2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

37B

AM

10192018

(1) foraging
(2) foraging + ran from me + climbed tree and waited, watching, did not retreat further than 10-15 feet.
Observed against back drop of dozens of screaming (like, really screeching) children running around nearby field.

Human encounter: cutting through opening in trees. run across a guy, mid-20's, alone w/ bicycle, asked what I'm doing, I explain, he gets real quiet. Then says, "That just bugged me out, like, in a good way" - I wish him a good day, walk on, then I hear him calling me back -->
I walk back and he shows me the edge of a pipe and says, "I'm not smoking weed or I would have offered you some -- I just didn't want you to think I didn't want to kick it with you." I reassure him that it's all good, no offense taken, we fist bump. I walk back toward the pool.

1

1

37B

PM

10202018

MAJOR squirrel party over here! It was such a sight.

Squirrel #12 was sadly being chased by a dog named "Ziggy"

Also accidentally walked in on a private/very hip garden party -- is that allowed in CP?

Was such a lovely + lively squirrel sighting spot!

1

1

37B

AM

10072018

Man yells at dog, dog barks at man, squirrel quaas at both.

Lots of dogs and people loose!

Squirrels heard: many.
Squirrels seen: few.

1

1

1

37B

AM

10182018

Lots of squirrels were foraging in the heavily wooded area with the birds.

1

1

Birds

37C

PM

10132018

The pedestrian trail has steps and the "flat" path. The map does not reflect that.

Chipmunk! Two!

1

1

37C

PM

10202018

A fair number of people on and around Great Hill. One group was having a picnic. A few kids on bikes. A few dogs. Squirrels #1 through #4 observed all at one time.

1

1

1

37C

AM

10122018

While following the squirrel, a small warble flew up to me and began scolding me. It flew from perch to perch around me, scolding me the whole while. The squirrel slipped off during the diversion.

Squirrels #2, #3, and #4 chased each other; #2 especially kept the others from getting too close.

1

1

1

Birds

37D

AM

10182018

Two cute tiny chipmunks played around.
There was a humming bird like Tiny bird

1

37D

PM

10142018

Squirrels #2 and #3 were both foraging in the same tree, hence the double-X. Squirrel #4 was intently chasing a chipmunk, often in circles, until a group of teenagers wandered into the woods and scared off much of the wildlife. Also, a young Russian couple walked through to pose for photos on the rock feature.

1

1

37E

PM

10062018

I didn't see a lot of communication -- or perhaps I'm not great at identifying it. The chipmunks and birds are vocal, but the squirrels calmly go about their business.

As I write these notes, I look up from my clipboard to see a squirrel looking me in the eye. He steps forward, puts a front paw to his chest, "Who, me?"

Yes. You.

1

1

37F

AM

10102018

Lots of joggers, bikers, cars, and construction in this area. Only squirrel spotted was in a wooded area.

1

1

37G

PM

10072018

2 - buried nuts in branch and debris pile at dumping ground

saw bird kill butterfly

wait, squirrel might have [unknown words]

tar pits

1

37G

AM

10202018

We saw some urban foragers.

1

37G

AM

10142018

Sassafras tree
Dead apple tree
Breast Cancer March along
perimeter — no squirrel

1

1

37H

PM

10062018

There was a wedding party in the gardens taking pictures! Squirrel #1 ran across the path with an acorn in its mouth. It seemed to notice me, but did not react except to move more slowly. Then a man came up behind me talking loudly into his phone. #1 dropped its acorn and ran into the bushes. I stayed 5 minutes, but it didn't come back.
#2 ran into a tree when chased by a dog, and there were at least 4 others. I suspect #2 is the one that ran from the tree up the rock first (see vid), called the second one down from the tree #6

1

1

37H

AM

10182018

#NAME?

1

1

1

1

Birds

37I

AM

10102018

Most squirrels spotted seem to be searching for food or eating near trees. Spotted several feeding outside this zone on the walk to it.

1

1

37I

PM

10062018

There were lots of couples out on dates, a formal wedding party doing a photo shoot, and a model and photographer also taking photos. This last pair was using some flowers as props, and as they finish they handed her flowers to a young girl who was with her parents. Her smile was beautiful. It was great to see such a random act of kindness.

1

38A

PM

10132018

Squirrels #3 and #4 might be the same as #1 and #2. Two human children in the Children’s Glade.

Not much squirrel action near the road.

Found a cool rock ledge overlooking the avenue.

1

1

38A

AM

10202018

Gorgeous area of woods, tons of trees. Way too close to a big dog party and a lot of street noise.

1

1

38A

AM

10192018

It’s so noisy! A cement mixer and moving truck are mixed in with the traffic. Lawn mowing is in the next quadrant, along with a group of screaming kids on the lawn. At the end, a group of chatty school kids walked by. The squirrels went about their business, chasing each other and foraging. One squirrel approached me, as if to ask whether I had food to satisfy on this windy, cool day.

1

1

38B

AM

10192018

There was a ton of activity on the Great Hill.
From 9:05 to 9:25, about 12-20 people and their dogs were gathered + playing off leash. At 9:30, a classroom of 45 kids came to the hill + ran around + screamed + played + chased birds. I can hear a lot of [unidentifiable word...'talks' maybe] in the trees. I'm not seeing a lot of them; however, I did see one in the tree.
Also lawn mowing was happening
Early on, two ladies walked up to me and asked me if I was counting squirrels.

38B

PM

10182018

Kids in woods acting like "Lord of the Flies with their sticks, hitting things, shouting.

Cross-country team on Great Hill track.

