1980 Walter D. Koenig 6 Melanerpes formicivorus Finch (14 July) 3) Two birds taken at once, apparently from the same place, and eaten simultaneously. (Sandy's last watch on 12 July proves all to be well then). My (wild) guess is that something nailed these birds in the roost hole at night, took them each down to the ground to pluck, etc., and ate them separately, possibly even entering the hole for the 1st and then returning for the 2nd. Clearly this must have been some nocturnal predatory bird, e.g. an Owl. The only owl that could reasonably be expected to overpower an Acorn Woodpecker, however, is a Screech Owl, as Pigny Owls can't weigh much more than 1/3 that of an adult AW. All this seems vaguely improbable, but what else could get 2 birds from the same place (other than by entering a roost hole) and take them individually to the ground to pluck? (The feathers could not have been tossed from the air or the roost hole, as they were too orderly). Thus the mysteries of nocturnal predation deepen. 15 July 930. Watching. ①♀ Red/LG #500. ③ jdg-Yel/Mauve #541. ③ jDe/Dk #543; ④♂ Red/LB-WH #66. 940. A newly-fledged baby ⑤ jdg-BP(in)/M #614. 1005. He's still here: ⑥♂ La/Yel #501 in Sycamore. ③♂ Red/Tan #282. 1025. The final baby is here, also: ④ jLB-Or/LB #542. 1030 Leaving. That about wraps up the alternatives: #293 is surely the adult victim from the massacre described above. There is still a baby squawking from the nest, also. Purge: #293. Found dead (predated). Died either 12 or 13 July.