1982 R.C. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Road I (30 March) either way, although it didn't appear so: 8486, 9383 9269, 8577, 9578 all seen. Also saw a bird briefly enter the 1981 nest hole, not the new one underneath it. Will have to get both of them ready. 1 April Hawkway opened up the new Black Oak hole, but it began to rain like hell before I could finish. Patched up the saw marks with DAE 2 April Watching from PO Hill, 0815. Still doesn't seem like anything serious here yet, but I am getting a suggestion that 8486 is starting (although not fully) to guard 9269. Will have to watch from a blind here, above the granary. Only once did a bird visit a hole. I think it was 8486, who looked into the 1981 hole, not the new hole 4 April Watching 0815, from blind above granary. It looks like ♀-guarding has begun! I saw 4 nice cases of 8486 following 9269. No action at the holes, but that may have been because a in Red-tailed Hawk sat in the Black Oak from 0830-0920. Also, a bit more dominance: In the 1º granary, 9383 chattered to 9269 again! Also, I saw 8580 chatter to 8577. Dom → 5 April Watching from PO Hill, 0900. 1000, Mate guarding is definitely on! 8486 followed 9269 at least 10 times, and never failed to follow. Also, about 6 points the two were within 15 m, never far apart. However, No real interest in any holes! 8486 peeked into the new hole once, but that was all. Birds were haying out a lot in the clearing 50m W of the granary. Will check there for holes. 1020, in a decaying Black Oak there is One shitty hole, but nothing promising