2001 Walter D Poening Melanerpes formicivorus May Roberts HNMR 26 March 1400. Opened the new hole in the tree over on Oak Ridge next to the granary: empty. But there was a bird in it and it was close to being ready. Lots of stores. 13 April 1230. Checked the hole: 5 eggs, fairly fresh (EHD: 21 April). Measured one: ① 24.6 × 19.5 Watched roosting: 5 birds came, including ♂ Mike-18 #2973, ♂ 2999, ♂ (ns) Yellow #3327, and definitely ♂? Tell / Blue #3322. But all eventually left, after which ♂ Mike-18 #2973 returned and roosted, alone best I could tell. 14 April 1900. ♂ 2973 roosted in the nest again tonight (For sure.) 20 April 1015. Collected the 5 eggs: ① 24.6 × 19.5 ② 24.7 × 19.8 ③ 25.1 × 19.4 ④ 24.8 × 18.8 ⑤ 24.7 × 19.4 The embryos were not anywhere near ready to hatch, so they must have been fresh on 13 April and thus only a week old (but still hard to believe they could hatch in 4 more days!). Tissue is now #3347-3351. This is experimental nest #4 for the year. 2 May 1400. Bird in (same) hole: 4 fresh eggs: ① 25.4 × 20.1 ② 24.9 × 19.9 ③ 25.0 × 20.1 ④ 24.5 × 19.1. EHD: 12 May. 5 May 1932. ♂ 2973 roosted (♂? M’). He comes quietly, by himself and very late, just like the rooster (who I missed) on 3 May.