1980 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiticivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation (15 May) check here. First of all, none was in the hole. When I put my hand in, I first thought that the hole was empty, but checking around in the sawdust I eventually came up with all 3 of the eggs here on the 8th plus a 4th, very small egg. All were stone cold and still translucent, confirming that this particular attempt has been abandoned. Nonetheless, I at least get some clutch size data out of it. Hopefully they'll try again if it clears and warms up; however, this is the one group that has very few stores available, so it would be interesting if they didn't nest successfully. 20 May 1400. Checked the holes here but saw nothing promising. 21 May 1750. None in any holes here or seen in passing. 28 May 1500. Saw both birds here: a ♂ and ♀ #507. I watched for awhile to see what they were doing, but found no clear sign of another nest. I can only count 95 acorns here, but they do definitely have come and, given the way they stores here, they could easily have at least twice that number (more than ~200 seems unlikely, however). 1 June 1700. Flushing a bird out of the hole in the outer Blue Oak, I checked in with the peeper and found 4 eggs (1 possibly a runt, plus 3 or 4 acorns apparently sitting on the bottom). Unfortunately, the hole has been deepened, so I was unable to get at them for now. At least they've definitely started again, however. 2 June 1730. Finished opening the hole to find 4 incubated eggs, 1 of which was indeed a runt (just like in their 1st clutch!). Also, there were deed several acorns laid out on the bottom of the hole as though they were incubating them as well. The eggs were warm and birds were incubating.