1982 R.L. Munne Melanerpes formicivorus Finch 18 April Back by at 1750, Nobody in the 1980 hole this time. 24 April A quick watch here, 1500-1530. Obviously status quo. ♂66, ♂282, ♂501, ♂540, ♂541, ♂542, ♂543, ♀614, ♂616 all see well. No sign of a new ♀ No interest in any holes. 4 May Pa- reports ♂542 near Blom 1, Flying Toward Corral Viejo. 7 May Sitting in the truck here, I see a bird make a very brief entrance into a hole at the top of the sycamore hole stub. Doesn't look serious, but I will have to be alert here. 27 May Whoa, as I drive up here at 1030, 2 birds were in the 1980 nest hole. One flew out, but the other stayed in and looked out, Back at 1155 for another look, I say "hello", and a bird looks out then flies off. If this keeps up I will have to check that hole. 29 May 1700, again a bird looking out of the 1980 nest hole. I return with Alan + the extension ladder at 1800. I climb up + find 4 eggs, 3 normal (see nest record) + I run, about 4-5 days incubated, I would guess, Which ♀ (or ♀♀) laid these? Alan watched here last week and saw only the 3 "helper" ♀♀, no new ♀ at all. We probably had rampant inbreeding, but there is no way we'll ever figure out who did what. Watching the nest will probably help, but I can't think of how it could completely resolve things.