1980 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 21 January 1115. Both birds: ♂ub and ♀♀?♂/M #507, sitting up in the top of the "top" tree: the Valley Oak pretty much at the top of the small rise in between the Al 1975 nest tree and the granary here. 3 January 850. I rather randomly ambush over in the Valley Oak nest tree here last night and managed to come up with #507. The ♂ apparently slept elsewhere; while I was waiting for her to come out a bird was in the outer Blue Oak chasing starlings for a bit, and I assume that was he. He may actually have roosted out there, I suppose. 26 February 1445. I was able to count a total of 125 stores here, all but a few in the Blue Oak. As usual, though, the tree is difficult to do anything with and they could easily have twice that number salted away somewhere. They definitely do have some, in any case. 6 April There are still a few stores here, at least, and there appears to have been some recent drilling done around the nest hole in the outer Blue Oak; but I saw no sign of birds in passing. 10 April 1515. Nobody seen in passing or in any holes. 17 April 1000. Nobody seen in passing, but 1 bird seen here when we were up by A3. 26 April 1200. Nobody seen in passing or in any holes. 30 April 1530. " " " " 8 May 1045. Flushing a bird out of the hole, I opened it and found 3 eggs. This is back in the Valley Oak (the '75 nest hole). 15 May 815. After a full week of shitty weather I made it back up to ed (p.3).