1989 Waltin D Koenig Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill West HNHR 21 April 1800. Bird flushed from 1988 (2nd) nest hole. Climbed up and checked it - it has been deepened and I couldn't reach the bottom, but with a stick I was pretty sure I felt at least 2 eggs. 22 April 1700. Opened the hole, which has 3 eggs; 2 are opaque and dirty, one translucent and dirty. My guess is that only the 2 are fertile and that incubation is well along. 27 April 1420. Noone in hole, but still 3 eggs, warm & dirty. 30 April 1200. All 3 babies have hatched; look fine! 13 May 1140. Set up for nest ambush. 1300. NOBA ♀ came to feed! Got her! Banded and released by 1315. Staying on to try for a 2nd bird. ♀ is now #1687. 1400. Pretty darn slow up here. Will have to try again tomorrow. 14 May 1445. Set up and trying again. 1545. 08 or M #530, fed. 1625. 8 or Wh/m #530 again. 1645. Leaving. My guess is that it's just a pair here: 8530 and the new ♀ that I caught yesterday. Things are so slow here that's it's hard to know for sure, but I doubt anyone else is here. Indeed, were all those other birds (♀1374, ♀1389, & 8ub) really seen well earlier this year? Sorry, Mark - it was too cold, and I was too tired, to measure the babies! 21 May 1515. Came up to band the babies only to find them (2) dead and cold in the nest. What happened? Babies have certainly not been dead more than a day or so. WL = 59 and 55. Parasites are still on them! I guess I'll take them back and get tissue.