very late (~1910) by which time I could barely hear them much less see them. Apparently they roosted in the tall young Valley Oak between the '75 nest tree and the 2nd storage tree. One bird flew to the hole on the hill toward A1, but after going in briefly flew back to the others. Lots of calling attended this whole business. At first several birds straggled up to the tree, but then about 1900 came the pack—still incredibly cohesive and all zooming in and landing within a second of one another. Finally there was still lots of calling, some flying back and forth, but nearly everybody seemed to end up in the above roost tree. 22 April 1320. 8"205 at UA2 again/still. 1330. The 'pack' came zipping along the fence line from near Keep Out # past the '75 storage tree, numbering 7 birds. Since I saw the same type of thing at Keep Out earlier this morning, it apparently is a behavior characteristic of the early breeding season. 1345. Watching (I'd like to watch the gang for a while).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (22 April) 1400 Pack is in storage tree; those I could see just sitting. When one flew off, all joined sofort; this time they flew to the sap area by UA2. A moderate amount of wake displaying accompanied the landing, but after a few seconds all was silent. 1407. 8 126, 9255, + 3 other 88 of 'pacle' in main storage tree. Birds all landed; 2 began to work stores while the others sat quietly looking around. After a minute, all 5 sat alert, all on the same limb within a [illegible] 2 feet of each other. At 1410 (2:45 after arriving), the pack took off, led by the 8, landing in the tree between the [illegible] 1st storage tree and the '75 nest hole. No vocalizations accompanied taking off or landing in this case. 1417. Pack in now in voost tree. 9255 seen going into hole; came out immediately, but soon after a 8 stuck his head out. Other birds sitting in tree. 1420. 8 RRR#205 here also now; at least a total of 7 birds involved. I'm going to check the hole. The pack flew off, again more or less led by the 8 (one bird flew off, but the 8 rest waited and only went 20 sec. later after the 8). Noone is in the hole now, but it certainly is a mice one. No doubt a nest is imminent, and plans should be made to open it very soon (=tomorrow). 27 April 1755. Walked by, first scaring several birds from the '75 nest tree and then flushing "the pack" of 7+ birds from the storage tree.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (27April) No birds in holes. 1817. Pub in tree by Al on crest of Arnold field (between LA2, UA2, and Al '75 nest tree); flew over to A3 where walea's were heard shortly thereafter. 28April 1400. Holes checked. The "pack" initially flushed from the "roost" tree by the '75 nest tree: $209 was seen. 30April 1230. I walked by and saw one bird in the '75 nest hole and another sitting just above it. I thought it over, and almost waited until tomorrow - good thing I didn't! 4 eggs - marked with various unintelligible markings. Tomorrow will be [illegible] crucial. 1May 1700. Checked again - still only 4 eggs. There are birds all over this territory - not intruders, but regular group members. $205 at UA2 again - he apparently lives there. 3May 1730. Checked nest - same 4 eggs. 4May 650. $ in hole. I watched an unringed $ investigate one of the roost holes in the tree just up towards KeepOut from the nest tree - it would be interesting if another nest came about here eventually (she sat at lip and tipped in several times before walking off and eventually flying over to the nest tree). Purge: $205 Moved [to U. Arnold 2] about 15 April 1976 [illegible] 9May 1200. Nest checked. 4 eggs unchanged, near hatching. 11May 1745. I didn't flush the nest's occupant out, but standing underneath the hole with him looking down at me I couldn't hear any baby noises - presumably they aren't hatched yet - → GO TO P.12

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Nest Record Hastings Reservation 30 April 1230 Activity first noted at nest hole; Nest opened - 4 eggs. 1 May 1700 4 eggs still. 3 May 1730 4 eggs unchanged 9 May 1200 4 eggs unchanged. Eggs Measured: ① 25.6 x 18.8 ③ 24.7 x 18.9 ② 24.8 x 18.7 ④ 24.4 x 18.1 11 May 1745 Apparently not hatched yet. 12 May Estimated hatching date ① WnR = 289 ② OrL = 290 ③ BlackL = 288 ④ MaungL = 287 [1] 13 May 1945 7.6 9/14 6.4 8/15 ⑦ 7.4 8/14 6.8 8/14 [3] 15 May 1800 16.0 11/18.5 10.7 9/19 14.6 10/18.5 13.1 10/18.5 [8] 20 May 1930 38.1 17/34 29.6 15/29 34.6 16/32 29.1 15/32 8 June 1800 78.3 -/-/111 78.5 79/49 86.9 -/-/1107 83.2 77/48

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation 13 May 1745. Measured the babies, who hatched either this morning or, possibly, yesterday. Everyone's fine. 15 May 1800. Measured the kits. All 4 still o.k. 20 May 1930. " " " " " Eyes not open yet. "Eldest" has feather tracts coalesced; thinner ones have tracts dark splinters not together yet. 22 May 930. Counted stores - there are lots! N fork: 1863) M fork: 1259} S fork: 1279) 5 June 1700. Went up, being worried after having discovered the failure at UAZ, but they (all 4) are all fine and nearly ready for banding. 8 June 1800. Banded and bled the babies, who are #s 287 to 290. 14 June 1830. FLAPW#207 and 2 others flushed from storage tree. Nobody else seen; no finely cues visible at the nest hole. 19 June See UAZ notes: ♂126 over at UAZ acting at home; also #207 there. 24 June Counted stores: 3920 (all in main tree). [NF=1380, MF=1260, SF=1280] 15 July 700. Watching in hide from the hill. 705. Several birds are around; one is being chased and tailed by a 2nd. This chasing continued off and on until at least 715. 725. Here now: (1) Rub (2) Rub. (3) Maw/m#288; (4) jor-289/or #289; (5) DB-W(m)/DB #290; chasing continues at 726. 737. Now (2) ♂ Red/DB-W(m)#121 and (4) ♀ Yel/m#28 (!). This latter bird was with (3); she was then seen near the storage

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 (15 July) tree at 742. She was not getting chased. 750. As far as I could tell an ub ♂ and ub ♀ just got displaced from the perch tree just up from the granary by ♂ DB/WR #123. Jwvs are doing their best to eat acorns in the granary. Meanwhile, the birds are flowing over into UA2 territory. 800. ♂128 here again. Jwvs are certainly not being discouraged from getting acorns from the granary. 810. ♂128 back above storage tree again. 814. Flew over toward UA2. 815. Several birds (♂128 among them, I believe) are apparently sapsucking in a LiveOak up by Lambert's Fence. 820. Quick break to check UA2. [See UA2 notes for ♂207] and others. 1150. Back finally. 1212. ♂ub first to show up again. j288 begging from him while he eats an acorn. 1220. j288 eating acorn in storage tree; a banded ♂ landed with wings outstretched, then proceeded to walk up, displace the baby from the acorn, and eat it himself while the kit begged next to him. 1225. ♂205 (UA2?) in perch tree above storage tree here now. Several birds flying to and can be heard from UA2. 1230. ♂ crwn/Bik green #120 here in granary eating acorn and feeding one of the jwvs. 1245. j290 is here; ♂205 is sitting in the perch tree between the granary and the nest tree. ♂128 preening in perch tree above granary! 1330. Both UA2 birds still here (or back). 1332. ♂205 landed in storage tree, followed shortly by an adult

