1977 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch (29 October) Hastings Reservation. 1150.①♂ W/N/M #278.⑤♀ Yell/DB-#232. 1203.⑥♂ DB/DB-WN(W) #385. ④♂ub. ⑧♀ Tan-Red/Tan-Red #282. 1223.③♀ (la-Bm) ca #280 1225. There's fairly good activity here - the birds are picking acorns largely along the road and storing them furiously. 1236.⑩♂ 316-?ca(W)/WN #386. That's it except for the other 2 babies. 1300. Leaving. Saw everyone at least twice, I'd say. j386 was sort of off on the periphery (in the nest tree), but there was still enough activity and I identified enough birds such that I would expect to have seen 388/389 if they were here. 6 November Purge: j388. Last seen 12 July, gone by 31 August ±Disap. about 6 August ±2 wks. j389. Last seen 11 July, on which day he may very well have been picked off by a Cooper Hawk (see Finch notes, 11 July, p.8). → Disappeared about 11 July 1977. 27 November 1510. Watching with captive up as bait. (Sun already down, however). 1540. Clearly too late - nobody at all is interested in the poor bird. 3 December 3278 seen intruding along Robertson Creek by Gate (see Gate notes) 4 December 1220. Watching with the captive caged up in the granary. 1238.①♂ Da-(ca(W))WN #386 here eyeing the captive. No calls. 1242.♂ 386 + [other]♂ now in nest tree; none over by the captive. 1246. 2nd bird, still eating an acorn, is ♂ M - Tan #282. 1252.③♂ Yell-Red/ca.-light #67. 1303. Still none to the cage. 1315. Giving up - none is interested (activity generally fairly low at this time). 16 December 1300. Counted stores: Sycamore: 758