2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

22I

AM

10072018

* lots of birds, wide variety
* birds were eating bread loaves

1

1

Birds

23A

PM

10072018

A lot of ground cover in this hectare — particularly myrtle plus evergreens. Tall trees but no sightings. Big pieces of bread and some sparrows.

1

Birds

23A

PM

10202018

Squirrels #1 and #2 were chasing each other up a tree.

1

23A

AM

10182018

Squirrels #2 and #3 chasing each other up and down tree.

Lovely brand-new renovated paths and lawns.

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1

23B

PM

10122018

A young woman had her rotund white chihuahua (illegally) off leash in the area between the playground and the Transverse. "Slow down!" she kept crying at it. "Slow down!" Despite the fact that he never seemed to progress above a waddle. Maybe she was on the phone.

1

1

23C

PM

10142018

A lot of people walking and biking along the paths here.

A ballerina (in her tutu and ballet shoes and all) was being photographed doing ballet poses by Bridge #27.

Squirrels seen in wooded areas that are mostly fenced off, near the paths.

1

1

23D

PM

10072018

Dense shrubs plus ground cover

1

23D

AM

10132018

Very loud! The road was busy and the walkway by the lake full of runners.

Still, just when I gave up hope, a rogue squirrel spotted me on his way up a tree. We stared at one another for a few moments and then moved on, though not in my heart.

1

1

23E

PM

10182018

This hectare is mostly a police precinct, high fences, and a busy street. If I was a squirrel, I wouldn’t live here either. The only squirrel I saw was eating trash by a picnic table.

1

1

23E

PM

10062018

I was mainly in the parking area and I observed a few nests yet no movement or signals of squirrels near them. I’m walking more toward the police station to see what I find. Once again I believe the weather conditions are affecting the sighting.

1

23F

PM

10132018

[lots of notes surrounding the map]

Quadrant has varied territory: reservoir + path, "wooded" area + bridle path, transverse, precinct + park area behind it. I expected the squirrels to be in the wooded area (there were a few squirrel-like nests there), but all the squirrels I saw were just southeast of the precinct. 3 of 4 were foraging there, in a more grassy, park-like area w/ trees but little undergrowth. People were a) walking b) jogging c) dog walking. It was busiest near the reservoir and got quieter as I went south

Saw off leash dog chase squirrel outside of quadrant while walking away

1

1

23F

AM

10182018

Since a police station, highway, and reservoir were part of this hectare, I didn’t see a lot of squirrels. It’s a popular area for running.

1

23G

PM

10142018

There were no squirrels here! Bummer.

1

23G

PM

10122018

Some people looking out at the water. Generally a peaceful place. Some people picking up litter here. One or two nuts. Not much activity due to the presence of water.

1

23G

AM

10182018

I feel like I failed. My father grew up in a poor Kentucky valley and used to hunt flying squirrels so his mom could make squirrel stew. He just died in April. I think he'd be amused that I was out searching for squirrels and not finding any!

This area has a lot of foot traffic but also a lot of noise from the cars on the 85th St. crosstown. The gusty wind is really blowing the trees, so not sure if that’s why they aren’t up there.

1

23H

PM

10062018

A tiny sliver of lawn that squirrels use for short-term foraging before dogs scare them into the bushes. No noticeable tree activity.

1

1

23H

AM

10142018

Aww, the runners from the race are singing the "I Love You" song from Barney!

Two dogs came running up to me with a tennis ball.

There are nuts in the area from an oak (?) tree.

1

1

23H

PM

10192018

No squirrels in the water, much to everyone's surprise.

A small yellow and gray bird landed on the ground right next to me feet. It did not seem concerned that we were towering over it and less than a foot away.

1

1

Birds

23I

PM

10192018

lots of people walking and juggling

I had been walking along the path looking up into the trees, not seeing much.
suddenly, a flash of movement!
a squirrel ran across a high branch and seamlessly jumped across to a branch of a neighboring tree. maybe it was late to the monthly council meeting.

1

Jugglers

23I

PM

10122018

Many joggers in this area. A few nuts scattered around but a noticeably lacking amount of squirrels.

1

23I

AM

10192018

I looked up, and the squirrel was frozen on the side of the tree – tail towards the sky, head towards the ground! It kind of gave me a lot of wary side-eye before it turned to climb the tree.

1

24A

PM

10072018

We were approached by a young guy walking his dog. He asked what we were doing and when we told him we were sighting squirrels, he said there's a particular squirrel in this hectare who always "teases" his dog! The dog was off his leashed and caused the few squirrels we saw to rush up a nearby tree.

1

24A

AM

10142018

Spoke to a woman who said she has observed fewer squirrels since the park was renovated.

1

1

1

24B

PM

10172018

There is a puddle in the area--
Heard the hawk's noise.
people are jogging and running all the time.

1

24B

AM

10202018

#NAME?

1

24B

AM

10132018

The fences were very hard to negotiate.

1

24B

PM

10102018

Lots of humans, dogs, noise, runners, bikers, kids, helicopter buzzing, ball playing. But no squirrels. Construction vehicles parked on Bridle Path.

Even more busy than 29-B.

Only two pieces of litter! Obviously dropped by accident.

1

1

24C

AM

10132018

A small flock of birds exploded around me on the path, their wings snapping like fingers at a poetry performance.

No squirrels.