No text detected

1976 (Walter D. Koenig) Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 (15 July) Hastings Reservation ♂ who landed on his back and pecked at him. The adult did not persist, though, and hopped off after a few seconds. The ♂ 2nd-year bird acted submissive, turning his head away and bending it in, and did not fly off. 1337. ⚪♂/♀/m #126 eating acorn, baby begging at him. ♂205 working stores nearby in same tree. 1415. Going over to UA2 to try for awhile. Nobody doing anything here at the moment. 1510. Back again. 1530. Nobody's down here; the calls I hear are coming from just over the fence, where I suppose them to be sapsucking. 1550. Things are ridiculously slow; the Set Weed Factor is great, but even it isn't going to keep me awake indefinitely. I should say, however, that I should have seen the 2 missing birds who were they here. The one missing juvenile is most likely gone. 16 July 740. Back again. ⚪ j/or/DB or #289 in storage tree; nobody seen at UA2. ♂ or/m #122 in perch tree toward Lamberts. 750. ⚪ back in storage tree with ⚪♂ DB-?/m #121. Several birds have flown over the fence onto Lamberts (sapsucking, I presume). 750. ⚪♂ub hawking in middle perch tree. 757. ⚪♂ub above granary. 800. ⚪♂/DB #128 now in tree above granary. ⚪♂ or/m #126 in granary. 810. ⚪128 apparently chased an intruder (?) briefly. ⚪j;288 in granary ⚪♂ o-w/qk-arm #120 and ⚪ub chasing intruder. 815. Success! ⚪♂M/LB/Red- #204 in perch tree above granary.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Kaenig 15 Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (16 July) 835. Several in granary now eating acorns, inc. (1) 808/M #123. 900. An unringed ♀, sitting in the perch tree above the granary since 850 or so, was displaced by ♂128. 107. Finally (1) j290 showed up with several others. Was fed by ♂126. 940. leaving. ♂255 is gone (or at least hiding pretty successfully). 18 July j286 (Maud/M) at Arnold Spring at 1130. Also ♂ DB/w ♀ #123. Also ♂ Br/M #122, whose leg is bad. And j290. And ♂RRR#205. 20 July Some A3 birds at Spring again: see Journal. 1030. Birds all over here: ♂209 seen first in the area near the nest tree with 2 others and then in the storage tree alone. Counted stores: N Fork 1132 M Fork 1169 S Fork 956 } 3257 1 August 930. Possibly found a major sap-sucking area over on Lambert's, just up from KeepOut. ♂?rd -, conceivably ♂255, seen here along with lots of others who flushed mostly towards A3. 945. ♂114 (Lambert) chased from here by an unringed ♂ 950. Birds (2) are (also?) harvesting and eating Black Oak green acorns from a tree here. 11 August Purge: ♂255, last seen 22 April, gone by 15 July; Disappeared about 3 June 1976 ± 1 month. 19 August See UA2 notes for A3 birds over there. That territory is clearly no longer distinct from A3, the 2 having merged at least for the time being. N: 760 M: 778 S: 898 } 2436 31 August 1930. Plenty of stores still:

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation 5 September 945.♂204 intruding at Bianca; see notes. 1200. Quite a few birds scattered around here; ♀(GRW)#207 in the storage tree. 13 September 830. Net up; Pam Williams watching. 23 September Florence watched here, 1030-1345 26 September 1010. Net up. 1025. In hide watching. 1100. Up above me, a fairly good bird eating an acorn: ♂DB-WH(wh)/DB#290 (molting to ♀). 1115. ♂RRRRW#205 ("UA2") in main storage tree. Looks at home What is going on with UA2 these days? 1128. ♀LGRW#207. Also ♂M/OK #289 (still♂). ♂205 still here in the storage tree with them. ♂LB/R-W-R#204 came to get rid of a ground squirrel. 1145. A squint produced ♂yellow, surely #128. Once again, Who's living at UA2, or are these 2 birds using both? ♂205 is still in the storage tree with at least 2 [other] A3 birds, 1200. ♂DB/WH#123 hawking and preening below the granary. 1215. Caught ♂205, who was processed and released (note band change). 1245. Caught ♀128, who was hawking nearby! 1325. Going to check UA2 and then take the net down. Acom count: Mark 707 Mark 825 Mark 863 } 2395; I'd guess that approximately only 5% of these were new, green acorns from this year; the numerous "marked" acorns remaining will attest to the continued persistence of 1975-stored acorns for a long time to come. 11 October 1300. ♀DB-WH(wh)/DB#290 over by "UA2." Others here and at A3.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation (11 October) ♂126 sitting in "UA2" nest tree. Still no stores in the UA2 storage area. 17 October 830. Watching. 845. The first 2 birds returning to the granary to work stores are (1)♂ LB/R-w-R #204 and (2)♀ Yel/m #128 (formerly of UA2). 848. More: (3)♂ LP-Red/Bik-Garn #120. (4)♂ DB/Lg# #123. (5)♂wn/Red #205. (6)♂ DB-w(n)/m #121. (7)♂ u6. All here bringing, storing acorns. 855. (8)♀ LG/RW #207 (9)♀ DB-w(n)/DB #290 storing also 930. Flash: (10) ♂ or-DB/or #289 → not ♂ as previously reported. ♀128 still here, has been almost continuously. 933. ♀207 chattered a few seconds submissively toward ♀128 after landing "below" her on the snag. 936. (1)♂ or/ (left leg crippled) #122. This bird can barely walk anymore but is able to handle acorns nonetheless. Numerous times there have been 6 birds here simultaneously in the granary. 1000. Leaving. Activity (mainly storing) continues at a dizzying pace here. Otherwise nothing unexpected happening. I should, however, move ♀128 and ♂205 back here where they belong. 18 October Add: ♂205 and ♀128: Moved to Arnold 3 on 1 July ± 2 weeks. These birds have clearly rejoined their "parent" group. 18 November 1635. ♀ M/or #289 storing in granary. ♀ DB-w(n)/DB #290 also. ♂ Red /??-yuch) #121 sitting in granary.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 Hastings Reservation 6 December 1015. Watching from hide; captive being used as bait. 1025. ①♂ M / #204; ②♀ / #205; others just looking. Nobody in granary yet. 1028. Several loud karit-cuts given by captive. 1034. ②♀ M/ ①♀ #289 interested as captive in karit-cutting again, but still looking from a distance. 1037. There are at least 5 birds watching from the large V0 just up from the granary. No moves as yet. 1040. Yes. ③♀ Maudie / LP-Red (wing-streaker gone) #207 here among them. Also ④♂ Fuse / M #128 and ⑤♂ LBS / light #205. 1054. No change. 4-5 birds still watching; nobody in granary 1105. 4 birds (inc. #207, #289, ③♀ ~ / DBLue #290) came to granary, led by ♂204. But no closer than the far limb so far. 1108. Now - ♀290 one foot above the cage and watching; captive rather frantic. ♂204 still on other side of tree. 1110. ♀289 just returned, landing on the 3rd limb. 1112. Both 2nd yr birds: [illegible] ♂204 and ♀207 here also. 1116. ♀290 still just above cage. 1120. Greatest interest is clearly by the 1st and 2nd yr birds, but no one has made a clear move yet except ♀290, who sat above the cage on the tree for about 15 minutes before flying off. 1124. The 2 birds still in the granary are ♀290 and ♂204. ♀289 is now about a foot away from the cage again. ②1128. ♀290 is still very near cage. She is checking

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold 3 (6 December) Hastings Reservation stored acorns in the limb facing the captive and is clearly the most interested, but is not getting enough support to feel she can attack, perhaps. 1135. 8204 is clearly interested as well [illegible] and, though he's not staying as close to the cage as is 8290, he is more aggressive, looks more upset, and is making an occasional pass at the cage 1150. Finally: 8290 landed on cage, pecking at the captive. 1200. 8290 still on cage. 8207 near by. Going to take the bird down. These birds were clearly not as aggressive as was Road 1 a couple weeks ago, but it is still the young birds who were most interested. In order: 8290 (1st yr) Most interested. On cage. 8204 (2nd yr) Next most. Looked more upset than others but did not attack 8207 (2nd yr) A distant 3rd 8289 (1st yr) Barely above the total disinterest of the few adults around. 8 December 1430. 8290 seen as I came to count stores. Counted stores: N fork 1850 ) M fork 1500 ) 4778 S fork 1428 ) Anyway you do this, it's rather a bitch, I'm afraid. But I tried! I also checked the 2° gravany by Lambert's but saw no stores - Also see LA2 notes - 8290 seen there also.

