1983 R.L. Munne 3 Melanerpes formicivorus Buckeye 5 April Group update ** ① ♂234 + ♂665 disappeared 20 Nov 1982 ± 1 month Last seen 5 Oct, both missing 6 Jan. 18 April Watching here, 1545, for signs of mate guarding by ♂252 and (hopefully) ♂663. 1730, pretty good watch. ♂252, ♂663, ♀664, ♀NB all seen well. Co-ly ♀666 seen recently at the Blomone Power struggle) is missing. Certainly no evidence of mate guarding. ♀NB spent long periods alone and once moved away for ♂252, who failed to follow. ♂252 also spent long periods alone, and once moved away from ♀NB. The only worrisome thing is that I never saw the bird in the gravity: When they were around, they were always in the tops of the Valley Oak to the south of the gravity. Several times I saw ♀NB + ♂252 fly off to the south from that tree, and I saw ♀NB + ♂252 together only briefly. Could they have a nest already? I will go look around over there. 3 June After Denise reports birds in the low gravity hole, I hope it up & find 5 eggs including one crust, ~8 days old. This is probably Buckeye's second nest. See Susan's + Denise's notes 29 June ** GROUP UPDATE ** ① ♂665 returned ~ 1 May 1983 -- first seen by Susan on 5 May