1981 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Hastings Reservation 7 January 1445. Watching from hide. Still some acorns stored here. 1454. Two birds here- I probably 8611 (definitely banded). 1500. An unbanded 8 eating an acorn in the forest here. 1520. 8ub still here; harrit-culted awhile, but noone came by to see him. 1525. A 2nd 8, possibly a 3rd bird here. 1530. The ub 8 and 8 M/Da-La #611 here together now. The ub 8 is definitely part of the group here. 1600. Leaving (a Cooper's Hawk is sitting here making things difficult). Definitely time to ambush here for the new 8. I'm not sure what's up with the 8, but she sure isn't hanging around today. 12 January 1345. After watching an unbanded 8 hawking from the large Valley Oak at the top of UA2 for 10m or so, she flew down to the garvanry here. I watched her there for >5m, looking a little uncertain, but getting 'an acorn to eat and eating it while 8 M/ #611 was in the tree with her. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find her as a replacement for 8507. 2 February 1515. Counted stores: Outer Blue Oak: 150 ? Inner areas: 33 [illegible] Definitely something, but it's still hard to understand why these birds are staying here. But they are-I flushed 2 birds when I arrived. I also squeezed out a sample of 10 stored acorns from the granary. 17 February Ron having confirmed the presence of both an unbanded 8 and 8 here, we ambushed this morning at the rear (Valley Oak) next hole, getting the young 8 (8611) and the new 8, who