1979 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation 2 July Add: 8461. First seen on 20 June; possibly here as early as 25 March, but apparently only 2 birds here as late as 7 May → Returned here ~29 May. 11 July Ambushed this morning at the '75 nest hole, coming up with 8461 only. Thus, he did not spend the night in the nest. I do not know for sure whether ♀ was here or not, however. 940. Ambush set up at the nest waiting for the ♀. 1100. Gave up after 2 near misses. If I can get the damn trap to shut she's definitely catchable, at least. 13 July 1815. After another frustrating attempt at engineering the capture of the ♀ I went in and weighed the babies. 14 July 745. Up and waiting again with yet another setup to catch the ♀. 1000. My contraption will definitely work, but for now the ♀ is a little too sceptical to go in the nest. Leaving. 18 July 1730. Banded and bled the 2 babies, who are now #511 and 512. 19 July 745. After a short wait this morning I nabbed the ♀ in the nest hole without further ado. She had an Earwig in her bill when I pulled her out. I banded her (9515) and bled her at last, ending a continuing odyssey which began months ago at least! & 1900. Checked and fed the babies, who were hungry but o.k. 26 July 1800. On the advice of Nancy who's been worried about the smaller baby I went up to the nest and discovered that, indeed, he had not fledged. His remains were gushy but already totally disarticulated after only ~5 days [illegible] (see Nancy's notes