1982 R.C. Marnne Melanerpes formicivorus Hay Blom (8 June) to say what happened. But ♂173 is dead, and the nest has failed. Walking out, I saw two birds perched in the trees below the granary, presumably the 2♀♀, ♀604 + ♀711. No evidence of a power struggle yet. We will have to watch carefully here. Cutting ♂173 open at 1400, I find the stomach pretty much empty (except for grit r tiny insect exoskeleton fragments), but the liver was a bright orange-red color, which seemed unusual but of unknown significance 9 June Leslie reports the 1800 ♂♂ 561+562 up here looking very comfortable with the ♀♀. See her notes. Also, Molly has reported All 3 1800 ♂helpers (♂♂561, 562, 564) have been missing the last few weeks. See her notes + nest watches. 14 June Watching here 0850: Very interesting! Both ♂561 + ♂562 are here, and a really guarding ♀604! Very close guarding! See a bit of data on the reverse. Also, they are ignoring ♀711. Leslie reported no guarding on 12 June, but birds prospecting the same nest hole in which ♂173 died: Today they are also doing that. It seems egg-laying (by at least ♀604) is imminent here, all right. End 0950. 15 June Interesting day here: Leslie watched the nest tree starting at 0530. First of all, she learned the the birds here are interested in the lower