1977 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 (14 May) 1537. 8184 had come out of hole, went to anvil, worked at an acorn for 2 minutes, then flew directly to hole, then entered once the ♀, who having done the same thing several minutes earlier was still inside, came out. (The weather right now is sunny but cool and quite windy). 1545. Birds will sit on a limb looking around for several minutes, as if they were looking for some insects to go out and hawk. No hawking taking place in my view, however (birds are out of sight much of the time, of course). 1550. One hawking flight seen. So far I've been pretty unsuccessful at pinning down who's doing most of the feeding (I've seen 6 trips to nest so far, 3♂ and 3♀), but the birds involved are certainly most likely 8184 and 8265. They are clearly doing their best with what's available, meaning mostly acorns. Certainly the odds of babies surviving on largely an all-acorn diet must be pretty small, however. [but neither's bands seen especially] I will. 1556. Both 8♀ here, and both seen feeding. 8265 watched at the anvil eating some acorn bits herself (or so it seemed), then flying to the nest. 1600. 8184 clearly getting at an acorn, then going to the nest. Birds (2-3 anyway) are almost taking turns at the anvil (the other remaining in the nest until another bird comes to feed, having just came from an anvil). There's no question but that the diet here must be heavily on the acorn side. 1610. 8? [illegible] #68 in nest tree briefly; not seen going to nest 1615. Leaving. With 9-10 trips in the hour I was here, the feeding rate does not seem at all low. If they have problems here (and