We walked and talked and walked and talked until, just after the sun set, we heard the whinny of a screech owl. We stopped and listened--to the call and response between two owls.

The silhouette of one of them was visible in an oak near us. We stood and listened to its eerie song. It dropped and glided straight to us, nearly touching our bare heads.

It landed in the oaks on the other side. And we stood amazed.