1980 Walter D. Koenig 20 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Hastings Reservation (26 June) 750-940. I did get several more items, including a giant hairy caterpillar fed by 8521 27 June Watched the nest (with the movie camera going at 1 frame every 4.5s again) for 90 min, during which time I got a respectable 54 feeding visits (from 945-1115). 28 June Banded the babies here, of whom all 5 are in pretty good shape (the nunt may not make it, but we'll find out one way or the other). They are now #605-609. 12 July 930. Ron went up to the nest and discovered 4 dead babies - only j606 made it out successfully. All were beginning to rot, but why they did is a total mystery. They were still being fed like crazy through 10 July (1.), and all 5 could be seen looking out of the hole on 9 July, at least. There is no evidence that they starved, but what else might have done them in is a mystery to me. They clearly died either the evening of the 10th or on the 11th; if this is coincident with the fledging of j606 then maybe they quit feeding the nestlings once he fledged? They certainly weren't predated, and what other possible reason for their demise could there be? We autopsied the babies as best we could, identifying 2 as 88 and presuming the other 2 to be 99 on the basis of lacking an obvious gonad. August Counted stores: Plague tree: 402? 408 Others: 6 21 September Counted stores: Plague tree: 52. No new acorns at all yet. 3 October Today the birds here were actively storing Live Oak acorns from the oak by the Bunkhouse. Checking the granary, I