1981 R.C. Mumme Melanerpes fornicivorus Son-of-Black-Oak (SOBo) Hustings Reservation 7 Feb At 1530, I casually stroll down the grassy slope east of Black Oak and, lo+ behold, stumble upon a brand, new Acorn woodpecker group! Here are the facts. partially dead ① A sleazy looking Valley Oak at the base of Black Oak Field (just before the extremely steep part) has a pretty good number of Acorns, mostly Q. chrysolepis. Not surprising, in that Golden Oak predominates in the steep terrain below the granary, and their acorns littered the ground while I walked around. ② I sit down + try to watch, and 4 birds show up. At least 3 (I think) were unbanded, and one of the 3 was ♀. ③ This might explain my observation of 2 unbanded ♂♂ yesterday in this area (see Black Oak notes) ④ Did these birds just colonize this granary this past fall in association with the big Q. chrysolepis crop, or was it the year before? I remember strolling by here in the summer of 1979 and finding no activity. Still, it is possible that this territory was occupied fall 1979 or spring 1980. However, I would suspect fall 1980 is more likely ⑤ One of the 4 birds that was here seemed to have a "1st year bird's karrit". ⑥ I can count ~300 acorns while sitting above the granary. that does not include the backside. Backside make ~600 total 12 Feb After moving hide down from Black Oak, I try here again at 1500 hrs, a bird flushed from the granary as I walked up. 1630. Nothing in 2¢ granary. Karrit; 40 to the S, but that's all folks. Roosting I find one bird lo of the granary low hole,