Our three chicks have returned - I say three because the chick that fledged first has yet to return so far as we can tell, but sometimes it is hard to see the tape on their bands. And it is not unusual for one chick to just take off - Hurricane and Alley were like that and they did fine.
So, our lone female who fledged just as I was putting chick 3 back on the roof took all day but it wasn't the time, it was the incentive. Joli and a very plump dinner item was the real reason she came home. She's wanted to for much of the day but it has been too high and she hadn't figured out yet that she just needs to circle round and that would get her up there. So it looks like Joli used the food as a very effective lure and our girl was not graceful but she stuck the landing like a pro - and then she scarfed all the food and would not share with her brothers. She is still picking at the bones (there is absolutely nothing she hasn't eaten) and the boys are napping a few feet away. All in all, a happy little picture and I suspect they will all stay together tonight - today's fledgers don't seem inclined to venture out again and fledger #2 very much prefers company.
