Weir Farm National Historic Site hosts Halloween Owl Prowl
Fall Path, Weir Farms NHS, Connecticut. NPS Photo.
Connecticut’s Weir Preserve and Weir Farm National Historic Site will host their 17th annual Halloween Owl Prowl on Friday evening, October 30, 7:30-9:00 PM. Owlers will gather in the Burlingham Barn at Weir Farm National Historic Site for a presentation by Frank Gallo on owls that live in this area. Using slides and props, he will review the unique characteristics of these birds—talons, hearing, eyesight—that make owls such effective raptors of the night. He will also discuss some of the mythology that has grown up around owls. Following his presentation, the group will proceed to nearby fields where Frank will attempt to call in screech owls, barred owls and great horned owls.
Frank Gallo is Director, Coastal Center at Milford Point, of the Connecticut Audubon Society. He is a veteran of bird walks and owl prowls in Weir Preserve. In earlier prowls, screech owls, barred owls and great horned owls have responded to Frank’s calls and have been seen.
Weir Farm National Historic Site is located at the corner of Nod Hill Road and Pelham Lane on the Wilton-Ridgefield border. There is no parking at the site, so prowlers are required to park at the Branchville Elementary School on Florida Road near the intersection of Rt. 102, across from Ancona’s Market, in Ridgefield. Shuttle vans will take visitors to and from Weir Farm National Historic Site therefore ensuring that owls are not disturbed by the car traffic.
Parents are urged to bring children of all ages. There is no charge for the event, and no rain date. Questions may be directed to Weir Preserve program director, Bruce Beebe, 834-5066.
Weir Preserve is a 110-acre conservation area assembled by Wilton residents beginning in 1967. It was owned by The Nature Conservancy Connecticut Chapter until transfer to Weir Farm Art Center in 2005. The Center is a private support organization of Weir Farm National Historic Site, Connecticut’s only national park and the only national park dedicated to American painting. The Weir Preserve and Weir Farm National Historic Site are named for J. Alden Weir, a leading American Impressionist painter at the turn of the last century. Weir and his family spent summers at the farm which he acquired in 1883. Weir Preserve was initiated with a land donation by Cora Weir Burlingham, daughter of the artist.
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