1982 R.C. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Plague (4 April) about 9496. About 4 conspicuous double-♂ follows (2 for sure, 2 inferred, but a pack of 3 none the less). Roosting, Molly watches last years nest up at Buckeye canyon. She sees nothing. But I saw the birds disappear up that way at dusk. Have they a new hole. Will have to find out tomorrow. 5 April Yes! Start watch 0600. About the first thing I see after walking over the crest of adobe hill, is a new hole, obviously recently worked upon (back brown, recently disturbed where the birds were "standing" at the entrance. SE side of Buckeye ravine, a blue oak about 40 meters W of last years hole. Deadstub, hole faces N. Easy to get to: Using peeper, at 0600 No eggs! 0650, Nothing has happened here, watching from Adobe 0705, 9496 alone in 2° g. Not attended. 0730 All 5 birds in Plague tree: 0740, A ♀, almost certainly 9494 (attended by two other ♂♂; I'm pretty sure also that 9496 remained in the grassy. Someone left with a wood chip (9494?). ♀ enters one ♂ flies to hole, then a second. ♂ #1 enters, then ♂#2 which is 8473. One ♂ looks out. 0745, I hear tapping from inside the hole. 0755, all 3 birds leave. 0800, I peep in! AN EGG! First (I guess) of the season, laid by ♀ 494, without question, between 0740 and 0755.