1988 Welter D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus Plague HNTIR 18 January *Group update* δ1404. Last seen (Starback) on 28 August '87, gone by 22 Oct '87 (Connie) → Disappeared abt 25 Sept ± 1 Month. 9 April 710. Watching with the ambusher set up, trying to catch δ521 or δ721. 807. δ1442 went in, finally. 940. Still in. I have to go for now and try again later. 1330. Back watching. Bird was in the hole. Net up in Plague tree also. 1530. Giving up. Put up a tennis-ball ambush (very inconspicuous) and left. 10 April 1000. Back again to try. (or "back to try again", as the case may be). 1020. δ left; δ973 went in. Just a matter of time.. 1125. Too hot here in sun. Will try again (yet again) later. 1600. And again, I'm back. 1700. Got δ521! Weight 91gm! He's mine. 13 April 1700. Let him go! Bird in hole: 5 eggs (I marked the 5th). Everything looks fine; now watching. (Bird with green dots on his forehead.) Seen incubating: δ973; δ721; δ1441 [δDB/δ1k-wnt]; δ1403(sure) 11955. Someone zipped right in, apparently for the night. No sign of δ521 at The nest this evening. 14 April 538. I get to begin the Marathon watches here on this rainy (!) morning, going until 900. 830. The helper δδ (1403, 1441, 1442) sure seen to be doing a