1981 Walter D. Koering Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (5 April) leave and try again tomorrow (hoping that one of the banded ♀♀ [or ♂!] will win all the while!). For more details on this whole day, see Ron's notes. 6 April 930. Arrived. Lots of activity still. ♂9Or-DSln#642 in 2° tree. ♂8307 flies off to sap tree; ♂8461 in 2° tree with 9642 briefly. ♀509 (Gazebo) in 2° tree also, near 9642. 937. 9642 in Main Tree (MT). 940. 9523 (Sch.Hill) over in Tel Pole; clearly peripheral. ♀509 still in 2°T, 8461 comes over occasionally. At least 1 ub ♀ in main tree; some Garicks. 9642 also still in 2° tree. 8461 flying back and forth, walking to everyone. 944. ♂587 is still in MT viciously attacking other ♀♀. 949. It appears as though a coalition of 2 ub ♀♀ may be in charge of things in the MT. It's not real clear what that means, since 8307 isn't around at the moment and 8461 is spending a lot of his time over in the 2° Tree, but that's the impression I have at the moment. Going to set up net. 1000. Set up. While there, I managed to quiet things down a bit. Meanwhile: Purge: 9515. Last seen 17 March, gone by 4 April → Disappeared about 26 March ± 1 week. 1002. Both 88 back in MT. 3 ub ♀ there also. 9642 still in 2°T. 1005. Definite hope: 9642, still over in the Tel Pole, was joined by both 88, both of whom mounted her in succession! She then sat and preened while both 88 sat there for ~3 min, after which 8307 mounted her again at least twice! Shortly thereafter everyone flew off.