1981 R.C. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Gate (15 may) out within 48 hrs. In fact, I put the die in the hole well apart from the eggs, but looking in I found it incorporated into the @ very center of the clutch. Anyway, die removed, and the good plaster egg introduced. 16 May Nestcheck 1130. Hatching. One egg has already hatched. I pulled out egg #1, which looked like it should hatch soon. Using a spring chip, I poked a small hole in the air cell, then injected in another part of the about 0.05 ml of blue food coloring. We'll see if this works in determining which eggs produce which chicks. Very small (~3mm) piece of scotch tape used to patch injection hole, Neglected to mention that the plaster egg was still present, not thrown out! 19 may Checked nest 1500. Well, bad news for dye injection. The egg I used (#1) did not hatch. 2 eggs have already hatched, and the 3rd piped + ready to hatch. I suppose the egg might not have hatched anyway, but you never know. 22 May Nest check 1600. 3 babies, 2 large, 1 small, ad egg #1 (which I dyed) is gone! Probably already heaved out. It's possible that it hatched, and the nestling died and was ejected (or didn't die and is present in the nest), but I doubt that, since it was the 1st egg laid and hadn't hatched by 19 may 15 june Roosting, and I'm pretty sure I saw metal on the right leg of the bird that went in, meaning ♂626 roosted