1979 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Bloquist Hastings Reservation 2 January Collected a sample of 50 acorns from here, replacing them with a comparable number of my own. 22 January 1530. Watching. 1540. 03 or /blk #173 here sapsucking. 1545. Both ♀♀ showed: ②♀ yel/blk #176 and ③♀ an-pp/or #247. The latter came first and landed on the trunk; the former then came and landed in the tree being greeted by both the others. Then ♀176 flew to the trunk just above ♀247 and gave several submissive "chattering" calls, just like a baby. Subsequently ♀247 began preening while ♀176 flew off. Thus, as I expected, ♀247 > ♀176 — there is a dominance hierarchy between ♀♀ within the group. 1600. Very good. Leaving. All 3 here and sapsucking is in progress. 10 February 1435. Counted stores: 316. Not too bad, considering. 17 February 1330. 80, m#173 seen here in passing. Also ②♀ yel/blk #176 flushed from over by Soto Springs. 25 March 1030. A ♀ (unbanded, I believe) is here karit-cutting, and even giving an occasional Carrick. 80/m#173 here also, but not chasing the ♀. No immediate sign of the other ♀♀. 1050. ♂ eating oak buds and also hawked a big black insect 1245. Counted stores: 316. ♂ still in the area, no sign of ♀♀. 26 March Ron watched for 2 hours today and again saw only ♂173 — and no sign of the ♀♀ (!). 1 April 1705. 80/m#173 in sap tree. 1715. Leaving. No sign of anyone else. 12 April 1645. There are stores remaining here. No sign of any birds, though. 23 April 1615. Still some stores here. ①♂ or/m#173 here. Flew to greet a 2nd