1981 R.L. Munne Melanerpes formicivorus Low Hay (8 April) The persistence of the ⚫ 1500 ♂♂ and ♀601 in the 2° granary raises the possibility that they could actually bud off and defend that area. Actually close quarters, but stranger things have happened, I suppose. At the moment, ♂492+♀601 have access to the sap tree (both sapsuck briefly, along with ♂NIB, at 0935. 0945, back at the 2° area, I find ♀587 Another bird (the unbanded ♂) present as well. Were they the birds I saw mounting over here. 1000 a new face in the 2° area, the watch tree, ♀633 LPAK-DB/me /LPAK-DB/me metal from Warp 5, of all places. 1025 ♀623 in the watch tree, too. End 1030. Will the 1500 ♂♂ and ♀601 hang on? Will the Low Hay be ever expand their activities outward from the 1° granary? Tune in tomorrow. 15 April Well, 1 week later, very different. Nobody around as I arrive at 1100. ♂307, ♂461, ♀523, ♀524, ♀604 all see well + repeatedly. But no evidence of ♀602. Also saw ♂461 mildly chase ♀604 3 times in the 1° granary, and ♀524 was chased once. Also bird calling from the 2° area. Still some sapsucking action 20 April Start 1320. 1 ♂ in the sap tree, 1 in granary as I arrive. latter flies to UHay area before I see buds. Windy. 1430, ♂461, ♂307, ♀523, ♀524 metal see well! More evidence of ♂461 chasing some ♀, though he seems on good terms with ♀523. No looking at any holes, yet. A 3rd ♀, Probably [illegible], was also around. No evidence of ♀602 -- again! I'll bet she's gone.