Acorn woodpecker species accounts, v4447

Koenig, Walter D., 1950-
Unknown
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley
Original Source
Source Material:
Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Contributed by Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley. | www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Acorn woodpecker Acorn woodpecker--Behavior--California Hastings Natural History Reservation (Calif.)

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W.D. Koenig 1982 - 1983 Hastings Reservation Melanerpes formicivorous
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hastings Reservation, Monterey Co., Calif. 11 November The granary at ARF is well filled with acorns; clearly there is still a group here. Meanwhile, 2 birds flushed from the granary at SBO; they have lots of acorns stored here also. 23 November Opened up the granary limbs at PUMP a bit by trimming some of the branches. Otherwise there's no action here, however, and the storage limbs continue a slow disintegration. 11 December A new group? There's an unbanded pair (♂, ♀) working in a dead (?) Blue Oak in the canyon near ARF, too: see map on back. Maybe these are ARF, too birds, but they are definitely hanging out here and could be distinct, although I didn't see any sign of stores or storage holes. 15 December (500. Here at PCHill #1 are lots of stores and several birds, some of whom are clearly intruding here at the lower end of the field. Seen are (bands rough, mind you): 1 ♂ Da-46L/Red-Yel 2 ♂ LB/Yel ♀ WH-LB/M 1983 30 March 1008. 2 Wickers over in the Valley Oaks ½ way to Blomore just got chased by the Lewis' Woodpecker out there. 9 April 845. Passed the new group at MarkRoberts Flat, flushing a ♂ with a M band on Lleft (♂ M ?). He was shy, though, and I wasn't able to pick up more. 855. Way on the other side of the creek the ♂ was just joined by an unbanded ♀. 930. There are apparently, 2 ♂'s (both banded) and a ♀ here. (all 3 together)
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1983 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus HNHR, Monterey Co., Calif. 30 May 830. Flushed a bird out of one of the opened holes at Blou3, leaving some squealing babies... usual 850. Also young babies in the central hole at CV#1. 6 June 845. Opened the hole at CV#1: 3 babies, $15 do, can be banded anytime. 940. At CV#2, a fledgling is being fed in the corner tree. Oh well. Can't find everybody in peripheral groups, I guess. I still wonder where their nest was... This group does have stores left, by the way. 13 June 1730. Still 3 babies at CV#1; 1 taken for Pam, the other 2 banded: ① (see capture record) ② 84.3 gm (93) [22.4 mm] Dblue / Green - "white" (a) ③ 79.0 gm (92) Taken for PLW DB-LP DB-LP DB-?/??? @ ???? 7 July 1100. In Valley Oak at Bloupond: j M/LP-DG Here by himself, apparently.
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Artificial Granaries HNHR 4 January 1520. No sign of anyone at Horsetail. In fact, the 2 styrofoam logs are still full of the acorns that Susan (no doubt) put in there to begin with. 11 January No sign of life at either artificial granary up on Haystack Hill. Both have been stripped of their acorns, however.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Molaeuerps famicivorus Buckeye Hastings Reservation 20 June 1020. After watching from the Chongo side of the canyon for an hour trying to localize a nest here I'm now near the granary watching. There were 2 ?? up in the granary for a few minutes, one of whom was ? with, #664. 22 June Searched for 2 hours for the nest here, but with no hint of success at all. 6 July 1930. Walked around up here and checked all the holes, but saw none nor any sign of a nest. 30 September 1015. There are still acorns stored here as well as birds around, but I checked all the holes and noted no sign of a fall nest in progress. 22 October 900. Plenty of stores here. Watching. Need a hide.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiceivorus Chonge HNHR 22 October 830. Flushed 1 bird in coming up to count stores: 706 2 November Was here at roosting but saw nothing. 16 November 1410. Watching from hide. 9 in granary; this bird appears blind in her left eye. At best it's exceedingly dark. 1425. The 9 flew across the canyon to a large Blue Oak, joining a 8 there. Both are now there eating acorns, and appear to be unbanded (it is a long ways away, however). 1515. Leaving. No sign of the jun, but another watch is certainly in order as they are not hanging around much. 1983 4 January 1330. Counted stores: 666; essentially no change from October. Also took a sample of 25 acorns from the granary. The sample was frozen immediately. 10 May 1745. Took the 7 eggs out of the nest (6 normal, 1 runt) and plugged the incubation monitoring equipment into one of the normal eggs that I inadvertently broke while getting it down out of the hole. 11 May 1515. The thing's working, but noone has been in the nest since yesterday (I have a constant 19+ reading). Have they abandoned the nest? 13 May 730. Checked the recorder: working fine, birds have been incubating constantly for some time! 16 May 1025. Took down the recording equipment, sacrificing the 1 egg. The probe was a little to one side but otherwise well inside the egg; I don't know why it was messing up as it did the last few days.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague HNHR 20 October 945. Counted stores: Plague tree: 844 20 tree: 22 Tel pole: ~400 (see 21 Oct) Total: 1266 Almost all the stores are still old (left over from last year). Correction: I just climbed up into the low dead limb in the Plague tree and pulled a sample of 76 acorns, of which 56 (74%) were new! For the details on what I got, see back of sheet. These acorns were shelled immediately and put in the drying oven. 21 October 1000. Today I started an experiment here to (hopefully) show that the ability of the birds to get and store acorns is not a limiting factor. I opened the old roost hole in the Telephone Pole by the Chicken-coop, emptying out as many acorns as I could (the hole was already filled to the top with them). I was not able to get all the way to the bottom, but got as many as I could. The final count was Live Oak: 13 ? 317. [All these are fresh] Valley Oak: 304 The idea is for me to clear this hole out at regular intervals, assuming the birds continue to store here. 24 October 1600. Noticing that the roost hole in the telephone pole is already filled again (!), I went up and cleared it out to about the same degree as I did on the 21st. The final tally was Live Oak: 13 ? 350. These 350 acorns had a Valley Oak: 287 fresh, unshelled weight of 1.87 kg. Not bad for 3 days of storing!
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Acorns pulled from Plague granary 20 Oct. 1982 Q. agrifolia OK | New | Old <½ ID | 33 | 9 >½ ID | 3 | 3 | 36 | 15 Q. lobata OK | New | Old <½ ID | 15 | 1 >½ ID | 3 | 3 | 18 | 5 Q. douglasii OK | New | Old | 2 | 0 % agr: New OLD 64 75 % lob: 32 25 % day: 10 0 % ID agr 8 40 lob 17 80 56 20 76
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague HNHR 27 October 1600. The hole was not quite refilled by now but was pretty close. The count: Valley Oak: 172½ (½ shelled acorn here) Live Oak: 77 Total: 249½. The weight of this load is 1.41 kg. 29 October 1200. The hole is already filled again! The count this time is: Valley Oak: 210 Live Oak: 84 } Total: 297. Blue Oak: 3 The weight of this load is 1.80 kg. 1 November 800. Emptied the hole, which is essentially filled again. The counts are: Valley Oak: 175 } Live Oak: 95 } 310. Blue Oak: 40 } Weight: 1.77 kg. The total stored now between 21 Oct and 31 Oct (10 days) comes to 1156½ acorns; total weight = 6.85 kg. (This doesn't include the original stores.) 2 November 1015. The hole is already filled again! I haven't been checking it nearly enough! The count today: Valley Oak: 143½ } Total: 318½ Live Oak: 154 Blue Oak: 21 Weight: 1.76 kg. 3 November 1015. The hole is not quite filled this time. Valley Oak: 73 } Live Oak: 247 } 340 Blue Oak 20 } Weight: 1.64 kg.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomincivorus Plague 10 November 1640-1650. Cleaned out the telephone pole hole, which is of course filled up completely. (My plan is now to do this 2 dys in a row once a week or so just to see how many they can store through the season in one day). Today's count: Valley Oak: 159½ } Live Oak: 143 } 333½ Weight: 1.77 kg Blue Oak: 31 ) Current total: 2148½ in 20 days = 107 per day. 12 November 645. Emptied the hole (which isn't very full yet) essentially 1 day since 10 Nov. PM: Valley Oak: 10 } Live Oak: 43 } 61 Weight = 0.31 kg. Blue Oak: 8 ) 13 November 710. Now we're rolling again: the hole was completely filled! Valley Oak: 87½ } Live Oak: 210 } 322½ Weight: 1.81 kg. Blue Oak: 25 ) 14 November I went up and checked but did not empty the hole today - it was not full. 1600. Counted stores: Main tree: 1300 } 2° tree 157 } 1657 Tel pole: ~200 ) Thus they've added several hundred acorns to the 1° storage areas, as well as having crammed the telephone pole with thousands of acorns (over 2500 to be exact). 21 November 1645. Emptied the hole just before dusk. This time
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig 4 Melauerpes fonicivorus Plague HNHR (21 November) it wasn't even nearly full yet: Valley Oak: 18) Live Oak: 35) Blue Oak: 29) Weight: .37 kg. 22 November 1600. Took a sample of 60 acorns from the main trunk of the Plague tree for my monthly sample. See back for the results [15 more added 23 Nov.] 1645. Checked the hole in the telephone pole, which is still empty (the birds have added 1 or 2 acorns to it only). 23 November 1245. Added 15 more stores from the dead limb in Plague to the 60 I collected yesterday. 1645. Emptied the telephone pole hole, which only had Valley Oak: 2) Live Oak: 13) Blue Oak: 1) 19 December Picked 75 more acorns out of the Plague tree, mostly from the main trunk. See back for results. 1983 4 January 1400. Counted stores: Plague tree 1497) 20 tree: 108) 2080 (Hole is full) Tel pole: ~475) (again) 24 January Took a sample of 75 acorns from high on the main trunk. See back of P.5 for details of the contents of this batch. 3 March Took my sample of of 75 acorns today. See back of P.5 for details.
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Acorns pulled from Plague granary 22-23 Nov. 1982 Presumably all these are this year's acorns. OK <½ ID Total Q. agrifolia 56 3 59 Q. lobata 10 5 15 Q. douglasii 1 0 1 Totals 67 8 75 5 live grubs were found; 1 weevil (large) in Q.l. 2 small ? in Q.a. 2 weevils in bag. % agr: 79% % lob: 20% %doug: 1% %ID: agr: 59% lob: 33% Acorns pulled from granary 19 Dec. 1982 OK <½ ID >½ ID Total Q. agrifolia 43 6 1 50 Q. lobata 12 3 2 17 Q. douglasii 8 0 0 8 Total 63 9 3 75 %agr: 66% %lob: 23% %doug: 11% %ID agr: 14% lob: 29% 12 Grubs came from this batch. 2 were "floating" (both weevils). 7 weevils were in Live Oaks (4 in one acorn, 2 in another, 1 in 1). 2 other grubs were alive in agrifolia acorns. The insect damage in the lobata was generally older; only 1 (probable) weevil was detected in that. Several acorns had exit holes - sometimes such acorns had live grubs in them and other times no.
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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.
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Acorns pulled from Plaque granary 24 Jan. 1983 OK <½ ID >½ ID Total Q.agrifolia 36 9 0 45 Q lobata 14 7 2 23 Q douglasii 6 1 0 7 Total 56 17 2 75 Only 4 grubs (live) were noted during shelling 2 small ones (not weevils) were in a lobata acorn Single weevils were in each of 2 agrifolia acorns Acorns pulled from Plaque granary 3 March 1983 OK <½ ID >½ ID Total Q agrifolia 31 5 2 38 Q lobata 20 7 4 31 Q douglasii 5 0 1 6 Total 56 12 7 75 8 live grubs were found, inc. 7 large nutu(?) larvae, 4 in lobata and 3 in agrifolia, plus 1 weevil in an agrifolia Acorns pulled 14 April 1983 OK <½ ID >½ ID Total Q agrifolia 17 3 4 24 Q lobata 4 (all 3 motly) 2 1 7 Q douglasii 4 (3 motly) 0 0 4 Total 25 5 5 35 1 large mot larv
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1982 Walter D. Koemig Melanerpes formicivorus Y 7 September The season is on! There are 2 birds in the locust behind the Lower Barn with fresh Live Oak acorns in their bills. 30 September 800. 8669 up on knoll investigating the pies. 30 December 700. Ambushed here at a hole in a stub high (~55') up in the large Sycamore at the Y nabbing the unbanded ♀ (apparently the ♂ roosted elsewhere). She is now #848.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 HNHR 23 October 1220. Counted stores: Main tree: 845 20 tree: 116 1983 4 January 1445. Counted stores: Main tree: 2011 20 tree: 308 Also took a sample of 35 acorns from the stores, which I froze right away. 2 May 1400. Sacrificed egg #1 (there are 2 in the nest now, only 1 yesterday, so that's the one I used) for incubation monitoring. Everything looks great. I threaded the line through a hole in the bottom of the nest and you really can't tell it's there. So here's hoping. I started the recorder at 1436 PST. 8 May 915. Came down here to see what the problem is - specifically, why the recorder randomly jumps up to 45° and then settles back down. It turns out that whenever the egg moves the recorder goes crazy for some unknown reason. So I put a dab more epoxy on the egg to try and hold the wires more securely. Otherwise the temperatures seem fine, and perhaps a bonus is that we can tell every time they turn the eggs! Also, egg #1 is not developing, of course, but neither is #2. Thus, only the 3rd egg will hatch, apparently. 13 May 800. Eggs not hatched yet; both #2 and 3 did develop. 14 May !1430! Nest failed! Hole empty! The scene: I arrive: no one in hole. Upon beginning to set up the rope ladder, I discover 1 embryo still in a rather smashed egg on the ground below the nest, and a 2nd embryo carcass, somewhat eaten,
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes famicivorus 1500 (14 May) nearby. (It had possibly hatched.) No sign of the plugged egg (the recorder is showing a constant 19.+ degrees). I climb the nest: it is indeed empty; the thermocouple is caught inside still, buried in the woodchips. Checking the record, I discover the record fairly normal looking at least through 1000 this morning; at that point there is an odd ½ hr + break, followed by some short jumps, until at 1130 the temperature went down to ~190°C and stayed there. So: whatever/whoever did it, it was a diurnal beast. Another Acom Woodpecker? This possibility is particularly intriguing if one of the babies had hatched, as hatching is a time that a fair number of odd disappearances have occurred over the years. In any case: the nest has failed, under odd circumstances. The incubation record is nonetheless virtually complete. 5 June 1600. Counted stores: 140, all in Main tree.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 HNHR 23 October 1245. Counted stores: Main tree: 893) Others: 78 } 971. 1983 4 January 1500. Counted stores: 1692. This group recently lost that tiny snag near the granary, loses ~100 holes in the process. I took a sample of 40 acorns from the fallen tree. 5 June 1415. Counted stores: 205. 1655. ♀ M/D8-WN #785 foraging up near the fence line by Hay-Blom (directly up the hill from 1800) and in the fallen tree. 11 July There are at least 5 birds from 1800 here near the mouth of the 2nd canyon over on Blouquist (time: 830). Identified were: ① ♀ DB-CP/LB #785, ② ♀ Ret-42/ #787, and ③ ♂ LB/n #770. They're just here hawking and sitting around preening. They are near but not at the styrofoam granary here.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blouquist Hastings Reservation 15 June 1240. Relieving Alan for the egg-tossing vigil (9604 has laid). 1315-1323. A flurry of activity at the hole. Basically, 9604 entered the hole and made it the focus of both 88, each of whom sat at the lip several minutes and entered the hole 2-3 times for short periods. Finally 9604 left followed immediately by 8561, the last to have gone in. He left precipitously, so if (by some chance) the egg was tossed (which I doubt) he did it. No sign at all of 9711. 1332-1342. More visits to the hole. First 8562 was here in it by himself for several minutes, then after he left 9604 returned and set inside for several minutes again. Finally 8561 went in, and a short time later 9604 left again immediately followed by him. 1350. A careful visit by 9711, unaccompanied. She went in and stayed for several minutes, eventually coming out with an AW rectrix in her bill—apparently cleaning the hole. But then she went back in, stayed again for several minutes, and left with nothing. Since no one else appeared to even be in the vicinity to intimidate her, I can only assume that either the egg is already gone or that egg-tossing is not currently in the cards. 1430. Checked the hole: the 1 egg is indeed still there. 1505. Relieved by Leslie. No further action. 17 June 415. Something was going on as I arrived, with 2 birds in the nest hole and the other 2 flying back and forth to the mouth of the hole and peering in. It was
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1982 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blonquist Hastings Reservation (17 June) too dark to see very much (I couldn't see bands or crowns at all) but I can guess that The 94 were in (one left after a bit, the 2nd stayed for several minutes) and the 2 88 were the ones hot on (9604's) tail. Finally the last birds in the hole left; no eggs were ejected while I was watching. 425. The birds are still quite excited here. Someone flew to the hole several times while it was still too dark to tell who (s/he didn't go it) and now for the past several minutes there's been silent chasing going on in the tree next to me. Is this an intruder or mate-guarding or what? 435-450. Checked the hole. Both marked eggs are still intact. 530. 9604 entered hole- 537. 9 left, followed closely by both 88. 971 not seen at the hole during this time, although both 88 were close to it constantly. 555. There are at least 2 intruders have getting chased. 605. Time to go make sure she laid a 3rd egg. 620. Still the same 2 eggs! She hasn't laid yet! A bird appeared in the tree just as I reached the hole-I hope she hasn't been irrevocably scared off from laying here today. 629. 6 birds just flew into the granary! 640. 9604 entered hole again. Several intruders are still in the vicinity. 648. 9604 back at the hole briefly (I missed her exit). 655. A 9 was in the hole for 3 min: I have no reason to doubt that she was 9604 (she zipped right in, not like a bird visiting
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1982 Walter D. Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack Blouquist Hastings Reservation (17 June) for the 1st time in 2 hrs) but unfortunately I can't be positive. There was a visit 6. 1♂ to the lip of the hole while this ♂ was inside. Still no definite sign of ♀711 here, although there are still lots more than 4 birds flying around. 715. Time to go check the hole once again. 730. A 3rd egg has been laid: it was marked, and measured 25.0×20.7 mm Leaving. Leslie's here and may pick up any subsequent bizarre happenings, of which there would seem to be few. probable. 18 June 438. Arrived. A ♀ is in the hole poking her head out regularly. 443. ♀ left. No ♂ visited or were in evidence while she was inside, so maybe she was ♀711? 452. Going to check the hole. The same 3 eggs are still there. 508. Back watching 541. 9604 entered hole. 553. Left. Nobody at all came to check her or the hole out while she was here - we must be coming very close to the last egg. 700. Nobody's been around at all. Time to check the hole I guess 711. No change in the nest contents. Back watching. 830. No interest or visits to the hole at all. I suppose the 3 eggs could be it, but if so they should start incubating. In any case, I'm leaving. 19 June 647. Arrived to watch for awhile. After I try off a bit I'm going to check the hole. 705. Still same 3 eggs in hole. Watching. 825. Giving up. This hole is abandoned, as far as I can tell. However, I just checked around and noted some interest in a hole in the Valley Dale up above the granary on HNHR which I will look into later on.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig 1983 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blongwist Hastings Reservation (19 June) 1300. Returned to open the hole up in the Valley Oak on HNHR where they showed interest this morning, finding a bit of lichen and 1 smallish scared-looking woodrat inside! I don't think they started a nest here! 22 June 930. The nest lives. A ♀ was in the hole when I arrived. I climbed up and checked, finding 4 eggs, warmed! I marked the 4th (the others were the same old 3) so it can be measured later. Apparently they haven't given up after all and are incubating! 28 October 1400. Counted stores: 1530. January 1983 8 January 1600. Counted stores: 2920. Everything is stuffed in this tree. I took a sample of 32 acorns from the granary. 5 June. 1630. Counted stores: 1200. Still doing amazingly well.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomnicivorus Lower Haystack HNHR 28 October 1430. Counted stores up here, where they are already quite loaded: Main tree: 3358 ? 3654. No doubt a 2° tree: 296 } conservative count! 1983 11 January 1500. Counted stores: Main tree: 4409 ? 4757. 2° tree: 348 } Also I took a sample of 50 acorns from low in the granaries. 25 February Ambushed this morning so Susan could remove the breeding & as our first group manipulation. She captured 5 of the 6 birds (all but 8774), and 8461 was removed as planned and put in the aviary. 1200. Now sitting up here in the hide in a fair rainstorm having just relieved Susan on the vigil waiting for a Power Struggle. Needless to say, nothing is going on as yet. 1230. A brief flurry of Wakas and Kanits from somewhere nearby. 8770 now eating an acorn in the granary. All quiet. 8770 just sitting. 1410. It's pouring rain (and has been for about an hour). ? No bird in his right mind would start a Power Struggle on a day like today. In any case, there is no discernible activity worth of note. I'm leaving. 1 March 1340. Watched up here in the rain for a while, but eventually gave up. Not much happening in any case. 2 May 533. Watching. 1? in hole; 2nd entered so both in for a bit right after I got here. Birds kept coming. 8524 was inside
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1983 Welter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack HNHR (2 May) numerous times; I only know 9587 was inside briefly once but I had several birds zip in without giving me their bants so she may have been in more. Although I missed birds going in, I'm quite sure I saw everyone coming out, and no eggs were to be seen. I finally checked the hole at 725 and it was empty. Thus, unless I really blew it or everything happened before 530, nobody laid today. (9587 had been laying). 735. Watching again. 755. There's been one additional brief trip into the nest by a ♀ but otherwise things are slow. One more nest check and I'm going home. 800. Still nothing. Leaving. 9 May 600. Nobody and nothing in nest hole. Also checked other holes but only Starlings. Now watching at 608. 630. Some interest - both ♀♀ were at the hole briefly and one (don't know which!) was inside for ~1 min. 718. 9524 inside hole briefly (1 min). 721. 9587 " " " (<1 min). 735. Everybody gone. Going to check the hole just to be sure. 5 June 1645. Counted stores: 1035 + 100 = 1135. Not too shabby.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes famicivorus Blomone Hastings Reservation 9 July 1630. Came over to band and bleed their 3 babies, who are now #830-832. ①830 (Yel-LB) ②831 (DP) ③832 (Dg-IP) wt wt 79.0 78 79.6 75 84.6 68 Rank by Crown 1 2 3 (all 3 were close, however).
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Blontwo Hastings Reservation 30 August 1645. Here at Blontwo are several birds, including an ub ♀ and 6 M / Red #717 . There were most likely 1 or 2 other birds in the area as well. They seemed to be flying off into the forest toward Gazebos. 1700. A ♀ (♀wn/M) just flew into the granary with a green acorn (complete with cap and several leaves). There are at least 3 adults here. 1730. There are now at least 2 birds in the top part of the large canyon leading directly down to Corral Viejo (Dark Hollow). At one point a ♀ was looking out of a wide looking hole in a Valley Oak right by the gully. 16 September 825. One again there's a bird in the Canyon leading down to Dark Hollow. Also, there was a banded ♂ at Blontwo on my way out. 19 September 1105. This time there was a ♀ in the hole in the Gully Valley Oak again! She flushed before I got there and I didn't hear anything, so if they do have a nest at least the babies haven't hatched yet. 20 September 800. None in the hole in the canyon, but there were birds in the vicinity so I went up and opened the hole anyway just to be sure. There was nothing in it, but the hole's in pretty good shape and could be used soon at least. 27 September 1500. This time there was a ♀ in the hole and a 2nd bird nearby, so I opened the hole, but, amazingly enough, it's still empty...!? 29 September 900. A couple of birds are in the main area here. 30 September Ron suggests that the Canyon area contains 2 ub birds, almost
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus Blontwo Hastings Reservation (30 September) certainly making it a different group from Blontwo. So from here on see Canyon Vista notes for this area. 16 November 1600. ♀ looking out of the old nest hole here.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Blonthree Hastings Reservation 18 September 1300. Saw ♀ Mu/Mu #695 and ♂ Da/M #823 (still β-type) this afternoon on the Magpie census. Turns out these are actually Dark Hollow birds, but they were certainly near Blonthree 1983 30 May Flushed a bird from a nest with young babies in one of the opened holes.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig 1983 Melanerpes formicivorus Corral Viejo Grande Hastings Reservation 14 June 1430. Watching. At least 3 ♂ and 1 ♀ here, all hawking insects and obviously feeding young somewhere, 1 ♂ is banded: ♂ LB/Bik-wrn#718; others not. (Bird could be Wn-Bik/ on Rleg). (This bird turns out to be ♂718, banded and recently breeding at Blow2, now apparently returned home.) 15 June There are definitely 5 adults in this group (I'm not sure what the sex of the 5th is.) I finally found their nest, up in a Valley Oak along the fence line toward Gazebo. They are feeding youngish babies. 1530. Opened the nest: 5 healthy babies, not quite ready to band but close. I measured and marked them. For nest hole characteristics, see back. There are, by the way, plenty of stored acorns left here in the granary. 19 June 930. Banded and measured the 5 babies, who are now #808 to 812. [illegible] 1983 21 March 1600. ♂ yel-red/m #717 seen here. Also ♂ B-wrn(w)/yel #836. And ♀ Bik/yel-red #838.
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Nest hole characteristics: Species: Q. lobata , alive (nest limb alive also) Granary: No Hole height: 5.3m Tree height: est 11.5m Hole limb Diameter: 27cm Tree DBH: 66 cm Angle: -73° Aspect: 84°E Dist. to granary: 435'
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1982 Walford D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Canyon Vista Hastings Reservation 30 September This group, apparently consisting of an ub pair, are in the canyon up above Dark Hollow on Blonquist. They've been working on a nice roost/next hole but have no granary that we know of. Today at 835 a bird was in the tree with the hole. For prior information on this group (which has been around at least since late August) see Blontwo notes. 19 October 845. Today I flushed a pair of birds from the tree with the hole; the first (a ♀ I think) was indeed banded: Gel-or-Yel Light . No noises are coming from the hole, however. 858. With a second look I find an ub ♀ here, so either there are 2 ♀♀ or the ♂ is the one who's banded. (Alternatively, this bird may be an intruder from Blontwo, where she seems to have just flown off to.) 16 November 1625. No wickers here in passing, but there is a Lewis' Woodpecker up in the tree! 23 November 1015. Again, no wickers in the roost tree, although I do hear a couple up on the adjacent knoll.
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus O.K. Corral HNHR 11 January Ambushed here this morning, catching 5 of the 6 birds who roosted in the hole. This total included 3 88 and 2 99, now #849-853. Most likely, 1 of the 88 and 1 of the 99 were adults, while the other 3 were probably first-year birds. Note that Ron had thought he'd seen only 1 8 and 5 99 here, so there may be others even beyond the single bird I missed. 21 November 600. No stores here or sign of birds. Looks like yet another lost group.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate HNHR November 1000. Only counted 175 acorns here, almost all in the one broken limb where the old nesthole is. (Last year the dead limb with the 4+ holes in it fell, along with ~200 holes.) 1020. Watching. (1) ♀ M / [illegible] light #789. 1035. (2) ♂ LP/DB/#627. (3) ♂ M/DB-WN(m) #626. 1045. (4) ♂ Red/Ble-wm #790 (still 8-type). (5) ♀ LB-At/LB #685. 1115. Leaving. 1983 10 January 1200. Counted stores: 1150. These birds are now at least in fair shape. Also took a sample of 25 acorns from the granary (all seemed to be Live Oak). 20 February 8790 intruding at R3. See R3 notes. 1 March This group lost the hanging limb in yesterday's storm, along with a large proportion of their stores and their 1980 nest hole. 15 March Susan and I ambushed this morning, nabbing all 8 birds from the '82 nest hole (!). The purpose was to remove #519, who was put in the aviary. 22 March 1725. ♀ LB-Red/LB #685 eating an acorn quietly here, she's clearly given up the battle next door at Westgate. See Susan's notes re #791, who was hurt in the White power struggle and recuperated inside Susan's sweater. 6 June 1615. Counted stores: 80. With the loss of the hanging limb this group has only ~200 or so natural holes remaining in their tree; most are available holes are now limbs we've put back up.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Westgate Hastings Reservation 29 September 1625. Watching. 1640. Nobody here. Going to look around on foot. 1645. Now ♂ DS-LB/ #692 in granary. 1655. Pretty slow down here. Leaving. 1700. Back again; 8692 and 8 La/La #58 sitting quietly in granary. 1713. 858 sculled out once and returned. A ♀ is here also, but at 1716 she zipped off into the forest. 1716. ♂692 and ♀ M/LB-LB #599 both returned with green live Oak acorns and are now eating them. 858 here also. Certainly no sign of a nest. 1720. Leaving November 1015. 858 seen when I was here counting stores: 282. Most of these are in the very high perch limb. 1983 10 January 1215. Counted stores: 1354. Not bad! 22 March Susan and Ron ambushed this morning, successfully nabbing and removing #599. The morning was not good- it's raining but a Power Struggle did get started right away, and by 930 or so there were 10+ birds fighting away, including most or all of the Gate helpers. Currently (1100) things are still going, and all of us are out here watching, but the rain is making observations rather difficult. 1115. Now watching. ♂ Ret(m) #790 (Gate) here. In the center along with 858 (apparently winning?) are 8687 and 8798 from ARF, TOO. A 4th bird (♀ub) there also. 1130. These 3 88 seem to be pretty well in control of the center of the tree -
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1983 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Wertgate HNHR (22 March) 1130. 8692 (Waate) definitely doing a lot of fighting. But most intruders are ff, except for the Gate helpers. At least 3 ub ff here. 1138. 858 in center with the 3 ff. At least 12 birds involved now, including 4+ ub ff. Gate birds still have, inc. 9685. But she and the ub ff are definitely at the periphery of the tree (except for the 3rd f with the 2 ARF,TDD birds.) 1615. Replacing Susan. The ARF,TDD birds have been outdone by a coalition of 5 (!) unbanded ff! Am now watching. Weather is cool & windy but not raining now. 1620. The 5 (have only confirmed 4 so far) ff definitely have the Sycamore sewed up. But there are a few others still on the periphery. Otherwise there's little chasing in the Sycamore, but frantic activity as the birds fly around, congregate, and greet each other incessantly. 1625. There are indeed 7 birds here- presumably the 2dd and 5ff. 1630. An intruder in the Sycamore was chased off by a veritable flock of birds! All 7 are still here. 1700. There's an ub f & f in the Valley Oaks by the Hallisey's Driveway, but no intruders in the central area, where the 7 are still at it. It's only these birds in the periphery who are giving occasional carricks - essentially only a monoculture of Waates is coming from the granary. 1715. There's still some chasing going on over at Gate.
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Westgate (22 March) 1720. Another intruder landed low in the tree but was chased off by 3 birds within 2 sec. 1729. Another intruder chased off 6?4 bird pack. 1735. No vocalizations for over 1 min. now-a 1st for the day, I'm sure. Things are clearly slowing down for the evening. 1750. Leaving. There's no doubt that the S 89 are solid. But what now? Surely all S aren't going to stay and rest here! Should continue to be an interesting group to watch here. 6 June 1630. Counted stoves: 275.
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1982 1983 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes fornicivorus Pipeline Hastings Reservation 9 September 1800. While passing by here I noted 3 birds, inc. one looking into the "hole" up in the top of the Sycamore "granary". I didn't check to see if any acorns were actually stored (it is still early) but finally, this could be it for Pipeline! 29 September 1600. Watching from road. None in evidence here. 1620. I fear nothing is going on here. Rats. 22 October There was a bird here in the granary just before dusk. 23 October 1345. There are even a few stored acorns here! Watching. 1405. Well, things are slow nonetheless. Going to see how many acorns there are. The answer is: ~10. At least somebody's thinking about it. 1 November 1120. They have 75 stored acorns here now. Saw [illegible] here up in the granary. Success at last! (Ron was identified the group here.) 1983 10 January 1230. Counted stores: 850. Just about everything here is filled, and the birds have even made a few holes of their own in the Sycamore. Not bad! I also took a sample of 25 acorns from a small limb up in the tree. 9 April 1000. Bird in hole... 1730. Opened hole. Nothing yet. 10 April 720. Watching. None in vicinity. 830. Nothing happening, at least at the granary 6 June 1640. Climbed up and counted 550 acorns (!) They've made a lot of their own holes up there! Probably 250+!
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Hastings Reservation 3 September While walking along the road this afternoon I came across 2 (!) roadkills from this group: ♂577 and ♀806 (just molting to a ♂). The former was fresh and not very near the latter, who was a day or 2 old. Bummer days for this group! 1 November 1145. ♂269 seen here while counting stores: Main tree: 1429 (this tree lost 1 large limb last year with at least 1000 holes) Sycamore: 1053 (this tree has accumulated at least 1000 holes in the past couple of years) Total: 2482 1983 10 January 1330. Counted stores: Main tree: 3040 Sycamore: 2275 5315. Took a sample of 50 acorns from the Main tree. 9 April 745. Watching the nest hole (no known activity as yet). 830. Climbed up and checked: no eggs; the hole looks like it's still being worked on. 17 April 615. Arrived. ♂ looking out of hole. Both ♂♀ there! One with distinct mustache leaves ~620. Other (w/o mustache) stays another 5 min, heaving out a billfall of sawdust at one point. After both are gone, I check hole - empty, lots of sawdust in cotton, some of which I take out. Back watching at 638. Getting close! 810. Leaving. None ever returned. (A House Wren was inside the hole for a few minutes, however.) 20 April 610. Watching nest - ♂ flushed from hole. (Ron had egg-tossing) yesterday.
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 (20 April) 619. 9383 enters. 637. 8486 at hole for 4 sec. 644. 9383 leaves. 657. 9383 returns, enters. 703. 9383 leaves. 706. 8486 at hole briefly. 707. 9269 at hole briefly. 708. 8486 at hole briefly 727. 9383 enters. 735. 9383 leaves. 755. We check hole: One egg: 24.4 x 20.8 mm (laid by 9383) 805. Watching again. 848-851. 9383 in hole again. 911-925. " " " 948-951. " " " Ron came about 1500. In the end, the egg was tossed by 9269 about 1100. 23 April 615. Watching hole. Noone inside. 645. 9269 entered hole. 651. 8486 at hole, leaves w/o entering 659. 8486 goes inside 659. 9383 enters. All 3 inside 700. 8486 leaves 701. 9383 looks out, goes back down 708. 8486 at hole, leaves 709. 9383 LO, goes BD (Back down) 710. 9383 LO, leaves 712. 8486 enters 714. 9269 LO 715. goes BD 720. 9269 LO, Leaves 720. 8486 leaves 721. 9383 enters 732. 9269 at hole. Both here (9383 LO) 733. 9383 leaves 733. 9269 enters 736. 9269 LO, leaves 739. 9383 enters 745. 9383 LO, leaves 749. 9383 enters 753. LO, leaves 800. Checked hole: 1 runt egg, no doubt laid by 9269. 810. Back. 832. 9269 enters 837. 8486 at hole, enter HNHR
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 (23 April) The upshot as of 900: $269 almost certainly laid the egg, as it was a runt, she had the most chance, etc. Both $8 had good opportunities to toss it, but neither had as of 900 ($383 had 4 good chances, $269 3). So maybe noone will bother, at least at the moment. Measurements of the egg were 20.5 x 16.7 mm (measured by Ron at 900). Things aren't over here yet. ! Denise reports that $269 tossed the egg at 1020!! 25 April! 625. Watching. 1 egg (laid by $269 wnr) still in hole. [447. $269 enters 704. LO 705. Back down 767. L.O 709. BD, [718. $486 enters. $383 comes to hole. $269 LO 719. $383 leaves w/o entering. $269 leaves. $486 leaves. [738. $383 in [757. $269 in $383 out 756. $269 out 800. Checked hole: 3 eggs. (1 from yesterday). It's all over. New eggs marked 2 and 3. Leaving. $383 had her chance, but didn't take it. 6 June 1700. Counted stores: Main tree: 760 Sycamore: 560
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Finch HNHR 2 November 1445. Counted stores: Main tree: 682 ? 1251. Sycamore: 569 1983 16 January 1100. Counted stores: Main tree: 1492 ? 2942 + Misc limbs = 3182 Sycamore: 1450 Took a sample of 36 acorns from the Sycamore. 4 April 1500. Opened the new hole in the Sycamore that they'll probably nest in, but I couldn't get all the way to the bottom (it's deep already) and had to peep in to be (pretty) sure there's nothing yet. 6 June 1715. Counted stores: Main tree: 15 ? 175. Getting down Sycamore: 160 There!
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 HNHR 2 November 1500. Counted stores: Sycamore: 201 } Valley Oak: 46 } 247. This is so suspiciously low that I'm going to sit and watch for a few minutes. 1530. Nothing going on. I guess they've just been busy and had other things on their minds. 1983 16 January 1200. Counted stores: Sycamore: 1520 } Valley Oak: 622 } 2142 #710 seen while I was counting. Took a sample of 25 acorns from the Valley Oak. 20 February 905. Watching. Intruder: ? LP/LB or LP/Red-LB (seen well; only here for a second). I suppose this was actually #654 (not an intruder) at all 915. 0♂LP/m #654 w/acorn. They appear to still be harvesting Live Oak acorns from nearby! Yes! Definitely Live Oaks. 920. ②♀w/A #710. These 2 birds are storing like crazy! ③,DB-W(u)/DB#794. ④♀DB/LP-LB#265. 1018. A real intruder: ③ Red/BLK-wm #790 from Gate 1045. No sign of #368 or #3792 - only the above 4 birds, #654, #710, and #265 regularly, #794 only once briefly. 4 June 1100. Checked nest: 2 babies, both well but 1 distinctly larger than the other, and 2 unhatched/undeveloped eggs, both removed by me. 11 June 1100. They appear to be at least functionally out of acorns here: ② stores.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Hastings Reservation 24 June 1740. j M/wth-red #753 appeared down here at the water trough of the lower Barn looking a bit lost. He flew across the road to take refuge from the Magpies, then disappeared. 23 October 1320. Counted stores: Main tree: 611 ? 638. 2° tree: 27 Not doing so well as yet. 1983 25 January 1500. Counted stores: Main tree: 1396 1549 2° tree 153 Also took a sample of 30 acorns from the Main tree. 10 June 925. Counted stores: Main tree: 450 ? 475. 2° tree: 25
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Hastings Reservation 20 June 1430. Braved the Poison Oak to check the 2nd nest here, which has 2 babies ~6-8 dys old (eyes not open yet, no feathers) along with 2 unhatched eggs (1 fertile, the other apparently not). 3 November 1515. ①♀ yee/31k-Red #713 here. As expected, these birds are loaded with acorns, but I'm too tired to count them now. 11 November 1130. Did my best to count stores here: Central area { Old Black Oak Nest tree: 105 VO granary: 1895 Fallen Black Oak: ~1900* } Side area: 914 *This tree is rather older and has more furrows than previously and is now almost impossible to count with any precision, as many crevices are literally crammed with acorns. I counted 950 without climbing up it and suspect that doubling this is a reasonable estimate. 1983 11 February The birds have lost most of the Fallen Black Oak here, along with perhaps ~1350 holes (and acorns!). 1340. Counted stores: VO Granary: 1768 Fallen Blk Oak: ~500 Side area: 340+ *Pretty much of a guess, but probably in the right vicinity. +They've also lost some limbs in the side area. °Many of the fallen acorns are still accessible on the ground, and the group probably has access to an additional 600-900 acorns. I took a sample of 50 from the downed limb.
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1982 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Calk Nest Record (2nd nest only) Hastings Reservation 20 June 1450 2 babies and 2 eggs (1 egg addled (prob. infertile); other w/ fully formed embryo) (10)r (3) Red 20 June 1450 25.2¹² 28.4¹³
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak HNHR 12 June 900. Counted stores: 655 main section + 60 fallen tree = 715. 9 October 750. Watching, I saw no acorns in the granaries, however, and all in all I wouldn't be surprised if this group has bit the dust, along with virtually everyone else in this bad acorn year. 905. Still no sign of woodpeckers anywhere on this territory. Doesn't look good. 18 October 1520. There are a few acorns stored here now - green and fresh. Hence, somebody is indeed here.
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1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus SOBO HNHR 9 October 910. Well, there birds and acorns down here at least: ①♂/DB-whn/y #736 in the granary. In fact, the granary (at least The part I can see) has lots of acorns in it. ♀ here, but missed her bands. The acorns I can identify are Golden Oaks. 940.②♂ yel/DB#639. ③♀ /CB-Bik #658. ④♀ CB/cight #739. 1010. A 3rd ♀ was nearby, but I think she was an unbanded intruder. 1015. Leaving. 4/5 at least still here.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold L HNHR 3 November 1215. Counted stores: Main tree: 4074? 4099. Next door: 25 These birds are doing well! There are several sets of holes in the granary which are new. 11 December 925. ♀ 761 over intruding at Lambert. 1115. Now watching here. (1) ♀ Yel/LB-Red #680. (2) ♀ 761 back here working stores. (3) ♀ Wh-Mv/M #568. 1130. (4) ♂ M/Da-LP #826. (5) ♀ LP/LP #505. (6) ♂ Or/Da-Or #827. (7) ♂ Yel-DB/Or #762. Now where are the breeding 88? 1148. Here's one: (8) ♂ LB-BLUE/M #679. 1210. I'm pretty sure ♂ 100's here also, but I'm having a hard time getting a sure look at him. Well, this is him. He looks rather (9) ♂ Yel-Red/Yel-Red #100 these days. 1230. Leaving. 1983 11 February 1245. Counted stores, finding only 1175 (!) Part of this is because they've lost one of their better dead limbs along with perhaps 600 holes. The light is also not great. But it seems clear they've really gone through a lot of stores since November. I took a sample of 25 acorns from the tree. 12 June 1000. No stores remaining here: Ω. 18 October 1500. (1) ♀ LP/LP #505 here plus a ♂.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out HNHR 3 November 1300. Counted stores: 6lb. Not too shabby! 1983 11 February 1000. Counted stores: 550. I wasn't able to get a sample, and I didn't see any birds hanging around. 11 March 1125. Q Red/Red #567 seen up on the knoll above the granary here 12 June 950. No stores left here that I could find. However! They have a nest - with ≥2 babies just about ready to come out:
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert HNHR 3 November 1345. Counted stores: Lam. FT: 1046) VO Nest tree: 402 VO HNHR: 616 Hast. FT: 2098)(!) 4162 This group hasn't been in such healthy shape in years! I took a sample of 50 acorns from the Lambert Fallen Tree; see back for results. !! December 915. Watching from hide primarily to try and get some pictures. 926. ♀ -possibly an intruder- here: ♂ DB/Lg/M #761 from Arnold 1. 932. Two residents: ♂ Lg/DB/M #770 and ♀ DB/Lg/M #777. and ♀ M/Red #775. 1020. ♂ (B-Or/LB-Or) #624. ♂ LG/DB/M #546. ♀ N/r-y #720. 1050. Seems clear noone's going to come to where I can get pictures. Going to take another sample of 50 acorns, this time from the Hastings Fallen tree again. See back for the results. 1983 11 February 1030. Counted stores: Lam FT: 1074) VO Nest tree: 387 VO HNHR: 535 Hast FT: 2006 4002 Took a sample of 50 acorns from the Lambert tree; see back for results. Still a lot of acorns here!
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Acorns pulled 3 Nov. 1982 OK <1/2 ID >1/2 ID Total Q. lobata 42 6 0 48 Q. agrifolia 1 0 0 1 Q. chrysolepis 1 0 0 1 Acorns pulled 11 Dec. 1982 OK <1/2 ID Aborted Total Q. lobata 37 11 1 49 Q. agrifolia 1 0 0 1 Acorns pulled 11 February 1983 OK <1/2 ID Total Q. lobata 33 13 46 4 live grubs (no weevils) + one small beetle found Q. agrifolia 3 1 4
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Acorns taken 11 March 1983 OK <½ID >½ID Total agnifolia 5 4 0 9 lobata 30 7 3 40 1 moth larva douglasii 0 1 0 1 1 weevil larva Total 35 12 3 50 +4 other larvae, apparently all moths
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Fanny Arnold Hastings Reservation 6 September An ambush this morning at 2 holes netted 3 birds: j797 (molted to ♂) and 2 unbanded birds, now 9834 and 8835. Two other birds were in other individual holes, so there appear to still be 5 birds here, one of whom is still unfortunately unbanded. 3 November 1400. Counted stores, which appear to all be in the cluster of 3 trees by the fence line: 288. If they have any larger granary somewhere I'm not aware of it. 1983 11 February 1100. Counted stores, coming up with 350. Pulled a sample of 10 just to have some idea what's going on here. 12 June 945. Not more than a few acorn remnants left here: Ω.
