The Backyard Zoo

by Jim Dunlap

"Hawk Nesting"

I propose to write a short story. The working title is "A Tree Grows In East Plano." It is about two newlyweds, Hezekiah and Naomi Buteo. After a brief courtship, these young, star-crossed, lovers were married by the wind at one thousand feet and family planning began almost immediately. The search was on for a first home. One cold March afternoon they were cruising a business park in east Plano when they saw it almost simultaneously, and at the same time. Although an obvious fixer-upper, it looked great! It met all the requirements: single family, one bedroom, wraparound bath, eighth floor, AC/Heat (seasonal), in what appeared to be a quiet neighborhood, and not another house in sight. These parents will home school, but the new place is literally right in the middle of a grocery store.

Unbeknownst to our lovebirds, their prime habitat has been declared the human version of eminent domain and is to be destroyed. It will soon be replaced with those football field-sized pre-fab, flat buildings. I suppose you realize by now that I am talking about a mated pair of hawks that have made a poor decision as to living arrangements. The area is under excavation and is surrounded by that little fence covered with plastic wrap. This tree is doomed.

These are Redtail hawks and it is a bit early for them to set up housekeeping. Be that as it may, the female will lay or has lain two eggs in that nest. The Redtail hawk dines on rabbits, squirrels, mice and should have no trouble finding food in this field.

This just in: there is a rainbow under this pot of sycamore. I had already rallied those persons I lovingly refer to as "tree-huggers" and advised them that I might have one that needs hugging. Through a series of circumstances the real estate agent, Tom O’Dwyer, of the Argent Company was notified. He assured us that the property, although for sale, would not be developed until well beyond the fledging period of the young hawks. He was not aware of the situation and he will keep a watchful eye on that tree. You need commercial property? Call Tom O’Dwyer, he’s good people.

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