1982 R.L. Mumme Melanerpes formicivorus Plague 3 May Nest check, 1715. Still 6 nestlings, all remarked with blue magic marker. Egg ⑨ is gone. I suspect it hatched (it was pipped yesterday), and the young bird heaved out. Egg ⑧ did not hatch. I removed it from the nest, opened it, and found a fully developed chick inside, quite dead. Hard to see how it failed to hatch. So skew in nestling ownership at the moment is 4-2 in favor of ④⑨④. 6 May Nest check 1430: Still 6 young, doing pretty well. The blue magic marker was still visible, so I know that the two heaviest nestlings came from eggs 1+3, (both ④⑨④), hatching on 1 May. Weighted banded the young (see nest record for details. 13 May Leslie reported a possible ⑤②1 heaving out a dead nestling today, so at 1215 we trudge up to check the nest. All 6 nestlings doing quite well, although there is a tremendous weight range (25.5g - 62.0g). Leslie probably just saw a huge fecal sac (removed by ⑤②1), The rat is still questionable, but he did put on 12.5g in a week 23 May Banded + bled 6 healthy Plague nestlings today: They are now Juvs. 721-726! 4 June Walked by the nest, a Juv still looking out at 0845. 5 June Counted stores, 1000: Utility pole: 5 2° granary 125 TOTAL 600 1° granary 470