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1982 1983 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Upper Arnold 2 HNHR 3 November 1445. Counted stores: "Main tree": 692 (2°) VO Next door: 1092 } 1784 This group has lost 2 or 3 good-sized limbs in the past year, but is clearly making a lot of new holes to replace the losses, particularly in the 2° tree, which is falling to pieces but still has lots of dead space in it. 1983 11 February 1130. Counted stores: Main tree: 1288 "2° Tree": 1234 } 2522 Took a sample of 40 acorns out of the "2°" tree. 12 June 940. Counted stores: Main tree: 298 2° tree: 795 } 1093. 18 October 1305. Watching from hide. There are acorns here. 1315. 22 birds over on the other side of South ravine. 1330. (1) DB/M #23 over in dead tree toward A3. Moving blind. 1350. (2) 3 yel/worm #681. (3) 4 arm-DA/M #780 eating an acorn. 1400. A ♀ just down the hill working on an acorn: ♀ LP-WN/LP ? (I think it was ♀ LP-WN/LP). <- maybe 9632. 1420. In granary: (4) ♀ LG-LB/LG #916. 1445. Over across the ravine is a ♀ M/ either 9778 or 9914. 1455. Leaving. Birds storing lots of Golden Oak acorns!
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1982 1983 Walter.D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 HNHR 3 November 1500. Counted stores: Blue Oak: 291 Valley Oak: 141 } 932 Excess in BO: ~500 *I investigated the outside Blue Oak fairly carefully and noted several caches of acorns stuffed into various crevices in the bark or in dead rotted cubbyholes. In essence, the render it impossible to do a decent count here, but there's no doubt that there are several hundred more acorns in the tree than can be counted from the ground. 500 is a guess; it's probably an underestimate but I doubt it's wildly conservative. 1983 11 February 1700. Counted stores: Blue Oak: 223 Valley Oak: 192 } 615 Other caches: ~200* *There don't seem to be nearly as many acorns stuck in strange places up here now. 200 is probably a fair guess. I also took a sample of 20 acorns from the Blue Oak. 11 March 1155-1355. A vocalization watch here for Susan. 12 June 930. Counted stores: 125. Very few others appear to be stuck in crevices, although there could be some.
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1982 1983 Welter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomivicivorus Bianca Hastings Reservation 2 September 1900. Came up to watch roosting but neither saw nor heard anything. Is there really still a group here? 3 November 1500. Scrounging around, I managed to come up with !!! stored acorns here. Not too impressive; there are several unused areas around. 1983 11 February 1300. Up here to count stores. On the Knoll is 8DB/1B-4kt, apparently 6732 - one of the babies at Saturn last spring. This does not bode well for the group here, however. There are a few stores left here: about 30, but basically things appear fairly abandoned up here. Among other things, the large limb in the Black Oak with their last known roost hole has fallen. I would not be too surprised if this territory were currently unoccupied, except perhaps for some scouts (8732) from across South Ranine. 11 March Ron assures me there are 2 birds here, and pointed out a modest granary down slightly on the saddle that I didn't know about. At this point it still has ~150 acorns in it, so they aren't out, at least. 12 June 900. There are a very few stored acorns left - ~10, but not really enough to save this group from being functionally out.
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W.D. Koenig 1984 - 1985 Hastings Reservation Melanerpes formicivorous
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1984 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus HNHR 4 April 1300. 2 birds - a ♂ and a ♀ - are up at the aviaries checking out The group There. The ♂ is: ♂ Red-DBlue/Wh ? I didn't get a good look at the ♀. 28 October 830. A pair of birds are hanging out and possibly storing acorns in the lower edge of the 2nd canyon. I saw a banded ♀ (♀ M / w-Ble ??) and I think the ♂ was banded too. 30 October 1510. No birds in the 2nd canyon this time and no stores in the granary. Looking at The list, I'd guess that the bird I saw on the 28th was #808 from Blomone.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Journal HNHR Monterey Co. Calif. 7 April 1830. The Dipper is back along Finch Creek at the bridge. 1 May 945. Over Blompond are a whole flock (30+) of Cliff Swallows. 13 June It's time for me to note generally how good the spring is in terms of acorns: not only do all established groups on the Reservation have stored acorns remaining still (as far as I know) but in addition there are a fair number of Live Oaks that still have a few acorns on them, and at least a few with lots of acorns still on them. Presumably this is the extraordinary fact that has led to the founding of 3 new groups this spring (Plaque Annex, Horsetail, and Tom Arnold) in areas that have never had their own groups before and, more critically, in areas that do not have granaries of their own (Horsetail has the artificial limbs but isn't using them). Apparently these birds, all of which have at least attempted to nest (only Plaque Annex has been successful thus far, but Tom Arnold should fledge 2), are using, in part, acorns still "stored" in the Live Oaks. In contrast, I'd have to guess that it's a fair to poor insect year, although the Yellow Pan traps will say for sure. Certainly the weather from mid April - end of May was largely cool.
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Poison Oak Hill HNHR 28 April Found a nest on the side of PO Hill way up from MacFlat which is clearly PO Hill #1's nest. It has 4 eggs, which have been incubated. 25 May Banded the single baby left in the nest at PO Hill #1 as #1047. [wt:85.7gm; w2:67mm]. 7 July 900. Banded 3 very old babies up in one of the old holes in the main area at PO Hill #1. Measurements were as follows: #1128 1129 1130 wt(wL) 80.3(124) 74.6(113) 74.3(118) They do have stored acorns up here still.
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1984 Walter D. Koenig 1985 Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo HNHR 1 October Amazingly enough, this group (which we didn't even know existed again) has a nest in the '83 hole in the Blue Oak granary. Today I went up with Philip to check it: (0) #981 (2) R-LP #982 80.1 (65) 55.2 (44) 4 October 1645. Banded: 82.9 (83) 65.4 (58) Philip caught both adults here on 3 October: They are now #979 & 980 (both were ambushed at the nest!). 1985 30 January 1630. Counted stores: 471. Not bad, given the poor shape of the tree here. No birds seen in passing. 1 April 1700. Came out and set up a blind but it's all quiet- no sign of birds anywhere. 2 April 805. Watching. 815. The tape brought an u6♂ and ♀ who were both soon chased out by (1) ♂ / 2a-yel #979 and (3) ♀ red-lb/m #980. 820. Both here again to chase out u6♀. 835. Same 2 birds again. Looking as though neither of their babies made it (or else both dispersed - after all, it is April!). 840. The pair may have just copulated - the ♂ was above the ♀ flapping his wings for ~5s. 845. Leaving. Those birds do have stores remaining. 21 April *Group Update xxx (P.Hooge) j981. Last seen 19 Jan '85, gone by 2 April; D.A. 28 Feb ± 1 Month j982. Same as j981. Neither were seen.
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1985 Weller D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Change HNHR 27 April 1800. There was a bird in the main tree, but none in any holes. I opened the fall hole, and it's in good shape (but empty); it seems likely they'll use it, but if it's not there soon it will be time to look seriously elsewhere. 29 April 1500. Still nothing in the hole in the main tree. 2 May 1410. Bird in hole in sycamore - the probable nest. Unfortunately, it will require a rope. 12 May 1900. Opened the hole in the sycamore, plus another hole just above it, plus the hole in the granary, but all were empty. It's possible they had a nest in the (1st) hole and lost it, but in any case, we're now back to ground zero. 27 May 1800. Bird in hole in Blue Oak granary: 5 Eggs! 30 May 1045. Still 5 eggs. 4 June Mark opened the hole and noted 4 very young babies; there might have been an egg there too 20 June 1530. 4 babies, but the last was so small compared to the others that I took him rather than band him. The other 3 were banded as #1109-1111. There are quite a few acorns in the granary here. 24 September 1400. Put up a blind here. They have new acorns stored, plus at least some left over from last year. 7 September Stanback reports "some, not a lot of acorns" remaining here (possibly this was nearer the end of August)
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Chongo Nest Record 27 May 1800 5 eggs, one looks fresh, others incubated 30 May 1045 Measured eggs ① 27.7 × 18.9 ② 25.9 × 19.5 ③ 26.0 × 19.3 ④ 27.4 × 19.1 ⑤ 27.3 × 19.7 4 June 4 6algies + ? 20 June 1530 Banded the 6algies 20 June (530) 81.9 (72) 85.6 (71) 80.0 (65) 4th present, but removed: 43.0 (31) (not banded) HNHR
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiticivorus Buckeye HNHR 4 October 4 birds roosted in a hole in the granary tonight with an ambush set. 5 October 930. However, only 2 stayed in - the 2 88. The other 2 came by early, however. Thus, there do appear to be 4 birds here. Also, these birds have started storing. 18 November Finally got the ♀ last night roosting in The Valley Dale up above the granary. She is now #987. 1985 2 April 910. Watching. ①♂69 - chased out' by ①♀wnor/Bik-or # 8 here also: ②♂sil-Bil/Red #665. 930. Same 2 birds came to tape 2nd time. 1005.♂M/DG BF(n).-Or Bk-Pin) #663 came to the tape along with 8665&♀. This 3rd bird is definitely part of the group. It's the ♀, by the way, who comes 1st to the tape and drums in response to it. Also, just as at Chongo earlier and Blantance yesterday, an intruder was drawn to the area, apparently by the tape. in response 1020. ♂DA/LP gave alarm calls to a Cooper's Hawk that flew over. The ♀ was 1' away but did not call. Both hid on the underside of the limb. Leaving. These 3 look like it. There are lots of stores here still. 21 April **Group Update** ♀252. Last seen 20 Jan, gone by 2 April; DA 25 Feb ±1 mon. 8663. This bird disappeared 20 June 1983 ±6 weeks.
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1985 Walker D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Buckeye HNHR (21 April) he was not present in spring 1984. Philip saw no evidence of him 21 Sept 1984, but by 4 Oct. I saw 4 birds roosting here, 1 of whom I presume to have been this bird. Hence: Rejoined group (returned) 1 October 1984 27 April 1700. Found and opened the nest here. They have 4 babies, the oldest of which still has closed eyes but the feather tracts are visible: I guess 7-8 days, which puts them with an Est. LED of ~9 April. 15 May 1530. This is it: 4 babies, banded #1000-1003. ① 1000 ② 1001 ③ 1002 ④ 1003 80.7 (85) 80.7 (89) 91.2 (85) 83.9 (74) Dev. sequence: Tied 1st Tied a close 3rd more distant 4th 22 May 1830. None in any holes up here. 19 June 1715. Bird in the nest hole. Could be a 2nd nest. 20 June 1430. Checked the hole: nothing. 25 June Mark S. saw bird in the hole. ~25 August A lot of acorns remain here (Stamback)
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1984 Walter D. Keenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plaque HNHR 6 March 1030. There was definitely a 2nd bird calling (kanit-cuts) from The Plague tree this morning besides 8521, who was calling like crazy as well from the 2nd tree. Unfortunately I honed in on 8521 and apparently missed seeing the 2nd bird altogether. Something may be up here, however. 10 September 630. Well, we blew it. We ambushed at 2 holes last night. (This morning). The string broke at The 1st one over by the barn. In the 2nd tree, we caught 8721, and 4 eggs! So- a fall nest. I returned the 3rd, plugged up the hole, and kept him there until I got down, so we'll see what happens, but obviously we've got to be more careful, and check those other groups carefully! 13 September 1530. None in hole after 2 checks today; looks like the nest probably has been abandoned. However, The birds are active and maybe will renest? The area is loaded with acorns. 15 September 1700. A bird in the hole! Maybe They're OK! I climbed up and the 4 eggs are still there; 1 looks infertile but the other 3 look fine. 22 September 1630. Yes! 2 babies and 1 egg here; babies are several days old (~day 5). Should band ~ 11 October. 23 September 530. A perfect ambush at The hole by The Upper Beam- however, nobody had roosted there! They apparently have another hole in this vicinity. 29 September Philip finally nabbed The 3rd at the nest along with 8521. She is now #973. 7 October 1630. Banded the 2 babies as #983 & 984: They're fine!
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1984 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes fuscicollis Plague Nest Record (Fall) HNHR 10 September 630 4 eggs. 8721 ambushed at hole. Eggs not checked for stage of incubation. 15 September 1700 Still 4 eggs, 1 not developing 22 September 1630 2 babies, 1 egg. ① 98.3 ② 98.4 22 Sept. 1630. 28.8 18.6 7 Oct 1630 89.0 (67) 74.4 (52)
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague HNHR 6 December Caught j983 in an ambush in the nest hole, but everyone else appears to be roosting in some unknown hole somewhere. 1985 19 January 1130. Counted stores: Plague tree: 1390 2° tree 122 Tel pole 370 (mostly in styrofoam block) Barn 45 Total 192.7 30 March 1630. Watching at Plague. Saw 8521, 8721, who mounted each other. 3♀-♂? or /m #973. One of the babies: 4♀ M/LG/WN #984. 1645. Saw another mounting between the 2 88's. 31 March 930. 8♂/Dk:: #723 flycatching in the Sycamores by the bridge. April 800. Big doings at Plague - several intruders, but apparently #973 is still here so no vacancy. My observations (Philip & Missy here too): 810. (♂) #723 chases off ♂ up by Cabin. 5+ birds in Plague tree. 819. 2 or 3 intruders in main area; only ub ♂ seen so far. ②#984 here. ③#8521. ④#8721. ⑤#973. • #983 here also but no PID on sex yet. Philip reports he's a ♂. Philip has seen 2 ub ♂ here. I'd guess 2-3 birds intruding at most. But, with no vacancy and the whole group of 6 against them, I wouldn't give them much of a chance.
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1985 Rabelter Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Plague H NHR 29 April 1415. Found the nest here: 1 egg, marked #1. Unfortunately, it's not only up the canyon but in a new, difficult to get-at hole to boot! [No! Plague Annex group!] 2 May 1430. Checked the hole: 4 eggs, as expected. A bird flushed, so they may be incubating. [→Note: this is the Plague Annex nest] 12 May 1400. Checked the hole: The babies are hatching! 3 are out and the 4th is pipping (it may or may not make it). This means they had an incubation time of 10 days! (actually no, assuming the remaining egg was the last laid). 15 May 1600. Babies are squeaching up there - 20 May !! Important note!! Philip reports a nest with 5 babies in the Valley Oak by the Upper Barn - about 8 do or so!! My heavens - this means we have no idea whose nest is up the canyon! 21 May Injected the 4 babies at the "mystery nest" for DLW. This "group," which consists of 8723 & 8983 from Plague along with an unknown but banded ♀, will be known as The Plague Annex **Group Update** 88723, 983. At Plague still at the beginning of April (4 April), but apparently budded off soon thereafter to "Plague Annex": Moved 10 April ±1 week. 29 May 1600. Banded the 5 babies at Plague nest (in tree near upper Barn) as #1067-1071: (1067) (1068) (1069) (1070) (1071) 80.1 (79) 77.8 (74) 79.8 (73) 74.2 (71) 72.2 (66) 20 June Philip reports 5 eggs in a 2nd nest here (in 20 tree).
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1985 Weltert Koenig Melanerpes fomiscirous Plague. HNHR 1 July Philip reports 2 babies + 2 unhatched eggs here today. One baby is 22.5g, the other 13g. 10 July Missy watched here today after which I added a single baby from Forsaker Ridge. #7 December Ambushed this evening in the old Nuttall's Woodpecker hole in the sycamore right by the footbridge, hoping to get the ub or that is hanging out here (somewhat inexplicably, to my mind). Instead, it was 8721 roosting by himself in there (it's a small hole). I held him overnight and released him the next day.
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague Annex HNHR 27 May We have an official group here, founded ~10 April (a guess), consisting of 8723 and 8983 from Plague plus 9818, formerly of 1500. 28 May Stanback watched 800-1100, after which I transferred 2 of the babies to 1800 29 May Stanback watched 745-1045, after which I returned the 2 babies from 1800. 31 May Today, with 6 babies here, the weather was cool, overcast, with some slight drizzle at the end up to ~900. 1 June Last day of the watches. Weather was still cool but clear, at least. Afterwards I measured and banded the babies as #1087-1088, #1088-1091. 24 September 945. Up at Plague Annex while I was passing by was a ♀: 9mv-wm / mv-wm, possibly 9984 from Plague? Katy reports these birds are down at Plague, mingling freely. See her notes for 9/23. *Group Update* As of the end of the year, three birds have returned to Plague permanently while the others have disappeared (8983 later disappeared) 8723, j1089, j1090 abandoned and returned (or moved) to Plague shortly after the young fledged in June. Both 8723 & 8983 fed at Plague's 2nd nest in Mid-July → all Abandoned (SA) 20 June ± 1 wk. 9818. Abandoned too, seen at 1500 once on 7 July (Missy). j1091, 1092. Neither seen after banding.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomicivorus Annex Plaque Nest Record 29 April 1420 New hole up canyon found. 1 egg, fresh, marked #1 2 May 1430 4 eggs; #1 + 3 (marked 2,3,4) 0 12 May 1400 3 babies, just hatched, plus 1 egg, pipping 8 20 May This apparently is not Plague's nest! See Plague notes for 20 May. Inj. DLW9 21 May 1850 54.00 48.90 51.65 45.50 DLW injection → 150μl 150μl 150μl 120μl Possibly small spot on breast...? Good Good Good 1900 wt. 54.05 49.00 51.75 45.60 Blood sample Taken 1900 1903 1907 1910 Day 10 22 May 1855 59.40 52.05 58.35 48.25 33B 34B 35B 36B 1857 1900 1903 1906 16 28 May 1110 71.90 68.25 76.75 68.55 Removed to 1800 17 29 May 1115 [75.3][63] [71.8][56] (80.7) [59] (75.4)[46] (Returned from 1800) (Returned from 1800+) Nest 4 were here Added from 1800 LBlue White 18 30 May 1200 (72.7)[69], (71.4)[62], (80.5)[65], (79.4)[53], (82.8)[65], (84.0)[59] 19 31 May 1105 73.4 (75) 71.0 (68) 81.3 (71) 72.9 (59) 75.8 (69) 80.0 (67) Removed back to 1800 20 1 June 1110 73.5 (77) 73.7 (70) 79.1 (75) 72.7 (65)
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1089 902-42810 / Black DBlue-Wht / Wht -DBlue 1090 Yellow-Orange / 902-42811 DGreen-Yellow / DGreen 1091 Orange / Mauve 902-42812 / DGreen-DBlue 1092 White / Yellow-White Red / 902-42813 2nd nest: See Philip's notes ①Dr ② ③White 10 July 1045 61.2 g 38.9 g Added (58.7) 11 July 1045 64.0 42.0 52.5 (Removed)
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Moonshine Ranch HNHR 25 May The beginning of a new "era" as Stanback found the nest here. Unfortunately, as I climbed up apparently 1 of the babies flew out - but there were still 6 others in the hole!! (Mark has seen ≥ 5 girls here - none banded so far). Hence, they probably had 7 babies here (it's possible the escapee was an adult, but the vote is that it was a baby.) We banded them as #1048-1053. # Weight WL 1048 68.2 (108) 4 1049 74.2 (113) 1 1050 73.2 (113) 2 1051 65.2 (84) 6 1052 76.5 (106) 5 1053 77.8 (112) 3 D. Blue-white (W)/Yellow Black-Red / 90223777 no black forehead band yes tail spots [illegible] [illegible] [illegible]
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomivicivorus Y HNHR 11 September 1100. Yes, Y has a nest also, in the spring hole in the large Sycamore down from the Y. They have 3 babies, much older than the others so far: ① Maww ② DP ③ ~Day 12 band 23 Sept. 48.3 (24) 64.0 (28) 54.9 (31) This is (nest #4 for the fall) thus far! 23 September 1400. Banded the 3 babies: #969: 92.6 (86) #970: 81.1 (92) #971: 79.5 (89) [illegible] 18 October 950. ♂ 5th-DB/M #754 in front of the barn. A baby here also. Two babies here: 1 is ② DB-wmly, i.e. # ③ ♀ LB-wmld #675 seen also. And ④ ♂ Red-DB #669. 27 October 1100. j971 seen up in front of the barn along with an adult ♂. 1650. j970 " 30 October 1515. j971 in front of barn. 8 December The locust granary in front of the L Barn is fading fast. It will probably still be useable this year but not much longer. 1985 30 March 1730. Saw all 3 breeders while showing Missy & Ves around: 8669, 8754, and 9675. 31 March 1000. Several birds in the Y tel pole: 8669, 9675, 2nd ♂, probably 8754 (but not seen well). Some mounting seen among these 3. Back in front of the L Barn: ♂ Blk-Or/Blk #970. 1020. 8754 (probably) flew to the small Live Oak by the Tel. pole and got an acorn! Then stored it in the locust in back of the barn (with the nestbox on it).