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

{ "text": "1976 Walter D. Koenig\nMelanerpes formicivorus\n\nUpper Arnold 2\nHastings Reservation\n\n13 January\n1440. ?♂ or ♂? (?) seen in Valley Oak in upper part of territory\n(toward A1 nest). Flushed toward A1 nest also. Previously\nvarious A3 birds had been seen also in upper part of this\nterritory toward A3.\n\n14 January\n1130. 2 birds were sitting quietly in the storage tree here:\n♀ yell/#128 and ♂ light/ [illegible].\nApparently there is now a ♂ here finally, probably from A3.\nI watched until 1215 but only one bird returned, but could\nnot be seen.\n\n20 January\n1315. A ♂ in the 2° storage tree here flushed up hill to the\nlarge, central Valley Oak 'twist' A1, Bianca, UA2, LA2,\nand Black Oak; then appeared to flush toward Black Oak,\nbut was not identified.\n1645. ♀ sitting in main storage tree. Also, an A3 bird\n(apparently) circled through the top of this territory\non his way from me:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t [TRANSCRIPTION_TRUNCATED_DUE_TO_LOOP]

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (26 January) 835. 3 birds (1♀, 2♂) in upper side of territory together, none identified, tho the ♂ was banded (not the A♀ here, however). They all seemed to fly back toward A3. 850. The ♂ out of the above returned, and was, most likely, the A♀ here after all (♀ yellow/ seen). The ♂ have not come back, however. 917. Now ♂RRRW#205 (jaw from A3) is up in the border tree. A 2nd bird was "border" also here; he was only seen flying off toward A3. ~N ↑ 921. ♀ yel/ m#128 is now in the border tree sitting again as before. #205 is still here also, leaving at 922 but not chased at all. 925. ♀ flew down to storage tree, per waking as she landed (possibly greeting someone). 940. ♂ returned to roost tree after having disappeared for about 10 minutes, 9A2. ♂ flew off toward LA2 (see dotted line on map above). 1040. ♀ here again, flew to gatch (below storage area). 1055. ♀ seen in storage tree; then a 2nd bird flew in sans vocalizations of any type. Seconds later I lost both of these birds, but saw a ♂ and ♀ in the roost tree. The ♂ was not identified, nor was the ♀ except that she was not ♀ yel/ #128 (her age color was much too light). They sat there for a few minutes. Eventually they were gone and I saw ♀128 there instead. Then, a minute or two later, several chases occurred in the storage tree with ♀128 chasing a 2nd bird, with a few wakas; the

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 (26 January) intruder was eventually driven off toward A3, leaving the ♀ alone once again. 1110. A ♂ was seen in the storage tree. After a [illegible] minutes he flew to the old nest Blue Oak toward A3 and proceeded to walk up it quite nervously; at this point ♂128 was seen in the storage tree. The ♂ split after reach a top snag. 1115. A ♂ now with the ♀ in the storage tree; he karrit-cuts loudly for ~2 minutes before being [illegible] threatened by the ♀, who flew up to the branch he was in with a threat posture. Following this there was some more movement, then a 2nd ♂ landed in the storage tree, his legs were not seen. Some more vocalization was eventually followed by flights out toward the central tree of Arnold Field by at least 2 of the birds. 1124. ♀128 returned alone to roost tree. She has a decidedly darker eye. Red/DB-3(?) 1125. ♂DB-3(?) #121 landed in storage tree; a 2nd bird, not unreasonably the ♀, who was no longer in the roost tree, was hopping around below. Both disappeared a minute later. Though there was little indication of the two interacting favorably, this ♂, from A3, has been a strong candidate for this spot, at least in my mind, for some time (ever since I saw him here late last summer). 1145. ♀128 back in roost tree alone. 1200. Leaving. No one presently around. My inclination is to accept even now that ♂128 is the only firm, established member of this "group." Clearly her ties with A3 are still existent, as manifested by visits/intrusions by numerous

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 (26 January) A3 birds, but none seem to have cleanly separated as yet (even though I still expect that one of them, possibly #121, will do so eventually). Certainly she is the only bird that one can count on finding here. 27 January 815. Just walked by - a ♀ was in the storage tree sitting (presumably ♀#128), while a ♂ I'm, apparently ♂121, was sitting quietly in the Valley Oak nest tree. This resighting here under these conditions is enough to make me strongly suspect that he ( [illegible] ) (♂121) has indeed moved over for good at last. [see A3 notes for 27 Jan - he was seen there!] 3 February Purge: ♀230 (LBLW) last seen 19 August, gone by ~23 Sept; → Disappeared about 6 Sept. ±2 weeks 4 February 1300. No birds seen in passage. 1405. ♀, not doubt #128, in the Valley Oak nest tree when I came by again. Another bird seen. Possibly a 2nd bird flushed a minute later. 17 February One bird came by but wasn't identified. The count is 778, all in the main tree except for 1 acorn. 21 March 1550. Walked by, finding ♀128 sitting quietly alone in the top of the storage tree. Eventually she flew off towards the gulch, proceeded apparently by a ♂ from the nest hole area (?) who flew over to the other side (unless he was chased by her!). A few minutes later I watched an unbanded ♀ for a couple minutes sitting atop the tree by Arnold field toward A3; she eventually flew into the territory and was immediately met and chased by ♀128. 22 March The count is 521. I didn't see any birds in the area today.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 24 March 1150. 9128 in storage tree; at least 2 others in upper part near the field, one of whom was 9207, a juv. from A3. It turned out (9207) that she was sap sucking up in the Blue Oaks just behind the big live Oak between the territories, about midway twist the 2 storage trees. 9 April 1230. 9 was sitting in storage tree, presumably 128. A second bird may have been in the tree also; I thought I saw a 8 fly out independently from the 9. 19 April 8 RRR#205 (A3) seen here with a second bird (presumably 9128.) See A3 notes. 1930. 9 sitting in "nest" tree alone. I never got her bands because she insisted on freezing with her tarsi covered until I was right underneath her and turning away; surely this was 9128 however, as that's exactly how she acts. None else in the vicinity. 22 April 1320. 8 RRR#205 sitting alone atop the Valley Oak 'nest' tree here again. Off hand I did not see the 9. Later 205 seen with other A3 birds at A3 (see A3 notes). 23 April 1245. 9 - possibly unring and not 9128 - sitting alone in 20 (more or less unused) storage tree. Not a whole lot of stores left. No other birds seen. 1255. While contemplating some small Blue Oak trees with lots of AW sap holes in there, 9144 [left bands seen] #198 from Black Oak came cruising over my head and landed in one of them. He stayed for 15 seconds to check me out and then flew toward A3. 1300. Leaving.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (23 April) 1455. Finally saw the telltale Yellow band to show that the ♀, who was sitting in the storage tree, was ♀128. 27 April 1810. ♂RRR#205 flushed from main storage tree; flew toward A3. ♀ not seen. 1910. Flushed 2 birds from storage tree, flew to forest edge to cast. ♀ were ♂205 and ♀128! They sat together several minutes, until the ♀, apparently responding to the noise being generated by a Steller Jay and Nuttall Woodpecker, flew to the "nest" Valley Oak, landing at the entrance of the 2nd hole from the top. She stayed there for a few minutes before flying up to the top of the tree. The ♂, meanwhile, was still in the side forest. 28 April 1345. ♀128 alone flushed from forest edge right by 2º storage tree. 1 May 1730. ♂205 sitting alone in "nest" tree. I'd say that the indications are good that he's here for good. 4 May After seeing noone in a pass here I heard some waleas and returned (710) to see ♂205 in the main storage tree and (after searching a few minutes) ♀128 sitting in the Blue Oak "nest" tree. Add: ♂205. Moved [as Juv.] to UA2 about 15 April 1976 (in the process about then-) 10 May 1200. Both birds here again, ♂205 in the storage tree and ♀128 in the Valley Oak "nest" tree. 14 May 1045. ♂205 in Valley Oak "nest" tree, apparently alone. ♀ found in Valley Oak just downslope [illegible] (♀128) bands not seen. Stores counted: 129

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 7 Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (14 May) At 1052, while looking at the ♂, an AW zipped in and landed above me in the 2nd storage tree. I assumed it was the ♀ until a 3rd bird flew over the area coming from the East (as the 2nd bird had) and kept going toward the A3 area. At this point I moved a bit to be able to see the bird, but course flushed it instead. It headed toward A3 as well. No calling or even acknowledgement was made by the ♂, who was probably more concerned about me than the strangers. 22 May 800. The ♀ was in the low hole in the Valley Oak "nest" tree; figuring that this was enough to go on I went up and checked it out. Sure enough, there are 4 eggs; 2 are translucent, indicating that they may be infertile, but the other 2 are nice and opaque. Thus it is shown for the first time that 2nd-year ♂ can breed too! (again—at least outside of their parent group!) [see Plaque notes for 21 May]. 23 May 1800. 9128 in vicinity of nest; flushed across the canyon and appeared to displace a bird who did not have a wing- streamer (hopefully this was an intruder and not her mate!) Nevertheless, I did not see ♂205 around anywhere. 24 May 1510. Nobody in nest again, unless their they're being even more reticent than usual about showing themselves. Again one bird, not ♂RR, flushed from the general vicinity across the canyon. 25 May 1045. ♀ sitting in Valley Oak just below nest tree. Nobody in nest? Or is the ♂ just unwilling to come out? 1230. Finally. ♂205 sitting in storage tree. 3 June 1030. Heard babies in hole, though no adults were inside. They've hatched!

