1982 R.L. Mumme 4 Melanerpes formicivorus Bianca (4 Oct) to block it until morning, I returned at 0630 on 4 Oct to find that the ♂ (presumably) had escaped. He actually succeeded in prying off one of the nails, either late yesterday evening or this morning before I arrived. I climbed up, opened the hole, and found a death 70g ♀ NB, who had no doubt starved to death in the blocked hole. She had been dead at least 24 hrs, so I'm certain she was dead the night of 3 Oct. How long the birds had been trapped there, I don't know. The ♂ certainly had the strength to get out, but I have to wonder how healthy he is. The big question is, of course, how the hell did the two birds get trapped inside? My guess is that the piece of wood from the cut came loose (or was worked loose) and in trying to shove it out of the hole, the birds jammed it in and trapped themselves. Pretty dumb, but since the piece that trapped them was from the cut, I'd have to say that the ♀ died of unnatural causes! 11 Dec Weird stuff upon the knoll, 0930, in the "favorite" VO perch tree near LA2, lots of action. At least 5 Black Oak birds (♀8497, ♀741, ♂742, ♂743, ♂744) and some ♂+♀NB hanging out. Some LA2 birds were in the picture for a while, too. Even saw ♀741 chase somebody else. What's going on? ♂742 also chased somebody. 1030, It looks like the BO birds have been gathering acorns from a tree in S. Ruine, and they seem to have taken over the knoll. Also, there are no acorns stored in the VO just below the