1977. Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation 4 May 2015. At dusk, all 3 birds were in a limb of the 2° tree, with the ♀ and ♂361 next to each other. After several minutes the ♂ hopped to the other side of the ♀, then the ♀ only [illegible] briefly mounted ♂361, then ♂361 briefly mounted the ♀, then all 3 flew to Plague. Several minutes later, however, ♂22 returned to the limb at a knot, kanit-cutted several times, and disappeared into what must be a hole facing straight up! I have the awful feeling that it's their nest, and if so [illegible] the young might (be hatched) for all we know. It will have to be examined first thing in the morning. 5 May. Not without some difficulty, I made it up to the "hole", cut it open, and was able to determine ① there are no eggs there ② the hole is rather small diametered and doesn't have much of a bottom to it ③ it wouldn't make much of a nest hole. The quest continues. 9 May 1750. Bird in hole by labs. Check tomorrow for sure. 10 May 1330. Believe it or not, just as I was taking the ladder off the truck to get at the limb in the Blue Oak I heard a crash, looked up to see a limb hit the ground, and yes, fans, the very limb had just broken at the mouth of the hole and come down for good. I looked at the thing - no doubt it had soaked up too much weight in water for its poor rotten self. I don't think there were any eggs in it, however. 13 May Checked out another hole here in the 2° tree this afternoon pointed out by Monica. It was in on the top side of a limb (see diagram on back) and ♂22 may have roosted in it last.