I had finished the morning feedings and was washing the dishes that I had hauled back from the wildlife center. We still hadn't finished the plumbing so everything that needed to be cleaned had to be taken back to our house.
As I gloomily scrubbed an especially disgusting bowl, I gazed out my kitchen window at the two little fawns grazing and playing together. It was early fall and the morning was cooler than usual.
The cool fresh air invigorated the fawns and made them especially frisky. Sage, the elder of the two, was running circles around her little adopted brother, Basil. Basil was still a bit timid and very cautious but as I watched he soon began to jump, kick, and run in rapid figure eights around the yard. Dirt and grass were flying as they both bolted around and I soon gave up the scrubbing to watch in fascination.
It seems I wasn't the only audience to the two deer and their early morning romp. First one and then the other fledgling Harris's hawks came to land on the fence. Their nest was only a dozen or so yards from the deer's pen and I could see the youngest of the three hawks perching in the nest, desperately craning his neck to see what all the commotion was about. He had not yet tried his first flight but was doing a lot of limb to limb practicing.
The big sister and middle brother hawk watched the two deer with innocent curiosity. They bobbed their heads from side to side and even tried a few upside down observations. Who were these furry torpedoes who were invading their territory?
Sage was first to notice the feathered fan club. The hawks had decided on a closer look. The big sister had landed on a low mesquite limb about nose height to a deer. The middle brother flew to the ground next to Basil. Sage immediately trotted over and sniffed the lady hawk perched in the tree while Basil backed up in fear. His head was down and he was ready to flee.
The two females were still inspecting each other when Middle Brother decided to try and chase Basil. He began on foot and then took to wing. The others watched them rush around the yard together, and Middle Brother was now swooping after Basil. Within a few minutes all were involved in the strangest game of tag I have ever witnessed.
The game went on for about 20 minutes till all four were breathing heavy and totally exhausted. The hawks rested together back on the fence preening feathers while the deer collapsed and took a nap. I went back to dish washing, feeling very privileged.
I have often seen the four at casual play since that first game but as they matured they lost interest in one another. The deer have lost their spots and are now ready for release. The hawks are learning hunting skills from their parents. The little brother soon fledged and joined the family. I see the five of them daily along with two uncle hawks who are pitching in to help raise and train the young ones.
The mated pair of great horned owls has been inspecting the empty hawk nest with a critical eye for safety and structure problems. In the past year the large stick structure has taken quite a beating. One set of three G.H. owls, two nests of two and three H. hawks, and many high winds and rain storms have taken their toll.
The day after I saw the mother G.H. owl looking over the damage the mother H. hawk was also visiting and inspecting. I hope she has decided to make some improvements before any nesting is attempted. Of course, there is always the chance that once the improvements are completed the G.H. owls will take it over.
G.H. owls do not build their own nests and usually find an old hawk nest or take over a new one. Since they begin breeding during the winter months, they are ready to lay way before their hawk neighbors, and who is going to argue with a larger grouchy, broody mother owl? I will keep you posted on the continued nesting drama as it unfolds.
We are also beginning to prepare for nesting season. It can become overwhelming both financially and physically. Donations are always needed, especially during the busy spring months. Zapata Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit all-volunteer organization that does not receive any state or federal help.

(The Zapata Wildlife Rescue Center can be contacted by mail at 6812 STOP 68A, Zapata, TX 78076-2913, by phone at (956) 765-8526, or e-mail at dreams@zapata.border.net. Those interested in visiting should call ahead for directions.)