1983 R.C. Numme Melanerpes formicivorus 2 1800 (22Feb) I'm not sure what the big attraction here is. Certainly there are a few usable storage holes around, but nothing to write home about. There are still acorns in the live oaks along the creek (Stellers + Scrub Jays visiting these trees frequently). It's also a very warm, sunny, amazingly spring-like day, too. This situation warrants further attention of Plague 1215, Just saw ♂723 M/D6crem /Lpink here chased a bit by a ♂NB in the Valley Out at the base of the "lst canyon". A ♂+a ♀ (both unbundled) were looking quite frldly there. 1230, ♂753 Red-wnt/LBlue of Still Also around. Quite a free-for-all. Very quiet now, though. 23 Feb Grarany census 1040-1240. I walked by the scene of yesterdays action, and found nothing going on. 1230, Saw ♂476 excavating a new hole in the old dead 190 nest stub. Fortunately, the hole is fairly close to the base, so rope ladder fastened above or extension ladder should work. Currently, it looks like the hole is 4" deep, judging by ♂476's dipping. Incidentally, the 1981 nest hole has fallen apart: I found the cut, soalted rotten, beneath the hole 3-4 days ago 3 March Routine grarany census, 1420-1620: ♀193, ♂347, ♂476, ♂9785,786,787 all seen well. 26 March After ambush + removal of ♂347 last week and shooting of ♂476 yesterday, we have a moderate power struggle going on. At 1245, when F get here, ♂622 of 1500 (!) seems to have it