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Nest Record Hastings Reservation 22 May 800 ♀ in hole; nest opened: 4 eggs ① 27.0 × 19.0 ② 24.9 × 18.8 (trans-luscent) ③ 26.7 × 19.6 ④ 25.6 × 19.5 (trans-luscent) 5 June ☐ 1630 Nothing in nest.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation. 5 June Went up to the nest hole at 1630 expecting to be able to band the kids, but discovered sadly enough that the hole was empty and the nest was a failure. We did see 2 birds across the canyon, however, and one flushed from the area when we arrived. All this is a great loss, slightly assuaged by discovering that the group had run out of stores (?). Note that hatching had begun at least 2 days ago. 10 June Bird in nest hole at 1900. 14 June 1820. ♀ in tree below nest tree, bands not seen. 17 June 1740. In nest tree: ☐♂ wn/Dblue-white #126 [Arnold 3] and ☐♀ Yellow/LBlue #128? ; both sitting immobile. After I began to walk down ☐♀ unbande appeared in the same tree, stayed looking at me for several minutes (other birds did not note her at all) then flew up to the tree towards A3 on the edge of the Arnold Field. After a few more minutes both birds in the nest tree took off. It was then brought to my attention that ☐♀ SERW#209 was left sitting ☐ in the nest tree-apparently/ the A3 birds are just crashing over here for awhile (unbanded ♀ may have been from A3 as well). Where is ☐205? 24 June 1130. ☐♀ in #128 in storage tree; a 2nd bird in nest tree but not identified. No stores. 29 June 800. Only 1 bird, quite wary and without a wingstreamer, was flushed from the vicinity. (830. Again flushed one very wary bird, a ☐.) 1 July 1045. Nobody 15 July See A3 notes concerning ☐128, who was over there ☐ morning. 830. 2 birds from below storage tree; ☐209 (A3) and one

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (15July) who flushed. Waiting several minutes, j288 from A3 flew in and landed in the nest tree forme. 840. #207 began karrit-ing; this brought ♂♂ or ? #122 ♀ (from A3) to the nest tree, followed by ♂RRR#205, plus possibly another bird or two who I couldn't see well. These birds began disseminating soon afterwards, but several, including #289 one begging like a juv., were still in the area at 85D. 850. One bird just flew back toward A3 through the canyon. 853. #128 now hawking in upper part of (UA2) area. 856. Several birds hawking down in the lower (canyon) part of this area. (including #207 and ♂#122). Also jord/or-#289 down here. 910. Watching cut short by tripod malfunction. 1420. Back. #207 still in valley; a ♀ across on the far hill. 1435. ♂RRR#205 now is down there in the gulch. (1450. #128 and a ♀ showed up together in the gulch. 1500. Going. 8 August 1030. Nobody seen during a brief check here. 19 August 1630. At least 4 birds here, 2 flying off towards A3, a 3rd being jmaui/4el-18 #288. A3 has clearly assimilated this territory for the time being, at least. 31 August 1745. ♀♂#128 sitting in top portion of territory. 5 September 1200. Nobody seen while passing through. 13 September 945. 2 birds flushed from here when I walked through (from the Blue Oak 'nest' tree). 1145. ♀LGRW#207 across the canyon from here. (She'd been seen earlier by Pam at A3) 23 September 1345. 1 bird, a ♂, flushed from the storage tree.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 26 September 1010. 1 bird flushed from the storage tree. Earlier, several A3 birds appeared to fly to or very near this territory when flushed from A3. 1330. No acorns stored here as yet. One bird flushed again, however, and several were more or less between here and the center of the field, where several A1 and LA2 birds were centered. At one point, a bird chased from near LA2 flew back up here and was apparently ♂ LB/DP#205, my good friend. 7 October 1330. No stores, no birds. 11 October A3 birds here. See A3 notes. This group is definitely defunct for the time being. 17 October 830. 2 birds flew to the "nest" tree while I was standing here; both flew off across the gulch and towards A3. No stores here; it is still an open territory, evidently. 1000. Sitting here when I returned by were ♂ub, ♀ ♂DB-wnj/M#121, and a 3rd bird, all no doubt flushed over to here when I left at A3. 18 October Changes: ♂205 and ♀128, both moved to Arnold 3 1 July ± 2 weeks. This territory & has at least temporarily been annexed by the "main" Arnold 3 group, and is no longer a separate entity. 28 October No birds; no stores. 6 November 1030. An ub♀ with an acorn in the nest tree; still no stores. Meanwhile, at the top edge of the territory are 2 birds, one ♂M/-, very possibly #204. 8 December 1415. No birds; no stores.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 13 January 1452. ♀ L-Pink / Dark Eye #132 seen in large Valley Oak between LA2 and A1 nest tree ( LA2 → UA2 1457. ♂ / m, most likely #133, fl ew to save tree from old broken Valley Oak in the field between Al-Bianca: → 14 January (500. Down this direction in the Valley Oak on the Bianca side of their storage Al nest vicinity I saw 4-5 birds, all but 2 of which departed or were chased immediately toward the field between Black Oak, Bianca, Al, and here. 20 January 1330. A ♂ over in the forest edge by Al's old tree [♂] was apparently LA2 adult ♂ #133. 21 January 1350. 2 birds here; ♀ light / DPink seen (#132). I also checked the marked acorns, finding 21/25, none of which had been moved (but it's hard to check here in odd weeks, of course). 23 February 930. Counted stores: Blue Oak: 230 } Nest tree 217 } 447 There appear to be far fewer acorns stuck into the bark of the Blue Oak, thus the count may be somewhat more accurate than some of the previous ones. 21 March Saw 2 birds here and quite a few remaining stores. 9 April 1200. Count: Blue Oak: 186 } Nest tree: 274 } 460 Didn't see any woodpeckers here. 19 April 1730. 2 birds flushed from the vicinity; neither were identified. They were most likely not anyone unexpected.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 23 April 1305. Watching ♂ atop the Valley Oak perch tree; apparently is ♂133. 1325. ♀ LP-LB/DP [Dark eye] finally showed up -#132. Apparently nothing too exciting has happened here as yet. 27 April 1830. Walked by, seeing no one in the main area but later seeing 2 birds, ♂ and ♀ (dark eye) across the canyon, who I presume were these birds. They chased a 3rd bird (♂) in the 5 minutes I was able to follow them. 1845. One bird chasing Dickey bird (Bluebird?) from storage tree. 1735. Bird flushed out of low hole in dead the old Blue Oak storage tree - undoubtedly their nest. 1 May 2 May 1600. The hole was opened - undoubtedly one of the more painful openings of my career, inasmuch as the hole is about 2 feet down and the Q. touglesi wood is hard as nails. The whole operation took nearly 1½ hours of solid sawing. In any case, I was rewarded with 4 translucent eggs. 4 May 1640. Flushed ♀132 (bands seen) from nest hole; ♂ in perch tree. West checked: still 4 eggs. One had a slight dent - almost as though it had been caused by a misplaced gentle peck. 5 May 1800. Eggs unchanged. ♀ flushed from nest. 9 May 1100. Nest still being attended. 10 May 1200. Nobody in nest when I passed it. One bird in perch tree next doors, however. 13 May 1830. Checked nest. Only 2 of the eggs hatched. #3 never developed, as was suspected back on 5 May. #4 developed, but died before hatching: the embryo, still in the broken egg, → GO TO P.4

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes famicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Nest Record Hastings Reservation 1 May 1735. Bird flushed out of whole 2 May 1600. Hole opened: 4 rather fresh eggs. 4 May 1645. 4 eggs, unchanged. Measured: ① 26.8 mm × 19.4 mm ② 26.0 × 18.9 slight dent near wide end ③ 26.9 × 18.7 clearly most translucent (youngest) ④ 27.3 × 19.1 5 May 1800. 4 eggs, unchanged. ③ is still translucent; so strikingly now that I wonder whether it's developing or not. ②'s dent was "patched with a small plug of Elmer's Glue. W/May 10 May Estimated hatching date. ① and ② hatched ③ did not develop as suspected; ④ developed but did not hatch. Longistic ① Banded ② [illegible] 13 May 1830 19.0 12/21 9.2 9/15 [illegible] 15 May 1930 26.8 13/26 14.9 10/19.5 [illegible] 19 May 1900 43.6 20.5/41 31.1 15/31 [illegible] 31 May 1530 70.9 36/114/73 72.2 31/22 3 June 1045 76.4 58/45 77.3 45/30

