2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

The Squirrel Census (https://www.thesquirrelcensus.com/) is a multimedia science, design, and storytelling project focusing on the Eastern gray (Sciurus carolinensis). They count squirrels and present their findings to the public.

This table contains stories, observations, and notes written on tally sheets by Squirrel Sighters during the Census. Individual stories have been tagged with common story themes, such as “squirrel experience,” “park experience,” “dogs,” “other animals,” “accidental poems,” and “squirrels acting odd.”

Environment The Squirrel Census Dataset gfqj-f768 12 fields
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Dataset fields
Showing 50 real records
27A
Hectare: 27A • Shift: PM • Date: 10062018
Hectare
27A
Shift
PM
Date
10062018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
I believe the weather conditions are affecting me on spotting some squirrels. Also Safari Playground is under construction, therefore I wasn’t able to get to the center of my hectare. I tried as much as I could to look inside the construction, but I didn’t see any squirrels. I found Squirrel #1 by the sidewalk. I saw other squirrel nest but no more squirrels.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
27B
Hectare: 27B • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
27B
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
A passerby stopped me to pitch a "Squirrels of Central Park" children's story. Does the Census have an in-house publishing unit?
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Census Takers
1
27C
Hectare: 27C • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
27C
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
There are no squirrels in this small triangle of rock next to the reservoir.

We were excited to see a turtle swimming by, it claimed no squirrels frequent this shore.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
27C
Hectare: 27C • Shift: PM • Date: 10122018
Hectare
27C
Shift
PM
Date
10122018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Lots of walkers, runners, people taking pictures. Very busy area.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
27I
Hectare: 27I • Shift: AM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
27I
Shift
AM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Tons of foot traffic and dogs off leash (but, many truly adorable dogs sighted). Squirrels tend to use the trees as highways. Lots of fresh horse manure.

Squirrels eating Beech nuts.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
27I
Hectare: 27I • Shift: PM • Date: 10082018
Hectare
27I
Shift
PM
Date
10082018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
#NAME?
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
28A
Hectare: 28A • Shift: PM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
28A
Shift
PM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Like the crying child in the pink polkadot bike helmet, the squirrels have no interest in going to the playground. (The child eventually gave in.) For the squirrels, things were much more interesting around the trees — but close enough to the street that they had the chance to rummage through food litter.

* An old couple nearby adorably argued. "Yes, you wrote me a poem." (He didn't believe her.)
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
28A
Hectare: 28A • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
28A
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
There was an area with trees and brush that had litter but it’s where I saw the one squirrel.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
28B
Hectare: 28B • Shift: PM • Date: 10282018
Hectare
28B
Shift
PM
Date
10282018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
This hectare was very, very busy. I was surprised to not find any squirrels, but this year amount of people and dogs in this part of the park must be keeping them either away from here, or hiding.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
28B
Hectare: 28B • Shift: AM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
28B
Shift
AM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Squirrel nest in big birch near north boundary, no squirrel seen.

Robins all over a berry-producing tree near West Drive.

Tree buffer between Bridle and West Drive only active squirrel.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
Story Topic Other
Birds
28B
Hectare: 28B • Shift: PM • Date: 10102018
Hectare
28B
Shift
PM
Date
10102018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Two squirrels — one high up in tree, one running up tree.

Lots of nannies and kids.

School class doing relay races — too loud and raucous for squirrels to want to come here.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
28B
Hectare: 28B • Shift: PM • Date: 10172018
Hectare
28B
Shift
PM
Date
10172018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
#NAME?
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
28C
Hectare: 28C • Shift: PM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
28C
Shift
PM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
This was bonkers. Squirrels chasing squirrels! Related looking squirrels! I bet it was a squirrel soap opera. A note that there were hardly any dogs, which was v. unusual
Story Topic Squirrel
1
36D
Hectare: 36D • Shift: AM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
36D
Shift
AM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
- Squirrel #1 was very skittish -- nervously foraging as I approached, until an inquisitive dog hopped up to the fence and scared it up a tree.
- Surprisingly few squirrels, but quite a few chipmunks, and ground-foraging birds.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
28C
Hectare: 28C • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
28C
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Runners on the cinder sound like squirrels kukking. Just a little bit. Just enough to notice. Those runners need to pick their feet up.

A lot of birds. Lots of trees with berries. A birch tree, too.

I was starting to think we had zero squirrels. Fellow counter Caterina was counting the hectare next to me. I said, "I haven't seen any." She pointed and said, "There is one right behind you!" Sure enough! I said, "You saved me." The squirrel ran into the trees and bushes.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
Story Topic Other
Birds
28D
Hectare: 28D • Shift: PM • Date: 10172018
Hectare
28D
Shift
PM
Date
10172018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Woman walking along reservoir asked if I was counting squirrels
Story Topic Census Takers
1
28D
Hectare: 28D • Shift: AM • Date: 10122018
Hectare
28D
Shift
AM
Date
10122018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
1. Dog ran for squirrel 3
2. Squirrel 6 was eating a mushroom
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
28D
Hectare: 28D • Shift: PM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
28D
Shift
PM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Most of this hectare is water, so I spent 20 minutes and feel quite confident I have seen all the squirrels.

