1980 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Hastings Reservation 23 February I'd pretty much given up on this group (which formed at the end of December) until today while counting stores at Westgate, at which time 908 Bk-Yel/Bk#519 and then 28ub. came and played around in the Gate secanore for awhile. I then went over to investigate and found 425 acorns stored in the Gate tree! Thus, this group definitely exists, and will have to be watched soon to see if these 2 birds are all there are. Two other points of interest here: 1) The [illegible] '77 nest tree (the willow) has finally fallen during the series of storms we've had recently. No bodies were inside. 2) There are still lots of acorns in at least 1 Live Oak by the creek here at the edge of the field. These live Oaks are no doubt providing most of the acorns being stored here at this late date. For prior information on this group, see Westgate notes. 21 March Changes: Purge 38532,533. Both these birds presumably founded this reincarnation of Gate near the end of December with 9519; all 3 were caught on 1 Jan.80. However, the 2 08 seem to have left nearly as precipitously as they arrived, and neither were here by 20 Jan -> Dis. about 10 Jan. ±1 week. Already by that time or shortly thereafter there was a new unbanded 8 here, who will be added on 10 Jan. Presently, as far as I can tell, there is only a pair here (but I could be wrong).