1982 R.C. Murine u 1 Melanerpes formicivorus School Hill 9 Feb Counted stores, 1630: 1210 TOTAL A sample of about 40 acorns taken from the granary. These were replaced by a roughly equivalent # of my own. 1 April Counted stores, 1800: 1200 TOTAL 3 April Alan (24 April) and Leslie (today) have reported a constant stream of birds in + out of a new hole, located in the nearly dead (Blue?) Oak 30m SW of the SW corner of the enclosure, Lowe of two holes, I climbed up to the hole (with some difficulty: a short length of ladder would be easier) and peeped in with the new improved peeper at 1800: No eggs yet, but the hole looks nearly ready: A nice carpet of wood chips. What bothers me is that from what Alan saw yesterday and what Leslie (t.f.: I showed her around school Hill earlier) saw this afternoon, it doesn't seem like any 9-guarding has begun. But, we shall continue to keep an eye on things here 5 April Checked the hole, 1230: No eggs. 7 April " " 1330: No eggs. 11 April Checked the hole, 1400: No eggs 13 April " " " 1330: No eggs. Leslie reports mate-guarding 15 April " " " 1800: No eggs: " " NO " " 17 April " " " 1600: No eggs. However, I open it up anyway, since it looks like this will be the nest hole (a Q was in as I walked up. When she flushed, 2 other birds peered nearby followed her.