1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Hastings Reservation 1 February 1230. Counted stores: Main tree: 708 ? 838 20 tree: 130 Doesn't seem particularly full, but they're doing OK. No birds seen. 8 April 2 birds roosted in the sycamore tonight (Missy). 11 April Yet another failed ambush here. That's about the end of "tennis ball" technology - the monofilament gets messed up too easily. 22 April xx Group Update xx j 949, 950, 951. All NSAB. Missy may have seen one of these, but we doubt it, so they're all going for now. 5 May So far no luck at finding the (a) nest here. Missy up on the hill watching this afternoon. 6 May 945. Watched from up on the hill for nearly 2 hrs. The birds (only a pair) were all over, but didn't act as though they had a nest. However, right at the end they finally gave it away- when the ♀ (and ♂ briefly) went to the hole in the sycamore facing the creek. As she was still in it when I made it down, my bets are on it. In any case, either it's not even quite started yet or she's probably just laying. Also at the end the ♂ flew over the creek to a big Valley Oak up along the gorge where the pipeline comes down from the Arnold. In the tree he was met and eventually chased by at least 3 other birds. I went over there and looked around - the tree is an old granary, but appears not to be in current use. However, there just may be another