1

1

Birds

24C

PM

10172018

Lots of runners , no squirrels.

Lots of teenagers taking photos and teenagers running.

1

24C

AM

10192018

There is a maintenance crew. They are tied to the fence, leaning out over the Reservoir with weed whackers, clearing the bank. This forces the runners to detour.

1

24C

AM

10102018

Many acorns along path – evidence of squirrels not seen.

Extremely heavy foot traffic. Overheard: spirited debate over energy gel between runners, someone is not excited to attend a wedding ...

Mild comedy: flickering look on runners faces as they approached and passed by, as I am friendly enough looking woman wielding a pencil and clipboard. I can see the wheel spinning – “oh no, not a petition/fundraiser/any and all things that someone with the clipboard might be hawking on the Reservoir trail.“ The typical city demeanor (neutral to all things) taken to the next level. Ha ha.

1

24I

AM

10202018

23 mallard ducks
1 weird dog (plus weird owners)
1 lost shoe (size 4 toddler)

3 police cars
3 ambulances
1 fire truck
(with sirens on)

• squirrel
* red cardinal
X squirrel nest

1

1

1

Birds

24I

AM

10192018

Large tourist group

1

24I

PM

10072018

We saw a runner, no squirrel encounters. Lots of people and couples! There was a bridge nearby but no people around the bridge. There were a lot of birds in the lawn.

1

1

Birds

25A

PM

10072018

We had trouble sighting more than 1 squirrel in this hectare, but maybe that's because in t he middle of the hectare was a big tree. And about 40-50 feet in the air, what do you know but we spotted a raccoon sleeping on a branch!!!

1

25A

AM

10132018

Lots of joggers, dogs, and birds.

1

1

1

Birds

25B

AM

10142018

There is a Breast Cancer Walk and runners both in my area. Dogs drinking from a puddle in th green path. Hunting dogs running wild with no leashes. Lots of nut-providing trees but no squirrels.

1

1

25B

AM

10202018

Thank goodness I saw a squirrel at the very end. Pretty high dog activity even after off-leash hours ended. Lots of runners.

1

1

25B

PM

10072018

A lot of runners and birds. One man looking at vegetation and birds, I think.

The two squirrels were foraging and climbing. They didn’t seem bothered by me and my talking to them. They looked up at me and gave me some lovely little eye contact.

1

1

1

Birds

25I

AM

10122018

[marked on map: "woman saw 2 on path earlier" and "loud truck"]

3 squirrels were interacting together on a tree chasing 1 for a nut & seemed 2 know each other. 2 males, 1 female, bonded
approached me and were very curious
all the squirrels I saw had nuts or were chasing for nuts, all squirrels looked healthy / were at the bottom of or in tall trees
people knew what i was doing

1

1

25I

PM

10072018

Nest building — at least 30 feet up a tree.

1

26A

AM

10142018

Cancer walk in pink, supporters cheering with hope, where are the squirrels?

#1 rolled in a patch of loose dirt, they found #2 and they chased a lot [or 'about' .. hard to tell]

entrance to secret lair [marked on map]

1

26A

PM

10062018

We started our squirrel counting in great anticipation — we headed towards location 26A off 90th, and there we saw six squirrels. They were very much the same. Most of them were kind to us and acted like they like humans. When we headed towards 90th St., we found a baby squirrel injured with what looked like broken back legs. We brought him back to Gothic base, Bridge #28.

1

26A

PM

10202018

Safari Park was closed and fenced off due to construction. But I got in! :-)

Managed to scale fence and found two hiding in a very safe area!

It was very apropos that this last hectare was abutting my very first hectare. I felt I’d come full circle (sappy chords).

OMG! My favorite spot under a tree looking up. Nothing. But I saw a white burst of color, I followed it south and it had a squirrel oddly patronizing me at the end :-)

1

1

26B

AM

10102018

Observed just one little dude in this area — tons of foot traffic, dogs, a group of very young kids, walking two by two, in formal blue uniforms. A good spot for Central Park Bingo. Khakis/ties/Bluetooth guys, tourists wielding selfie sticks precariously close to the Reservoir, someone running full sprint while Facetiming, and I mean, really a tremendous variety of dogs. Our Squirrel #1 appeared to notice a small greyhound nearby. But dog paid squirrel no mind at all — a very chill city dog, indeed.

1

1

1

26B

PM

10172018

Extremely busy area. A lot of runners and dogs. No squirrels seen.

1

1

26I

PM

10072018

We saw a squirrel! He/she ran down the tree, over the lawn, up a fence, and over the fence to another tree. Also, a dog jumped a fence. He was a big, white dog. There was a man on the phone whose eyeglasses matched his sweatshirt.

1

1

1

26I

AM

10102018

Nest here inside of hectare. Squirrels #1 and #2 in two different nests, neighbors. Heard squirrel babies.

Lots of people out running.

1

26I

PM

10102018

Very leafy traffic area: walkers, runners, bikes, tourists, etc.

One squirrel (#3) jumped down from 15 feet straight to the ground to pounce on a nut (?) — most aggressive foraging move I have see so far.

Squirrel #3 also repeatedly returned to same tree branch to eat after foraging, sat in crook of branch and trunk.

1

1

27A

AM

10082018

All of Safari Playground is under construction. Squirrels #1 and #2 were playing together.

1

1