1992 M. Stanback M. Formicivorus BUCK HNHR 3 Apr IIII ~50 acorns Apr Valerie reports a NOBA 9 here (along w 1475, 1696) (?) 4 May Valerie roost watch: only 3 birds, mate guarding??? into "ladder hole" (the old trad nest hole 85,86,87) 5 May Jim reports 1475, 1696, 1398; so Finch effect still going. Why the mate guarding - or is that just roosty behavior Roost watch: 3 birds like glue - I persuaded them not to go in the ladder hole - one went uphill squeezed into the "pole hole", the other went into a shitty hole in the granary, and the third, well, it didn't go in any. At 1927 I moved away from the granary or went 100m uphill - watched the 3rd bird. It stayed there until 1947 (very dark), when Jim made a pygmy owl call. I hope it will be safe. I vowed never to keep 'em out of a hole again, but now it seems I will tomorrow night (I'd ambush tomorrow a.m., but can't get a lap done on Wednesday 12 May 1140-1215 Spied From afar. Saw 1 visit to the 90 nest hole, maybe 2 visits to the ladder hole (Leaves were in the way, but it looks like that was where they were going. Roost watch: they sounded like they were at the pole hole, but then they came down to the granary ended up in the ladder hole. Puk.