1982 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes Fornicivorus Low Hay 26 April One more egg laid today, probably the work of 9524, making 8 eggs and a probable skew of 5-3 (4-3 if normal eggs are counted). I suspect that the clutch is now complete, meaning May 6 would be a good day to look for hatching. May 28 for banding 29 April Checked nest, still 8 eggs, 1245. So clutch was complete 26 April. 6 May Nest check 1715. Hatching! 4 eggs have hatched: 3 young from eggs ① ③ r④ all marked with blue sharpie on the right leg. Egg ⑤ had just hatched... one hatchling was still attached to the eggshell by the egg membranes. I took this as compelling evidence that that nestling was from egg ⑤, and I marked him with blue sharpie on left leg (and back + tail, too). The runt ② has disappeared already. too bad. 7 May Nest check, 1530: 6 young! Eggs ⑥+⑦ hatched today, and those young marked with blue sharpie on the right wing! Egg ⑧ not yet hatched. Young from yesterday remarked. 11 May Nest check, 0800 Still six young, but certainly one and maybe two are on the way out (see nest record for details) All the marks of 7 May still visible. No sign of egg⑧, but the absolute runt (6 grams) was not marked, while the others (eve ⑥ or ⑦, one on right wing, were visible. So I suspect that either one of ⑥ or ⑦ has already been carried out of the nest, and the super runt came from ⑧. This → means all 7 normal eggs hatched.