Dude, Where are my Bros? (Panic Time)

A very unconventional group of babies fledged today. I guess I shouldn't be surprised since I named them after musicians, including two of the most notorious punk rockers in the music biz.

Rufous, Syd and Nancy fledged today at some time after 6:30 p.m. Most babies fledge in the morning, but these guys defied conventional wisdom and decided to leave in the pre-dark hours. This fledge was so sad because little Nancy was the last one left in the nest, which surprised me because I thought she would be the first to go. Watching her squawking in the nest all by her lonesome was pitiful. She seemed utterly distraught and unsure about what to do next. Mama and Papa seemed to have left her and were probably busy tending to her siblings. If you ever watched Looney Tunes, then you know the Foghorn Leghorn episode with the Ostrich: "The left me all alone, squawk!"

Unfortunately I don't have any idea what was going on outside the box. I would love to have known, for instance if they flew toward and landed on the back of my house like the first clutch. Maybe I can figure a way to mount a camera outside the nest for the future. I do know that Lloyd and Sylvia did not abandon Nancy. Lloyd burst back on the scene to bring a mealworm and take something away, although I am not sure what. He came, he dropped and he left and Nancy must not have been Jonesing too much for food because she left the mealworm behind. The babies could be heard outside the box and apparently, one of the parents periodically came to the hole with food because little Nancy got a little nutsy a couple of times. Sadly, I was away at dinner when the disc ran out and did not see her departure, but returned home to an empty nest. Well, empty, save for one of the unhatched eggs and a lone mealworm. I assume all is well and hope that my neighbors kept their monster half-ton (bird-killing machine) cat inside during the event.

I guess tomorrow morning I will find out the details and know whether or not they all made it out and stayed out safely. At least they have a safe haven for food and learning the ropes!