2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

39H

AM

10072018

Busy dog meet-up near the water.

1

39I

AM

10192018

A beleaguered parks employee was seen [unknown word] out new graven on a running path - disrupted [unknown word] by a tour group, then by runners, then by a parks dept vehicle, etc. etc. A Sisyphean task.

Lots of geese dunking their heads under water in the Meer, but no squirrels. :0

1

1

39I

PM

10132018

We saw a Sweet 15 party.

We enjoy ourself this time around. We felt safe and plenty of pretty pictures.

1

40A

PM

10142018

Guy blasting music w/ a speaker
2 squirrels running together
Food cart
Lots of dogs

1

40A

AM

10102018

Even though I only saw 4 squirrels (as close into the park and far from the street) I enjoyed scouting for "commuter squirrels" attempting to transcend societal spaces delegated to them. Unfortunately I was unable to witness the dreary early morning commute, but I was able to catch a glimpse of a baby up in a tree!

1

40B

PM

10142018

Quiet, mostly litter-free area. We saw more chipmunks and squirrels. One large hawk!

1

1

40B

AM

10192018

Squirrel #5 was very bold!

1

40C

AM

10172018

Squirrel-on-squirrel fighting between 1&2, and then 3&4.

1

40D

PM

10132018

LOTS OF CHIPMUNKS
SO MUCH TRASH
WIDE VARIETY OF BEERS

1

40D

PM

10202018

I forgot a note from Oct. 19, 2018 / 23-H / PM
--> The one squirrel observed was missing most of its tail. It only had a 2-inch stub, still as fluffy as usual.

For today, one path in 40-D seems to be where all the squirrels hang out. They were all quite skittish, very quick to climb up or run away when they notice a person nearby

1

40E

AM

10142018

I saw a chipmunk, does that count?

Squirrel #4 was being stalled by a HUGE Red-Tailed Hawk, and a few other small bird cronies.

1

40E

PM

10082018

Squirrel #2 climbed tree and went into knot and climbed down. Then crossed the drive, barely missing the bikers and off into the woods. Squirrel #3 eating nut sitting in tree – dinner!

1

40F

AM

10182018

Woman cleaning off things she foraged in the Meer.

Very loud barking bulldogs with sticks in their mouths probably keeping squirrels away.

Many tiny sparrows fluttering around up on the rocks overlooking the Meer.

1

1

1

40F

PM

10062018

It was very peaceful here, a very quiet corner of the park. There were many bushes and areas of tall grass that were just teeming with little birds of many varieties.

1

1

Birds

40G

PM

10132018

Spoke to a dog owner about letting the dog chase the squirrels.

This time around we enjoy ourselves. We felt safe.

1

1

40G

AM

10072018

Difficult spotting.
They were up in the trees.

1

42C

AM

10072018

"Have a good day, Boo Boo." "You too, Baby."

In low shrubbery. So quiet!

1

1

40H

PM

10082018

Family fishing, older man playing harmonica on bench next to the Meer. Large oak in bottom left of quadrant, but no nests or activity. Lots of birds chirping and eating berries.

Woodpecker! Wild raspberries.

Lots of activity on walk through North Woods to Meer.

1

1

Birds

40H

AM

10172018

Squirrels #1 and #2 chill foraging activity

1

40H

AM

10192018

Saw a chipmunk and a big group of big group of birdwatcher. Apparently, it is bird heaven, not much for squirrels.

1

Birdwatchers

40I

AM

10182018

* Sighted a hawk heading toward the North Woods

- Spoke with a man sitting in a wheel chair in the sun on Fifth who asked what I was looking for. "Birds?" "No: squirrel count" "Why" "It's information--like how many people live in NYC" "Oh yes!" Then he told me of raccoons living in a tree off Fifth just inside the Park + of a "giant" raccoon who forages in garbage pails on 107th each night, whom he sees from his apartment.

40I

PM

10132018

Dozens of children in playground
geese heard: saw 3 geese
very loud.
lots of hawks in sky.
girl feeding pigeons.

(1) eating berries in a tree
guy playing drum w/ dancer.

1

1

41A

PM

10072018

I was so excited to see a black squirrel, and followed him jumping from tree to tree. Suddenly he turned around and stared at me, as if asking, "Why are you following me?"

1

41A

AM

10132018

Under the 110th Street Bridge, a man and his trainer listen to smooth jazz while he lifts weights. His grunting could be scaring the squirrels.

Do squirrels like the rain?
Birds don't seem to mind it.
Neither do chipmunks.

Of course, I saw five adult squirrels on my way to 40-D.

1

1

41B

PM

10142018

41-B is a quiet, forested area. There was few passerby — one guy maybe was doing drugs, and a few hikers. One couple were walking her dog. There were a few chipmunks on the ground. Generally, very isolated. I saw a black squirrel run up a tree in a gray squirrel chased it, up 25 to 30 feet. Very large chipmunk population, it turns out!

1

1

1

1

41B

AM

10102018

There were no observable squirrels by the kid's playground. Noise and lawnmowers may account for this, but more likely the absence of oaks, almonds, and sizable trees. In the off trail area, squirrels were plentiful – and not altogether friendly.

1

1

41C

PM

10072018

There are several people sitting on the rock where the block house was. It was a cool area of the park I've never been in before and I want to come back and explore.

