1978 Walter D Koenig 10 Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blouquist Hastings Reservation (22 September) 930. The babies are definitely avoiding (or whatever) the granary. 935. Birds are storing a fair amount now. 950. Leaving. Babies are quite hard to see, spending all their time off on the periphery. But all 3 are probably here (j448, at least, was seen 31 Aug. even though I didn't see him today). Counted stores: 1511. 4 November 1130. Watching. 1155. ①③ or ④① #171 retraction: ③ or /ble #173. 1210. ③♀/♂ or #247. Counted stores: 1359. Not bad, but clearly things can only go downhill from here. 5 November 1050. Watching again. 1120. Both ♀♀ here: ①♀yel/blk #176 and ②♀#247. 1145.③♂ or /blk #173. 1220. Leaving. Absolutely no sign of any babies here any more. Other adults probably all still here. For the last 20 min. or so ③ or /m (173, probably) has been pecking away inside one of the roost holes here in the Valley Oak up on Hastings above their granary. 16 November While walking up here this afternoon I saw 3-4 birds flying around here, one of whom was ③♂/RW#307 (who was seen flying to the forest and then out with an acorn). 25 November ④♀247, 176, and ③173 seen here by Ron Munne. Looks bad for ③171. 30 November Purge: j448. Last seen 31 August, gone by 15 September → Dis. abt. 7 September ± 1 weeks. j449 and j450. Both last seen 22 September, gone by 5 November → Dis. abt. 14 Oct. ± 2 wks. 18 October. See School Hill notes.