June 2012- A friend of a friend gave me directions to this hush-hush location: off the highway on the eastern edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. Hike 2 miles. Look for a round hole in the pine tree on your left, five feet up. Pick up a stick and rub it on the tree. Like magic, the Northern Saw-whet owl will peer out. Wary of predators, she popped her head up and out, as promised. I sat down a few feet away, leaned against a tree, ate my sandwich and we shared stares for more than five minutes. Milagro.