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (13 May) was still inside the nest. It's impossible to tell at this point whether it's shell was pecked at or otherwise accidentally broken prematurely or whether it somehow died in hatching. The remaining 2 were measured and weighed. 14 May 1100. Counted stores: BlueOak: 190 3 491 VallyOak: 351 Nest was being attended. 15 May 1730. Checked nest and measured babies. 19 May 1900. Checked nest and measured baby-wickers. 23 May 1730. Checked nest- 2 babies heard inside. 30 May 1900. Opened nest - 2 babies are fine- and ①, the banded one, is a leucistic bird lacking melanins just like dear old Ms. Bianca! 31 May 1530. Opened nest, measured babies and took a few pictures. 3 June 1045. Opened the nest again, banding, bleeding, and taking lots of pictures of the babies. Ted, Kelley, and Debbie came along 12 June 1845. Noises apparently still coming from the nest. 14 June 1750. Watching. 1805. Zero. Going to check holes. Walking back behind the '75 nest tree, I flushed one fledgling who was clearly having a very hard time flying. He was normal, though, and otherwise I saw/heard no other birds. They have fledged, at least. 1930. ② sitting in perch tree, or Wh / Red- ? Bants seemed definitely reversed from what they should have been to be ①133. 12 June Bianca Field [illegible] 1715. Walking from here over to Bianca, I came upon numerous remiges and rectrices, all white and with small vestigial sheaths, below the forest edge at the LA2-Bianca interface. A search produced no body, but malheureusement the leucistic baby, #276, is dead.

No text detected

1996 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 24 June 725. 2 birds flushed from here. 1040. ♀ Dark Eye #132 here. Stores: Outer tree: 123 409 Inner tree: 286 I watched the ♀ for 10 minutes or so below the storage area, but there was no sign of the baby. 29 June 1800-1815. Nothing. 1 July 1055. Nothing 15 July 1505. " 16 July 730. ♂ peacock / ♀? #133 and ♀ Dark eye #132 in perch tree; flushed across the canyon. No sign of the juvenile. Bands on the adults seen well a few minutes later when they landed in the next tree. 29 July 1100. 2 birds in perch tree, inc. ♀ Dark eyes. Counted stores: Outer tree 126 356 Inner tree 230 8 August 1030. 2 birds flushed from outer storage/nest tree. 10 August A fair amount of activity (mostly wakea displays) was heard from here much of the morning while I was at Bianca. 11 August Purge: j277, last seen presumably on 14 June; gone by 16 July, Disappeared about 30 June, ± 2 weeks. 19 August 1645. 2 birds, ♂ and ♀, across the canyon picking acorns from a Black Oak were probably this group. 31 August 1800. Counted stores: Outer: 75 261. No birds seen. 5 September 820. ♀ Dark eye #132 in storage tree; ♂ Red? / M #133 sitting in perch tree, but also I thought a 3rd bird was here also (?) 825. 3rd bird, a ♂, was displaced from the area by the other 2. (see back) 840. 2 birds down in a Black Oak across the canyon where at least

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (5 September) 5 birds were picking acorns, flew up to L.A.2, greeting each other. 7 October 1300. 2 birds in the '76 nest tree, inc. the dark-eyed ♀; both flew toward At when flushed. Stores: '76 nest tree: 238 112 ? '75 nest tree: #2 238 } 350 28 October 1145. ♀dark eyes in outer nest/storage tree. Counted stores: Outer tree: 275 } Inner VO : 264 } 539 18 November The continued existence of the group is suddenly in doubt: see Bianca notes, p.16. 19 November 1635. Several birds here: in the VO perch tree was ♂Lpink? (217?) plus a 2nd bird. A bird then flew to the main nest tree, and was chased directly by ♀LBRW#215(of Bianca). She then left, leaving one bird (the ♂217?) in the perch tree while 2 or so birds were sitting over in the top knoll area of Bianca, inc. ♂WRW#97 of Black Oak! (another 2nd year bird) Several birds were there; but #97 was not involved. 1445. ♀LBRW#215 rediscovered sitting in the ♂VO perch tree. 20 November 835. ♀(lighteyes) sitting in VO perch tree. 2 other ♀♀ sitting below her: ♀mauve/yel #215 843. ♀Lpink(w)/DB-w(w)#213 preening in '76 nest-tree 850. The 1st ♂ was either replaced by or was a call along; he just chased a nuthatch out of the tree. 852. 3 birds, inc. 215 and others banded, plus a 4th, in the vicinity. 900. ♀215 returned to the main storage tree with an acorn. 906. ♂213 back preening in the perch tree. Some flying back and forth to Bianca; a fair amount of calling from there also.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 7 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (20 November) 935. Flash. ♂ red-DS/m #133 is the ♂! He is still here! Apparently it is the ♀ who is being replaced. 937. ♀ LB/Red-than #303 (Bianca 1st yr) is here also, They are the 4 birds (though there may be a 5th). 945. ♂133 is happily greeting and welcoming all the ♀♀, none of whom are ill at ease with one another either. 950. These 4 birds seem to pretty much be it at the moment. 955. All 4 birds just assembled and displaced a 5th bird, an ub ♀, from the perch tree. The intruder flew over to the top knoll area of Bianca. As one expects in a "forming" group, there are frequent assemblies and greeting sessions here. 8 December 1335. Quite a few birds still here, both in the granary and out in the open Valley Oaks toward Black Oak and Al where they are hawking. ① ♀ BREW #215, ② ♀ LB / Red-Lg #303 seen; also ③ ♂ red-DS/light #133. One bird seen flying from here to Bianca, where s/he was greeted by birds there; clearly the Greake is not total yet, 1355. ④ ♀ yell/DB-w(Lw) #213 preening in LA2 '76 nest tree. #s 215 and 213 I suspect have certainly moved here for good; the other(s) (namely the 1st yr ♀ #303) we'll have to wait and see about. 1400. There is still slightly more activity here than one might otherwise suspect, but other than the marked home range shift in these birds (certainly spreading into the field area itself into areas rarely used by anyone besides Al (and Black Oak 2 yrs ago) before) things appear fairly calm. Final group lines are probably not set yet, however.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 8 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (8 December) Counted stores: Outer tree: 384 (certainly more than previously; is filling up in the crevices) Inner tree: 136 (low...) 520 1525. ♀DB-WH(n)/DB#290 from A3 (who was seen there 45 minutes ago or so) was just chased by ♂213 from the storage area and ended up flying off towards Bianca (!). 1532. ♂Red-DB m #133 seen here; this bird may have lost his lower right (Red-DB) color band-I only can see Lpink there. ♂213 also out here in the open, 1-2 others in rear storage tree. 1546. ♂133 (band is lost I'm pretty sure) just flew from the perch tree all the way across Arnold Field to the opposite side! Somehow there seem like more than 4 birds here- Maybe even as many as 6 seems more like it (but maybe it's because they're moving around a lot). In addition, these birds are apparently flying over toward UA2 as well (is this all to gather acorns? There certainly can't be many left even over there!). 1600. Another chase of an intruder (brief, to say the least). 1605. It's getting sort of cold and late to continue. I should return and check who's here again soon, however. 10 December Purge: ♂132, last seen 7 October, [illegible] (also probably 28 October), must have disappeared just prior to (18 November, when I first saw the Bianca ♀♀ here and things were still rather touchy. :: Disappeared about 15 November. Add: ♀♀213 and 215; maybe one more to be determined → Moved to UA2 15 November (from Bianca).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Bening 9 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 12 December 1100. Watching from hide. Nobody in evidence here at all yet. 1107. ☺♀ LB/DB-wr(cw) #213 hawking in Blue Oak grove now. 1112. ♀213 flew up and off across Arnold field toward Black Oak crossing paths with ☺♂ east-DB/M #133 who came from that direction and landed in the Blue Oak. 1135. ♂ still here; none else as yet. 1141. Both the above 2 birds back; greeted each other with good walks. 1200. Now I finally see ☺♀ LB/DB-1A #303 eating an acorn in the Valley Oak. The above 2 birds still around, primarily hawking. Just what I need - to have the 2nd yr bird - ♀213 not move over and instead to have the 1st yr ♀303 do so! 1210. Finally: ☺♀ mauve/yellow #215 in the Valley Oak. Things are relatively quite calm here. 1215. 3-4 of them all in the Blue Oak now. 1225. All 3 ♀s together in the Blue Oak. Briefly. It certainly looks as though this is the group - even the 1st yr. ♀. I see no evidence for a 5th or 6th bird, however. 1230. Leaving. Birds are still occasionally flying off to far parts of the Arnold (toward Black Oak, A1, UA2).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Miss Bianca Hastings Reservation 21 January 1400. As I was stumbling along toward the Valley Oak storage tree on the far knoll, a bird flushed out of it and landed at the edge of the chapparal for several moments. He appeared, with fair but not infallible certainty, to be an unbanded ♂, making him #365, the bird I missed during December's festivities. Following his departure I checked the marked acorns, I could find 51/80, of which six had been moved. A couple sections had been hit very hard, however (disproportionately so, I think), and I ought to count here soon. 16 February Purge: *212 (jw.) Last seen 19 August '75, gone by 1 Dec '75, - Disappeared ~10 Oct. +/- 1 month. 23 February 930. Counted stores: Knoll Valley Oak: 122 (down conspicuously) Next tree: 837 (still loaded) "New" area: 169 Blue Oak area: 108 Old Tree: 185 (None in main trunk anymore) TOTAL: 1421 I saw ♂ Red/Wh#142 and ♀ y-Red/Lcan.#141 sitting together in a tree above the Old Tree as I left. 21 March 1500. Came by to check up on things briefly, seeing ① M.s.B#140, ② ♂#141, ③♂#142, ④♀RRR#251, ⑤♂ub#365, ⑥♀LP/DB-W(n)#213, and ⑦♀LBR #215, all over in the interface forests toward Black Oak. At 1505 an unbanded ♀ climbed around old tree for a few minutes next to us, best chasing a few minutes later

