Friday, January 18, 2013

Meet an Owl during Full Moon Snowshoe Event

at Adair Country Inn & Restaurant

BETHLEHEM, NH — Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! The call of an owl on a snowy winter’s evening is a special treat, but how many of us have seen one of the nocturnal birds of prey up close and personal? On Sunday, January 27, an owl from Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness will be the special guest of the Adair Country Inn & Restaurant at the conclusion of its Full Moon Snowshoe Evening.

“Our Full Moon Snowshoe events are meant to be fun, but we also like to be able to educate our guests about what they are seeing as they snowshoe around the Adair property, so we have partnered with Squam Lakes Natural Science Center,” said innkeeper Ilja Chapman. “Having a naturalist from the Science Center lead our hike will give guests a chance to learn about the 200-acre property and the animals who inhabit the fields and woods of northern New Hampshire. And we are so pleased that the Science Center is bringing along one of its owls so that we can learn about its habits and habitat.”

This is the fifth year that Adair has offered its Full Moon Snowshoe Evenings that combine the glow from the full moon with a beautiful setting, excellent food and a walk in the woods, where guests will have the opportunity to discover the tracks of fisher, fox, snowshoe hare, deer, squirrels and mice.

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a New England-style buffet in the fire-placed Granite Room at Adair, followed by a moderate guided snowshoe walk on some of the trails of the 200-acre property, with a finale of s’mores and hot drinks around the fire pit. The Science Center’s owl will join the group at the fire pit, where the naturalist will share some myths and facts about one of nature’s most beautiful and elusive creatures.

The cost for the evening is $29.95 per person, and reservations can be made by contacting Adair Country Inn & Restaurant at (603) 444-2600.

Adair is a country estate built in 1927 by Frank Hogan as a gift to his only daughter, Dorothy Adair, upon the occasion of her marriage to John W. Guider. Its scenic grounds and gardens were designed by the Olmsted Brothers, and its 200 acres are managed as a tree farm and for multiple use, including snowshoeing, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Innkeepers Ilja and Brad Chapman run the inn and restaurant for Nick and Betsy Young and their children, the fourth and current owners of the property. For more information please visit www.adairinn.com.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center’s mission is to advance understanding of ecology by exploring New Hampshire’s natural world through live animal exhibits, educational programs and outreaches. They are the only Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution in northern New England. For more information visit www.nhnature.org.