2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

18D

PM

10182018

Apparently, squirrels aren’t exactly theater nuts.

(Most of this hectare was not accessible to the public and/or squirrels, but I saw tons of birds.)

P.S. I 100% felt like a character in a minute, even while sitting alone at the Romeo and Juliet statute looking for squirrels (in vain!). :)

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Birds

18E

PM

10082018

Sad man playing

Dog in one squirrel area

Cat on a leash

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18E

AM

10122018

Zoo squirrel activity (high winds), but more birds than I’ve seen in any one area. Perhaps because of wind, they all congregate in a slightly sheltered area. Mainly robins, on the ground, on low branches, all over.

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1

Birds

18F

PM

10182018

Nary a squirrel to be found.

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18F

AM

10142018

Very few squirrels since noise. The squirrel that’s very nice was Squirrel #2. He was curious.

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18G

PM

10192018

A lot of kids playing around.

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18G

PM

10132018

- Cellist playing in the Greywacke Arch-way. I hate to say it, but they leave a lot to be desired.

- Squirrel #3 had an enormous "flight distance." I was 25 meters from it, and it scurried up an oak.

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18H

PM

10182018

kids playing ball -- screaming
wondering among the trees
lots of people on sidewalk

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18H

PM

10142018

All squirrels in this hectare were nice and polite. I had a staring contest with squirrel no. 3 and I won.

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18H

AM

10202018

Squirrels are known art lovers so I expected to find several mulling about the Met. I was not disappointed.

A French family approached me, wanting to know what I was doing. They immediately wanted to assist, and were critical to spotting Squirrel No. 3.

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18I

PM

10072018

#NAME?

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18I

AM

10172018

Tourists looking for the Museum of Natural History, oh no!

A nice woman offered the services of her pooch to help find the squirrels. I politely declined.

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19A

PM

10132018

One squirrel (#1) was burying acorns and after using its hands to bury it, kept using its body to jump down / compact the soil further. Didn’t move on until it was satisfied. Also looked both ways before crossing the sidewalk. A good squirrel. Some women are setting up the fanciest picnic I’ve ever seen — pillows to sit on, glass bowls w/ candy & food, a cake stand, a whole table. 70’s style victorian dress. Looks like fun. Birds here are super fat.

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19A

PM

10202018

- Guy on a bench jamming on his electric guitar so I'll be grooving to that this whole hectare.

- I love how the little cheep cheep birdie feet sound on the crunchy leaves when they hop along the brush.

- Thank you, Squirrel Census! I'm sitting on a roc

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19A

AM

10132018

No squirrels to be seen. The road nearby was quite busy, loud.

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19B

PM

10202018

- Really varied seeing squirrels on the ground vs. in trees
- Fair amount of dogs off leash in the open green spaces
- A toddler was intently watching a busker play music.
- A dog was nomming on a stick twice his size and it was glorious.
- Walking back

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19B

AM

10192018

Helicopter / car horns / sirens / buses
Very close to 79th St. Transverse.
People exercising.
Dog baring — thought it was a squirrel.

Saw just two squirrels that both appeared small and young — they were eating, running, indifferent to me, though aware of my presence and went elsewhere when I approached a bit.

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19C

AM

10192018

2 helicopters 1 loud airplane passed overhead sirens X2 acorns — many *zero squirrels sighted* I waited until 9am so that dogs would be back “on leash” — though some were still off leash for a few more minutes. For most of the observation period the area was bustling with humans walking (with and w/out dogs), jogging, biking, and rollerblading — before work or on the way to work. Several park vehicles were out (landscapers). I first walked the perimeter, then walked around inside. I heard what I thought was a squirrel in a tree and walked toward it, but it was a bird. —> As I was making notes (9:36 am +/-) sitting just outside my designated area/hectare, 1 single juvenile squirrel — gray with cinnamon highlights came toward me (I was sitting on a bench by Delacorte theater) A family of 6 people speaking French came up and were very fascinated with the squirrel and tried to give her/him an acorn… but s/he already had one…then took off behind me.

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19C

PM

10182018

First three squirrels seen were so busy eating and chasing.

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19D

PM

10082018

7 young men played football under large oak and weeping ____, having fun & voices their frustrations through groans.

I encountered one squirrel from afar and later came upon another one (or was it the same one) close by -- maybe 20 ft away -- eating an acorn. It was calm. When it finished eating, it looked at me for 30 sec, then came down the tree and continued on its way.

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19D

AM

10072018

A baby cuddled next to a golden retriever. Babbling like crazy (the baby). Seemed like the baby was saying, "Get me a dog, Mom and Dad."

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19D

PM

10192018

Lucy (Huang, freelance reporter) discussed the squirrels with me for the radio while we walked.

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19E

AM

12202018

Same story early shift near walkway -- Doggos! Doggos amongst the trees where I see big [unknown word: "drays" ??]

- And nothing on the G. Lawn :(

- Interaction from well to do pretty person w/ fancy doggo -- "You Doing Squirrels?"
Me - "yeah :)"
Her - "Ha. Ha. I knew it!" - End Scene -
- Found nice fallen drey [what is this?] - (Pic)

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1

21H

AM

10172018

Found an abandoned tennis ball close to the Met. There's a sad doggo out there somewhere.

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19E

AM

10072018

This seems a popular path for dog owners to travel. A human was talking to his dog and said, "You're looking for squirrels, aren't ya?" I wanted to enlist the dog since I didn't see any squirrels. Maybe next time.

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19E

PM

10182018

Squirrel seen at 4:42 PM just behind Field #1. He’d stop a moment, do a tail twitch, then continue. Did this two times, then fled when he or she saw me.

