1978 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 Hastings Reservation 12 April All the 8's over at Pump - see Pump notes (they're there filching acorns and bringing them back to here). 13 April 1400. There is a bird in the hole in tree 1. It turns out to be 8296. 8348 joined him up in tree 3, however. Good to see 8296 willing to go into the hole again so soon. Also 8348 is still here, and their nest should be forthcoming (if, in fact, it's not here already!). 16 April 1830. Walking down the hill from Haystack, I flushed 8348 and 8298 together in a tree above 1800's old nest tree - obviously this area does still belong to 1500. The other 8's were nowhere nearby. Meanwhile, at least one was in the hole in tree 1, where my guess is there is a nest. 17 April 1345. Bird in hole here again. 1730. Started to saw open the hole - christ! What a bear! I gave up after about ½ an hour and will attempt (!) to get in the rest of the way tomorrow. 18 April 930. Successfully negotiated the hole after bringing the aluminum ladder onto the scene as well as modifying the new electric jig-saw. In any case - 3 eggs. Not only that, but they look dirty and opaque (i.e. incubated). 1730. I am quite concerned - not only was there not a bird in the nest when I came to open it (I think) but there was no bird when I checked it late this afternoon. It's hard to imagine that I've scared them off by opening the nest - especially after they successful negotiated me catching 2 birds roosting in the nest, but I fear that possibly I have. 19 April 1325. 8296 in Tree 1, but none in nest hole, which must surely be (go to p.4)