1978 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation. 18 April 1505. No sign of anybody here. 23 April 920. Something is up here - a bird seen atop the Blue Oak, plus some activity (including several ub & in the area) which may be related. Watching. 935. A banded ♀ (♀ 141-7K/LBlue?) came to the Blue Oak, checked a hole, then sat and cutted regularly for 4-5 minutes before leaving. 940. A Garrick. A ♀ is still here, Garricking (and apparently waiting to see if anything happens). 6 more Garricks. This is an unbanded ♀ here now for sure. Garrit-cutting. 944. Another Garrick, then drummed a second. This ♀ is interested. (Also, the Garricking seems to me more than ever to be a challenge of sorts: 1) "Who's here? Come out and show yourselves"; as well as 2) "If nobody's here, how about a mate? There seems to be this nice empty territory here, see, and..") This bird here obviously wants to make it clear to anybody who's here that she's interested, as well as perhaps advertising her presence to anyone else who would like to move in with her [illegible] (♂?, I presume). 950. The ♀ finally left. 1000. All quiet. Things may get going here yet, but for now it just looks like a few exploratory ventures. 4 May 1600. Somebody here Garricking every few minutes. The bird is in the draw between LA2 and UA2. Otherwise quiet. 1605. With that bird gone, all is quiet. Still nothing definite here, it would seem. 1615. All quiet for now. Leaving.