1981 R.C. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus (Y) 7 Oct these 99 are not the "resident" 99 here. So it looks like these 4 birds are all alone here: we have a new group! Not bad at all. Also found a couple of new holes on the knoll. One old opened one is in a vertical dead stub in a Blue Oak 25 meters W of the "roost hole" tree (hole faces north). The second is in the torn, shared off face of the broke- Blue Oak 20 meters ENE of the roost hole tree. Good to know, as the two 99 are worth ambushing here, soon. End 1445. ** GROUP UPDATE; ① J9668 and J8669 found Y as 1st year birds, 5 Oct 1981: Action at the Y first began about 10 Sept, 8669 first seen there 11 Sept, J9668 20 Sept (but was probably around earlier). By 20 Sept, and especially 3 Oct, it was becoming apparent that these 2 birds were beginning to form a coalition of sorts with 2 9NB. However, the first gint that they might wrest control of the locusts from Plague did not come until 3 Oct, and by 7 Oct they seemed secure, So I say that Y was founded 5 Oct, even though all the founders were present at least 2 weeks earlier ② 2 9NBs, 854 and 855 found Y 5 Oct 1981. The same things apply for these to 99, as they wire presumably present from mid-september on. It's certainly worth noting that the acorn crop around the Y was phenomenally heavy. Several Valley, Blue, and Live Oaks had excellent acorn years.