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1985 Welter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Y HNHR 1 April 1800. Quick stop here: ①♂ Red-DB/Wh #669; ②♀ M / cght-da ? thought it was #971 but I'm not sure now; ③♀ Grn-Wh/M #675. 1815. Leaving. 13 April 1600. Checked all the known holes here. 21 April **Group Update** j969. Last seen 26 Jan by Philip (unsexed); gone by 30 March; DA 28 Feb. ± 1 month. 24 April 1530. Slipped it in on us: a new hole way up in the sycamore just below (6") the old Magpie nest. 5 babies ~2 do + 1 egg, pipped but probably defunkt. 6 May 1420. Did DLW on the babies... 8 May Philip ambushed this morning at The School Hill hole. The helper ♂ got out, but he caught ♀675 and ♂754. We injected both of them with DLW, glued transmitters to them (the ♀ got a 2gm one: 1/10/4.5; the ♂ a 4gm one: 3/2/2.5) and released them at 700. We are now going to do time-activity budgets on the ♀ for most of the day, and will try to catch her tomorrow morning (along with the ♂). This of course means that ♂669 spent the night in the nest. 9 May 800. Watching from a blind with a trap set up at the hole. 830. Got the ♀!!! A bonafide sample of 1 for DLW! 840. Back for awhile, just in case we can bag the ♂ too. 945. Giving up for now. Only ♂669 fed (about 25 times!) This afternoon, We came down and saw the ♀ feeding again, so they should be set for tomorrow.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Y Nest Record 24 April 1530 5 babies ~2do+ 1 egg, H N H R pipped but apparently going nowhere. 6 May 4 babies, injected for DLW 17 May 190D 4 babies, banded DBlue①1012 ②(1013) ③(1014) ④1015 100.2(82) 89.5(80) 86.4(64) 88.0(63) (DBlue) (Black) (LBlue) (Yellow)
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1985 Walter D Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Y HNHR 10 May 800. Now going for the ♂ again. Got him! 2/2 for DLW! A coup! [This was ♂754 who I caught feeding. The ♀ was still feeding again.] 17 May 1900. Banded the 4 babies as #1012-1015. 20 June 900. ♀675 in front of lower barn; she still has the transmitter on! 1 July Philip reports 4 babies here ~7-8 do. 15 October Katy reports a power struggle here with numerous nb ♀♀ and the apparent absence of ♀675.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 HNHR 20 March 1430. A bird here, high in a tree at the lane, kanit cutting. Yet another possible reoccupation! 10 September 745. ♀ LB142 #601 seen here. None in any of the holes I know of. 1985 20 January 1300. Counted stores: Main tree: 1908 2° tree: 550 2408 21 April **Group Update** ♀685. Last seen (Philip) 27 Jan, gone by 12 April, DA → 3 March ± 1 month 12 May In between here, Philip recorded a clutch of 4 in the main tree which was abandoned prior to hatching, after which the eggs eventually disappeared. Today I found the ♀ in the low hole in the 2° tree where she has 4 eggs which are not fresh. 3 June Tried to net in front of the hole with no luck this morning. 4 June Got 08297 this afternoon in the net for DLW. 6 June Got him! At the nest. 12 June Philip banded The babies (3) as #1099-1101. 21 August Mark Stanback reports that "some, not a lot of acorns" remain here.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus 1500 Nest Record 23 April 4 eggs (Philip) Nest abandoned. Eggs gone 12 May 1250 Newhole: 4 eggs, incubated ① 24.6 x 19.5 ② 25.9 x 19.5 ③ 25.6 x 19.8 ④ 25.6 x 19.7 12 June 930 Philip banded the 3 babies as #1099-1101.
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1985 Walter D Foening Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 HNHR 20 January 1330. Counted stores: Main tree: 2000. Acorns everywhere they can go here! 20 tree 120. The dead limb used for the 1st time in many years, as far as I know. Total 2120 3 April 710. Watching after an ambush at the '84 nest hole this morning netting 8770, 8774, and 8787. I still have all 3 in captivity - the ♀ for a transmitter later on and the 2 ♂♂ for my removal experiment. 8774 is currently in the aviary, while I have 8770 here with me until I confirm the presence of the 3rd breeding ♂ (8771). 725. So far all quiet. Oops - a bird was here briefly, then flew off up Haystack Hill. 815. 3 birds showed up: 1♂ and ♀ CB-WRLB#785 and ♀ LP/IN#793 Still pretty quiet. 845. The 3 birds (plus an intruder?) Here he is: ♂ M/YAM-UN#776 So he's here for sure. The plan is: 8774. Hold until eggs are laid - maybe until young hatch. 8770. Hold for 2 days. Release 5 April. 8787. Tag and release this afternoon. 850. Leaving. All looks good! 1330. Put a radio on 8787: "702", but really Channel 3, band 4, frequency 2. Collar on 8787 3-4-2 5 April Let 8770 go at 720. This evening Missy reports someone being been beaten up a lot starting at ~730, so I better check up what's going on tomorrow!
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1985 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 HNHR 7 April Today I finally get the news that the 86 here are not fathers of 787 and thus she is not a "regular" helper (at best) and is a potential breeder (at worst). Hence we clearly can't use her as an indication of the movements of helpers! 15 April Missy saw lots of activity at The hole here hier, so I checked it at 630: 1 ruint egg! 645. Watching. 830. 9193 at hole but didn't enter. 920. 9193 again, but still wouldn't enter. 929. Did it! Tossed by 9193! (Did not drop it - flew out of the hole with it). 16 April Philip watched here this morning. 9193 was in early for ~45 min, and 785 was in later for ~15 min. By the time I came by - 730'ish, there were 2 eggs - thus both ♀♀ laid. One egg was distinctly smaller than the other, but not obviously a runt; I marked both. Philip contin- ued to watch but left at 950 after both 9193 and 785 had entered several times and 787 once without tossing. Nobody watched until Philip returned at ~1530 when only 1 egg - the larger one - remained. So it's still something of a mystery here, but at least 2 of the ♀♀ are laying. My guess is that 787 tossed the egg, and may very well toss the second by the time we check it early tomorrow, but we'll see! 17 April 1030. Watching. So far today: (1) the larger of the 2 eggs laid yesterday was still in the hole (2) 9193 laid an egg early once
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 Nest Record HNHR 15 April 630 929 ↓ 1 runt egg; marked #1 ↑ tossed by 9193. 16 April 2 eggs laid in AM by 9193 and 9785; don't know who laid what. I tossed by 1500 → The Small one. Remaining eggs: 22.6×18.5 ♀193 laid: 23.6×19.1, #2 9785 laid: Small egg. ♀193 tossed 9785's egg! Eggs #1 and 2 remain. 17 April 18 April 600 Nest empty! ♀193 & 9785 lay (don't know whose egg is whose): ① 24.0×19.3 ② 24.9×19.9 19 April 730 4 eggs; 2 new from 9193 & 9785 ③ 24.9×19.7 ④ 23.9×18.9 20 April 715 Nest empty! 22 April 900 Legg: 25.1×19.9. Either 9785's. ↓ Tossed by 9787 23 April 730 840 (egg (runt): 17.6×13.7 (laid by 9787) ↓ Tossed by 9193 24 April 710 836 (egg: 22.7×17.8 (laid by 9787) ↓ Tossed by 9193 25 April (Philip) (egg: 24.6×17.8 (either 9785 or 9787) ↓ Tossed by 9193
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26 April (Philip) 27 April 28 April Gone 6 May 29 April 830-855 30 April Gone 6 May 1 May 640 2 May Rd 6 May 11 May 1960 ♀787 lays 24.5×18.8 (♀193 lays 18.1×15.5 (runt)) ↓Both tossed by ♀785 ♀193 lays ①22.2×18.6. Not tos ♀785, ♀787 lay : ② 24.2×18.6 (787) ③ 25.6×20.1 (785) Either ♀785 or ♀193 (prob. former): ④ 24.4×20.0 Not developing → Egg#5 (most likely ♀787): 24.2×18.9 egg 1 has dent, prob. from me Egg#6 (most likely ♀785) [illegible]♀193 For 23.9×18.9 (♀193's) sure Egg#7: 24.3×19.5 (♀785's) Egg#8: 24.0×18.1 (♀193's) No eggs laid; birds incubating 6 eggs! #2 & #6 gone! Hatching (♀193's) ① Pipping both ♀785's { ③ } Hatched. Market w/ Yellow White-a ④ ⑤ Did not develop ⑥ (Gone 6 May) 785's → ⑦ Will hatch ⑧ Did not envelope 12 May 1230 4 Gabris (con't)
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3a Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 Nest Record - p.2 from all eggs 3.84 clearly (from size) from egg 7 white clearly (from size relative to 3) from egg 1 HNHR 1093 ① Yellow Back ② LBlue 1094 ③ Red Back ④ Green back Day 0 12 May 1230 8.80 7.15 4.80 (1095) 2.85 1 13 May 1730 12.15 11.80 8.65 gone 3 15 May 1045 19.60 18.05 15.10 - 5 17 May 1630 29.75 30.85 25.90 - 1730 29.85 31.05 26.00 DLW .090µ some on breast after injection (sloppy) .090 very tiny bit on breast (pretty good) .080µ good Used 0.1µl needle for ①, 1.0µl for other 2. 30A 31A 32A Blood sample taken ③ 1735 1740 1745 6. 18 May 1735 32.80 34.10 28.55 30B 31B 32B [B] Blood sample taken 1740 1745 1750 7 19 May 1745 39.00 38.40 31.70 30C 31C 32C Blood sample taken 1750 1755 1800 Added from Day LP Plague Annex Control Day #1 16 28 May 1150 79.30 77.60 77.50 (71.96) (68.25) Exp day 2 (+2) 17 29 May 1100 80.9(60) 77.0(58) 80.8(52) 75.3(63) 71.8(56) CD#3 18 30 May 1115 81.8(65) 82.8(65) 84.0(59) Returned to Plague Annex Removed to Plague Annex ED#4(2) 19 31 May 1145 84.1(71) (75.8)[69] (80.0)[67] (1093) Returned from Plague Annex (1094) (1095) CD#5 20 1 June 88.0(76) 81.7(74) 85.1(71) See Stanback's notes for 2nd nest
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1985 Walter D Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus 1802 (17 April) again: marked 2 by Philip. (3) 9785 laid a small-not obviously runt egg-later on, marked #3. (4) 9193 tossed egg #3! Philip left at 1000; when I came at 1020 both the larger eggs from yesterday and today were still present; and I finally measured them. 9787 has not been to the hole today. This is all bizarre but the story appears to be clearing, based on a combination of hard and soft information: to wit: ("Soft" info) { 9193 lays very early (>630 am) 9785 lays later; 9787 doesn't seem to be doing anything. Hence: 15 April: 9193 lays runt egg early, tosses it herself (observed) 16 April: 9193 lays normal egg early, 9785 lays small (but perhaps only marginally a runt at best) eggs later. 9193 tosses 9785's egg. [None of these events observed directly other than that 9193 & 9785 laid,] 17 April: Same as 16 April, only it was all seen this time. 9193 laid normal egg early, 9785 a small egg later, 9193 tossed 9785's egg. Interesting group! All this suggests some degree of egg recognition on 9193's part! Which could be a first! 1128. 9785 entered hole. 9193 and 9771 came to hole, watching with great interest. Eventually (~1132) 9785 left, no tossing. 1135. 9770 entered hole, followed by 9193. Both in for ~5 min. ♀ left, then 9770, no tossing. Looks like no more tossing today by 9193 or 9785; if an egg disappears by tomorrow it's 9787's doing!
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 (17 April) 1200. With That I Think I'll leave. It's clear The 2 eggs are here for good unless [illegible] 8787 comes by, so if they disappear I'm confident of knowing what happened. Note that both 8770 and 8771 are here and showing interest in the hole. 18 April 550. Bird in hole: checking. Nest empty!! 608. Watching. 645. ♀ in hole. Too wet to see bands for sure. [but no transmitter] 656. 2nd ♀ in hole. 8771 here looking in, 8770 here briefly. 658. 1♀ leaves. 8771 still here. 704. ♀193 comes → hence, 8785 is in hole. 8193 enters again, but 1♀ leaves after a few minutes. Since 8771 stays, I assume 8785 is still inside. 712. 8771 enters. 725. ♀[8785] leaves followed by 8771. [events 730. Checking hole. 2 new eggs, both normal-sized, marked #1 & 2 740. Watching. 852. 8193 in hole for 8min; no tossing. No ♂ came to hole while she was inside. 915. Missy taking over. Going to keep watching for awhile today. 1220. Back to relieve Missy. 1st checked nest and measured the eggs. 1310. 8193 in hole ~20min. Finally 8770 joined her; she then flew out followed by the ♂. No tossing. 1345. 8770 extend hole for ~5min. 8193 came once and looked in. 1415. Missy taking over again. Nothing by bulk 19 April 535. Watching. There has been time for someone to toss this morning. 645. 8193 enters, followed (~653) by 8770. 702. 8785 in followed by 8771. All 4 in now!
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1985 Waltard Koenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus 1800 (19 April) 707. 3 of 4 leave; 1 remains. 8771 at hole - must be 8785 still in. 737. 8785, 8771 finally leave. 740. Checked hole: 4 eggs (2 from yesterday, 2 new). 800. Watching. 820. Leaving. Seems unlikely anything further will happen unless 8787 gets busy all of a sudden. 20 April 605. Watching. A shell fragment underneath the nest almost prompts me to go up, but I'll wait until someone lays. 700. 8793 in hole for only 1 min. Oops. Must be wrong. 8770 in how; 8793 must still be inside. 715. [8793 left]. Checked nest: empty! Fooled again!!. That egg fragment probably meant something after all! 830. 8785 in for a minute; 8771 then inside for 3 min. 836. 8787 here, but not at the nest hole. 900. Going to check the hole before leaving. 21 April 610. Watching from good blind. 745. 8793 in hole for 10 min, but was looking out most of it. 830. Only sporatic activity at the hole. Going to check it. Hole still empty. **Group Update** 946, 947, 948. [illegible] None of these were seen after banding on 7 July 1985 1984. Hence → all NSAB. 22 April 630. Watching; light rain. 800. 8787 enters hole! 802. Alarm call! 8793 enters followed by 8770. 803. Now 8785 enters followed by 8771. All 5 inside!
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1985 Walter Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 (22 April) 811.8771 leaves. 8770 looking out. All 3 99 still in, I think. 830. All finally left. 9193 left 1st, staying next to the hole (outside) until ~828. 845. 2 quick trips by 99 between 830-840; no tossing. Going to check the hole. 900. 1 egg! [Not laid by 9193, but could have been either of the other two] Now for the inevitable toss- 915. Misery took over → 9787 tossed and ate the egg! This means that 9787 almost certainly laid it. An interesting group! The lineup so far is: [for inferred events] 9193 9785 9787 Total eggs In nest [layed runt egg] at end Tossed by 9793 15 April 16 April laid laid [Tossed, Pres. by 9193] 17 April laid laid Tossed by 9193 18 April [Both tossed] [don't know by whom but 9787 inferred] 18 April Laid Laid 7 2 19 April Laid Laid 9 0 All 4 tossed 6/4/20, [9787 inferred] 22 April Laid → Tossed 10 0 Total eggs 5 (4 normal) 5 0 30 far [2 seen Eggs tossed [3] 0 [7] 1 seen
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 HNHR 23 April 620. Watching. Noone in hole. 706. 9787 in hole briefly. 710. 9787 in again. 722. 9 leaves. Hole check: 1 runt egg! She did it! 733. watching. 840. 9785 went in briefly; just after she left 9193 went in. At that point 9787 came to the hole, and was at the side of the hole as 9193 tossed the runt egg. 9787 then entered the hole. So! Today's activity: 9787 laid a runt, tossed by 9193. The "guarding" relationships here, as based on activity at the hole, are: 9193 < 8770 9785 < 8771 9787 < Noone That should be it for the day. 9193 & 9785 still not laying again. (I will check the hole before leaving to be certain.) 24 April 635. Watching. Noone in hole, apparently. 652. 9787 in, followed by 9193; latter left after <1 min. 659. 9787 left. Next check: 1 Normal egg (laid by 9787). 710. watching. 834. 9787 entered, followed by 9193; 9 left - almost certainly 9787, followed immediately by the egg toss by 9193. So: once again for egg#12: 9787 laid, 9193 tossed. 25-26 April Philip watched. On the 25th, both 9785 and 9787 were in but only 1 egg was laid; Philip guesses by 9787. It was tossed by 9193; both 9193 and 8771 ate it. On the 26th, 9787 laid, followed by 9193; both these eggs were tossed by 9785. (laid a runt)
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800D HNTHE 27 April 630. ♀ in hole; ♂770 comes to lip. (Hence, ♀ inside already is ♀193.) 646. ♀(193), followed by ♂770, leaves. 650. Hole check: 1 egg. 22.2 x 18.6. (laid by ♀193). 657. ♂787 at hole right away but left w/o entering. 712. ♀193 in, 714 left w/o tossing. 750. ♀193 in again, left " " 830. ♂785 in for 1 min, left w/o tossing. ♀193 went in immediately after, left w/o tossing, of course. 945. Nest check: still the egg. 1015. ♂785 in hole for ~5 min (with ♂771 at lip); no tossing (She laid maybe?) ♀193 went in afterwards for 1 min, no tossing. 1045. Hole check: still the egg. 1123. ♂785, followed by ♀193, ♂770, ♂771. All then left shortly; no tossing unless ♂785 slipped it in as she exited behind 1 of the 88. 1133. ♂785 in again, but didn't toss (also ♂771). 1135. Missy takes over 1535. Back again. All birds have been in, inc. ♂787 (for 15 min!) but no tossing! So what's up here? 1405. ♂785 in again w/ plenty of time, but no toss. 1500. By now ♀193 has been in several more times. I'm quitting: will go get my climbing gear and check the nest. 1525. As expected. Only the egg is still there. Hearing; it would appear that it's not getting tossed, at least today. 28 April 630. None in hole: nest check; still the egg. 638. Watching. 644. ♂785, then ♀193 in. 648. (♀(193 we thinks) leaves. ♂771 still at hole (hence ♂785 inside).
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1985 Walter D Goering Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 (28 April) 700. 9787 in. This could be it! 707. ♀ (785), followed by ♂, left. Other ♀ looking out. [If 1 ♀ didn't lay, it was probably 9193.] 725. Last ♀ out [9787]; ♀193 in briefly (with 8770), left w/o tossing. 730. Nest check. 3 eggs: #1 (from yesterday) plus ⓐ 24.2×18.6 and ⓑ 25.6×20.1. The guess that these are 9785's & 9787's seems reasonable. If so, each ♀ now has 1 egg. Watching to see each go in once. 800. The Calabroid Squirrel That's in the granary constantly just successfully nabbed a juicy Live Oak acorn from the main storage limb despite the woodpecker harassment. 815. 9193 (and 8770) in; no tossing. 850. 9193 in again for some time 930. Nest check: still the 3 eggs. Missy watching for awhile. 29 April! 635. Watching. None in hole: nest check: still 3 eggs (#2 seen) 645. Watching. 657. 9785, Then 9193 enter. Both ♂♀ at hole trying to look in; ♂771 pecks ♂770. ♂770 leaves, ♂771 still at hole. 740. Everyone's been gone for awhile. Nest check time: 4 eggs, only! #4: 24.4×20.0. Based on timing, if nothing else, I'd give this to 9785; it was not laid by 9787. 810. 9193 in briefly (<1 min). 814. 9193 in again for 6 min; When ♂770 entered she left. 830. 9787 in'. 9193 follows briefly; ♂770 also. All leave except 9787. 855. 9193 in, 1 bird out right away. They could have switched. 900. 8770 in, ♀ + ♂ out. Nest check! 5 eggs - 5th
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 (29 April) one almost certainly laid by 9787 (9193 has small chance of having laid it). Unfortunately, egg#1 now has a small dent which I think I inadvertently put in it. Tomorrow I can superglue it, but in any case this egg (probably 9193's only one so far) is possibly messed up due to me. 920. Leaving. 30 April 630. Watching. None in hole. 646. With 9787 at the hole, 8770 came, she left, then 8771 came and starting beating the shit out of 8770! We're talking violence, while 8770 was chattering the whole time. This continued in & out of the hole for 20s until 8770 went in the hole again, 8771 left. 8770 then left. 648. 9193 entered hole. 658. Leaves. 700. Next check: still the 5 eggs. Egg#1 (the dent) superglued. 715. Watching. 722. 9193 in again. 726. Leaves. 731. 8770 in, out; 9193 in. 740. Leaves. 743. In 749. Out. 800. 8771 in now for 10 min - starting to incubate? 803. Leaves. 813. 8770 in (not following a 9). 820. Left. 88 are no longer following, apparently. 830. 9(193) inside. 833. Both 88 come to rest. 834. 9785 comes. 8770 leaves, 8771 enters, 9785 enters. 8771 leaves. 9785 in now at 834). 838. 8771 at hole (guarding?) 842. 8771 at hole again, goes in briefly. 9785 still inside. 944. 9 leaves. 9 in, now out.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1850 (30 April) 951.♂770 &♂777 at hole; ♂770 chattering. ♂771 leaves, ♂770 enters. 954.♂ leaves. Nest check: 6 eggs. 6th is probably ♀785's, although ♀193 is still a possibility, having been in several times. 917.♀785 in. 918.♂771 at hole. 928. Enters. 931. Exits & leaves. 931.♀193 comes briefly, leaves w/o entering 933.♂770 comes; ♀785 leaves; ♂770 enters. 935.♀193 at hole; leaves w/o entering (again at 938). 940. Nest check! 7 eggs'. So! The 6th egg is ♀193's, while the 7th is necessarily ♀785's. 950. leaving. I May 635. Arrived. ♀ in hole. 638. She leaves: she is ♀193. Hole check: 8 eggs. 8th is clearly ♀193's, unless ♀787 laid after 950 yesterday. 655. Watching. 712.♂771 at hole. Leaves w/o entering 715.♀193 enters 727.♂770 comes, leaves w/o entering 730.♀193 leaves. 732.♂770 at hole. 733. Enters. 744.♂771 comes; ♂770 leaves, 746.♂771 enters. 747.♂771 leaves. 751. Hole check. Still 8 eggs. 802. Watching 815.♂770 at hole, enters. 820. Leaves. 825. ♂770 at holes, leaves w/o entering. 830.♀193 enters. 831.♀785 at hole, leaves w/o entering 832.♂771 at hole, leaves w/o entering. ♀ leaves 833.♂770 enters. etc.
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1985 Weltert Coenig Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 HNTHIR (1 May) All this continued until I left at 920; clearly incubation is in full swing - the eggs are warm and the birds are in the hole pretty regularly. 2 May No eggs laid today. I did at incubation watch from 700-1015. Everybody incubated except for 787, who came too late (her harness is loose on her back, but the transmitter is still on) and did not enter - on 1 occasion it really seemed as though the 88 kept her out (she came to hole, both 88 showed up immediately with 871 pecking aggressively at her while she chattered). For the watch itself, see transcribed notes & computer output. 3 May Missy did an incubation watch here today. I did one 4 May. 5 May hetting 8774 go! Weight: 83.8gm. Time 625. Missy watched immediately afterwards (mainly the hole). He (8774) was around, but did not show up at the nest. The remainder of the experiment here consists of doing some more nest watches, both incubation and brooding, to see what, if anything, 8774 does. 6 May 1230. Checked the nest: 6 eggs! eggs #2 and 6 are gone, while egg #5 is not developing. 11 May 1907. After a 90 min watch I checked the nest: 2 babies hatched, 2 more to come! 12 May 1230. Checked nest: 4 babies, weighed, etc. 13 May 1420-1720. Nest watched. Weighed babies at 1730 (only 3 - most likely all 785's, are left).
