1993 1994 Walter Koenig Melanerpes fomiscivorus Arnold ! HNHE 4 February 1130. Counted stores: 3445. Doing quite well here. No sign of a group at Big Tree, by the way. 7 April Stores still remaining here. 28 April Quite a few stores " 12 May 920. Bird (♀) in traditional hole. The newest, no doubt (1st nest had all dead eggs!) 1200. Climbed up to check: 5 eggs (+ lacorn); all look normal and probably incubated (but I only peeped the hole). 21 May 1545. Checked nest: 2 hatchlings (already quite different in size— I probably hatched yesterday); 1 egg pipping (heard call), Neglected white 1 dead egg, developed, + 1 egg, undeveloped. So they may end up with 3 babies, but probably only 2. Est hatching date: 20 May; band on ~ 11 June. 8 July Plenty of stores remaining. 1994 4 February 1030. Counted stores: 4360. Impressive, to say the least. Nothing to suggest a group at Big Tree. 11 April 1045. Granary still loaded. None in any of the normal holes, however. 2 May 1520. None in any holes. 2 birds in the granary, however. 11 May 1145. Still can't find any trace of a nest. This group needs watching. 13 May 1230. Watched for 1½ hrs; at one point I thought the ♀ might be collecting food, but they seem not to be feeding, best I can tell. For one thing they are hanging out all over the area. 13 June 1900. Climbed to the 2nd nest, which is in the hanging limb hole: