1983 R.C. Numme Melanerpes formicivorus Plague 5 April * * GROUP UPDATE * ① ♂473 disappears 4 Jan ± 1 month Last seen by Alan 17 Nov, missing 19 Feb. 1700, I opened the new hole, and found that it has a long way to go yet. Not very deep, very rough, ragged bottom. 6 April Routine gra-ary census, 0820-1020, save for an interesting intruder (♀815 of CV2). Only ♂521, ♀494 ♀496, ♂723 seen. Also, birds are still very much committed to the new hole. Never saw anybody fly up toward Adobe or Backeye Hills, and saw several trips to the new hole. Only suspicious thing is that the birds continue to make a lot of trips to the Big Blue Oak + MacRoberts. Will have to make sure nothing is going on over there. 7 April Checked the hole here, 1230, found it shaping up, but still not ready for eggs yet. 10 April Checked the hole, 0830. 2 birds flushed as I climbed up to the hole, but the bottom is still pretty rough. 12 April Bad news, we blew it again! I had Philip watch the hole here from 0610-0845, and he recorded a pretty steady stream of birds in + out of the new hole. I climb up and find 3 eggs marked ①-③! 11 April (and maybe 10 April) were undoubtedly the critical days. Oh well, we live + learn. I'm sure both ♀♀ laid today. Tossing may have occurred yesterday.