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Egg-tossing history (1985) Date Laid Tossed 15 April ♀193(?)——→♀193 Runt egg 16 April ♀193 ♀785——→♀[193] Eggs quite different in size 17 April ♀193 ♀785——→♀193 Eggs quite different in size 18 April ♀193: ♀785 ♀[787] Nest empty 18 April 19 April ♀193· ♀785——→♀[787] Nest empty 20 April No eggs laid 20-21 April 22 April ♀785——→♀787 23 April ♀787——→♀193· Runt 24 April ♀787——→♀193· 25 April ♀787——→♀193· 26 April ♀787 ♀193——→♀785 Runt (193's) 27 April ♀193· Not tossed 28 April ♀785 ♀787 29 April ♀785 ♀787 30 April ♀193· ♀785 1 May ♀193· TOTALS: Laid Tossed Incubated ♀193· 9 6 3 ♀785 8 2 3 ♀787 6 7 2 Grand total 23 15 8
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1985 Walter D Koenig 14 Melanerpes formicivorus 1800 HNHR 15 May 1045. Weighed the babies. 17 May 1630. Injected the babies for DLW; weighed them at 1630, injections completed by 1638. 18 May 1730. Weighed and bled the babies. 19 May 1740. And again... 28 May Missy watched here 800-1100, after which I added two additional babies from Plague Annex. Day was foggy in AM. 29 May Missy watched on a nicer day (clear, but still cool), after which I returned the 2 babies to Plague Annex. 1 June Last watch day (Control Day #5). Afterwards I banded the babies as #1093-1095 27 June 940. Watching. There are 3 eggs in the hole, 2 by 8193 and 1 from 8787(?) 1050. By now 4 birds - 8193, 8985, 8770, and 8771, have been in the hole. 8985 was in the longest (mostly while 8771 sat outside the hole); nobody tossed, however. Right when 8985 finally left, 8771 climbed out of the hole and went over to 8774 who had just landed nearby and pecked 8771>8774 him, then jumped on his back and pecked him again. Otherwise, 8771 is clearly guarding 8785, 8770: 8193. I didn't see 8787 at all. 1100. Climbed up and checked the hole: still 3 eggs. If anyone tosses, it will have to be 8787 (or 8774!). 2 July Mark has been watching here every morning. There are now 8 eggs, with all 3 8's contributing (and with tossing too, but we were unable to pin down much on that score). See Mark's notes for details.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Horsetail HNHR 25 May After seeing suspicious-looking birds here over the past several weeks I put Stanback over here watching. He subsequently reported 2 unbanded birds (trait!) with a nest in a live oak right above the 1st crossing! I opened it this afternoon and they have 4 eggs, which they are incubating. Meanwhile Kim checked my granary segments and reports no stored acorns. Hence, I suspect these birds are living off acorns which are still on the live oaks. 28 May Noone's been in the hole the last couple of days, so we checked it today at 1215: 4 eggs; [illegible] stone cold - apparently they have abandoned, although the birds were in the vicinity and vaguely upset at me so I don't know what's up. In any case, I measured the eggs: ① 26.6 × 19.3 ② 25.9 × 17.9 ③ 27.2 × 18.6 ④ 25.8 × 19.2 These 2 birds will be added (founded) as of "0" May. 5 June Hank has watched here twice since 28 May and seen no sign of anyone here... Have they abandoned? 2 July Mark's watched here several times and saw birds on 19 June, but things have been slow since. It may be abandoned now! See his notes for details. 9 November Two (+?) birds roosting in the nest hole here (!) 18 November Tried to ambush here but string broke. 20 November 730. This time I got them: 1♂ and 1♀, probably adults. They were taken last night, banded this morning (♂1183; ♀1184).
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Note: Katy reports That these 7 Birds, along with still more ub Birds, all belong at Pipeline. See her notes. 31 December *Group Update* Both these Birds disappeared or abandoned soon after the nest failed here. → Abandoned ☐ (USA) by end of June See Stanback's notes for details. Group is currently abandoned, except for Birds roosting here from Pipeline.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blonquist HNHR 18 October 755. Watching with Kim for vigilance. ①♀711 here, ⑦604 here also. ③571 seen; all 3 here storing acorns; the granary is filling up quickly. 830. Left. Birds were storing lots, but not staying for more than a few seconds in the granary. 1985 25 January 1900. Counted stores: 284! The tree is packed! 21 April **Group Update** ♀711. Last seen 28 Jan (Philip); gone by 2 April → D.A. 2 March ± 1 month 23 April 1200. Bird in high hole in nest tree over on Blonquists'. A nest for sure. 24 April 1900. Checked hole: 4 eggs. 2 May 1540. 6 eggs'. Measured. Should hatch ~7 May. 7 May 920. 5 babies, very young; no eggs. Hence, all probably hatched. 31 May 1420. Banded the 4 babies (it's possible, though unlikely, that a 5th is hiding in this difficult, labyrinthal hole) as #1083-1086.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Haystack-Blomquist Nest Record HNNR 24 April 1966 4 eggs 2 May 1940 6 eggs ① 25.5 × 20.1 ② 25.7 × 20.4 ③ 24.9 × 18.9 Undeveloped ④ 26.0 × 20.0 ⑤ 24.8 × 19.7 ⑥ 25.6 × 20.2 7 May 1920 5 babies, ~1 do, no eggs 31 May 1920 4 babies, banded. (1083) (1084) (1085) (1086) 31 May 1920 81.2 (86) 85.0 (85) 83.5 (82) 86.0 (85) 902-42805/DG-DB LB-BLK/902-42806 LB-DP/Wh Yel/LB DPink / DBlue Mauve/DB-Wh(u) -807/Or DG / -808 no black band no black band no black band
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack HAWHR 26 September 630. Finally caught 1 of the unbanded 88 here in an ambush in a new hole in the far part of the territory: This is now 8972. 18 October 830. Watching. No sign of where any other roost holes may be! 1985 25 January 1915. Counted stores: Main tree: 2177 Not especially full 20 tree: 220 Total 2397 4 April Ambush set, but the string broke. 5 April Ambush set again. Didn't roost there! 13 April Ditto. Apparently roosting in the upper tree above the granary. 16 April A couple more failed trees have, but tonight I at least found a new hole (in a broken-off limb) they used in the main granary. 21 April XA Group update xxd- 8857. Best seen 31 Jan: The status of this bird appears to be uncertain. Best I can tell, he returned here late is spring 1984 (June) following abandonment in fall 1983 and was seen here lots after that. Philip last saw him 31 Jan 85, he was gone by 2 April, so (probably), so DA 28 Feb ± 1 month. j953. Not seen after banding on 16 July '84. j952. Last seen 31 Jan (unbanded!), gone by 2 April, DA 28 Feb ± 1 month. 23 April 1215. Missy reported incubation-like activity in the "normal" hole in the granary yesterday; I checked it: 6 freshish eggs.
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack Nest Record H N H R 23 April 1200 6 eggs, freshish ① 25.2 × 20.7 ② 26.7 × 21.0 ③ 26.8 × 20.7 ④ 26.7 × 19.9 Punctured did not develop → ⑤ 25.8 × 20.2 ⑥ 26.6 × 21.0 2 May 150D Don't know which is → which ① LB-? → ② Wh ③ Y-DP ④ DG 2 May (900) 12.7 11.0 11.7 5.8 DLW → 7 May 945 29.80 31.65 30.35 21.45 25 May (300) 92.5 (94) 90.2 (95) 88.5 (90) 91.8 (80) well behind the others 1046 Bands: 902-23367/DG-LB White / LB-Wn DG-BP(W) / -68 DG-Or / DG Bik-LB/LB-Bik -69 / WN-Red Mauve / WN-Green DG / -70
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1985 Walter Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Haystack HNHR 2 May 1500. 4 babies plus 1 undeveloped egg in The nest: apparently 5 hatched and 1 went bye-bye already. 7 May 945. Did DLW on the babies. Also watching now to try and nab an adult coming to The nest while the water equilibrates. 25 May 1300. Banded the 4 babies as #1043-1046. 29 May Set 2 ambushes up here after finding 2 roost holes last night. 30 May 430. Missed the bird in the nest (undoubtedly the ub & I was after) but caught 2 38 together in the Blue Oak hole: 8972 and 8857. (The babies were still in nest.) Hence: **Group Update** 8954. Apparently gone by 2 April; last seen 31 Jan: DA. 1 March ± 1 month 8857. Obviously still here. Reinstated. 9 June Set an ambush late at the nesthole. j1046 was inside and failed to flush. 28 June 800. Found the 2nd nest, over in the Blue Oak (same hole as usual). There are 3 babies ~2do (1 looks newly hatched and probably won't make it) along with 2 unhatched eggs (1 developed but unzipped. The other damaged and dry); thus, it looks like another clutch of 5.
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1984 1985 Weller D. Koenig Melanerpes fomivorous Gazebo HNHR 20 September 1515. One bird in the old nest tree with food in his bill looked suspiciously like he was about to feed at a nest, but I couldn't hear babies anywhere. 1985 5 April 1900. 3 birds roosted tonight in a hole in the central storage area. 6 April Set an ambush here tonight. 7 April Only 1 of the 3 birds roosted in the hole - the other 2 went in the other hole in the tree. But he was 8717 and I got him and put him in the aviary as group #2 in my temporary & removal experiments. 1500. Philip checked and saw the pair here, so we're all set. 8 April 8719 was dead in the aviary today, so everything is off. 21 April *** Group update *** ;955 956 & 957. All 3 not seen after banding on 16 July. ;958. Apparently NSA B either. All 4 were in poor shape when banded. 2 May 1650. Plushed a bird out of the ambush knothole. As she flew off, 2 others joined her. Hence, there are apparently 3 birds in this group! 7 May 1130. None in any holes... 9 May 1700. Bird in the hole again. It is the nest. 11 May 1630. Opened the hole: Seger marked. 15 May 1700. Watching from blind. (1) [illegible] #653. +2 86. (2) 8 BIK-LB/M #[illegible] BIK-LB/BIK #42 [illegible]. [A CV Verande bird...!] Seen well. Second & has M on right leg... (#943 would seem a good guess.)
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gazebo Nest Record 11 May 1630 30 May 1730 5 eggs, marked 5 babies #1103 #1104 ①DG ②Yel ③2P ④Wh ⑤ 30 May (730) 37.5(16) 39.5(16) 42.9(18) 32.8(15) 10.3(starving) 16 June 1500 Gone 90.0(90) Gone 92.8(77) Gone 902-42824/Yel-Wht Yel-Blk / Yellow White-LBlue,902-42825 White / LBlue-DPink HNHR
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1985 Walter Koenig 3 Melanerpes famicivorus Gazebo HNHR (15 May) 1750. Well I'll be buggered. The 2nd♂ is ♂M/♀B/Bik-Wat#718 - the one who's supposed to be here. So what is the other ♂ doing here??? 1800. These birds are together. Obviously it's time to check out the history of 718 vis-a-vis CVGrande. Leaving Well: 718 in fact has close ties with CVGrande. He was banded at Blomtwo in '82, but then "returned" to CVGrande in fall '82, moving to Gazebo in spring '83, Returning to CVGrande in fall '83, and finally back to Gazebo in spring '84. Now, 8942 is an '84 baby from CVGrande, so it just goes to show that he apparently still has ties back there - in fact, this is indeed an interesting case. **So: Add 8942: apparently seen at CVGrande on 13 April, he is now at Gazebo → Moved 28 April #2weeks. Actually, I noted 3 birds here on 2 May → hence, Moved 22 April ±1 week. 30 May 1730. Checked the nest: 5 babies, 1 starving. I'd guess ~6 to. 16 June 1500. Banded the 2 babies left #1103-1104. 21 August Stanback reports that "some acorns" remain here.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Blomone HNHR 16 September 1730. Phillip found a nest here this morning so I came and opened it: (1) Y-W (2) LP-LB (3) LB (4) DP (5) 63.8(43) 71.8(44) 73.9(54) 73.6(54) 23.6(16)! Five babies! 4 fine plus one runt whose eyes were open but was far behind. These birds will clearly be bandable soon! 20 September 1630. Banded the babies, #965-968 (5th was in the nest dead). (1) #965 (2) #966 (3) #967 (4) #968 (5) clearly did not live much longer (in the nest). 72.9(62) 79.0(64) 79.3(74) 77.6(74) Tried laparotomies, only (possible) success was -> ♂ (?) . 1985 28 March Pam reports seeing ♂967 out near here today. 31 March 1315. ♀ LP/M #965 on side of Blom Knoll toward HNHR. 13 April 1630. A bird may have flushed from a hole, but I wasn't sure. 21 April **Group Update** ♂966 & ♂967. These 2 moved to Blontwo apparently mid-winter. Philip saw birds hanging out at Blontwo (presumably these) on 30 Jan, so we'll let them go 15 January just because there were so few acorns at Blontwo I can't believe they were there much earlier. Oops. Change this. Philip ♂967 at Blomone on 31 Jan. So, I think they were just "fooling around" at Blontwo until recently, so let's move them on 15 March, a reasonable date for them to 1st be "serious" about moving.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Blomone HNHR 25 April 700. Ambushed the lower (new) hole, bagging 8492 (who I wanted for the temporary ♂ removal) and 990 (!), the one I banded at Blomtwo (!!). No eggs or anything else in the hole. 2 May 1700. Bird in new hole in Valley Oak by path (just up from old hole). I opened it: empty but in good shape. They could be close here! The experiment could work after all! 7 May 1145. Fin hole: 2 eggs, fresh! 11 May 1545. Checked the hole: 8 eggs! 13 May 630. Released 8492! Then checked the hole, where the 8 eggs are still there. The ♂ immediately flew to the top of the nest tree and kamit-ed, after which he flew to the granary. 14 May 1820. Well! I'll have to check to see how Missy's watch went this morning, but he appears to have done it! The nest is empty! 5 June 1200. Despite our attempts to find this one, they managed to slip one in on us in a new hole, where they now have 6 fresh eggs. They very well may still be laying, however. I was hoping to get this one because they have 3 breeding ♀♀ here! 6 June This morning Mark watched and saw noone going to the hole. What's up? Surely they haven't abandoned just because we opened the hole? **Group Update** Add 8812. This bird clearly participated in the 1st nest, but was apparently not present during Philip's 31 Jan census>
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Blomone Nest Record HNHR 7 May 1145 2 eggs, fresh, marked. (hole empty 2 May) 11 May 1545 8 eggs! Marked 13 May 630 8 eggs still (♂ released) 14 May 1820 Nest empty! 5 June 1206 New hole: 6 eggs, fresh ① 24.0 × 19.3 ② 25.3 × 20.2 ③ 24.6 × 19.7 ④ 25.2 × 20.2 ⑤ 25.4 × 20.6 ⑥ 24.6 × 20.5
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Blomone HNHR (6 June) hence, Moved here somewhere between 1 Feb and ~15 April → 7 March ± 1 month. Note that this bird is [illegible] a sibling of 8808 & 8809 and had been seen here before. This is also the group where one of the 88 had "recruited" the other to win the Power Struggle back in April '83; now a 3rd sib has joined them — almost 2 years later! 17 June Well, the 5 June hole was abandoned after we opened it, if not before (apparently after, since birds were in it up to then). Today Mark found what may be a new nest hole in the granary. He opened it, and it is currently empty. 2 July See Mark's notes for details here. The granary hole eventually had 1 egg laid on the 20th (Mark also saw tossing on the 19th; on the 29th a 2nd egg was in the hole (the 1st was gone). In between they showed little interest in the hole and apparently abandoned it again. We have pretty much given up getting tossing here, but will try to locate and watch the 2nd nest if they ever get into it. ~21 August Stanback reports that lots of acorns remain here.
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1984 1985 Welter D. Koenig Melanerpes fornicivorus Blomtwo / Blomthree HNHR 20 September 1445. No sign of life at Blomtwo. 1500. Not much sign of activity at Blomthree either, but hearing noises over by one of the vernal pools across the road path I walked over and flushed 4 birds and found a 4th (a 8") trenchantly sitting in a hole looking out. It's probably a nest, but will be hard to get to. In any case, I'm unsure of what group it belongs to; it could be Blomthrees, CV Grande, or conceivably even Gazebo's. The flushed birds tended to fly off toward CV Grande, however, so as a first guess I choose them. 1615. None in the hole this time; also no sounds coming from the hole. 1985 26 February 1830. Came to Blomtwo at dusk; saw no sign of any birds in or out of holes. I also could see no stored acorns, despite Philip having claimed to have seen some here. In short, I don't think there's a group here, at least now, even if there was one earlier in the winter. 30 March At dusk tonight I flushed several (3-4?) birds from holes in the roost/granary tree, so there presumably is a group here.
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1985 Weller D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Blountwo HNHR 4 April Well! I came here this afternoon with Wes Weathers & Missy and set up some nets, then tried the Power Struggle tape with a mount (bad one!). They were there immediately, all 5 of them: 8966, 8967 from Blomone and 3♀♀ - 2 ub and ♀960 (incorrectly listed as a ♀) from CV#2. Neat! So it would appear we have 2 brothers (known) and 3 breeding ♀♀ here, the latter from CV#2. The tape worked well - at least to bring them in - and Wes gave me some ideas that may improve things more. We eventually caught one of the ub♀♀, who is now ♀990, so there is now only 1 ub♀ here, at least. We also saw 8832 come by briefly from Blomone to check things out. I returned as dusk. All are still there as they have been for several evenings. But I don't think they're roosting together, even though they go through ~5-10min worth of pre-roost mounting beforehand. This evening 2 birds at least appeared to fly off toward Blomone to roost while 21 also headed toward Blountwo - almost as if everyone's still heading home to roost. 7 April 1530. Nets up; speaker and mount in tree. 1535. 8966 here; also [illegible] ♀960; intruders brought right away by the tape as usual. 1600. Not as much commotion as previously. Also not as many birds. Missy saw 8967 but neither 8990 nor the ub♀ have been seen for sure. from CVVerande 1600. Intruder: ♀ W/nm 941; also ♀ub apparently here
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Blantyre HNHR (7 April) 1620. 9990, ub & 6oth here now. 1630. Taking nets down. Couldn't get them really interested in it this time. 21 April **Group Update** See Blomone notes for comments re this group. I don't think anything serious was happening here this winter, although Philip saw birds hanging out here in late January. I'm provisionally starting the group off then on 15 March, when 8966 & 8967 from Blomone moved here with 960 and 2 ub 99 (I now 9990) from CV#2. Now, all except 9990 then appear to have turned right around and split for CV#1 on 10 April. Actually, all went, but 9990 then returned (at least temporarily) and is now here with 8963 from Dark Hollow. So we will simplify things by leaving her at Blantyre for now. The other 4 go to CV#1 on 10 April, and 8963 comes here that day. with 9990 on 15 April.
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1985 Walter Koenig Melanerpes fornicivorus Blothrme HNHR !April! After an unsuccessful ambush here last night (the birds roosted elsewhere, somewhere), I came here ~1015 and set up a net in the granary. With a stuffed male perched indelicate ly in the tree and a tape of the a power struggle, the birds were here immediately. In fact, the tape apparently drew 2±3 intruders as well! The residents were 4: ♂768, ♀945, ♂69[5194], and an ♂6 ♂ (!) This was a dilemma. The ♂6 ♂ was quite in the thick of things and eventually got himself caught in the net and was banded as #988. He was possibly a juvenile: he had 2 small tailspots on one outer rectrix, he was molting a bit of his crown & some body feathers, his primaries were sort of blunt at best, his wing was shortish, and his wings were in pretty good shape-not too worn. Thus, of the likely scenarios, the most probable would seem to be that we missed a fall nest here and that he is a helper from it. Alternatives exist, but it seems unlikely that he would just join a group with an established ♂. Unfortunately, ♂769 is apparently gone; thus, this group would no longer appear to be a good candidate for a temporary ♂ removal. The tape eventually ran down and no one else was coming too close to the net, so we left ~130D. 8 April 1130. ♂ in hole. 1430. Back to check hole. Nothing yet. 21 April *Group Update* 8769. Last seen 1 Feb., gone by 1 April->DA 85±1mo. Another fall nest (1984) apparently
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1985 Waldor D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Blountville HNHR (21 April) j944. Not seen after banding. Now: also add L66 bird who presumably fledged from a fall 1984 nest that we missed, and is now 8989. 22 April 1700. Checked nest: 5 eggs, pretty fresh. One had a small crack in it, however. 2 May 1600. Checked nest: 2 babies, 3 eggs, just hatching. At least 1 of the 3 eggs won't hatch - it looks like it died as an embryo, maybe while hatching. The other 2 may, however. 28 May Banded the 4 nestlings here as #1054-1057. They all looked great! 20 June Mark found a 2nd nest here (hole above the 1st nesthole) and reports 5 fresh eggs. 1 July Nest empty'. Failed. (Mark also reports 1 egg missing on 27 June). See Mark's notes for details. 18 August Just before leaving for France I saw a bird here, climbed up, and noted 4 eggs. Also, lots of acorns remain here. 15 September Banded 3 babies here, looking fine. This is by far the latest summer nest (or earliest fall nest) we've ever had. 4 December After several failed attempts I finally caught The unbanded & plus 2 others in the nest hole in an ambush this evening. I held them overnight and processed them all in the morning. & is now A41185, other 2 caught were 8769 and 8989.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig 3 Melanerpes fomicivorus Blountree Nest Record 22 April 1970 Eggs: ① 24.4 x 18.8 ② 23.9 x 19.7 ③ 25.0 x 19.2 Small dent/crack in shell → ④ 23.4 x 19.7 ⑤ 22.8 x 19.2 2 May 1620 2 hatchlings (day 6) plus 3 developed eggs; #4 was all unhatched. At least I died while pipping, maybe. 4 babies! banded 1054-1057 28 May 1330 ① 1054 ② 1055 ③ 1056 ④ 1057 28 May 1330 84.8(100) 87.6(100) 89.0(99) 87.8(105) 20 June 5 eggs in a 2nd nest 27 June 4 eggs in nest (MS) 1 July Nest empty (MS) 18 August 4 eggs 21 August 4 eggs (MS) 15 Sept Banded (3 babies) ① 1170 ② 1171 ③ 1172 85.2(80) 86.4(77) 79.5(81)
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Dark Hollow HNHR 8 April 920. Watching. Several birds here but they aren't making themselves easy to see. 940. ♂ or ♂/♀ or? - DK² #696. 956. ⚪♂ M/RdB #584 came briefly to granary. 1013. ⚪♀ Maunre/Maunre #895. 1035. 8584 went into one of the old nest holes; is inside pecking. 1045. A 3rd ♀ here! ♀ Res/qpnt#961 (probable). All 3 together up on top of one of the trees. 1055. Leaving. Certainly possible that there's another ♂ here, but there weren't good signs of over 4 birds here. Also the hole that the ♂ went into is obviously one to watch. 9 April 700. Watching. None in any holes when I came. 714. 8584 here; flew into hole, looked out, left. That hole is, with luck, going to be it, if it isn't already. 830. A tad more interest over near the opened hole. I'm going up to check it. 10 April 710. Watching. Only stayed a short time, then went to CV#1. 21 April **Group Update** 8824. Last seen 1 Feb, gone by 8 April → DA 4 Mar.† (MO j961. Presumably seen by Missy 8 April; a ♀ j962. NSAB on 29 July 1984. 8963. Moved to Blountwo (15 April) 1985 (with 4996). j964. NSAB 28 May See Philip's notes for information and growth rates on the nest here. Today he banded the 6 babies here as #1061-1066. DBI-WN(n)/DR #1064² 16 June The remains of j 902-23394/BP-WN(n) were under the nest hole. The bird had been dead sometime - my guess is that it died.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Park Hollow HNHR (16 June) before fledging and only recently dried out enough for someone to have leave him out of the nest. Note that Pam had found a baby in similar condition here (j1064) back on 10 June. Flash - this is the same bird - so only 1 baby - j1064 - has been found dead here. 21 August Maire S. reports "some" acorns remaining here.
