1981 R.L. Munne 26 Melanerpes formitivorus Low Hay (17 May) have a feeling that ♂461 is excluding her. What's more I again see little evidence that the birds are seriously incubating. I think ♂307 + ♀524 have both been in, but I certainly haven't seen any long, continuous bouts. ♀604 may be back, as I've heard plenty of garricks early in the roost area, and saw ♂307 chase hell out of somebody over there 0750 Yes, ♂461 is the culprit. ♀523 in the broken tree, ♂461 flies from granary and chases her around the broken tree, for a few seconds, ♀523 then flies to the watch tree. 0752, ♀523 "watches to herself" in watch tree when ♂461 returns to granary. This is all very bizarre. Why has ♂461 now had this corn cob shoved up his ass, only after ♀523 has heaved out 3 eggs that he (presumably) fertilized. 0800, Nest check. still 5 eggs. 18 May Nest check 1600. 5 eggs, slightly warm, although nobody was in the hole when I arrived. 23 May Checked hole, 0830. ♀524 in hole when I arrived. Still 5 eggs. I introduce a die. 25 May Nest watch, 0855-1125. ♀523 is here, but she is still being denied access to the granary by ♂461. I saw ♂461 "attack" ♀523 briefly in the broken tree, and perhaps a second time when ♀523 flew to the granary. ♀523 seen only in watch tree, broken tree, + 2° granary. Only ♀524 + ♂307 incubated during my watch. Nest checked 1145, die still present, not thrown out within 48 hrs. Introduce plaster egg, No hatching yet.