2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

20E

AM

10142018

The walking path on the east side of the Great Lawn was very busy and a lot of dogs were off leash. We saw two squirrels – both under nut-producing trees in the Great Lawn. Dogs would come to the fence surrounding the Lawn to watch them forage. They were far enough away to be unbothered by the voyeuristic dogs!

The Race for the Cure March was also going on on 5th Avenue and producing a lot of ambient background noise/chanting. Probably too far away to spook the squirrels, though.

1

1

20F

AM

10142018

I know they're not conducive to squirrel sighting, but I love how many dogs are off leash, walking around like they're the best party host, greeting everyone like the stars that they are.

8:59 a.m.: I was chosen by one to give it a pet!

What looks like a Breast Cancer Awareness March is coming through — lots of chanting and cheering! (The cheers I heard were actual cheerleaders.)

Squirrels #2 and #3 were near a nest! (Wasn't sure which made the kuks so marked both.)

1

1

1

20F

PM

10072018

General area has quite a few people (not packed), but it’s quiet with mostly ambient sound. Lots of people lounging on the blankets.

One section of grass around 40 sparrows foraging together, almost like grass. A lot of Rob also spotted. Lots of intermittent helicopter noise.

Two walking paths divide the hectare, and most squirrels were foraging in the strip of land between them.

1

1

20G

PM

10202018

#1 - half-tailed

1

20G

PM

10132018

Man playing with his dog. Family picnic.

1

1

20G

AM

10182018

- Hawk was being mobbed by black birds.

- Squirrel #1 stayed very still on the tree branch.

- Squirrel #2 running on ground then ran up a tree where it met Squirrel #3.

- Squirrel #3 ran around in trees.

1

Birds

20H

AM

10142018

Currently blocked off for construction, no access. Breast Cancer walk coming by. Lots of cheering!

1

20H

PM

10132018

Under construction: The north side of the Met is walled off due to park enhancement project.

20I

PM

10122018

Barely any squirrels at all.

1

20I

PM

10192018

Not busy. Limited ground near streets.

1

20I

PM

10182018

Seemingly little to no wild foliage. Very busy. Not surprised by lack of squirrels. Surprisingly little litter.

1

20I

AM

10172018

There were no squirrels in this location. Hot dog vendors were setting up for the day, however no one is buying hot dogs at 9:30 a.m.

An employee is driving around in a vehicle vacuuming up leaves — very noisy.

1

21A

AM

10192018

2&3 - playing, chasing, not biting, jumping on back, stopped on small tree & groomed themselves, one appeared to mount the other. #7 stayed in top of tree - jumped from one tree to another. Had an acorn in mouth.

1

21A

PM

10062018

Lots of small children (playground). Dog walker. Unbelievable, no squirrels! Lots of trees. Nest (maybe a raccoon nest).

1

1

1

21B

PM

10172018

There is a nest on one tree where 2 spotted 3 juvenile squirrels running & chasing each other. One started to make sound “Auaas” while stomping on the branch of the tree. A couple passed by and tried to play with one of the squirrels. On the other side, I spotted one dead pigeon.

1

21B

AM

10192018

Squirrel #3, maybe #6 from Hectare 21-A.

1

21C

PM

10062018

Did not find squirrels in busy areas.

21D

PM

10082018

Turns out squirrels eat mushrooms! And they are picky about which ones to eat. Squirrel #5 ate a mushroom -- but only the biggest one out of about 6 on the field.

This area had lots of squirrel activity & ppl doing all kinds of things -- strolling, exercising, walking dogs.

1

1

21D

AM

10082018

Many people commuting to work but is quiet and away from traffic. Lots of trees and other types of birds. No squirrel attacks here, but one was lively, scaling a fence then running through foot traffic to a tree nearby.

1

1

1

Birds

21E

AM

10172018

9:28 a.m. — The empty softball fields look like a pristine battlefield — red flags abound and blow in the wind. Do the squirrels see them as signs of peace or war?

9:30 a.m. — A fence surrounds much of the area — no dogs allowed.

9:31 a.m. — This mighty oak must hold squirrels — but alas ...

9:33 a.m. — Trees with red berries.

9:37 a.m. — Squirrel-HO! One-two-three squirrels! Two chase each other up a tree, the other ignores and forages. In an area at pines — on the edge of hectare — out of the softball fields.

9:42 a.m. — Acorns litter the visitor's bench.

9:45 a.m. — A group of youths appear in matching jumpsuits to do jumping jacks.

Addendum — 9:49 a.m. — A squirrel, but well out of my hectare. You win this time.

1

1

21E

PM

10122018

The great lawn is closed.. No movement/2 squirrels. No dogs – very few birds.

One sighting just on boundary of squirrel in tree. Second sighting just behind home plate of squirrel eating.

1

1

1

Birds

21E

AM

10202018

Lawn is closed, so walking around it.

People walking by with balloons for a party, including and Avengers balloon and a Peppa Pig balloon

Gray squirrels outside boundary (one north, three south, least southern squirrels not labeled on map)

Lots of nuts.

1

1

21F

PM

10122018

squirrel #4 seems to enjoy classical music.