I was asked whether I know anything about trees, since I was looking up at them. Unfortunately, I don’t.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Census Takers
1
28D
Hectare: 28D • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
28D
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Tons of joggers this morning, so only squirrels I've observed have been in this wooded corner of the hectare. Two pairs of squirrels chasing each other up and down two large 30 foot trees here.

Squirrels #3 and #4 spotted again near the end of my time foraging at the top of their tree.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
28I
Hectare: 28I • Shift: PM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
28I
Shift
PM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Lots of human activity on the different footpaths.

French tourists successfully cycling with no hands.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
28I
Hectare: 28I • Shift: AM • Date: 10132018
Hectare
28I
Shift
AM
Date
10132018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Biggest dog-walking crew I've seen (14) and all the little ones are wearing raincoats!

One of the benches is dedicated to Bain Antell, "City Woman, Jersey Girl."
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
29A
Hectare: 29A • Shift: AM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29A
Shift
AM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
A good amount of noise - traffic
+ horns, dogs scrabbling, kids screaming
in the park
Story Topic Accidental Poems
1
29A
Hectare: 29A • Shift: PM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
29A
Shift
PM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Kids playing hide and seek outside the playground.

This path is not right. It is a "volunteer" path that peters out into the field.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29A
Hectare: 29A • Shift: AM • Date: 10132018
Hectare
29A
Shift
AM
Date
10132018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Kids showed up right as I sallied and they started practicing soccer. Lots of birds foraging. Several oak trees. Squirrel #1 began tail twitching on the side of a tree after fleeing from me. It had an acorn in its mouth.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29A
Hectare: 29A • Shift: AM • Date: 10122018
Hectare
29A
Shift
AM
Date
10122018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Dogs playing fetch around the area.

Squirrels found outside of hectare, but close by.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
29B
Hectare: 29B • Shift: PM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29B
Shift
PM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Squirrels #1-3 were seen on neighboring oak trees. Squirrel #1 was just making its way down a tree while squirrels #2 and #3 were chasing one another up a tree and making short "kuk" noises to one another.

Crossing the bike path, saw two 20-something guys maintain a wheelie position for 25 meters. The bike thoroughfare is pretty much a constant stream of bicyclists, joggers, gold carts.

At the very end of the count in this hectare, I spotted a pair of falcons swirling around one another mid-air, seemingly in a mating dance and squealing/chirping.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
29B
Hectare: 29B • Shift: PM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29B
Shift
PM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Squirrels #1-3 were seen on neighboring oak trees. Squirrel #1 was just making its way down a tree while squirrels #2 and #3 were chasing one another up a tree and making short kuk noises to one another.

Crossing the bike path — saw two 20-something guys maintain a "wheelie" position for 25 meters. The bike thoroughfare is pretty much a constant stream of bicyclists, joggers, golf carts.

At the very end of the count in this hectare, I spotted a pair of falcons swirling around one another in mid-air, seemingly in a mating dance and squealing/chirping.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
Story Topic Other
Birds
29B
Hectare: 29B • Shift: PM • Date: 10172018
Hectare
29B
Shift
PM
Date
10172018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Two people were feeding Squirrels #8 and #9 on the grass.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29B
Hectare: 29B • Shift: PM • Date: 10102018
Hectare
29B
Shift
PM
Date
10102018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Very busy — tons of kids, runners, bikers, dogs.

This area comprises three very busy walkways, including the road. Zillions of people out.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29B
Hectare: 29B • Shift: AM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
29B
Shift
AM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
I think this area serves as an unofficial dog park. There were lots of off-leash dogs and, perhaps because of that, less squirrel activity.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
29C
Hectare: 29C • Shift: PM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29C
Shift
PM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Birthday party occurring.
Very busy area. No squirrels.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29C
Hectare: 29C • Shift: AM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
29C
Shift
AM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
A dog chased the black #2 squirrel into the hectare.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
29C
Hectare: 29C • Shift: PM • Date: 10062018
Hectare
29C
Shift
PM
Date
10062018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Black squirrel seen in next quadrant (29-D).

I love my button.