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Miss Bianca (21 March) indicated that she was most likely an intruder (from Black Oak?) The birds here were seen eating oak leaf buds and eating acorns. They do have considerable stores remaining (in the nest area only). 9 April 1145. Count: Old tree: 0 Blue Oak area: 18 Nest tree: 740 "New" area: 170 Knoll Valley Oak: 0 } 928 Several birds were around, but none was especially conspicuous. 19 April 1745. None seen in/out of holes in a brief pass. Some calling heard. 20 April 1610. A few birds in storage area; none identified for sure. 22 April 1130. Watching. 1140. There is an unwrung & here, but she is by herself and acting rather oddly*, indicating to me that she's most likely an intruder.* She hides at any disturbance; acting very nervous and furtive. 1148. Several birds around, but no real activity and they are hard to find. 1202. Wnt*140 plus 1-2 others in Valley Oak storage tree on knoll 1230. They over on the other side of the knoll, I guess. I'm going to check holes. 23 April 1335. None seen here in a pass at the holes. 28 April 1015. Watching 1025 ① 140 (① 142, 2 others landed near storage tree. 1050. Several birds around (25); no more identified yet.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca (28 April) 1100. Birds are eating oak flowers now. 1105. Still noone in holes. 1115. Leaving. 1 May 1815. ♂140, several others over in the knoll area above the Valley Oak storage tree. Nobody in a hole, however, that I can find! 2 May 1710. Ms. Bianca sat for me near the nest area for a spell, but noone else was conspicuous and nobody was in a hole. 1715. ♀251 (RRR) showed up in same place; then (both flew) off, Ms. Bianca going over to the area low in the territory with the large live oaks. Maybe there? 4 May 1710. ♀Ms.B. seen again. All holes checked. Birds are pretty well spread throughout the area. At this time mostly just sitting, except for my disturbance. 1730. Several birds responded to the kent-get heralding an intruder near the nest area (an unring ♀), including ♀141 (seen well) and ♂142 (♂Red/Wn - still conceivably confused with ♂214 (Or/Wn) but I don't think so in this case). 1750. ♂Or/Wn up in upper end of territory. This bird clearly had a wing streamer on the left wing at one time - I assume that he is ♂214. 6 May 1720. Several (~4+) birds near nest/storage tree, including Ms. Bianca #140 and ♀RRR#251. They flew up to the knoll. 1745. Ms. Bianca and ♂ub#365 back in storage area; they seem to be flying off across the canyon or at least on the other side of the knoll. 7 May 930. Watching. One bird flushed from old storage tree and ♀Ms. Bianca over in a main storage area.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca (7 May) Hastings Reservation 945. (20°R)W in Blue Oak storage tree in the gulch: 3 8ub here also. 950. Birds appear to be eating oak flowers and doing some barke gleaning. 1010. 7 birds now in perch tree downslope from main area, including ♂140 and (4)PRR#251. ♂140 crawling up small dead snag in a good display of bark gleaning. No flycatching as yet despite warm conditions 1020. There seem to be ≥7 normally-pigmented birds, for a group total of ≥8. All just sitting at the moment. 1023. First flycatch flight seen. 1030. A quick frenzy, involving the roost hole high in the Black Oak next to the storage tree: Ms. B. kept was at the lip, repeatedly trying to dip inside, but at least 2 other birds flanked him and began to peck at him rather viciously, ultimately forcing him away, but then continuing to harass him for a minute longer from tree to tree. I don't know whether this means they have a nest there, don't have a nest there, just don't like Bianca's suggestion for a nest, or what- 1040. More "intra-group" fighting going on - now ♀251 apparently getting beat up on. Is all this some sort of show of dominance related to imminent reproduction/nest hole selection? 1045. Another bird just went to and briefly in the hole up in the Black Oak. That could be it, fans. 1105. Birds are in storage/nest tree and Black Oak 251 is investigating the same hole in the Black Oak. 1115. Going.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation (7 May) 1400. Well, I went ahead and went up to the attended hole, (began to open it, and discovered the contents to be — that's right — no less than 4" of water! Examining the place, I haven't the foggiest how it got in there either. The slope is nearly vertical but no doubt 5° or so tilted down, facing about East, and no holes above it through which it could have dripped. Is it possible that the birds actually put the water there mouthful by mouthful as a reservoir? It is rather hard to imagine, but then again... 9 May 915. Watching. One bird flycatching in storage area when I arrived, flew to Valley Oak storage tree on knoll. 922. Ms Bianca and another bird hawking just over knoll. ?RRR#251 hawking over there also. 947. An intruder just displaced toward Arnold Field by 4 birds from the central storage area. 950. I'm going to move around to above the "nest" tree. 1015. ?Y?ped/Com#141 above me in perch Black Oak. ?R/W#42 also. 1100. I perhaps ought to come and try early in the morning, but there seems no activity focusing on any of the holes here now. I'm off. 10 May 1210. Watching from above storage tree. Nobody in holes over here; in fact, there doesn't seem to be anybody anywhere. 1217. 4 birds landed quietly and together in the storage tree, then flew to Blue Oaks at the ravine. (?141 among them). 1303. ?140, several others have returned. Birds are showing interest in a spot in the Black Oak: if there's a hole there, that's it. 1310. Going to check—

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation (10 May) That's it. $251 at hole, Ms. Bianca inside. I returned at 1400 to open the thing. And I may be in big luck: there's only one egg in it at the moment; a dwarf wools. 1500. Nest checked: still the 1 dwarf egg. Something's going on that I sure don't know about. 1525. Watching from hide. 1605. About 3 birds came to storage tree to chase off an intruder (acting much the same as the one I saw here hier). The birds are in the vicinity, but nobody's gone to the hole yet. 1630. Whatever is going on, it's clear that neither the 'nest' nor any other hole is presently being accorded any attention (at least any of the holes here). Not much to be done except to continue to check the place out frequently and to keep an eye on the hole as well as any other nest, in case this one has been abandoned for some reason. Before I left I did count stores: Main tree: 558 } 578 "New" area: 20 I don't believe any of the other areas have any stores of significance at this point. 13 May @ 1915. I checked the hole again, which was unattended. It remains unchanged with the one dwarf egg, which surely is not being incubated. Evidently either this was never a nest to begin with or, more likely, it has been abandoned for some reason. 1945. Returned to watch roosting to see if there might be any clues there. GO to P.8.

