1982 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Hay Blom (28 June) during which time only ♂562 + ♀604 incubated. ♀711 seen near the nest, but I never saw ♂561. 12/15, I check the nest and find all 4 eggs still present. Eggs ②, ③ + ④ all appear to be developing, and probably have a good chance of hatching. Egg ① (which was actually the second egg laid), the monster, doesn't look like it will hatch. I also measured egg ④, which Walter neglected to measure (see his notes): 25.7 x 19.9. 16 July Leslie watched here yesterday and saw no feedings, so at 0950 I struggle up to check the nest. Indeed, it has FAILED; What The nest is totally empty, except for a suspicious looking pellet about 3/4 inch moist, white both on one side. Feather shafts inside longitudinal + parallel. 1/2 inch wide long, dark gray. A Gopher snake, perhaps? I'll have to ask Alan. Doesn't look like an owl pellet. Young were being fed fairly vigorously on 11 July (side Leslie), and since acorns are still present here, predation certainly is the likely cause of nest failure. Young were ~ 14-16 days old at the time of failure. I saw ♀604 intruding today at Cow Bay, so she is still with us. 22 July I described the pellet to Harry Green at Brinkley, and he seemed to think that a snake was quite likely. 24 July 0700-0830, interesting watch up here. ♂562, ♀604, ♀711 all here + obvious, but ♂561 is decidedly missing. Lots of intruders in the periphery + occasional chasing. One intruder was J787 from 1800, but another was either a ♂ or M/Red M/Dpi-It (or raw? Dp-i), who I have no good idea.