2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

15I

AM

10082018

Squirrel number one ran from tree to tree and around the playground (empty at the time).

Loud hectare! Drainage sounds, birds, cars, people.

Birthday balloon caught in tree.

No kids until 9:17 a.m. on the playground.

Two Russell terriers meeting each other.

Strollers!

Hotdog stand being pulled down the street, setting up for the day.

Not many sightings on the sidewalk.

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1

1

15I

AM

10202018

This path is calm, but the roads around it have a lot of carriages horses and strollers and bicycles. The squirrels don’t seem to be paying any attention to that — they’re just chasing each other around!

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1

16A

PM

10082018

- Row of cops just sitting along the side of a stone wall (6).

- Lots of acorns lining the road

- Passed a guy being filmed who had what looked like a pig-nose attachment

- Upon further inspection, cops parked a string of motorcycles by Alexander on Hu

1

16A

AM

10132018

Parks cleaning people driving and drinking coffee at the same time. His driving was quite skilled!

Finally on my way out I met a couple from South Africa and they showed me pictures of all kinds of elephants and cheetahs and his girlfriend, and he was here entering a fishing competition in Alabama.

Lots of tourists climbing the rock.

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1

16B

AM

10202018

Saw a family photo shoot with a little dog named Queenie, as well as some ducks, but hardly any squirrels! If I was a squirrel I'd be asleep in my nest right now, for sure.

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1

1

16B

AM

10142018

Squirrel #2 was difficult to record — I spotted it on the ground, then marked its location. When I looked back for fur color, it was already up a tree 10 feet away. When I looked back again, it had climbed across the upper branches and was descending a different tree, 15 more feet away.

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16B

PM

10172018

Much quieter — time of day?

1

16C

PM

10132018

One adult grey squirrel found a whole piece of toast. Some babies walked toward him; unclear if they wanted the squirrel or the toast.

I saw the most beautiful Bluejay.

a woman stopped me + thanked me for doing the "squirrel count."

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1

1

16C

AM

10082018

Lots of dogs in the meadow might have kept the squirrels hiding on that side of the hectare.

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1

16C

PM

10182018

This hectare is just inside one of the west side entrances by the Ramble, so it’s both touristy and fairly heavily wooded except for the meadow. Lots of traffic, but still quiet. People generally keep to the path. A mini cop car just passed, but it’s quiet too. I don’t see a dog just now, but the smell of dog shit suggests it was here pretty recently. A woman is painting a number of different kinds of leaves, but I can’t yet discern the overall composition of the peace. It’s the busiest thing in the hectare.

1

16D

AM

10072018

This area was more fun, and had more squirrels -- especially off-path where there weren't many people / dogs.

Saw a lot of mushrooms too!

1

16D

AM

10202018

Such a quiet hectare! Only saw a few people and only one dog — very few squirrels, lots of birds chirping. The Ramble brings to mind "Law & Order," and it got borderline creepy back here when a guy sitting on a bench started singing opera ...

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1

16D

PM

10102018

* Squirrels #8 and #9 were fighting for a good five minutes.

* Couple picnicking in meadow.

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1

16E

PM

10182018

Many of the squirrels were not afraid of us. In fact, when they realized we were not going to give them a treat, they "scoffed" at us. Typical panhandlers!! :)

1

16E

PM

10132018

The two juvenile squirrels, #1 and #2, were sticking together – staying within 10 feet or 15 feet of each other. Every once in a while they would run at each other and hop around.

16-E is the squirrel party, for real. It’s also where youths go to smoke the devil's lettuce, so, pretty hopping spot.

1

16F

PM

10132018

Took a while to cover because lots of squirrel activity. Mostly in wooded area and not on paths. Dead raccoon in woods. Squirrels #4 and #6 could be the same squirrel.

1

1

Dead Raccoon

16G

AM

10102018

Spotted two squirrels foraging in close proximity, but one split when it saw me. Later spotted the same two chasing each other.

Intense cyclist on East Drive shouting "Look out!" disrupts the running.

Group of tourists on bikes unsure where to go.