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1984 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Corral Viejo 20 March 1045. There is a bird flycatching in the main granary at CV#2, presumably indicative of incipient reoccupation here. It's a ♂, and he appears to have some problem with his right leg such that he can't extend his digits (I suppose this means his probably banded!) → ♂ 322/422 1100. There are 2 ♂s here. 1 is [illegible], the other ♂ Bad leg. The 1st could be 3843; I'm not sure who the other could be. 1115. ♂ #1 looks like ♂ 322/422 - #843 definitely likely. Still not sure who the 2nd ♂ could be. 1130. A ♀ here also! Looks unbanded. 1145. My guess for ♂#2 is ♂ Bad leg #813, but I still haven't seen its other band very well. 2 April 910. There is at least 1 bird eating some acorns over at Dark Hollow. (I'm not sure anyone's seen birds there previously.) 3 April 930. Here at Blom3 something is clearly going on - There are several birds here and some rucous a bit earlier. 20 September See Blountwo/Blounthree notes for what may be EVGrande's fall nest. 1600. Some birds near CV#1 and several at CV#2, but no sign of nests, or much storing as yet. 1610. No sign of much activity at OK Corral or at Dk Hollow. 27 October At CV#2: I saw j960 - still ♂ type - with the PRBO class.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Corral Viejo HNHR 31 March 1215. At CV#1: ♀ in hole; nest could be soon. Also there were the feathers from a well-plucked Woodpecker on the fallen limb directly below the tree. No hope of identification! But it looked like a Cooper's Hawk killing perch. Hence, one of the birds here has probably recently been nabbed. 1225. At CV#2: ♂MV LG Or-w/n/da-la #959; a baby from last year. in the granary. 7 April ♀941 from CV Grande seen intruding at Blountoo. 10 April 700. Power Struggle at CV#1! Going to Dark Hollow but I will return here. 8943 815. Nets up (2) at CV#1. Caught 1 ♂; ♀943 from CV Grande. 850. Watching: ⚪♀LB/Or-LB #960 from CV#2 (Blountoo??) 976 from Sch Hill ③♂Or/LG-w/n(n) ④? ♂ LB-BLk /M → both these are prob 976. 910. Caught 9990 being chased! ⚪♀ M/Red-w/n #819 formerly of Cazcbo Seems to be 10-12 birds here, mostly ♀♀. 920: LB-DG/LP = 9966 from Blomore. 930. Caught a third banded bird being chased: ⚪above #819. 940. 9960, 9990, and ub ♀ together - all 3 (from "Blountoo") are here. Furthermore, if I had to guess, I'd say they were winning. 945. ⚪♂LB/LP #966 from Blomore Most of the serious fighting seems to be between (among) ♀♀. 953. ♂Or/blk-or #967 have eating an acorn. Most of the activity seems to be ♀ generated. There are several ub ♀♀ here. 1000. Finally got an ub♀, so I have to head home and get bands. 1045. Have 3 more, inc. 9990 again; also 9960, 2 ub ♀♀. 1110. Watching again. Things have calmed down, but there's still a fair amount of chasing.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 2 Melanerpes famicularus Corral Viejo (10 April) 1130. 8966, 967 still here. The 3 ♀♀ are still here: 9960, 9990, and ub♀ as well. 1150. An occasional intruder, but these 5 birds (the Blontwo 5) clearly have it all pretty well wrapped up. I'm going to leave the nets up and check back later. 21 April **Group Update** CV#2 { 9960 (+ presumably 2 sisters, both ub) moved to Blontwo on 15 March 1985. } CV#1 { All birds apparently gone by 10 April; this group hasn't been watched carefully and we don't really know what's up or what happened to allow all the Blontwo birds to take over on 10 April. } 2 May 1600. At CV Verande, they now have 7 eggs - pretty good evidence of 2 ♀♀. It also means that FED here (-egg tossing) was ~21 April, they should hatch ~5 May, and be banded ~30 May. 13 May 1900. Found OKCorral's nest - it's high! Babies have hatched and are pretty young still. 15 May See Gazebo notes re 9942 from CV Verande who has moved to Gazebo, joining 9718. 20 May Banded the 3 babies at OKCorral who are virtually ready to fledge (one tried to, not quite successfully). 24 May Went to check CV#2's nest: 2 mummified babies ~ 7 do, say, when they died. (Philip reported eggs here earlier). Obviously a new nest will be forthcoming here... June 1715. 2 birds in one of the old holes at CV#2. No sounds when they flushed so I presume they have eggs.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Corral Viejo Nests HNHR CVGrande 22 April 1715 4 eggs; egg(1) with small dent Eggs pretty fresh; bird in hole. 2 May 1600 7 eggs; all developing d. 30 May 1700 5 babies, banded (1078) (1079) (1079) (1080) (1081) 91.9(104) 87.1(104) 88.8(101) 97.4(98) 84.3(80) OKCorral 20 May 1630 3 babies, banded #1034-1036 (1034) (1035) (1036) 83.2(96) 88.4(106) 86.1(104) 17 June 1830 4 eggs (2nd nest) Outback 1 June 1900 7 eggs. 21 June 850 Banded 4 babies (1112) (1113) (1114) (1115) 58.7(41) 67.1(40) 53.6(34) 51.6(34) CV#2 2 June New nest: 7 eggs 16 June 1130 56 babies ~ 7 do. 1 July 1200 5 babies banded (MS) 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 78.8(68) 74.9(72) 77.0(57) 57.0(55) 76.5(73)
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3b Melanerpes fomicivorus Corral Viejo #1 Nest Record HNHR 8967 removed here 6 June AM - 16 June 8 June Stauback watched. 2 eggs laid. ① 26.8 × 19.4 9 June 1500 ever hatched} ② 24.1 × 19.1 4 eggs ③ 28.5 × 19.4 ④ 25.2 × 20.2 10 June 1300 5 eggs ⑤ 25.5 × 20.1 11 June 1000 6 eggs ⑥ 25.1 × 19.8 12 June No eggs laid... 16 June 840 Let 8967 go; watched nest continuously until 1900, 17 June 18 June 1000 6 eggs. 20 June 1315 6 eggs. 24 June 1600 3 babies (♀ from 1,5,86)
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Corral Viejo HNHR (1 June) Was found a nest up at the group along the fence line just above the Creeche Canyon pond (follow the fence up from CV#2; see map on back), so after opening a hole at CV#1 that had only a dead starling in it (!) Mark and I climbed it, finding 7 eggs. This group will be known as Outback. 2 June 1700. Opened the new hole at CV#2: 7 eggs, pretty fresh. 6 June Ambushed this morning at CV#1, getting 3 of the 4 girls: 8967, 960, and 9ub. The 2nd 8, however, roosted in the main granary, somewhere — not in some hidden nest, I hope (they are still showing interest in a hole on the knoll) where we removed a dead starling 3 days ago, and I’m hoping they will nest there forthwith!) I banded the 9ub 8 as #1096; both 88 were heavy, their cloacae distended, and their abdomens inflated with a brood patch — hence I assume they are just about to lay, if (as I hope) they aren’t laying already. In hopes that they are just about to nest, I removed the 8 (8967) and put him in the aviary for another temporary 8 removal experiment. 13 June Stanback has been checking CV#1. The story is: both 88 laid on 8 & 9 June, whereas only 1 laid on 10 & 11 June; noone laid yesterday. Hence, they have 6 eggs, and Missy is doing an incubation watch today. Unfortunately it’s quite possible that the 88 were laying (and tossing) when I caught the 8. Thus the experiment is not ironclad..
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1985 Walter Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Corral Viejo HINHR (13 June) Nonetheless, the ♂ presumably "knows" there were no eggs as of when I removed him. (we checked the nest hole on 5 June and there was nothing there), and thus presumably will know he is at least at a big disadvantage in terms of fathering any of the eggs. Also, on the definite plus side, he will been in "breeding" condition when I caught him, and should still be wired for reproduction when I let him go this weekend. 16 June 840. Flushed a bird from the CV#1 hole and checked it: still 6 eggs. I then let The ♂ (8967) go, and we are now going to monitor the nest nonstop for at least the next 2 days. 1130. After Mark relieved me at CV#1 I checked CV#2's nest: they have 5 healthy looking babies (no eggs in hole) about 6-7 do. 1620. A bird (Adult) in the earlier nest hole at OKCorral. When she flushed I heard nothing, so presumably they have eggs if it is a 2nd nest. They certainly have a lot of acorns! 1700. Caught an ub♀ - now #1105 - o in a net set in front of the hole at CV#2; I injected her for DLW and let her go at 1817. 17 June 21 June 1830. I had Mark check the hole at OKCorral: 4 eggs. 800. Banded the 4 (still pretty young) babies at Outback. as #1112-1115. This group still has stores. Note, also, that it is apparently a 2nd nest for this group, as they already have some fledglings (side Mark).
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1985 Walford Koenig 6 Melanesper fomicivorus Coral Viejo HNHR 2 July At CV#1 we've been doing regular watches; nothing new yet. Mark banded 5 babies at CV#2 on 1 July as #1118-1121. See his notes (1 July) for details. 16 July 500. Ambushed at CVGrande's 1st nesthole, getting 2 babies and the 2 helpers, but not the ub ♀. 4 December Caught the unbanded ♀ plus 5 others at the 1st nest hole at Coral Viejo Grande this evening, finally. I held them all overnight and processed them in the morning. ♀ is now AF1186. Others caught were 8837, 9941, 91079, 91078, and 8942 (from Gazebo? What's going on here? There has been some odd connection here for several months as the CVGrande birds seemed to be roosting over at Gazebo [or somewhere nearby.] The last few times I tried to ambush here.) [Note: Stanback reports that lots of acorns remained at CVGrande as of about 21 August; also a lot remaining at CV#2 and at OKCoral
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus CN#2 HNHR 18 November 1445. Watching. 1510.①♀-ca/-ca #1119. Pretty sure of sex (but not positive). 1945.②♀ub. 1600.③♂wn #843 ④♂ yel /Da-ca#959. 1645. Leaving. I would guess that These 4 are all that are here. I see 4 at once and I've seen a couple of these several times, but no sign of any others.
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Prairie Home Field HNHR 2 July After Vans prompted us to check here, Mark has been here several times reporting ① A nest with 5 eggs on 25 June ② ♀650 here on 23 June along with ≥3 other adults, apparently 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀♀ + ♀650; no babies seen. See his notes for details.
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1984 1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate HNHR 23 March 1100. Sharon (Bill's FA) stopped me on my way back and reported 2 birds here, so I've halted to watch for a bit. 1125. Noone's returned to the area. But something is up here, it would seem. 30 August Ruth Griffin found a road kill here this evening - an untended adult ♀ right below the Eucamond. 1985 2 February 1600 Grented only 133 acorns in the granary, but, of course, they don't have many holes here any more to begin with (they aren't using the fallen limbs we put back up in the tree). However, at least one Live Oak right next to the granary still has acorns on it, so they clearly aren't hurting out here. 22 April **Group Update** Even though there are a few acorns here, it's looking as though noone's here, and it appears as if noone may have really been here for some time. So, all 4 birds (8627, 99854, 859, 8u6) are -> D.A. 1 Sept.±2mo. Currently there is noone here. It's certainly not clear what happened here, since there were acorns around all winter. Maybe the DOR u6 ♀ Ruff found at the end of August is significant. Anyway, the whole group seems to have just faded out this fall for no obvious reason. 23 April 1530. A pair here ①♀u6 and ②♂ Yel/DB #627!!! So he's here after all!
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1985 Walter D Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Gate HNHR 15 May 1000. ♀6♀ in top of tree- xxGroup Update xx ♂627, ♀6[5185] returned to Gate 20 April 1985. I still have very little idea what these birds were doing all winter, but for simplicity's sake I'll assume they were here all alone... 20 May 1015. Within 2min of getting up on the hill to watch I saw a bird enter a hole way up in the main sycamore. I think he was without food and that they are still incubating. 1900. Opened the hole: 4 eggs (couldn't see if they were incubated or not!). 4 June Checked the nest (1200): 3 babies ~7 do. 8 June After several misses I caught the ♀ on the nest with a tennis ball. She is now ♀1097. 20 June Banded the 3 babies as #1106-1108. 16 October 745. Out here watching with Katy. Four birds were here briefly, all in the Westgate tree (one flew in from Gate); I assume they are the Gate birds. 757. (1)♂ LP/DB #627; (2)♀ Red-Wm(w)/Red-Wm(w) #1097 in the Westgate tree. They are indeed the Gate birds. 800. (3)♀ Blk-Red/M #1107. Birds are busy storing in the Westgate tree. 820. (4)♂ DB-or/or?: #1106. (5)♀ DB/LP ?? Don't know who this one is; I don't think it was ♀1097. 830. ♀LB/m #1108 Seen well (?) left right away. That appears to be it. They're all here.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Gate Nest Record 20 May 1900 4 June 1200 20 June 1030 4 eggs 3 babies ~7 do 3 babies, banded 1106 1107 1108 20 June 1030 76.0 (88) 69.2 (87) 76.8 (79) (Behind other?) HNHR
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomnicivorus Wertgate 2 February 1630. Counted stores: 460. There were 2 birds up in the granary also. 3 March Stanback watched out here this morning and reports lots of half bands and that there may only be 1 group here, as I had suspected from the lack of stores at Gate. 23 April 1540. A slight TODO here - and the 2 birds in charge - 18 and 19 - are both ub!! Looks like a complete group turnaround here! 24 April A Power Struggle going on here this morning. 1115. Watching. Lots of ub ff here - 5+. No banded birds sighted yet. 1125. Looks like the (ub)♂ may be chummy with 2 ff, but it's not obvious that they belong together. In any case, there are 5-6 ff here, all ub as far as I can tell. 13 May Saw a bird in one of The unsavory holes in the main tree twice today. Unfortunately, it's probably it. 15 May 800. Went up to the hole (no bird in it this time). It's not all that nice and, as far as I could tell with the peeper, it's empty. With luck they'll still go for another one. 20 May 1000. ♂ in that hole again. 1 June 1615. Went up to the hole. It's odd - it goes down ~2' but is actually easily accessible through the storage holes! They have 3 eggs, 2 of which looked opaque. 8 June xx Group Update xx 6626, 9855 both disappeared between 7 and 23 April - → 15 April ± 1 week. Two new ub birds joined.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Westgate HNTUR 19 June Mark reports the apparent demise of this group: not only has the nest failed but the birds no longer appear to be here and the area is being used by the Gate Birds! See Mark for additional notes. Gate birds still here on 29 June. 16 October The Gate birds are here storing and flying back and forth. This group is officially defunct.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Pipeline HNHR 8 September 730. At least 1 bird was in the granary here when I drove by this morning. 12 November Still no stores here, but there are 2 birds hanging out here on a reasonably frequent basis. Phillip saw them both a few days ago (they came to the tape) and they were unbandet, bren sir. Tonight both were in the rest hole about 1600, but nobody roosted there. 8 December Philip has recorded the 2 birds here a couple of times, but there are still no stores here and room appears to be roosting here. Thus, I'm not sure we can reasonably say there's a group here, at least yet. 1985 1 February 1320. I could only find what could be a single good-looking stored acorn here, so unless the birds just aren't trying, I'd have to conclude that this territory is currently abandoned. 5 May So far there's been no sign of anyone being here all spring. 6 May 715. A bird up in the granary when I drive by. No stores here, however. 724. 2 ub &? here! However, they may not be friends. 735. Leaving. Something could be going on here after all; it should be checked, in any case. 15 May 805. Watching. 830. No sign of life here. 2 July Birds have been here off and on; Mark saw a Warp 5 baby here at least once, suggesting that they are the ones hanging out. But he also saw an ub baby here on one occasion! No good evidence this is a territory
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1985 Walter D Coenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Pipeline (2 July) was ever occupied, however. 16 October No birds seen here the last couple of days; also no acorns stored here yet. But I may have heard birds here last night at dusk so I'm not convinced it isn't occupied. No acorns stored here as yet. 18 November Ambushed at the double hole in the granary nabbing 2 ub 88 (wow #1181/1182). There are apparently 2 more - 1 more ♂ and a ♀ - all ub (see Katy's notes). Maybe these other 2 are roosting at Horsetail (?) I held these 2 overnight and released them at 800 19 November. HNHR
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1985 Waltor D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Warp 5 HANHR 14 April 715. Walked around up here, seeing stones, holes, and a bird, but no sign of a nest yet. 5 May 1700. Checked holes and hung around here for a bit, but no luck at finding the nest. 13 May 1010. Bird in new hole! Found the nest! 15 May 900. Opened the hole: babies - old ones! Eventually, I went ahead and banded them as #997-999. 30 June Mark found the probably 2nd nest here in the same hole.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Wolfpack 4 October Katy reports a new group in between Road1 and Pipeline consisting of [illegible] ≥3 birds, inc. 2 ub♀♀, 1 ub♂, + maybe a third ♀. They are apparently storing in the large Valley Oak across the road and spend a lot of time in the Sycamore (see map on back). 19 October Came at dusk to watch roosting; there appear to be 4 birds here. 15 October ≥1 bird roosted high in the Sycamore; 2 seem to have zipped off up the hill toward Warp 5. 26 October We hit the jackpot this morning, catching 6 unbanded birds here, 5 in the large dying sycamore by the road (1♂ + 4♀♀) and 1 in the tall sycamore by the former site of The 1980 RI nest (a♂). Two may have been 1st-yr birds, but their ages were not obvious. They are now #1174-1179. I think These birds may be "from" Warp 5, but I'm not sure. At least now we can find out!
