1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold ! HNHR 31 October Set 2 ambushes here tonight, including 1 with a Tennis Ball (new technology) in the old BigTree roost hole. At dusk, several birds went into The BigTree hole, while 3 went into a new hole along the road just across from the BigTree hole; I'm pretty sure 6 birds were involved altogether. I inadvertently flushed 2 birds from the new hole, 1 of which went to the granary hole. I then pulled the string and took $586 out of that hole. Back across the road at BigTree I pulled $505 and ♂679, leaving at least a 4th bird that I couldn't reach. 1 November 800. The 4th bird is the mythical "8100." I pulled off his bands, of which only 1 per leg remained. They looked LP-Bm, possibly a faded Br-Bm. In any case, I rebanded him with new bands and will take a careful look at the others later on. My current guess is that there are 6 birds here: These 4 plus 2 babies (?) fledged from the new hole this fall (or last spring?). I will keep trying for them! 1985 19 February 930. Counted stores: 2359. Doing well! 13 April 1600. Bird in hole in main tree-probably it. 23 April 1715. Climbed up: 2 very young babies (probably day 0, though maybe day 1) plus 1 opaque but unpipped egg. 18 May 1000. Banded the 4 babies as #1018-1021 (I obviously missed at least 1 egg - the bottom of the hole is hard to reach).