No text detected

1976 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Nest Record Hastings Reservation 10 May 1300 Hole discovered; first activity noted at it 1400 Opened hole: 1 dwarf egg: ① 19.0 x 16.4 11 May 1500 1 egg, unchanged. 13 May 1915. 1 egg, unchanged. Nest apparently abandoned 14 May 1100 Activity noted at 2° nest; hole opened; 4 eggs; ① 26.0 x 21.9 ③ 24.1 x 19.7 ② 23.4 x 19.5 ④ 25.0 x 20.4 15 May 1700 5 eggs: ⑤ 25.4 x 21.1 16 May 1500 6 eggs: ⑥ 26.7 x 20.0 20 May 1600 6 eggs, unchanged. 23 May Estimated hatching date Black-B.Pink black-y white ① 302 ② 303 ③ 304 ④ Or 305 ⑤ [8?] 31 May 1630 2.5.9 2.8.2 2.8.8 15.5 13.5 7 June 1630 51.3 4/3 59.9 7/7 48.7 2/2 36.4 27.8 16/34 [illegible] 545 -115/25 -1123/84 -1107/10 -192/58 (came 8 June 1330) 17 June 1545 80.6 47/32 84.1 54/37 81.2 38/26 82.2 27/23

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Ms. Bianca Hastings Reservation (13 May) About 8+ birds came to roost all, as far as I could tell, in the same two holes in the main storage tree where I caught them in December (the '75 nest hole and the one above it). Ms. Bianca was there. All in all it didn't provide much of a cue as to the nest, however. 14 May 1130. Watching. One bird flushed from the old upper nest hole opened by MacRoberts in the main storage tree; perhaps this is where things are going to finally get going. 1152. ♂ now peering out of the hole. I guess that's it for cure. 1200. leaving. Returning shortly, I opened the new nest and discovered 4 eggs! 15 May 1700. Checked nest: 5 eggs. 16 May 1500. 6 eggs! Ms. Bianca in nest when I arrived. 1600. ⚫ Nest checked: 6 eggs still, same as 16 May. #5 possibly not developing, or else just a little slow (slightly translucent still). 23 May 1730. Bird inside incubating. 26 May ⚫ 2000. Saw Ms. Bianca and several others in the territory; nestlings heard in nest - hatching has begun, at least. (It seems rather early, however!) 27 May 1920. While walking by the upper edge of the territory going through the forest to Black Dale, a bird who was secretively up in the trees here captured my eye. She was ♂ or/♂? who I would guess to be ♀14l of Bianca but then after watching her awhile a ♂ suddenly burst in from Bianca, apparently, and chased her like an intruder.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanesper formicivorus Bianca (27 May) A 2nd possibility is that she was SRed/Dr-Y #105 formerly of Arnold I, now conceivably rendered homeless by the invaders there. Unfortunately I cannot claim this for sure. Black Oak Bianca x ? first seen here, chased by ? to ?, then displaced from there. Field (A?) Road 30 May 1910. Came by, but decided not to go up to the nest when I scared away 5-6 birds from various holes in the nest tree who had apparently already come to roost. Ms. B. was among them. 31 May 1630. Checked nest & measured the kids, of which 5 have made it (no trace of 6th); but 2 of them look very thin and I doubt one or both will make it. 3 June 1115. SRRR in nest hole when we wandered by. Babies sound o.k. 7 June 1630. Measured babies, all 5 of whom look normal. Ms. Bianca was in the nest when I arrived. At 1655 I've collared the babies and am watching the hole to get some pictures. 1955. Birds finally in the vicinity. 1803. SRed/Wh in nest tree with Tipulids in bill. 1855. It is now cold and the sun is down and nobody ever came to feed. I will have $ to try again tomorrow. 8 June 1300. Flushing a ? from the nest, I went up and collared the babies, of whom there are now only 4 (the runt has disappeared). 1330. Watching from hide.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca (8 June) 1341. ♂R/W fed. 1405. ♂140 Ms B. came and fed. Got some good pictures. 1410. Erupted the kids, getting a Malacosoma and a large beetle from one of them, nothing from the others. 1425. Back in hide. 1525. Babies finally fed by a ♂. 1530. ♂R/W #142 fed. 1531. ♂R/W fed again. 1534. An intruder seems to be getting chased from the storage area. 1535. Two loud Garricks given from by the creek bed. ♀RRR#251 sitting in Black Oak near nest tree. 1540. Erupted the kids, who yielded one good acorn bit and a bunch of junk. Fed them, returned them, and left. 10 June 1830. Noises still coming from the nest. 14 June 1745. Noises " " " " 12 June 1745. Banded and bled the 4 kids, who are #3 302 to 305. Saw ♂ Ms. Bianca across the way. 24 June 730. Heard noises from the nest tree like youngish nestlings (?) but they stopped when I approached. 740. Watching from the hide. 750. (1)♂?u6 hawking in nest area. (2)♂Or/W#214 hawking down a ways in another perch tree. (3)♂R/W #142 coming to feed babies with insects. 810. Babies fed insects by a ♂, not (2) or (3). 812.(♀?)#251 with insects in her bill here now. 820.(♀?yul-Or/-) #141 in area. 835. Kids fed at least twice. Hastings Reservation numbers seen on n bauts.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianea Hastings Reservation (24 June) 840. ⑥♀ LP/DB-wk(n)#213 preening near storage tree. 845. ②♂CALW#217 (!) in lower part of territory. 905. Babies fed by (-2 birds). 906. Babies fed acorns by one of the ③♂. 907. ②♀LBRW#215 in storage/nest tree! Several more birds in nest area; more feeding going on. 916. Several more feedings. 920. ⑦ Ms. B. finally showed up. 945. ⑧ (41) just fed acorn bits to the kids. 955. Virtually all the birds I can see are working on acorns at the moment. Babies are being fed fairly regularly. 1010. Going to count stores. A successful watch. All birds were seen except for ③♂210; after this morning I'm certainly not going to claim that he's not here as yet, but it would seem reasonable that he'd be gone. On the other hand, ② only ③♂214 among the 2nd-year birds is hanging around this area regularly; the others were mostly seen only briefly, once (for ②213) or at most twice. He could still be back there somewhere. Stores: 270, all in main/nest tree. 1 July 1100. Juvenile calls heard all over the place when I stopped by. 29 July 1100. Counted stores: 0 (though probably a few pieces left here/there. Nobody seen/heard in the area. 8 August 1115. Several birds seen scattered about the area; ②LBRW#215 identified; see was seen displacing an intruder near the granary. 10 August 800. Watching. 810. ①♂CALW#217 probably sep.sucking in gulch; flushed to storage tree.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation (10 August) 812.③♂ub preening near storage tree. 816.⑤♀ see-αr/ LA #141 840. ①141 eating (green?) acorn by granary; cub in old storage tree. 848.⑭♀ — #213. 915. Still pretty quiet. 2 birds in the Black Oak by the granary; I flew towards CA-2, the other to the forest area toward Black Oak. 945. Heard some jaw begging and proceeded to leave the hide and try to track down the birds, who are at outlying edges of the territory eating green acorns and possibly sap-sucking. So far I've met with meager success, however. 1030. I'm finding a bird here and there, but it doesn't seem to be worth continuing. However,... 1045. In the upper section toward A1 are several birds, including ⑤8140 himself. 19 August 1500. Watching. 1550. 3 birds finally made a brief appearance here: ⑩⑧R/W#142, ②♀(BLW#215, and ⑦♂LAW#217. The first went to the top of the black oak perch tree to preen for awhile. 1600. Several birds flew over toward lower part of Black Oak territory. 1605. ⑦♀215 plus a ♂ in tree in lower part of Black Oak. Field Bianca This is the same tree where several Black Oak birds had been sitting at 1500 when I passed through here. Meanwhile some calling in the upper area probably are the Black Oak birds. 1615. Nobody seen on way back. Offward and downward...

