1977 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (14 April) a real revolution were shaping up. My analysis is this: with no group here, the 1st 2-3 birds keyed in, began checking things out and making some noise. This attracted the others who, being intruders in the sense that they weren't the 1st birds here, began displaying in appropriate fashion (carricking, drumming, etc.). Chases ensued, attracting more birds, etc. Importantly, the first birds here (at 700) did not carricle or drum, I think, but only wake'd conspicuously. 725. Let the residents go, fearing this whole deal might otherwise easily get out of hand entirely. As it was, the residents began chasing out the intruders forthwith, and activity was quite high but apparently not escalating by 745. 940. 2 nets up in Plague. There are perhaps 8 birds still here (5+ intruders). All 3 residents are busy displacing intruders. Calls, chases are frequent, but still not totally out of hand. Obviously it is pretty close to being so, however. 1000-1030. Caught 2 birds, 1♂ (#362) and a ♀ (#363). There is still some chasing and quite a bit of carricking, but the number of birds is down to 6 or so and activity is lessening. The residents are displacing intruders prominently. 1200. Activity much lower. 1300. Activity has virtually stopped altogether. 1345. All still warm and slow here.