1991 1992 Walter D Koenig 8 Melanerpes formicivorus Westgate HNHR 12 June 2000. Watched roosting here tonight and was quite confident that nobody roosted in the nest. I could hear the babies, though, so they exist. Everyone seemed to roost on the far side of the tree (but I doubt I scared them off- noone even came to the hole). 13 June 1720. After Danny reported no activity at the nest here I climbed up, finding the 2 babies dead in the nest. They were seething with ants, and had started to be eaten by them, but no doubt they died of exposure after everyone ignored them last night (and previously). Why would they do this? Beats me. I took tissue from them (They were not that old) as #1986 #1987. 22 June 900. For no particular reason other than it seemed to be about time I checked the 2 old nest holes in the dead vertical limb; both were empty. 26 June 945. Bird in the lower vertical hole. 1030. Checked hole: empty. But they seem to have been working on it, since it's a lot deeper than it was a few days ago. 15 July 1545. There are still some stored acorns here. 22 July 1000. Checked the vertical holes: empty. Still stores here. 1992 1 January 1145. Counted stores: 1100. Not bad. Also 25 in the Ceate tree, which I think has been taken over by these Grits. 4 April 1320. The granary is still pretty well full here - a 1000 acorns can't be too far off!