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation 5 September 845. ☐♂ Bianca #140 and a 2nd bird sitting in perch tree East of storage. Other birds across the canyon towards Lamberts (see LA2 notes) but none of these could be identified as Bianca birds. Now I'm sitting in hide at Bianca itself. 915. ☐♀ 4-R/1A #141 near storage area. 930. ☐♂ub here now. 933. After barrit-cutting for a minute, the ub♂ attracted ☐♂ R/W #142 and a ♀; the former of whom promptly chased the ub♂ off. Ms. Bianca is in the vicinity now also. 945. ☐♂ LB/Or-? (?) here, not a Bianca bird. He didn't call but merely wandered around, and soon Bianca landed nearby, causing the intruder to hide and soon fly away without having to be displaced. This bird is certainly ☐♂204, a 2nd-yr ♂ from Arnold 3. 1045. ☐♂ LALW #217 plus a ♀ who had clearly lost a wing-streamer from her right wing (thus either 215/251) in the side of the area; the ♂ was eating a nice big green acorn. 1100. ☐♂ub eating an acorn next to ☐♂#217 in the side area (toward Bell's) 1105. ☐♂ Or/1W? #214 now eating acorn in side "area" 1120. ☐♂ LBRW #215 just picked a Black Oak acorn from the perch tree. This would suggest that the above bird (at 1045) was ☐♀251. (On second thought, she could have been ☐♀213 as well). 1140. Finally found a juv- sitting and urrking softly in the lower Black Oak perch tree: ☐♂ LB/Or-rator? #303. I am otherwise beginning to seriously doubt the existence of any of the others, however. 1145. Leaving. 13 September 1015. Several birds on "☐☐☐" "North" hill side of territory

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca (13 September) including ①♀RRRW#251. ③♂40 there also. 1030③♂6♂ with Black Oak acorn ⚫ near Black Oak. 24 September 830. Watching. 845.[③♂ or/wn(?) #214] eating acorn near storage tree (♂142) 850.③♂CGLW#214. ③♂ Red/Wn#142 eating acorn. ④♀LBRW#215 ⚫/acorn. ③3ub from working stores. 900. A bird, again looking more like #214 than #142, is preening in one of the perch trees. I do think both are here. 920. This time I'm fairly sure I saw a number on one of the white bands of ♂214. 935. ⑥♀Da/la-or #251. An inn bird in the vicinity begging also. 950. All of a sudden everybody was visible as momentarily nearly everyone was hawking from above me in the old Valley Oak storage tree. Newly seen were ⑦♂Ms. Bianca ⑧♀Y-Or/la#141, ⑨♀LB/or-#303 (juv.-molting to ♀?) and ⑩♂DB-w(n)/la#304 (juv.-still ♂ so far). Matt I believe is in progress but sexes are only a guess still. 1010. Saw the 2 young birds again-both are still ♂-type. Also ⑪♀LP/DB-w(n)#213. 1017. ♂ or/wn(nnn) #214 seen definitively. (Which is more than I can say for ♂142 so far today!) Birds mostly hawking for the moment. 1100. Birds seem to have moved off to far parts of the territory. In any case, I strongly suspect that I saw everybody. 25 September Purge: ♂210. My list says he was last seen on Jan 27, but my notes indicate that he was never seen following his capture during the 18 Dec. 1975 ambush. :: Last seen 18 Dec '75, gone by 24 June '76, Disappeared about 21 March 1976 ±3 months. → Correction: he was seen on 27 Jan. at Arnold 3 (interesting).

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation (25 September) So change this to 10 April ±2 months. 7 October 1230. There were birds all over here when I came to count stores. ♀ LBRW#215 was seen among them. Note also the 1st-yr bird (#303) from here mist-netted a little while ago in the storage area at Black Cake. Stores: Old tree: 178 Main tree: 640 VO on Knoll: 0 Blue Oaks: 42 "New" Area: 114 TOTAL: 9.74 14 October 1000. Watching 1010. (1)♀ Yel-Red/LG#141 preening near stores. (2)♂140 just landed in main storage tree. 1023. (3)♂ub. 1-2 birds working stores, but all-in-all it's rather slow (and hot!) 1026. (4)♂R/W #142 in Old Storage tree. 1035. (5)♀ LBRW#215. 1040. (6)♂Or/W #214. (This bird is reasonably distinguishable from ♂(42). Birds mostly working stores. 1050. (7)♂LGW#217. 1120. Leaving. 1345. Back again. Several birds in VO storage tree on knoll, inc. ♂140 and (8)♀ M/LG~ #251 (wing-streamer gone). 1400. In hide behind main storage tree. 1410. ♂#142 chased a Plain Tmouze from the storage tree. 1500. Leaving (checking net and moving). I never did like this spot very much. 1525. Back again. 1535. (9)♀DB-wch/M #304. This bird still has a fair amount

No text detected

1976 (Walter) D. Koenig 16 Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation (14 October) of red in the crown, but in good light she appeared to have some black as well; thus my guess is that she's in the midst of molting to a ♀-type. I could be wrong, however. She's sitting in the Black Oaks perch tree by herself at the moment. 1605. Got a faint look over on the knoll of ♂♀ LB/Reddish-? #303, presumably, with ♂ 214. That about wraps it up except for ♀ 213. I fear the 2, 6alories, 302 and 305, not seen after banding, should finally be purged. 28 October 1130. Counted stores: Old Tree: 299 Blue Oaks: 140 Main VO: 871 "New" area: 186 VO on knoll: 10 1506 Not Gad; but definitely could be better 18 November 1530. ♂♀ or/with #214 in Black Oak perch tree. 1530. Birds seem mostly to be working the knoll (Willow Oak) (Which I can't see, of course). 1600. There are 3 birds up behind me now, one of whom may be being chased. 1607. ♂♀ Yel-Or/la #141 up there. 1615. Flushed ♂140 from the knoll tree; a ♀ there also. Meanwhile, next to me just above the chapparal was an unringed ♀ who was working in an ash for several minutes and then flew over to LA2, where there eventually were 5+ birds, several banded! Apparently the 2 LA2 birds, having failed 2 years in a row, have given up the ghost and now, I suspect, Bianca is taking it over. 19 November See LA2 notes (p.6) for some late observations of Bianca birds over there.

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca 20 November 3 of the Bianca ♀♀ (213+215, both 2nd yr, and 303, 1st yr) identified as being pretty regular at LA2, where only the ♂ apparently remains. Birds are still flying between these 2 areas, however. See LA2 notes for more details. 8 December 1330. ♂140 plus a few others seen as I counted stores: Old tree: 341 Blue Oaks: 137 Main tree: 1006 "New" area: 245 Knoll VO: 487 10 December Purge: ♀♀ 213 and 215. Both moved (to LA2) about 15 November. We'll have to wait and see about any others, particularly the 1st-yr ♀ (#303). 12 December 1235. ♂140 and 21 other in knoll Valley Oak. 17 December 1030. ♂140 and several others flushed from main storage area on arrival. ♂♂/♀♀ #214 back very quickly 1045. ♀♂ 4? / Nawk #141 here. 1105. There are 2 "Or/Wh" ♂♂ in the Black Oak perch tree now; presumably one or the other is ♂3142. 1117. ♂♀ M) #251. 1132. Ms. B is back in the Black Oak now with one other bird. 1207. 2 birds up there now, inc. ♂ LALW#217. 1230. Leaving. The 2 ♂♂ (142+214) still around. Others scattered. Young ♀304 sparlos verswunden. Perhaps bringing the captive up here would be a good idea after all. 21 December 1515. Back with the captive up in the main granary. 3 birds flew over almost immediately - 2♂♂ who kept their

No text detected

1976 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca (21 December) distance and a ♀ who flew right over. 1518. The ♀ who is there is ⚪♀ LB/Or-LA #303! She is very interested. ⚫♂ Red/Wh is nearby also, but ♀303 still looks the most agitated. ⚫♂ Or/Wh #214 also looking on from a distance. 1540. These 3 birds are still the only ones around. 1545. The ♀ is now a few feet away up on the main storage limb; ♂142 is in the top snag of the granary. The 2nd ♂ is gone. 1548. ♂214 returned, still at a distance, though. 1600. The residents still quietly looking on. 1615. Leaving. Nobody ever got to the cage, but I can objectively say that ♀303 came physically the closest to it. (Followed closely by ♂142). In any case, I am very glad to see ♀303 back here after several weeks of scaring me by looking as though she was going to move over to LA2. ♀304, on the other hand, never made an appearance and is probably gone.

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected

No text detected