Acorns are bouncing all around me. I see a very large squirrel nest high in an oak tree.

Squirrel seen at 4:54 PM. Tail twitching, he scaled a four-foot wire fence.

Heard kukking, couldn’t see squirrel.

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19F

PM

10172018

Lady with her dog asked, "Are you censusing?"

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1

19G

AM

10202018

- dead bird by MET :(
- many sirens driving by main road (2 ambulances. 1 firetruck.)
grey squirrel by Alexander Hamilton

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19G

PM

10172018

Squirrel #1 was on a tree watching a nearby couple pass. I started to take a photo and the squirrel looked at me as soon as the shutter clicked. We both kind of stared at each other for a few seconds and I started to take more photos, he kept cocking his head until eventually making his way down the tree and slowly coming towards me. I kneeled down + we stared at each other again until a dog ran over and scared it off. It ran back up the tree

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19G

AM

10182018

Lots of birds (especially robins, red breasts)
lots of oak trees and acorns
no squirrels

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1

Birds

19H

PM

10082018

Very quiet. Didn't see any other animals or humans!

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19H

PM

10192018

Nice little lawn between Cleopatra's Obelisk and the Sculpture Cafe — lots of birds. Some woodsy parts with a bit of goldenrod, a few big trees, and an HVAC vent/staircase.
One oak tree with leaves starting to turn.

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19H

AM

10102018

They said there wouldn’t be squirrels here. They were wrong. Area felt damp and cool — secluded. Quiet. Because the area was lined with a museum wall along with a wall of trees and vegetation, the squirrels seemed to be protected from humans and dogs.

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19I

PM

10192018

I asked the Met grounds guy if he ever saw a squirrel on the side of the Met. He thought for five seconds and said, “Raccoons, rats, pigeons — but no, never saw one squirrel!“

Aggressive pigeons and loud fountains. (Koch Brothers near.)

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Birds, Rats, Raccoons

19I

AM

10172018

There were no squirrels in this hectare, just people sitting in the sun waiting for the Met to open.

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20A

PM

10102018

- Man and woman look as if to be meditating at the top of Summit Rock. - Squirrel number 2 jumped while being vertical, climbing up a tree, to another tree. Not from branch to branch, from trunk of tree, to another trunk of the tree. It was incredible, be

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20A

AM

10102018

Both squirrels were on the rock ledge overlooking Central Park West Rd.

There were a lot of birds — sparrows, pigeons, Cardinals due to birdseed scattered on the ground.

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1

Birds

20A

PM

10182018

Lots of thick ground cover in this area; tons of birds (robins?).

While looking, I got hit on the head with an acorn but still only saw one squirrel in the whole hectare!

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1

Birds

20B

PM

10192018

Our second hectare seemed to have few squirrels -- until we ventured off the road into the woods. I don't know why it surprised me -- it was quiet and seemed empty -- and then they slowly emerged. They seemed less territorial and chased each other less. It was a peaceful walk and we noticed more than we usually fo, which was lovely, making us want to take more walks.

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20B

PM

10132018

Squirrels here have it in for the birds, mostly a bevy of robins in the berry trees and on the ground.

Hot spot for serious birdwatchers. They're all wearing green and have telescopic lenses.

Kid is trying to teach his mom how to throw a ball properly.

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Birdwatchers

20B

AM

10072018

9:25: tree shredder started. 9:30: Not so calm for now. Rumbling into distance now. Camouflaged photographer with two birders. Now a whole flock of birders.

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20B

AM

10202018

! Summit Rock is where my friend has her yearly birthday picnic (14+ years now). I've watched squirrels build drays and pointed them out to kids in attendance. "Weird squirrel guy" = me.

- Caught great high-rise drama between two guys trying to cross a gap. :)

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20C

PM

10182018

Sighting a few hawks flying nearby assigned hectare. Once at the assigned hectare, I spotted several squirrels. All of them were running and ran towards me. One guy was interested at what I did & asked a lot of questions. I saw a dog chased one squirrel up to a tree and a couple who gave squirrels some nuts.

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20C

AM

10182018

Lots of runners and small birds

Many small trees with berries

Few runners on bridle path.

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1

1

Birds

20C

PM

10192018

Our first hectare was quiet and breezy, with birds everywhere. After our first two sightings, some acorns fell down and as we looked up we saw one so high up – we would have entirely missed it peacefully eating while crumbs fell from 30 feet up. Then our eyes adjusted, and they were everywhere. They seemed to chase each other territorially — but not much verbal communication. They were eating more than I thought. I thought he would be foraging and collecting more. We learned a lot.

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1

1

Birds

20D

PM

10192018

I met a couple coming to feed peanuts to the squirrels. They come every day. They have been observing a pregnant squirrel for a month + feeding her "extra" peanuts. They could ID her because it "looked like she was wearing brown gloves" (she has brown front paws). The juvenile squirrels do not know that this couple brings food. The couple said that the young squirrels "learn" to eat peanuts.

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20D

AM

10072018

Very busy dog run area. Lots of matching midsized poodle dogs. Hounds and sheepdogs. Rather rambunctious goings-on. Squirrels are missing. Waiting it out, most likely.

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1

20D

PM

10142018

The Great Lawn was closed, but the one squirrel I saw was munching away right by the baseball diamond.

On the path, which was lined with benches, an old lady was sitting next to her dog, both on a park bench.

[Illustration of dog] Caption: "If only I could get on to that lawn."

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1

20E

PM

10062018

Nest in tree, large. Great Lawn closed! Walked on outskirts. Zero squirrels!

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21H

PM

10202018

I was disappointed that this hectare didn't have any squirrels.

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