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road I Hastings Reservation 8 September 730. Back on the job! Watching from the hide with Kim Sullivan, to census, check for nests, and attempt a vigilance study. 745. 2 birds landed, briefly. ①♀wn/DB/M #383. Stayed to eat part of an acorn. Apparently no heavy storing here yet; 750. ②♂wn/M #579 in the sycamore by the road. ③♂wn/B/k #580. 820. ④♀DB-w/wn/wn #269; ⑤♀M/DB #804. Eating green acorns; no storing yet. #269 looks blind in her left eye(!) But she's still here. She keeps head-cocking to the left a lot apparently to compensate for it. 830. ⑥♂ -or/wn-or #486. 850. Leaving. Birds are not into storing yet, but are eating green acorns. Everyone except ♂672 is here, and he does appear to be gone. 1985 2 February 1545. Counted stores: Valley Oak: 1332? 2702 Sycamore: 1370 This is probably a conservative estimate; both these trees are loaded with acorns. 6 April! Missy watched here today and saw 3 unbaunted birds cavorting along with the residents - the only conceivable explanation for which would seem to be another fall nest that we missed. Argh. It also, of course, means that we have a whole slew of new unbaunted birds to nab. Fall (1984) [nest apparently]
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Road I HNTUR 14 April 700. Missy is watching the main roost tree and I'm watching some other holes to see if they're interested yet. 730. ①♀wn-DB/m #383. 750. ♂ 08-Or/wn-Or #486. 815. ♂ Or/or #579. Certainly no sign of them going to The Sycamore by the creek. Several trips were made up to the Black Oak, but I don't think anyone went to the holes there either. 16 April A big ambush in the "low" hole in the Road Sycamore bagged 5 birds - 8486, 9804, and 3 unbanded 1st yr birds; clearly from a missed fall 1984 nest, who are now #994-996. All were released after processing except for 9804, who I held and eventually glued a transmitter (2;12;-0.5) to and released. [Transmitter fell off immediately] So: everybody, apparently, but the 2 breeding ♀♀ roosted in this hole. After dark I went out to see if I could find where 9804 roosted to see if we could find the mystery hole here, and she apparently was in the Sycamore by the creek (presumably a hole used a couple years ago). So maybe that's it, but we do need to keep an eye out here. 22 April **Group update** 27 Feb. 8580. Last seen 8 Sept. by me; gone by [illegible], →DA 1 Dec 1984 ± 2 months. 8672. Last seen 27 July (Rou?), gone by 8 Sept → DA 17 Aug ± 2 weeks 24 April 1200. Bird in brush hole. Nest check: 7 eggs. Missed this one—
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 1 Nest Record HNHR 24 April 1200 7 eggs: ① 25.6 × 19.5 ② 26.1 × 19.7 Did not develop ③ 25.7 × 19.6 Developed but didn't hatch ④ 25.5 × 19.6 ⑤ 24.9 × 20.2 ⑥ 25.1 × 20.9 Did not develop ⑦ 25.0 × 20.9 These fall out into 2 pretty nice sets, at least! 28 April 1115 Still 7 eggs. 1 May 1740 2 May 1820 5 May 1630 4 babies, 0-1 do, + 3 eggs 4 babies + 3 eggs 11 May 1045 ① Or ② LP ③ Mv ④ Wh 11 May 1045 27.45 23.55 24.95 28.95 Removed to Finch Removed to Finch 12 May 1030 (31.70) (25.60) 28.10 33.35 ① Or ② LP ③ Mv ④ Wh ⑤ LB ⑥ Blk 13 May 1035 38.20 32.45 34.70 39.10 (38.15) (37.20) 14 May 700 ↓ Nest failed; see notes. Missing Decapitated Decapitated Decapitated skull smashed Alive, returned to Finch 40.10 The 3 unhatched eggs were still in the nest, by the way. (see back)
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26 May Stanback watched: 2 eggs laid ① 25.8 × 19.7 ② 24.9 × 21.4 27 May 4 eggs ③ 25.1 × 21.0 ④ 25.3 × 20.0 28 May 1240 6 eggs ⑤ 25.0 × 19.4 ⑥ 25.1 × 20.3 29 May 1630 8 eggs ⑦ 25.6 × 20.0 ⑧ 26.2 × 19.3 30 May 1445 Skill 8 eggs. 9 June 1400 Only eggs 2 & 3 hatched ① ② 9 June 1800 10.05 9.25 10 June 1200 LBlue Skill only 2 eggs. Egg 7 miss 15 June 1530 40.05 38.55 Only 3 eggs still in nest. 18 June 1015 Manue (Black) 50.05 Returned & 50.20 Removed for Day 19 June 1046 (57.05) on 19 June 54.10 White Added from R3 20 June 1115 59.0 62.60 (51.7) 21 June 1040 62.2 68.3 55.7 no eggs Eggs tossed to R3 1 July 1530 89.0(92) 92.5(88)
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road] HNHR 28 April 1115. Checked the nest: still the same 7 eggs; warm. 1 May 1740. Still not hatched. 2 May 1820. " " 5 May 1630. 4 babies hatched. 3 eggs did not: 2 were not developed (#2 & 7), while #4 had developed but did not hatch. 11 May I watched this morning here for Control Day#1. Weather was cool but not unpleasant. Lots of feeding by lots of birds. Afterwards 2 of the babies were switched to Finch for the day, 12 May I watched for experimental day #2. The 2 babies were then returned from Finch. 13 May Control day #3. I added 2 babies from Finch. 14 May ! I watched for 1 hour, during which time #269 made 3 visits, staying a long time each time. Finally #383 showed up with food, ate it herself, entered, and then turned around and left right away. That did it - I stopped the watch and checked the nest: 3 of the babies had had their heads completely eaten, a fourth's skull had been smashed and partly eaten - possibly owl predation?? Only ! This also means that 1 baby was removed totally Blk, one of the Finch babies, survived (he was cold but tk) so I removed them all and will hang onto The survivor until I can return him to Finch following Vas's watch. 25 May 1000. Bird in hole... (same one in sycamore). 1445. Checked hole: empty. Could be time to watch for egg - tossing! 26 May Stanback watched this morning: 2 (normal) eggs were laid.
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Read) HNHR (26 May) So! We apparently missed any egg-tossing that may have Taken place. See Mark's notes for more details. 27 May Two more eggs. 28 May " " " Eggs have been marked. 29 May 8 eggs now. 30 May Measured the 8 eggs. (Stanback measured them). 18 June This morning Missy watched, after which I took one of the babies home for the day. (Only 2 hatched out of the 8 eggs!) 19 June Philip watched today after which I returned the 2nd baby. 20 June Added a 3rd baby (from R3) after Missy's watch today. It was foggy and cool early today, as it was yesterday (but not the 18th). 21 June During Missy's Watch this morning the 2 breeding FF tossed the 3 remaining unhatched eggs! I returned the R3 baby after her watch. 1 July Mark banded the 2 babies as # 1123-1124
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fomiticivorus Finch HNNHR 8 November At long last a successful ambush here - 3 birds, inc. 863, 8613, and the u6♀ (now 9986) in a hole in the Sycamore (unopened). The 4th bird had roosted elsewhere. 1985 1 February 1320. Counted stores: Valley Oak: 775 } Sycamore: 1010 } 1868. Aux. Syc. 83 ) Doing well. The sycamore is especially full. 2 March Mark Stanback watched here yesterday and saw (probably) 8613 and 9986, along with a 3rd "mystery bird". 3 March 1515. Watching for the mystery bird. 1524. ①♂B-or/②B #542, in the granary 1535. ②♀ ret-DB/M #613 here now. 1540. ③♀ Dareem/ret. #986. 1545. Leaving, No sign of 863 - definitely a tragedy if he's gone! 28 April 1145. Nest in low hole in sycamore: 3 eggs, not reel fresh. 5 May 1615. 3 babies, O-1 do. 11 May Was watched here for Control Day#1. She did not have a blind; The 863 was unaffected, but the ♀ may have been freaked out. Starting tomorrow we will use a blind here. After the watch I added 2 babies from R1 to make a grand total of 5 here. Exp.days Control Day#3 12,13,14 May Was watched on 12, 14 May, Missy on 13 May (all with a blind). Only 1 baby was returned on 14 May, as the 3rd died in the predation event at R1.
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1985 Walter Koenig Melanerper formicivorus Finch Nest Record 28 April 1145 3 eggs, incubated some ① 26.1 × 19.2 ② 25.9 × 19.8 ③ 26.5 × 20.3 5 May 1615 3 6abies, probably 1 do. 11 May 1100 3 6abies + (2 added from R1) ① DB ② LB ③ BT ④ Or ⑤ LP 11 May 1100 26.30 27.25 24.00 (27.45) (23.55) 12 May 1015 31.70 31.45 29.20 31.20 25.60 Returned to R1 13 May 1025 39.15 38.15 37.20 Removed to R1 Removed to R1 14 May 1015 44.40 [Killed at R1] (40.10) 15 May 1015 47.00 — Returned from R1 37.70 1st wt 30 May 1400 91.20 (95) 95.00 (93) Inject.vol. 270 µl (someon breast) 270 µl (clean) {2nd Time ③7A → 1518 < time ③8A → 1519 < time ③7B 88.40 ③8B 93.20 31 May 1530 79.70 (102) 84.70 (97) Blood taken 1535 (②) ③8B → 1536 19 June 1050 3 eggs, (same hole); incubated ① 26.8 × 20.5 ② 26.7 × 20.5 ③ 26.8 × 20.2
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Meleamperes formicivorus Finch HNHR 15 May 1015. Missy watched here this morning for "Control Day #5" unfortunately with only 2 babies in the nest rather than the 3 that belong here. This ends the transplant experiment here. 30 May Injected the babies for DLW and banded them as #1075 & 1076. 19 June 1050. 2nd nest-same hole! They have 3 eggs, incubated. 9 July Mark found j1076, a DOR, over here today. ~21 August Stanback reports lots of acorns remaining here.
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1984 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacFlat HNHR 15 September This morning it appeared as though there might be 3 birds here, as I had 3 in view while the (apparent) R3 birds were down the road (and also up the side of PO Hill). Then, this evening, I found another roost hole where ≥1 bird went in. Thus, this group would appear to be active! 3 November I ambushed at the hole today and caught 1 unbanded ♀, a 1st-yr bird, now #985. When I let her go she was immediately greeted by at least 1 other bird. Thus, although I don't know of any stores here, I'm pretty confident there is a group here. This group was apparently recolonized this fall (it seems very unlikely that she's a baby from here...). 4 November OK. We are going to reinstate this group as of 0 April 1984 with an unbanded pair, who bred and fledged 1 baby, now #985. However! Ron claims there was not a group here last spring, so perhaps I'd better back off here and see what happens (birds are not really seen here, even now) and I can't find anyone roosting here). 7 November A bird roosted in the '83 nest hole here tonight. 12 November Still not positive what's up here. Phillip saw the same 3 birds I did a few days ago (ub pair + #985), but they are not hanging around regularly. Plus, #792 from R3 roosted in the hole I caught her in last night. However, at least every few days a bird does roost in the roost tree, so until I catch them I can't be sure what's happening.
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1984 Walter D. Koenig 1985 Melanerpes formicivorus MacFlat HNHR 30 November Caught an unbanded ♀ (988) in the nest Sycamore here; a 2nd bird had roosted in the Valley Oak across the road but I didn't have anything set up there. My guess is that these are R3 birds, but I won't know for sure until I get back to watch. When I caught here there were birds calling on The hill up above. I let her loose at R3 (where there was woore) and she promptly flew over to MacFlat, heading up the hill. So she could be from the elusive MacFlat group, unless the R3 birds are hanging out down here. 9 December The ♀ I caught above does not appear The be the R3 ♀, who appears to still be unbanded. So it would appear as though I got the 2nd MacFlat ♀. Ron, by The way, confirms That there were not birds here this spring, so they are apparently new immigrants this fall. But I still don't know what They're doing- They seem to be up the hill a lot so maybe they have a granary or something up there, but They don't aren't storing down in the flats themselves. 1985 1 February 1250. There was a ♂ in the granary, where there are now 214 acorns. Looks like there's definitely a group here. 14 April 830. ♀ chased a bird here-the chaser was ♀ wh-Blk/red (?) 988. A 2nd bird here flycatching. 988 was the 2nd bird I caught here last fall.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus MacFlat HNHR 22 April **Group Update** Lets redo this one. Since Ron says there wasn't a group here last spring, there wasn't. Lets have all 3 form the group 0 Sept. (18, 29#, all unbanded). The 29# presumably got banded (985, 988) 30 April 1920. Watched for an hour before dusk and at roosting, but other than seeing birds here I didn't find out much.. 14 May Another unsuccessful attempt to find the nest here this morning. 2 birds were in view regularly, however I did not see 3 together. 16 May Found a hole where 1 bird (at least) is roosting. It could also be a nest... 20 May 1100. Finally found the nest: it's in a live oak on the PO Hill side just up from the burned snag, ~40m from the road. I think the babies are pretty old and that it needs to be opened soon. Like to day. 1800. Opened the nest: 3 babies, ~16 do (guess). 30 May Injected the babies for DLW and banded them as #1072-1074. 31 May Bled the babies today (but lost 1072's sample!). June After bleeding the babies yesterday I put an ambush up and - amazingly enough - the ub 8# was in it this morning! He is now [illegible]. I released him at 0430. 1530. Bled #1072 again, but not the others. 16 October 900. Trying to watch here. 910. 08#-wn/m #1082. Birds have stones here. ② 6# red/Mv-wm #1073 ③ 8# or-Yel/M #1074 Also an ad# but she got away without me getting her bands.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus McFlat (16 October) HNHR 940. [illegible] Bile/M #988 Never was sure of The sex; Probably a ♂. No-a ♀ 1000. ♀ M/Yel(m)# It's possible This is the same bird as #4 and that I made up The Yellow band. 1044 ⚫ Red win/Bile #1072 1045. Leaving. Birds are here! This is the whole group.
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1984 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 HNHR 8 September 905. Watching from the truck. Noone in any holes. 925? ?wn/13 #654 in The big Valley Oak on the E side of the road. 935, leaving. With an unbanded ? here I think we'll go for an ambush soon. 15 September 545. After several days of watching here an ambush netted only 3654. 3 November 915. 3654 preening up the hill above R3/MacFlat. Caught 8792 tonight by himself in the granary; We held him overnight and let him go the next morning with a radio collar on- 12 November Still no success at catching The ?, but we have found several new holes by following & tracking down 8792- who has now roosted in 6 different holes during the last 6 nights! 17 November Still no success, despite constant efforts. Last night Phillip & I tracked 8792 to an area by The old dying VO toward Finch. This morning we checked it out and found him - dead - apparently eaten by a hawk as his brain was pecked open and eaten while the rest of him was intact. Phillip had last tracked him on the 15th, so he almost certainly was eaten yesterday! There were also claw Marks (punctures) in the body... 8 December ? here still unbanded, and I have no idea where They roost.
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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
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes famicivorus Road 3 (6 May) group over here on the side of the hill à la Warp5-like. 9 May Phillip climbed the hole here this afternoon and reports 4 eggs. 14 May I hear a fair amount of activity here this morning. At 945 I came by and saw 1 bird who garricked a couple of times, noone was in the hole. It might be worth checking here to make sure they're OK. 955. Garricks, some drumming, and chasing here. I bet somebody got nailed - let's hope it was the ♀... 15 May 700. Watching. 710. Apparently still only a pair here. ♀ub. Well, unfortunately, it looks like it's the ♂, who is also ub. These guys are waking a lot, clearly suggesting that his appearance is new. Could be time to try and catch them again. 715. Going to see if anything's left of the nest. 730. Well - The eggs are still there, but cold and not opaque- hence abandoned. I wonder what happened to the ♂? **Group Update** 9654. Apparently nailed by something between 9 & 14 May → DA. 12 May 1985. Add → ub ♂. Moved here 13 May 1985. (#S227) 17 May 545. Success at last! Banded them both* after an ambush in the hole out over the road, where they've roosted (at least) The last **[illegible]** 2 nights. The ♀ was heavy and, given The copulation is (at least 2) I've seen the last 2 days, is probably about to lay, or maybe has even started again already. By the time I released the ♂ at least 1 intruder was already here, but nothing serious had begun.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 Nest Record 9 May 4 eggs (Philip) 15 May 730 Still 4 eggs, but nest abandoned (♂ gone). Eggs measured: ① 24.3 × 19.9 ② 23.9 × 19.0 ③ 24.1 × 19.5 ④ 24.8 × 19.3 This nest was abandoned, apparently due to death of the ♂. See notes. 26 May 1720 2 (new) eggs 2 June 1600 4 eggs ① 27.7 × 18.7 ② 27.3 × 18.8 ③ 27.4 × 18.8 ④ 27.5 × 18.1 10 June 1400 2 eggs have hatched (MS) 20 June 1115 7 6abris, 1 transplanted to Road 1 for the day 1 July 1400 (white) ① 1125 66.7 (76) ② 1126 77.5 (87) 2 6abris banded HNH R
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1985 Walfrid Koenig 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Road 3 HNHR (17 May) I am furthermore fairly certain that these are the only 2 birds here. 26 May The birds have been in the same nesthole again several times so at 17:20 we checked it: 2 eggs (Mark, with the peeper). 2 June Stenback checked the nest and measured the 4 eggs. 20 June Two babies here; I transplanted to R1 for the day. 21 June Returned the 2nd baby 1 July Mark banded the 2 babies as #1125-1126. 18 October 630. Successful ambush of δ1011 and the new ub♀ (now ♀1173) who has replaced ♀1010, no longer here. Neither baby is here either anymore (see Katy's notes for 16 October).
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill HNHR 20 March Jim reports having heard a woodpecker up here this morning - reoccupation? 21 March 1520. Up here watching. 1550. No sign of Wicker life. But it's sort of a cool, windy day, so maybe someone's hiding. My guess is There's woone here permanently yet. 10 September 910. Well, that wasn't hard. There is a nest here with very young babies up in the large Blue Oak above the enclosure! 104S. 3 babies, not so small... 1985 19 January 1210. Counted stores: Main tree: 990 2nd tree 60 There's no telling when this happened, but it appears that most or all of the storage limbs at "School Hill B" have fallen. The tree is still there, but there no longer seems to be places to put acorns. 10 April #976 seen at CV# (Power Struggle today. See CV notes. 26 April 1700. 8 (and 6 eggs!) in my favorite old hole here, which is currently in fine shape. 19 May Two babies and 4(!) unhatched eggs here! 31 May Banded the babies as #1082-1085. #1087 - 1088. 3 June Philip ambushed up here and caught a helper, #976. we put a transmitter on her. Unfortunately, she ended up getting her bill caught in the harness (it was a 5+grm one) and died, either late on 4 June or on 5 June.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill Nest Record Hole in the old traditional hole (fall '74, '75, etc.) HNHR 26 April 1700 6 eggs, freshish ① 24.5 × 20.3 ② 25.0 × 20.5 ③ 25.8 × 20.2 ④ 25.1 × 19.2 ⑤ 24.7 × 19.9 ⑥ 24.4 × 19.0 19 May 1615 2 babies + 4 unhatched eggs - all appear undeveloped ① [illegible] 1087 ② [illegible] 1088 19 May 1615 70.5 (26) 68.4 (24) 31 May 1315 93.8 (88) 94.3 (87) Both have black bands 42803 Orange-Mauve / 102- [illegible] DBlue / Yellow-Mauve Daven / Red-DGreen LGreen 1902 19804
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1984 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill West HNHR 10 September 725. My, This is extraordinary - these birds have a nest with young babies also, up in the granary! 1120. 36 babies, a day or 2 older than School Hill's... 16 September 1010. Watching the hole with an ambush set up for the ♀. 1235. Leaving. The birds are in the vicinity but apparently don't believe in feeding their young. Boone has even been in the nest tree since I arrived. 17 September 730. Here again, still waiting for a bird to go into the nest tree. 830. Leaving. Looks like I'm going to have to face up to the (apparent) fact that these birds simply aren't going to come to the nest while I'm around. 23 September 645. Trying again; all set up to get The ♀. 745. Leaving; will come back with a hide. 1015. Back again; in hide. 1200. Leaving. They really don't feed here. 29 September 930. Waiting for the ♀ again. 1050. ♂BP-LP/BP-LP #530 here along with a 2nd bird. 1107. Both #530 and ♂ub just fed, but the babies are at the hole entrance. and an 1110. Took the 2 babies out and [illegible] them as #974 & 975 while waiting for one more feeding. I take that back - I left all the banding gear at the labs so I'm not banding them yet. 1230. Leaving, but letting the trap stay up for an ambush. At dusk, nobody roosted in the nest after I scared out one bird. 30 September 715. Watching from hide. 745. ♀ fed at entrance. 755. Babies removed and banded as #974 & 975.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes fornicivorus School Hill West Nest Record (Fall) 1984 HNHR 10 September 1120 3 babies #974 #975 ① DP ② MV ③ 10 Sept. 1120 31.2 (16) 31.0 (16) 21.9 (13) 16 Sept. 1245 Still 3 babies 28 Sept. 1145 (not here 29 Sept.) 30 Sept. 800 68.3 (90) 68.8 (85) Gone (30 September) 1000. Giving up. Both finally came but wouldn't go into the empty hole. 1985 19 January 1230. I didn't do a good count, but I'd say they have 250-300 acorns stored here in the main granary. 22 April **Group Update** No changes for now, although I doubt the babies are still here. 26 April 1730. 4 eggs, incubated, in the same hole as last fall. 23 May 1630. Banded the 3 babies as #1040-1042. ~21 August Stanback reports that some acorns remain here.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill West Nest Record In hole in granary tree; same hole as fall '84 HNHR 26 April 1730 4 eggs, incubated ① 26.8×19.9 ② 26.7×20.4 ③ 26.9×20.7 ④ 26.0×19.5 23 May 1630 3 babies, banded (1040) (1041) (1042) 23 May 1630 85.2 (80) 88.2 (81) 90.5 (76) crown development 2 1 3
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1985 WDKoenig Melanerpes fomcicivorus Black Oak 19 February 1030. Counted stores: Central area: 1315 Fallen tree 201 Side area 595 Doing well, considering the many holes they've lost when the fallen tree finally fell to the ground! 1120. Up at the "Corral" by Bianca are 3 birds, who have now flown off toward Black Oak. 1 is 80r/DB-or, the same (as yet unidentified) bird I saw here last week. 8 April Watched roosting here tonight (Philip & Kim). ~5 birds; possible nest. 9 April Set up ambush, but nobody roosted in the hole. Over in the next hole, however, are 8 eggs - 299 for sure. They wouldn't roost in the rigged hole. 1 May 1345. Net set up in front of hole. They have had babies here for some time, but I haven't opened the hole to see how many. 4 May 700. Net up again. Caught 1 bird by 1200: 05744 This bird, an '82 nestling, abandoned in Sept. 1983 and hadn't been seen since! 16 May 730. Banded the 6 babies here as #1004-1009. 18 May 1115. Actually caught 1 of the ub 99 in & the net set up in front of the hole: now #1025. 3 June 1600. Bird in the hole in the central area; could be a 2nd nest. 9 June Mark watched here this morning and saw lots of birds, including #1025 and 2 other ub 99. Hence, as feared, there is apparently a 3rd # here! No sign of a 2nd nest.
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1985 Walter D. Koenig 2 Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak Nest Record HNHR 9 April 1730 8 eggs, fresh 1 May 1430 Babies 16 May 730 6 babies, banded #1004-1009 (1)1004 (2)1005 (3)1006 (4)1007 (5)1008 (6)1009 16 May 730 85.5 g 86.0 (100) 84.9 (96) 81.7 (95) 79.9 (89) 92.0 (89) close close close close 6 close 26 June Mark climbed: 7 eggs For measurements, see Stamback's notes. 22 July 630 Banded 3 (light) babies 1146 1147 1148 50.2 (45) 47.6 (36) 45.8 (43)
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Black Oak HNHR 26 June Mark climbed the 2nd nest here (in central area- old hole) and found 7 eggs, including 1 raunt. 21 July Set up 2 ambushes. They do have stored acorns remaining here. 12 July Banded the 3 babies and caught 1 bird (♂1009) in an ambush. 1 November 700. Caught 4 babies from the 1st brood in an ambush at the nest hole. As usual, the adults were very wary and would not go in the hole (or any other I know about) one I set up ambushes. 19 December 1030. Watching from blind. 1100. (1)♂ Dk/Or #1005. 1135. (2)♀ub. (3) 2nd ♀ ub. 1155. (4)? yel/Maure #1009. 1235. (5)♂ blk/or #426. Leaving. Birds are spending time high up, especially over toward Bianca.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus SOBO HNHR 4 November *Group update* $739. Last seen here 15 April (by Denise); at Keep Out by November, Moved ~0 July ±2 months. 1985 19 February 1040. Watching. Lots of stores here, as well as a small convention of Mountain Quail. 1045. ① ② #736. ② ub♀(!). 1110. Looks like this is probably it. ⑦658 is clearly gone. (actually, I haven't gotten an ironclad look at the ♀, but I'm pretty sure she's unbanded). 23 April **Group Update** ub♀. Denise saw an ub♀ here 15 Apr. 1984, who presumably finally filled the vacancy created back in 1982 by the loss of ⑦640. So → Moved here [illegible] [illegible] 1984 ± OUTDOORS 0 April 1984 (but could have been any time between ~ Summer 1983 and spring '84. 9 Sept. ⑦639. Last seen 15 Apr '84; gone by MNV → DA → 27 June 1984 ±2 months. ⑦658. Last seen 9 Sept 1984 (Philip), gone by 19 Feb → DA 30 Nov 1984 ±2 months ⑦736. Became a breeder when his mother (⑦840) disappeared in 1982. Now the breeding ♀ here along with an ub♀. 29 April 1730. None in any holes here; I walked all over but found very little that looked promising. 1 May 1650. Found it! It's way off in the forest and will be a
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1985 Walfert Kocine Melanerpes formicivorus SOBO HNHR (1 May) bitch to get to (it's way up in a Valley Dale) but it's obviously there. No sounds heard when the bird flushed, so they probably still have eggs. I just hope I can find it again when I come to open it! 4 May 1000. Opened the hole: 3 babies, ~9 do (eyes not quite opened yet). 22 May 1500. Banded the 3 babies as #1037-1039. They are just about ready to go! (1037) (1038) (1039) 86.8 (93) 86.5 (93) 89.1 (94) 20 July Passed by here looking for a 2nd nest with no success. However, I did note that they have no acorns remaining in the granary. 21 August Stanback reports a "very few acorns stored here". I suspect that means none.
