1978 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak (15 October) 900. Absolutely no sign of anyone here until I started counting acorns and 1 bird sat briefly in the upper perch tree. Where are they all? Stores: 507, all in central area. 930 1030. Walked down to the dead limb at the far low edge of the territory where, lo and behold, there are some birds! ①♂ Or/?? (Kw) #321; ②♀ Yel/Wn #102; ③♀ Red/M #427. Birds are eating acorns down here. 1045. A big dominance fight over something; ③321>>④427. ④♂ LP/Dg-Lg #428. 1015. Both ①102 and ③428 now in perch area over toward Branca from the central storage area here. 9 November 1010. Watching. 1035. ①♂ Wn/Yel #102 in perch tree (and has been since 1010). 1050. 1 bird flushed from the low snag; not much activity there, either. 1120. ③102 back alone in perch tree. 1140. ③102 still here, but otherwise the place is deserted. I'll no longer count on any of the babies being around. Hey- an adult ♀ just joined him up there: ③♀ Pk/Red #427. 1200. ③428 apparently seen with another bird on the far edge of Branca (see Branca notes). 30 November Purge: ③426, ③410, ④320. All last seen on 21 May, all gone by 29 July → Dis. abt. 24 June ± 1 month. In addition, it looks bad for the babies (all 5!) but I'll give it another watch before giving up on all of them. 9 December 1040. Watching. None found in a walk around the area. Also, the entire top of the "Hanging Limb tree" has fallen (no holes lost, however).