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1

16G

PM

10192018

Squirrels #2 and #3 in same tree.
Squirrel #5 ran across the street.

1

16G

PM

10172018

Squirrel #1 observed foraging.

Also observed: large groups on bicycles; Citibike struggle is real.

Kids playing organize soccer (coach dad with a whistle – liberal use of whistle).

Several couples who is sorely wished I wasn’t stalking around the rocks and cedars.

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1

1

16H

PM

10142018

DOGS
People (large group) on grass
Children on rocks
Squirrel #3 approached a man doing Tai Chi.
The man put his hand down and began to walk.
The squirrel followed him step by step across the arch. Then the man gave him a treat.

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1

1

16H

AM

10072018

Only saw one squirrel curiously foraging until a tiny yipping dog chased it into a tree poor thing

1

16I

PM

10142018

Dead Bird
dogs on leash
children playing

1

16I

AM

10082018

Juvenile squirrel in a small hollow nest about a foot up in a tree. Hole was just big enough for squirrel's head. He was curious but afraid -- He could twist inside the hollow & would pull inside & then dart his head out to view me in 360 directions. Adult squirrel watched closely, clinging to a branch higher in the tree.

1

17A

PM

10132018

Fancy European girls in their early 20s having a legit tea party in a meadow to celebrate one's bachelorette.

Homeless person sleeping on a bench. People eating really good-smelling burritos.

Squirrel #2 was spotted just as I was feeling exasperated having not seen many — looked very majestic sitting there in a tree on a pedestal formed by a lopped-off branch, eating a nut.

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1

17A

AM

10172018

8:51 a.m. — I'm in house finch territory.

8:53 a.m. — I stepped on a gingko berry. Everything smells of vomit.

8:53 a.m. — Dogs chase after ball.

8:55 a.m. — I climb on a rock and look out for squirrels. I see no squirrels.

8:58 a.m. — The road through Central Park is loud with automobiles.

9:00 a.m. — Success, a foraging squirrel!

9:03 a.m. — A hidden passage leads to the through-road.

9:05 a.m. — The wind has picked up.

9:06 a.m. — A condom wrapper. No, a lube wrapper — lube comes in wrappers?

9:07 a.m. — A pigen follows me — ally or enemy?

9:10 a.m. — Gray bird with mohawk and orange belly — small.

9:11 a.m. — A twig breaks below my steps — my cover is blown.

9:12 a.m. — The treetops only hold squirrel secrets.

9:13 a.m. — Acorns assail me from above (no joke) — but no squirrels in sight.

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1

1

Birds

17B

PM

10122018

The woman whose (coincidentally also black) dog was angering the black squirrel told me Stuytown only has black squirrels!

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1

1

17B

AM

10102018

The third squirrel I saw was high in an oak tree; he was jumping around, knocking or throwing down acorns.

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17C

AM

10182018

No squirrels! Hundreds of Birds
No dogs in the ramble, few dogs in Shakespeare Garden.

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17C

PM

10132018

A bride and wedding party were posing for photos in Shakespeare Garden.

Family speaking Hebrew near Swedish Cottage – my people!

Thought I heard kuks, but it was just someone wheeling a bike behind me.

Family playing hide and seek with a redheaded three-year-old at Stover’s Bench.

Someone was certain that all the money Clear (the airport security firm) makes goes to paying employees to harass people to sign up for Clear.

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17D

AM

10082018

It was a quiet morning in Hectare 17-D. There were plenty of dogs off leashes, but minimal to no interaction between dogs and squirrels.

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1

17D

PM

10082018

No squirrels by the castle this afternoon, but I did stumble upon a secret wedding! A couple were getting married just outside the castle with a couple of friends as visitors.

1

17E

PM

10182018

There was a black cat near the Turtle Pond. Since some parts of the assigned area were blocked off due to the renovation of Belvedere Castle, I couldn't cover some parts. Also, there are buildings in the areas.

1

1

Cat

17E

AM

10172018

Scampering with branch on fenced shore of Turtle Pond.

