1983 Walter D. Koenig 5 Melanerpes fomiticivorus Plague HNHR 13 April 1700. 5 eggs here now; the 2 since yesterday were marked #4 and 5. 14 April 930. Counted stores: only 295 total. After taking a sample of 35 from the dead limb in the Plague tree I went to the hole in the telephone pole (which was empty) and filled it with Q. lobata acorns, probably about 300. 18 April 1500. Took the 6 eggs here so as to make them reest. Put the eggs in the incubator. 22 April Watched the (presumed) nest this morning from 620-800; neither ♀ came to the hole at all but ♂521 made 5 trips to the hole between 700-730 to take out wood chips. Hole was empty when I checked it at 800. 30 April 900. Checked the new nest: now 5 eggs (2 new ones marked #4 and 5 since hier). I also added a 6th egg rigged for incubation temperature monitoring, and set the chart going at exactly 930 PST. (I used an infertile egg from their 1st nest.) Well, the probe lasted exactly 1 hr 6 min before the birds ♂ pulled it out of the egg somehow! 5 June 1500. Counted stores: 7.5. Getting down there. 20 December 1200. Counted stores: 109. It is a bad year.