1977 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus Finch (5 September) a few yards in from the road and not really deep enough into R1 territory (ie far enough from Finch) to arouse suspicion. It was, however, much too late to really have any idea about the cause of death, as no fleshy parts remained; but perhaps the very fact that it was all in one place tends to exclude a raptor, which would have eaten most of it, unless of course the bird had died of some mortal wound inflicted by a raptor. In any case, the date of death, though not recent (skin dried, no crown molt) was probably within the last month, based merely on the amount of intact material remaining. In lack of a better criterion, I'll place it ½ way between 12 July, when I censussed and saw him, and today— 8 August 1977. 9 October 1500. ①♂ CP/CB/M #67 pecking at a hole in the W granary. Now giving subordinate calls as ②♂ RB/LB-WT #66 comes over. ⑧66 > ⑦67 1505. ③♀ Yel/Bluethw #232. 1521. ④♀ DB/M #885. 1535. ③♂ LG-DX(W)/M #386, ②♀ LG-BM/LG #280 ⑦♂ M/RB-LP #282. 1606. ①♂ Wb. All birds storing acorns; no sign of any aggression against the juveniles. 1616. ④♂ .Blk/LG-Blk #63. 1625. Leaving. Eventually most of the birds showed up. Things look fairly grim for j388 and 389, but I'll need another good watch before I can be sure. 29 October 1130. Watching. ①♂ PP/LP#66. ②♂ CP-CB/M #67. ③♂ LG-BLK/LG-BLK #63. Just saw a bird (366 probably) pick a nice big acorn from the canopy of the main granary—