Good news this morning!
Even though I looked in the nest about 2 am and he was alone, now that it’s light out the parents are back.
There’s a sound they make when they are agitated, kind of a long Brrrrrrzzzzzztttt... as soon as I opened the back door, they were on the fence making the sound, so I closed the door most of the way, and one flew right onto the porch. So I can only hope all is well.
The parents will be around to care for him/her as long as they are needed......as it grows and strengthens, it will HAVE to come down to the ground to develop it’s flying skills...they are vulnerable, but if the parents are good parents, they will stay around to ward off predators. The babies stay hopping around on the ground for hours/day(s), seeking cover, until they are strong enough with feathers developed enough to get them up, up and away! Even though you WANT to help him/her, the best thing to do is leave it on the ground, the parents will protect it and it will soon be able to fly away! The parents will continue to protect it and bring it food, even on the ground. Birds are amazingly good parents with good instincts.