Emerging onto West Drive, everyone biking was starting to struggle on the hill. One little boy, maybe seven years old, was whispering, "Push it, push it," with every pedal, motivating himself to make it up the hill.

I saw a lot more chipmunks than squirrels here.

1

Bicyclists

41C

AM

10172018

Lots of construction noise. One squirrel followed me around for a bit (Squirrel # 2). Sirens and ambulances passed several times.

1

1

41D

AM

10142018

Guy talking to himself, taking a leak.

1

41D

PM

10142018

A squirrel had something in his mouth, maybe an acorn, and started digging a spot in the ground, buried it, and covered it back up with dirt.

1

41E

AM

10072018

Rock climber

sirens

Hauled butt up tree after scoring his nut while other squirrel stood upright and watched, perhaps w/ acorns.

Argument over dogs: "It's your responsibility, not ours!"

1

1

41E

AM

10182018

When I saw the first squirrel, I said, "Oh my god!" It was so still.

1

41E

PM

10132018

Cyclists, runners on road

Pretty calm inside forest area

Squirrel were very indifferent.

1

1

Cyclists

41F

AM

10192018

A few nut-producing trees, but no signs of squirrels. (Or nests.) One just beyond my hectare!

A man paced back and forth singing to himself.

Mallards nested (?) on the island.

1

1

1

Birds

41G

AM

10132018

Weeping willow.

Guys fishing — father/son (teen). Start laughing at something very hard, buckled over. "Sorry, we're not crazy." — teen

Man screaming, ranting.

1

41G

PM

10142018

No squirrels. :(

This area was mostly water and big rocks. I did see a lot of sweet little birds, a dad teaching his daughter to fish, and a precious couple taking engagement photos!

1

1

Birds

41H

AM

10172018

Two bulldogs trundled up to a small gaggle
A goose hissed. A different goose honked.
they stood their ground. the bulldogs retreated.
Alas, there were no squirrels in sight.

1

41H

PM

10082018

Geese and ducks sleeping under a tree next to the nature center. Lots of dog walkers, cheers and laughter from the playground, chirping birds, and some early crickets. Trees near terrace full of green pinecones.

1

1

Birds

41I

PM

10172018

Some kid is feeding geese but also terrified of geese, it would
seem

Woman to man: "If someone could turn down the wind,
that would be great."

Man talking to woman w/ cane: Something "smells like a dead body."

Kids screaming on playground

Apple on the ground

1

42A

PM

10142018

Incredibly varied terrain — sidewalk, subway entrance, busy traffic circle, and in the park, playground, dense woods, bridge, rock outcropping, paths.

A teenager doing wheelies on Cathedral Parkway, boy with superhero face paint carrying animal-balloon sword took his mother's hand as he descended subway steps. Kids skateboarding by the statue of Frederick Douglass in the middle of the circle.

I saw a man stop his bike on West Drive and pull out his phone to take a picture of something and followed his view and there was the squirrel, gamboling along on the grass by some exposed rock. S/he alternated quickly — poke around on the ground, look up to assess danger, walk a few steps, poke around, look up, walk. S/he had a beautiful coat — gray with thick cinammon highlights — and a proud tail that did a flowing slinky-like motion with every change of position. After about 20 seconds, s/he darted off into a thicket heading down the embankment to where the screams of children echoed from the swings.

1

1

42A

AM

10192018

Squirrel #1 foraging — buried something before circling area.

1

42B

AM

10142018

Good birds not so many squirrels :(

1

1

Birds

42B

PM

10082018

Central Park North busy with traffic — loud busses.

Playground quiet — two families.

1

1

42D

PM

10132018

chipmunks, sm. rat, goldfinch
sparrows, starlings, dove, robin, jay
- central park north had lots of homeless + garbage
- chipmunk + sm. rat chasing each other
- two squirrels chasing each other (one had nut, the other ended up stealing the nut)

1

42D

PM

10202018

Squirrel #3 was very hungry -- he was foraging a lot. - He didn't care about people or bikes/children.

A young homeless man approached me. He was very polite, introduced himself and explained he was discharged from a Juvenile homeless shelter. He was very timid -- respectful, and when I handed him the only dollar I had, his eyes lit up. It made me feel grateful that we were counting squirrels.

1

1

42D

AM

10142018

A pack of bikers was hanging around for a while/lots of cars on the street/people at benches. Very sad at lack of squirrel friends.

A pack of bikers was hanging around for a while/lots of cars on the street/people at benches. Very sad at lack of squirrel friends.

1

1

42E

AM

10082018

I verified this part of the map in June! Stewart and I rendezvoused at the triangle just outside the hectare.

First squirrel sighting was just outside hectare.

Construction going on across 110th Street, just outside hectare. Noise affects hectare, and of course 110th is included, but otherwise calm hectare.

Litter more toward edge of park: plastic cup, receipt, gum wrappers, can tabs, cigarette butts, bags, bottles — mostly signs of humans having been there. Lots around benches on sidewalk. But! There was a CPC employee blowing it away.

No squirrels on sidewalk.

Got asked for money or food, not by a squirrel.

1

1

42E

PM

10122018

Discovered the smell of a gingko fruit! Very pungent. (Across 123 Central Park North)

1

42F

PM

10172018

Mallards!
Canadian Geese!

1

42F

AM

10192018

One or two squirrels of the same

1