1981 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Hastings Reservation (6 May) 800. A little more interest in the holes (both of them) than yesterday, but noone entered them. Going to check with Mary. 7 May 545. Here we go again. With Byron at the far hole. 622. 9524 enters '79 nest hole. 625. 8461 comes, dips in several times, goes in briefly, looks out right away, leaves, followed at 626 by the 9. This could have been it. 636. 9524 entered hole again for ~30s. 9523 is nearby. Mean- while, someone presumably 9604, is back Garricking on the upper periphery of the territory. 658. 9524 at hole again briefly; did not enter. 718. 9604 is here in the 2° tree drumming. 726. One of the 99 zipped into the hole so fast I couldn't tell who she was; she left after 30s with nothing in her bill. 728. 9524 entered hole, 8461 landed at the hole just as she went in, left after 25s w/o entering. 9524 then looked out and left. 735. 8307 looked into the hole, left w/o entering. 754. 9524 entered hole again for ~2m. Both the 88 and possibly also 9523 stopped at the hole briefly, but did not enter. 805. 9524 enters yet again; leaves after (m. 8461 in the hole area. 815. Checked hole: nothing yet - but this time it really should be soon! 8 May Watched the roost hole from 1045-1215 following the laying of a runt egg there by 9524 this morning (the egg was broken by Ron [it had a very soft shell, an airpocket in the center, and was all yolk!] and replaced with one of our own runts from last year). Noone at all came to