My feet got wet. :(
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29D
Hectare: 29D • Shift: PM • Date: 10102018
Hectare
29D
Shift
PM
Date
10102018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
1. I had someone ask me what I was doing. He was in the middle of a phone call and still asked me and told the person on the other end that I was counting squirrels. He seemed really interested and asked if I had seen the black squirrels.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29D
Hectare: 29D • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
29D
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Well I Finally saw a ["my" crossed out and replaced with "a"] Black Squirrel
on my Second Day.
Talked to a Very opinionated Lady
with a type of Hunting Dog who
Told me a story about 3 Baby squirrels
were thrown off a tree by a male
squirrel.
Then I heard Nut Hatchers.
Then I think I heard Squirrel Squacks.
Almost I Got run over by a Bicyclist
on a path.
Story Topic Accidental Poems
1
29D
Hectare: 29D • Shift: AM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29D
Shift
AM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Grey one chasing black one all over the place — black one seems “bold” — gray one having none of it! Doing the tree trunk “garland” twirl — chasing — One has the sense they do this regularly — This lawn area is a great spot — Lot of shrub cover — trees + rocks — squirrel playground, for sure.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
29D
Hectare: 29D • Shift: PM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29D
Shift
PM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
There is a large 30th birthday picnic by the big rock formation in the southwest section of the hectare. They have several toddlers in tow that are running around and squealing.

On the northern end, all the tennis courts are in use and you just hear the sounds of balls bouncing off rackets.

By this time of the afternoon, and with the sun, the light is reflecting off the water in the reservoir and making it hard to see up in trees.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29D
Hectare: 29D • Shift: PM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
29D
Shift
PM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Lots of grumpy children
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29E
Hectare: 29E • Shift: AM • Date: 10172018
Hectare
29E
Shift
AM
Date
10172018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
As this hectare was majority water, I was able to closely observe the landed area. Alas, department workers started dragging hoses in and out of the gate house, and runners kept stomping through. Department workers started making repairs inside the gate house with loud equipment at the end, so none spotted.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
29H
Hectare: 29H • Shift: AM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
29H
Shift
AM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
11 seagulls
103 runners
67 dogs
17 wannbe runners
0 squirrels
0 amphibian squirrels (by accident, by design)
squirrel nest
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
29H
Hectare: 29H • Shift: PM • Date: 10062018
Hectare
29H
Shift
PM
Date
10062018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Squirrels separated from paths by geography and foliage. Despite quietude, strangely few squirrels and those seen were pretty shy.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
29H
Hectare: 29H • Shift: AM • Date: 10132018
Hectare
29H
Shift
AM
Date
10132018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
I have forgotten how to dress for 50° weather. The leaves are changing. The off-leash dog had some really impressive leaps over fencing – she was slaloming over them back-and-forth! Saw some partly eaten fruit. No swimming squirrels. The narrow path by the Reservoir is like playing Frogger with all the runners. Where do squirrels go when it's cold and rainy?
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
29I
Hectare: 29I • Shift: AM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
29I
Shift
AM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Very busy area with runners and dogs. There was some landscape work going on — two men were digging a hole.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1
29I
Hectare: 29I • Shift: PM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
29I
Shift
PM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Lots of runners around the area. Kids running around. Choppers making really loud noises.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
30A
Hectare: 30A • Shift: PM • Date: 10062018
Hectare
30A
Shift
PM
Date
10062018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
AS seen also while counting squirrels.
Starlings ~ 15
Robins (flock) ~ 30
Blue Jay (calling)
Grackle, catbird, sparrows (sp?)
2 Squirrel nests in 30-B
Squirrel #3 in tree w/ lots of robins
Story Topic Other Animals
1
30A
Hectare: 30A • Shift: PM • Date: 10202018
Hectare
30A
Shift
PM
Date
10202018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Picnic. Three people throwing a football. Kids and dogs climbing a rock. Found possibly injured baby bird.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
Story Topic Other
Birds
30A
Hectare: 30A • Shift: AM • Date: 10102018
Hectare
30A
Shift
AM
Date
10102018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
There is a man with an easel painting the rocks in the lower left of the hectare.

Another squirrel appeared on the border of 30-A/B about five minutes after I finished my count and then started chasing a third squirrel around a tree trunk.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
30B
Hectare: 30B • Shift: AM • Date: 10072018
Hectare
30B
Shift
AM
Date
10072018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
My two hectares were right next to each other, so I was really surprised how many more squirrels were observed here.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
30B
Hectare: 30B • Shift: PM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
30B
Shift
PM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Despite the business in proximity to the street, there are so many clusters of squirrel life. I tried to look in the trees but they went so high I lost sight. There’s a creepy bush where I heard rustling, and I peeked in but didn’t see the source. Was as likely a raccoon or rat as a squirrel.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
30C
Hectare: 30C • Shift: PM • Date: 10082018
Hectare
30C
Shift
PM
Date
10082018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Thought someone was saying, "Squirrel," but it was a tennis score: "Four all."

Squirrels don't enjoy tennis.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1