1977 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 4 (7 July) 1900. 8YLW#364 sitting in Locusts in front of the barn (alone, best I can tell). 8 July 2045. At dusk, I arrived and saw no one looking out of or entering the hole - once again it was left empty (save for the kids). 9 July 900. Measured the kids, who look now like real baby woodpeckers (rough). Finally. They hang on quite adeptly to any vertical surface. Just a trace of the egg tooth, mandibular folds, and heel pads are still visible. Eyes, Mandibles, toes, tarsi, and claws are all dark. They still are bare on the lower belly and have prickles for chin feathers. They don't try to fly anywhere yet, however, and these guys still have a distinct bare line down the center of their crowns. They're cute 11 July 1000. Measured, banded, and bled the babies, who are #s 414,15,+16. No new developmental breakthroughs since last time, however; Heel pads, mandibular folds, and egg tooth are all still just present; feathers under the chin are still not covering the skin; otherwise the only bare spot is on the lower belly. The medial ridge in the crown is no longer conspicuous. The babies definitely shut up once they heard me coming. Ear holes can still barely be made out. They still don't fly at all, but flap their wings to keep balance. 12 July 1445. Watching the hole. 1450. 8261 fed. Babies were coming out the entrance of the hole even (just their bills). 1455. 8261 fed again. / 1457. And again 8261. 1532. 8261 again. / 1537. 8261 again. / 1540. 8261 yet again. 1547.8261/1557.8261/1605.8261/1619.8261./1626.8261/1635.8261 1645. Leaving. Rather a one-sided affair today. I should say -