1981 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Finch 7 Jan Pretty good watch, 1500-1620. ♂63, ♂66, ♂282, ♂501, ♂540, ♂541, ♂542, ♂543, ♂613, ♂616 all seen well, and I also probably saw ♀614 (Dgrn-BPnk(N)/Dgrn) but I should try again tomorrow. Conspicuously absent was ♀500. I'll look for her tomorrow. 12 Jan Well, it wasn't "tomorrow", but I get in a very good watch. All of the above birds, a good look at ♀614 (Dgrn-BPnk(N)/Dgrn) Absent once again was ♀500. I feel that she may have "cashed her check", moving on, dead, or just temporarily wandering and not present. Feb 19 Foggy afternoon, I sneak in a quick watch here. ♂282, ♂501, ♂540, ♀541, ♂543, ♀616 all here, seen well. Not a great census, birds not doing much. No evidence of a new ♀ yet. 9 March Very good watch here, 1030-1130. ♂63 Grn-Blk/Grn-Blk, ♂66 Red/Blue-wrt, ♂282 Tan-Red/Ta-Red, ♂501 Lgn-Yellow, ♂540 M/LPnk, ♂541 Blk-Yellow/Mauve, ♂542 ♂543 Dgrn/DBlue, ♂613 Red-DBlue/metal, ♀614 Dgrn-BPnk(N)/Dgrn and ♀616 M/Yellow-DPnk all seen very well. Lots of flycatching from VO on Arnold side of creek. Complete census, except for ♀500, who must certainly be gone. End 1130. No new ♀ yet. 16 March I swing past early (0900) no sign of a power struggle. At Roosting, it looks like the entire group is roosting in the sycamore 1980 nest tree. Confusing, but it looked like most (8+) roosted in the nest hole, one roosted in a hole above it, and one roosted in one of the two holes that overhangs the road.