1

38C

AM

10192018

There was a lot more squirrel activity here - away from the crowd of children (that is now 100+ screaming kids). When approaching certain areas, I could hear quaas, from the trees (even though I couldn’t see those squirrels. But I’d hear quaas from the trees when I was approaching or I saw people with dogs approaching. There were many birds as well. (sorry, hands were cold)

1

38C

PM

10142018

* Man feeding almonds to #9 --> he got uncomfortable when I asked why he's feeding almonds and not acorns (we were right by an acorn tree) and left
* So many chipmunks near the meadow!

* Transcendental yoga on top of Great Hill

1

1

38C

AM

10202018

Not a lot of squirrels, but there were a ton of cute dogs playing together — probably around 30.

1

1

38D

AM

10172018

Squirrels came out right after my sampling time ended. Out-squirreled again!

1

38D

PM

10202018

Lots of runners and cyclists on West Drive. Very few dogs.

1

1

Cyclists

38D

PM

10062018

So many chipmunks.

1

38E

AM

10102018

As much as I enjoyed the commuter squirrel duty, being immersed in the middle of the park allowed for a much more “lively” squirrel count. Here I witnessed squirrel after squirrel or just doing squirrel things and it was enlightning, to say the least! What I found most intriguing with this hectare was the ability for the squirrels to peacefully feed, forage, chase, and run with the tight paths and the streams running in and out. The dogs were fewer, as were the people. The comic relief came when the leaf blower got turned on and the two I was observing scattered.

1

1

38F

AM

10182018

quiet woods. skittish squirrels
paper bag in tree

1

38G

AM

10182018

Garbage truck drives away.

Golf cart.

Water main trucks.

This rock is more like a long hill of bedrock with some grass and trees.

1

38G

PM

10202018

Squirrel #8 stayed around for 10 minutes. She was foraging most of the time.

1

38G

PM

10122018

It’s hard to climb with a clipboard. I looped around to the A.H. Green Bench to get my bearings, hiking and climbing east. I topped a ridge and proceeded down to what looked like a deer trail. There I encountered my first squirrel and a gaggle of school girls who ran screeching when they heard me approaching.

1

1

38H

PM

10122018

Squirrels don't like weddings.

1

38H

AM

10192018

- Beautiful hawk flying wind currents

- Ran into bird-watching group.

- Abandoned boxer shorts. Red/white checker

- Network of unofficial trails

- Seems a good place to be if you're a squirrel but I'm not seeing them.

1

1

38I

AM

10192018

Conservatory Garden EMPLOYEE -
"You're only gonna see two!"

ME -
"Really?!"

C.G.E. - "Yup, that's all we have!"

Dear reader, it was true, though I tried my hardest to find a third.

GREAT, QUICK STORY

38I

PM

10142018

It took me about 20 minutes to start seeing squirrels. So I started asking people if they'd seen any squirrels and nobody had. Just as I was about to give up, two squirrels started running around on the lawn. As I started to head back, I found one eating and one diving into the bushes. Four squirrels in about four minutes. But that's all.

1

39A

PM

10142018

A child is celebrating his 4th birthday. His friends and family are currently in the middle of an egg race???

1

39B

PM

10142018

Music nearby with tambourines, chanting, just outside southern edge of hectare.

Lots of activity in field areas — circle of chanting people with tambourines nearby, soccer game, picnicking families, and screaming children. There were none at first in the open areas, but then the children ran into the wooded area shrieking, and flushed several squirrels out.

In the wooded areas, there were tons of chipmunks and very loud blue jays.

1

1

Birds

39B

AM

10182018

I saw a squirrel en route to location [marked] 1 on West Drive. I told him “Happy Squirrel Appreciation Week!”

1

1

39C

PM

10062018

While walking here, a runnerman asked & yelled, "Hey! What are you guys taking notes of?" After telling him we were conducting a squirrel census of the Central Park, he said, "Cooooooool maaaaan."

Squirrel #1 was "passing through"

Saw a hawk!

1

1

39C

PM

10202018

two kids' parties were going on during
this sighting session. I like to think
they're celebrating the squirrels of Central Park
lawn games were being played on the
grass, which may have interfered with
squirrel activity

a purple helium balloon flew away
maybe a squirrel will be able to hitch a ride

[beautiful drawing of this ^]

1

39C

AM

10172018

Police van parked on the path and lots of dog activity. One unleashed dog followed me around, barking.

1

1

39D

AM

10082018

People running and biking on West Drive.
Heavily wooded beyond path.
Some even fenced off.
Some downed larger limbs in fenced-off area.
2-3 chipmunk sightings.
Non-pigeon bird activity.
Other human presence kind of startling when in woods.

Dog, "Lucy," ran from her owner up to the footpath I was on, "kissed" my hand, and ran back to her owner.

Circled parts are so heavily wooded I did not get to in any sort of depth.

Police presence on path of West Drive. He pulled his car out of my way. LOL.

Yet another mosquito bite!

1

1

1

39E

AM

10182018

Lots of cyclists, and a fire truck siren blared for about three minutes.

1

Cyclists

39F

AM

10142018

RUNNER STOPPED & ASKED IF I WAS DOING SQUIRREL CENSUS & THANKED ME!


LOTS OF BIRDS

1

39F

PM

10062018

Squirrel #4 must not have heard me until it got down from the tree. But I got a great video of the climb down, I think.

Also, on my way out, saw a guy practicing nunchaku. Quietly!

1

1

39G

PM

10132018

Rotten fruit here. A lot.
4/5 chasing each other and chipmunks.
6 end of tail stumped? Shorter
Saw a sleepy possible possum in a tree.
Family of red-breasted Robins.
Many chipmunks! & blue jays
lot of fast cyclists

1

1

39G

AM

10182018

Large, loud equipment just outside of my hectare, at compost site. Otherwise grassy areas were calm with a few dog walkers or gardeners, and light traffic on drive with joggers and bicyclists.

1

Cyclists