1

17E

AM

10202018

The path was very calm and devoid of human activity, likely due to the closure of the sidewalk for construction on to Belvedere Castle.

Also, I believe the two squirrels and I spotted were brothers but I have no data to back this claim up.

1

17E

PM

10192018

The squirrels must be itchy today; I saw them scratching.

1

17F

PM

10202018

A bird watcher approaches me. "You're not still counting squirrels are you?" She rapid fire starts interrogating me about recently chopped down under brush and squirrel numbers & when the final report is due. She spots a few squirrels for me and leaves with a smile.

1

17F

PM

10132018

Lots of foot traffic, lady was taking photos of flowers

1

17G

AM

10182018

This seems to be a hectare of dogs, not squirrels. I passed 20+ large breed canines (labradors, great danes, german shepherds, mutts) at a seemingly pre-arranged playdate on the north side of the traverse. On the south side, there was another large group of dogs, although most were small terriers. Risky business to be a squirrel here, I think.

1

17G

PM

10172018

(1) just hanging out, digging around. (2) ran when they saw me — leaped directly over my head from an elm into a holly tree (seriously) (3) + (4) spotted near (2), but not “with” — these guys ran up and down a trunk to the delight of passerby — all beneath the lower branches of the holly tree / bush thing

1

17H

AM

10102018

Possible squirrel nest sighting. Lush vegetation obscures the road, but not the sound of traffic. A baby cries. Paw prints — canine, not squirrel. Tree branches jump in the distance — a squirrel? No. Exhaust from a museum vent. A jackhammer pounds in the distance. No squirrels — What has man done? NOTE: It was very loud and packed with humans and dogs in this area.

1

17H

PM

10072018

A wedding party stopped for about five minutes and were really loud. It was really distracting.

1

17I

PM

10172018

Walking when the sun started
to come through the trees, so
I looked to my right to see
two big grassy hills, and
the sun shining rays through
them, highlighting the leaves
+ pollen falling through the
air, as if it was raining
in slow motion. A father was
pushing his daughter down
the hill on her bike.

1

17I

PM

10192018

(birthday party)

Lots of children playing in
soccer grassy areas and all
other sidewalks
outside playground - screaming
running

entire area - very busy
with Humans of all types -
+ dogs

1

17I

AM

10142018

- Right off the bat, there's a dog off leash sniffing/foraging in the open green space over the fence (is it weird I've become super protective of the squirrels?)
- Not a fan of people scaring off the squirrels - this is their home! You are a guest, sit!

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1

1

18A

AM

10122018

The path leading from Hunters' Gate (@ 81st) seems little used, and despite being near transverse and Central Park West, is a tranquil area with good benches and convenient rock outcroppings.

1

18B

PM

10192018

Man was filming a woman with her dog (looks like a service dog). Looks like dog was performing trained good behavior, such as iContact and going in circles around woman.

Another man told me I was “going the wrong way“ to leave the park. When I told him I wasn’t leaving, he asked where I was going. I didn’t know how to respond.

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1

18B

PM

10182018

Lots of birds — robins and blue jays near garage.

1

Birds

18C

PM

10182018

Squirrels #3 and #4 hid until I walked away and came back to play. Squirrels #5 and #6 could care less I was there. Closed lawn — hopped fence.

1

18C

AM

10182018

Central Park Conservancy crew/volunteers cleaning brush here.

Overheard two women who were lost trying to find their meeting point say: “We should’ve just picked a good, obvious place like King Jagiello.” *sunglasses emoji*

Passed a Sighter couple in the field: “My husband's tracking one … Ralph! Ralph! Over here.“ (Turns out Ralphs undergraduate degree is in wildlife biology.)

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1

18D

AM

10182018

Ducks and geese on Turtle Pond, turtle on rock getting sun. Both squirrels left area and went north while foraging.

Squirrels #3 and #4 were together at first. Both near the base of a tree. Squirrel #4 went up the tree for a few minutes, then came down rejoin Squirrel #3.

All four squirrels were in fenced area so no humans or dogs; only one dog off leash after 9 a.m.

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