1978 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch Hastings Reservation (10 September) right now. 1255. Very little here now (except for 866 still working on the hole). Leaving. No sign of [the] ♀[♀]. 2 October 1515. Watching. Several birds storing acorns in nest-tree: ①♂ M / Red-Tan #282, ②♂ Red/Blue-wh #66. Lots of stores already. ③♂ W/M #278. ④♂ 66. 1545. ⑤♂ LG-BIL/LG-BIL #63. ⑥♂ CR-B/M #67 just chased a Flicker over here to the Sycamore Canopy. 1600. ⑦♂ DG-(acn)/M #386. That's all the ♂! 1630. Leaving. I'm not saying it's impossible, but given that the birds are pretty actively storing here I consider the fact that I saw no ♀ the entire time as good evidence that in fact this group still doesn't have one! Remarkable! (and a wee bit disturbing, I might add!). I did see all the ♂ at least twice (♂63), and probably up to about 20 times (for 882, 866). Not once did I even think I saw a ♀. 27 November 1015. Watching. 4 ♂ here. Seen right away are ①♂ DP/Wnt #66, ②♂ W/M #278, and ③♂ M / Red- #282. 1040. ④♂ LG-TA(n)/Wnt #386. ⑤♂ LP-LB/M #67 1115. Leaving. No ♀. Possibly down 1-2 ♂ as well. Counted stores: Sycamore : 152 ) Valley Oak : 451 } 633 Other : 30 ) Nest sycamore lost the top horizontal limb with ~120 holes (most all there had been in that tree). 11 December 8278 seen here this morning by Ron while watching at R1.