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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).
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Arnold I Nest Record 23 April 1915 2 young (day 0) babies + 1 opaque (developed) egg, unpipped. 18 May 1950 4 babies (guess I missed at least 1 egg!) Banded 1018 1019 1020 1021 86.9(92) 87.2(92) 84.0(82) 74.5(77) Crown Development 1 1 3 3 Tied for 1st Tied for 3rd HNHR
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1985 Walter Koenig Melanerpes fomiticivorus Arnold 1 HNHR 19 October 1050. Watching from blind. 1110.①♂ Da/Lg/DB #1020. ②♂ Red-Lg/M #1019. ③♀ Wn-DB/M #568. 1130.④♂ Lb-Da/M #679. ⑤♂ M/ #100(?) 1150.⑥♂ Yel-LB/or ? Seen well. I suppose this is j♂1021. 1200. Leaving. Still some birds not seen here. 21 August Stanback reports a "very few stored acorns remaining," which quite likely means none.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out HNHR 1 November 840. Watching from hide. There are new acorns in the granary, so there are certainly birds here. 841. ? m / ca? ? Not ?900, last listed for here. 930. ? rei? / wr? Banded, anyway. ① ? m / red (B1k looks pretty much like ?706. 1010. 2nd bird: ? LB / yell → looks very much like 9739 from SOBO. Yes: ? m / LB: rei? 1020. Leaving. I wouldn't swear there's not a 3rd bird here, but my guess is there are only these 2: ?706 & ?739. The 2 helpers are most likely gone. (?899 & ?900). *Group Update* Add ?739; last seen at SOBO 15 April, will sort of arbitrarily be sent to Keep Out on 1 July (as far as I can tell, nobody watched either of these groups much last spring). But! Lets add her after the loss of ?900 seen ?899. Last seen 1 March (by whom?). Disappeared by 1 Nov → DA. 1 July ± 4 months ?900. Last seen 8 June (by whom?) Gone, we'll say, ~1 July. Timing is pretty arbitrary here; nobody paid much attention to this group, apparently. 1985 12 February 1115. Counted stores: 617. Pretty good for this group. 7 April 1000. ? in hole in Live Oak. Could be the 1st nest of the year! 13 April 1530. ? in hole, along with 5 eggs (numbered 1-5 in probable laying sequence as determined by dirt on eggs),
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out Nest Record HNHR 13 April 1530 5 eggs, numbered 1-5. 23 April 1600 4 babies, 1 undeveloped egg (1) (2) (3) (4) 23 April 1600 7.2 5.9 7.9 3.6 Babies were too small for bands. 3 May 1020 2 babies only #1017 #1016 Missing R leg! (1) DBlue (2) No leg 3 May 1020 47.10 gm 27.75 Transplanted to FA Added from Fanny Arnold Transplanted Left in nest 5 May (3) LBlue (4) La 4 May 1050 54.95 (28.05) 5 May 1030 59.05 33.40 (41.45) (33.95) 6 May 1015 59.85 33.05 40.80 31.75 (Returned to F.A.) 7 May 1020 69.0 37.5 18 May 800 90.7(94) 62.1(33) heavy tail spotting 30 June 2nd nest! Same hole, 1 baby banded FED~ (1127) Not weighed; Mark estimates ~14 do.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Keep Out HNHR 23 April 1600. Nest check: 4 young (~2do) babies + 1 undeveloped egg. 3 May Today I began the experiment to see how/if adults adjust their feeding rates to the number of babies in the nest. Vas and I came up early (615), set up blinds here and at Fanny Arnold, and then did nest watches - she here and me at Fanny Arnold. Here there was only the pair, as expected. I then did the following: ① Weighed the babies here. There were 2, both rather different in size. ② I left the bigger baby here and took the 2nd (the one with only 1 leg) ③ I took a baby from UA2's nest. ④ I added both these babies to the 3 they had at Fanny Arnold. All babies were weighed and transferred between 1000-1100, immediately following the watches. Hence: today is Control Day #1. Tomorrow is Experimental Day #2, in which KeepOut's brood has been reduced from 2 to 1 and Fanny Arnold's increased from 3 to 5. 4 May Experimental Day #2. Vas watched here again, 645-1000. 5 May Control Day #3. Vas watched; 2 babies added afterwards. 6 May Experimental Day #4. Unfortunately, The Arnold was completely socked in with fog this morning, at least when we arrived. It was also cold. Nonetheless, Vas watched again 7 May Control Day #5. Vas watched; Philip weighed w/ Lesola. 18 May Banded the babies as #1016-1017. The no-leg one is far behind and his leg is gone almost up to the hip, but he's hanging in there.
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1985 Walter D Koenig 4 Milennurpes famicirous Keep Out (18 May) After mulling it over a bit, I nabbed the legless baby: he's ok, but so far behind and his leg is so Mangled and still raw such that I'm sure he wouldn't make it any further than out of the nest, if that. So: this group raised 2 babies to banding age, but j1017 "died before fledging". 30 June I noted a nest in the same hole a few days ago; today Stanback banded the single baby as #1127, who was ~14 do. 21 August Stanback saw no stored acorns here today.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert HNHR 1 November 1030. Watching: There are several birds here. First was a v. brief look at: 8 [illegible]/Red-LB (bands not seen v. well) #624. 1200. Leaving a hide here. There are several birds, but I'm obviously not seeing them. 4 November 930. Watching from hide. ① 8 624 again. 1015. ② 8 [illegible], probably #546 (came to tape). → yes: 8 LG/DB #546; and now ③ 9 Red-Yel/Red #720. All 3 breeders are here; no sign of 8 777 thus far. 1040. I've seen the 3 again at least once, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's still a 4th bird here. 1050. Whoopee! Here he is: 8 Bk/wh-LB #777. All here! 1100. Leaving. 1985 12 February 1045. Counted stores: Lambert FT: 1812 "Nest" tree: 630 Hastings VO 960 Hastings FT: 2252 There are lots of new holes in the bark of the 2 live trees; I do not remember them using the bark very much before. 13 April 1550. None seen in any holes here. 5 May 100. Nest is in some hole in the Mid-way tree ½ way down toward Keep Out. Babies (5!) are ~12 do, eyes opened. 8 May Injected the babies for DLW. 16 May Nest watch: 800-1100. Afterwards I transplanted 2 of the 5 babies to UA2. 17 May Nest watch 800-1100: No feedings. It was so bed that I stopped and checked the nest ½-way through, but the babies are fine.
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1985 Walter Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Hamburt Nest Record HNHR 5 May 1100 5 babies, eyes open 8 May 930 5 babies, injected for DLW (1) Mann (2) L9 (3) WH (4) Or (5) DB 8 May 930 61.65 57.60 68.80 62.20 62.75 9 May 1045 16 May 1145 71.5(88) 74.0(78) 80.5(90) 71.0 (91) 72.5 (86) (1031) (1032) (1029) Removed to WA-2 (1030) (1033) 18 May 1200 75.8(96) 80.6(85) (79.1)[98] (68.8)[100] 80.8(96) Returned from WA-2 on 18 Ma 19 May 1110 72.0(97) 76.8(86) 81.2(105) 69.2(105) 72.8(99)
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1985 Walter D Koenig 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Lambert HNHR (17 May) The weather wasn't great (cool, pttly cloudy) but it certainly wasn't worse than yesterday. 18 May Missy watched, after which I returned the 2 babies I'd put over at UA2 and banded all 5 as #1029-1033. 19 May I watched today, then weighed the babies. Only ♀775 was into feeding more than a negligible amount. 21 August Stanback saw "some" acorns stored here.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Fanny Arnold HNHR 9 September 900. Watched for ~15 min here and walked around, but saw no sign of stores or birds. 915. I take it all back! ①♀ wa-blk/m #834 and ?♂? DB-wa/DG #940, both in the smallish Valley Oak with the roost holes. There are birds here. 932. w6♂ in the Big Valley Oak poking around; doesn't look like he belongs here. 933. Chased out by 2 birds. 938. A bird flew in for a second with Yel (solid) on LL leg- but no one looks like this. 9834 is here again. 940. 9834 just picked an acorn, so the season is getting close. 1985 12 February 1145. Counted stores: 692. (!) This group now has a reasonable set of holes scattered about. Proposing new areas include a dead tree on the Al side of the ravine and (especially) the old nest tree, where they have ~250 holes stored in a couple of burned limbs. 23 April **Group Update** 8835. This bird was removed in Nov'83 and returned (along with 2 others) on 12 March 1984 but was never seen again → Dis. (Not seen after) 12 March 1984. 1645. Found the nest here - low in the smallish Valley Oak near the fence. The babies have just hatched (day 2 at most); there are 4 of them & no residual eggs. 3 May I did the watch here today and as this is the companion group to Keep Out for the brood size/feeding rate
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Fanny Arnold Nest Record 23 April 1645 HNHR Nest found, recently hatched 4 babies, no eggs (1) (2) (3) (4) 23 April 1645 7.9 5.8 6.6 5.5 3 May 1030 3 babies, 2 added #2 from KeepOut from UA2 Black (1) Blk-wt (2) LBlue (3) LG (4) No leg (5) 3 May 103D 36.75 33.10 28.20 (27.75) 43.15 4 May 1030 39.45 37.85 27.60 28.05 44.80 Put back Put Back 5 May 1010 46.70 41.45 33.95 - - Removed Removed 6 May 1030 52.60 (40.80) (31.75) (Returned) (Returned) 7 May 1015 52.0 50.5 39.5 (weighed with Pesola) DLW 8 May 1000 60.35 55.60 45.15 (1022) (1023) (1024) 16 May 1030 91.0 (77) 93.5 (70) 85.0 (62) Crown Dev: 1 2 3
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Fanny Arnold (3 May) experiment. See KeepCat notes for details. After the control watch (645-1000), I added 2 babies here, one from KeepOut and 1 from UAZ. 4 May Missy watched here today 645-1000. I failed to mention that the 2 big feeders here are 9834 and 8940, who is almost surely a breeder. A prominent 3rd bird who was here but didn't feed was 8835 (!) At least 2 others were in the area, but didn't come to where I could see them. 5 May I watched today, control day #3. Afterwards, I removed 2 of the 3 babies. additional All 3 adults fed today, but 2 birds were still here also, but not near the nest. 6 May Missy watched (exp. day #4). Weather was cold and fogged in. Afterwards, the babies were returned home. 7 May Control day #5. Missy watched; Philip weighed babies with the Pesola. 8 May 955. Injected the babies with DLW 18 May 1030. Banded the babies as #1022-1024. 24 May 845. Watching territory from blind. 900. Baby is looking out of the hole. ①♀ 4th Da/M #834 at hole. ②♂ M/or-Yell#835 in tree 945. There definitely appears to be a "separate" pair in the trees over to the south, as suggested during the watches earlier this month. 21 August: No stoves seen (Stanback) 1000. ① is ub for sure. ② also appears ub. Probably only a pair here. Found the nest! Let's call this group "Tom Arnold".
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Tom Arnold HNHR 24 May Earlier this month we kept hearing birds nearby while we were watching Fanny Arnold, but these birds did not come over to Fanny Arnold. Today I finally watched and discovered ① yes there does appear to be a new group here ② it seems to consist of an mb pair ③ they have a nest and appear to be feeding babies (not dipping yet). See "Fanny Arnold" notes for details esp ④ of today's watch. I hear no noises from the hole: maybe they're still incubating. 25 May 1600. Opened the nest: 4 hatchlings, 2 of whom are on the way out. Actually, this is probably day 1 for them. These birds will be given a founding date of "0" April. 3 June Had a net up in front of the hole, 1430-1630, no luck. The babies were in there, however. 9 June Netted this morning and eventually got the ♀ as #1098. 13 June 400. Ambushed at the nest this morning but only #1098 was in the hole (unless The ♂ got out before I pulled the string!) ! Also, There are only 2 babies left here. 15 June 1030. Banded the 1 remaining baby as #1102; the 2nd baby was dead in the nest. Missy tried to catch the ♂ afterwards. 31 December These birds petered out fast on or about the time I banded the baby (who I suspect didn't even fledge). *Group Update* Missy played the tape and got only Fanny Arnold birds on 3 July, so they were certainly gone by then. Baby NSAB; Adults Abandoned (NSA) → 24 June ± 1 week. There is no separate group here any longer.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus UA2 HNHR 9 September 745. Here we are, waiting for some birds. 845. I hear birds way off somewhere, but none is coming in here; leaving. There are no obvious stores here yet. 1985 12 February 1200. I still don't see birds, but there are lots of stores: "Main tree": 1066 } Snag: 1885 } Doing well! 7 April 1015. Watching from blind. 1036. The tape definitely brings them in. Seen have been ①♂ DB/LB-Dr #123, ②♀ Or-wN/Or-wN #632, ③♂ Yl/M #681, and ♀ Y-LB/LG #916. 1050. As intruders in the lower nest tree are 2 ub 499 and ♀ M / DB ♀ DB-WR(M)/DB ? 1115. Still an occasional intruder and lots of activity here. But I'm still only seeing the same 4 birds, except for intruders. They could very well be it. 130. Still lots of action although I haven't turned the tape on in > ½ hr, but still no sign of anyone besides the 4. Leaving. 1615. None seen in any holes. 23 April **Group Update** 9779, 9914, 8915. All 3 seen in mid-March 1984, no more censuses all year! but we will guess that they left that spring (DA→ May 1984) but in fact it could have been anytime between April 1984 and April 1985.
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes fomnicirous UA2 1 May 1415. Found the nest: it's a new hole in the main granary. It has 3 babies, 10-11 do, +4 eggs (1 nunt!) Is it possible that 2 9? laid here? Where does such a nunt come from? 8 May 1030. Injected the babies for DLW. 16 May Missy watched here this morning, after which I added 2 babies from Lambert to give this group (temporarily) 5. 18 May Banded the 3 babies (and returned the other 2 to Lambert) as #1026-1028. 19 May After weighing the babies today j1027 fledged... 28 June Opened the 2nd nest here (new hole): there were 3 babies ~5 do, and no eggs.
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1985 Walter D Koening Melanerpes formicivorus UAZ Nest Record 1 May 1415 3 babies, 11 do, + 4 eggs (= clutch size of 7) Not eggs: ① 26.4×19.2 developed! Not ② 25.1×19.8 developed ③ 25.2×18.2 embryo ④ 19.2×15.3 a mint! 3 May 1130 36 babies; smallest transplanted to Fanny Arnold 8 May 1030 36 babies, injected for DLU) ① Red ② Yellow ③ Black 8 May 1030 67.95 76.25 59.00 ① Red ② Yellow ③ Black ④ Wn ⑤ Or Att'd from Lambert 16 May 1215 87.0 (89) 87.5 (95) 87.5 (84) (80.5) (71.0) (1026) (1027) (1028) (Returned on 18 May) 18 May 1130 80.5 (92) 82.0 (103) 77.9 (94) 79.1 (98) 68.8 (100) Returned to Lambert 19 May 1130 80.1 (102) 80.2 (107) 75.8 (100) - - Pledged
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 HNHR 10 March 840. Watching here. There are few if any acorns left, but there is (supposedly) a group still here. 845. A ♂ here briefly. No- a ♀ Or-LB/or #783. < I just made that up, hint you.. 900. A ♂ came in - most likely 8611 but he was skittish and I didn't get a good look. Aha! Birds are sap-sucking back here! Moving hide. 945. Intruder! Chased off by ♀783. Now also (finally): ♂DB/LB#698; he is now here sap-sucking. 1000. ♀783 now here sap-sucking. Intruder back a few minutes later, again chased by 9783. 1015. A 3rd: ♂ La/4e2 #782 in sap area now. 1030. All for now. Could still be a 4th bird here, of course, but 3 of 4 isn't bad. 9 September 745. Left Stanback here to watch. One bird was up in the burned BlueOak granary when we arrived, so birds do exist here. 1985 12 February 1230. Several birds are flycatching over on the knoll toward Bianca; 2, at least, are banded and very likely LA2 birds. Counted stores: Burned tree: 510 } Inside areas: 343 } 853. This group has also been busy making new holes here and there, especially in the Burned Tree. They are much better off than they used to be. Two birds I may have seen (over at the old corral by BlkOak) are 8611 and ♀783, but my looks were none too good. 1315. Definitely seen here: ♂ Or/DB-Or. Who is this bird?
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1985 Welter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold Z HNHR 14 April 1620. None seen in any holes. **Group Update** 7783. Last seen for sure on 4 April 84, I may have seen her on 12 Feb 85; now may still be here...? needs checking; leave for now. 9939. Last seen 21 May 1984, gone by 19 Feb 1985 → DA ⚫ 0 Oct 1984 ± 4 months. Two new ub♀♂ filled this vacancy, apparently. 8698. Became a breeder? with the disappearance of 7782. " " " 29 April 1650. The new hole in the dead burned Blue Oak is it: there are 7 eggs + 1 newly hatched baby → hence, 2 99 certainly laid here. Since only 1 is listed, we should definitely watch here! "Clutch size" was obviously 8. It turns out that Missy thought she saw 2 ub♀♂ here last time, so almost certainly 7783 is gone, having been replaced by these 2 (see notes above, 14 April). 1 May (500). Checked the nest. There are only 3 babies and 5 unhatched eggs. 2 had clearly developed but died as embryos; 1 of these had possibly begun pipping. The other 3 had failed to develop entirely from the looks of it; 2 of these had small dents in the shell, possibly the result of some ill-timed pecking on the part of someone. 4 May 715. Set up to try and catch birds in the nest. Trapped a ♀ but she flew out another exit! 24 May Tried to net in front of the hole but no luck. Then at 1107, I checked it: empty. A failure. We then looked around
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1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Lower Arnold 2 Nest Record HNHR 29 April 1700 7 eggs + 1 hatchling. Day 0. 1 egg undeveloped. 1 May 1500 3 babies + 5 unhatched eggs. (5) Developed; embryoid. Pipped or deeded → (2) " (3) Undeveloped. 2 had small (4) dents in the shell; possibly had been pecked. 24 May 1115 Nest empty; failed. 3 June 1645 Opened the new nest: 9 eggs Probably a rint → (1 damaged [not by us] width=16.5mm 13 June 500 Eggshells and 1 dead baby below nest. 28 June 2 babies banded (1116) (1117) 79.6 (45) 77.8 (50)
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1985 Walter D Koenig Melanerpes fomivorus Lower Arnold 2 HNHR (24 May) and found a nice new hole in the back Valley Oak, but no immediate sign that it was being used. 27 May Mark found the new nest here today; apparently they're incubating. 3 June 1600. Stanback opened the new nest here: 9 eggs, 1 of which is ½ caved in and dried up. 9 June Tried to net here this morning with no success, but the nest is still going. 13 June 500. Underneath the nest are eggshells and 1 dead baby (wt 18g) So I'd guess they hatched several days ago. 15 June 1700. Put up a net for awhile this morning but didn't catch anyone. Worse than that, I don't think anyone ever came to the hole or that a bird was in it to begin with. Hence, I greatly suspect that the nest here has failed. 28 June We banded the 2 babies here as #1116, 1117. 21 August Stanback reports a few acorns still here.
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1984 1985 Walter D. Koenig Melanerpes fornicivorus Bianca HNHR 10 March 1035. Flushed a ♂ from the ravine area; he circled around The field but I was unable to get a good look at him; he very well may have been banded from what I saw, however. 1985 19 February 945. An unbanded ♂ and ♀ up at the top of The saddle near LA2. No guaftake that they are Bianca birds, but it seems likely. Counted stores: 665, all in the "New" granary. There certainly is a group here, at least. 8 April Two birds roosted in the old nest hole tonight. 9 April Set up an ambush, but I only saw 1 bird go in the hole. 10 April Didn't see anyone go in the hole, but it turned out that the ♀ was in there. We banded her as #993. She had a grossly distorted abdomen and is certainly laying. We put her back in her hole and stuffed it up to keep her in, but immediately upon pulling the rag out from the ground she flew out and off into the night. The ♂ is presumably on the nest, wherever it is. 14 April 1630. None found in any holes here. 1 bird heard, however. 23 April **Group Update** We'll let this group be founded in Sept. 1984. 1 May 1540. None in any known holes. Watching. 1610. Nothing going on here at all as far as I can tell. Are the birds even here? 17 May 745. Babies in the hole I ambushed the ♀ at!
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1985 Walter D Koenig 2 Melanerpes famicivorus Bianca HNHR 18 May 1100. Checked the nest: 3 babies, pretty old. 28 May Banded the 3 babies here this evening as #1058-1060. 19 October 1030. Several (~4) birds here. Watching for a bit. 30 October 700. Ambushed the nest hole here, bagging all 5 birds (the 3 babies, A♀, ub♂ now #1180). I kept them in my garage overnight and processed them this morning. Katy then returned them at about 800.
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