1

21F

PM

10192018

I saw many squirrels here because of lots of trees and grass.

1

1

21F

AM

10182018

There was a group of elementary school kids playing kickball. This hectare also seems to be a popular off-leash area for small dogs. I found a dead squirrel in a fenced-in area.

1

1

1

21G

AM

10142018

Squirrel 2 attempted to scale the green construction wall before returning to the black fence. Squirrels 3-7 are definitely fans of trees —> are all hiding in the holes of trees, came out all at once, then they chased each other down the tree before returning to the inside of the tree - all facing away from the runners.

1

21G

PM

10072018

* Squirrel #4 had a huge piece of bread and seemed very protective of it.
*Hectare was really busy. Lots of people on bikes, ringing their bells, and kids running and screaming around.

1

1

21G

PM

10202018

Only saw sSquirrels #7 and #8 after a dog barked. They ran from brush up two different trees, and flagged tails.

1

1

21H

PM

10182018

The squirrels were very curious about us paying attention to them, and Squirrel #1 and #2 walked toward us, probably to beg for food, seeing as they were young.

1

21I

AM

10182018

An abandoned toy truck, Iron Man ball - sparkly headband
at the playground - and one kid playing alone on a cold morning !

1

21I

PM

10202018

* Wedding party at Marymount
* Ancient playground was very busy.
* Nests noted in oak trees in park and in tree line next to Met.
* Only squirrels noted were on the Osborn Gates (ferrous sciurus)

1

21I

PM

10132018

Saw teenagers doing sick wheelies on bikes on my way to the quadrant. This is a busy, built out area with a lot of concrete (playground, sidewalks, street, museum). A lot of people, a few dogs on walks, some sparrows, some migrating birds way up in the sky, but not a lot of animals otherwise. Some fallen french fries outside of the Met were surprisingly unmolested. No squirrels :(

Did not check inside museum.

Metal squirrels on Osborn Gate (and other metal animals).

1

1

1

Birds

22A

PM

10192018

Lots of gingko trees near the street. 4 Hawks flying high overhead. Saw 1 dandelion. Lots of dogs & walkers. 1 low flying hawk. Near (adjacent to) 2 playgrounds. Oak trees did not have many acorns on ground.

1

1

22A

PM

10172018

It was quiet at the beginning but towards the end, I spotted three squirrels spreading in one area. I noticed no sighting where the area is near Central Park West.

1

22B

PM

10142018

ROBINS HAVING BATH
BLUE JAYS
WOOD PECKER
ONE SQUIRREL TILTED HEAD STRANGELY
WHILE CHEWING

1

1

1

22B

AM

10132018

It was a chilly, wet morning, the kind that makes humans and squirrels alike want to stay in bed. Saw around six humans stroll through my space, nearly all with dogs. The playground was locked closed and empty. But just south, beyond th--

1

1

22B

PM

10192018

Squirrel #2 up and down tree with leaves.
Squirrel #1 continued to eat and hide nuts.

1

22C

AM

10132018

Saw a good example of tail flags (it would seem I look like a predator). Also watched a squirrel tear a mushroom to pieces -- as it ate, it cocked its head back and to the side.

1

22C

PM

10192018

Squirrel #1 took off into Hectare D.

Squirrel #5 on swings.

1

22D

PM

10202018

The groundskeepers call squirrel #2 Anthony. They like him. Named after coworker.

1

1

22D

AM

10082018

I couldn’t see a single squirrel! They were very ornery though. Lots of kuks and quaas when I started walking the hectare. For a while I was the only person in the area, and for the half hour I observed there was minimal dog activity.

1

1

22D

PM

10122018

Quiet and busy areas.
Busy areas — kids playing/few squirrels.
Adults playing ball.
Squirrels mostly in bushy, non-busy areas.
Content, foraging — healthy-looking squirrels.

1

1

22E

PM

10142018

#NAME?

1

1

22E

AM

10182018

Red flags on field observed from path, sign says: “Great Lawn: closed for the season to rest“

Hearing kuks, I think, no sightings.
Four squirrel nest sightings.
Nice passing sighters “in the field”

1

1

22F

AM

10072018

* Dog intently watching squirrel #1
* Area very calm
* Squirrel #2 very acrobatic
* Lots of nerf bullets

1

1

22F

PM

10142018

Most of this area was taken by humans playing various games.

1

22G

PM

10182018

Lots of rats by the bridge and Reservoir — SAD.

Two squirrels in 21-G.

A very exciting flag football game of kiddos was going on, as well. Potentially scared squirrel friends away, though.

1

1

1

22H

AM

10182018

Somehow no squirrels!
Seems like they should be here. But--

- The wind kicked up
- Caravan of police cares w/ flashing lights drove by
- Caravan of screaming school kids also went by

1

22H

PM

10072018

Area is loud and busy due to proximity to pedestrian paths near Met and traffic. Lot of pedestrians below bridge #24. Quite a few children yelling. Lots of flowering shrubs — parts of the area smell strongly like melon/honeydew. Two rats spotted near trashcans at South Gatehouse. Area is generally VERY noisy with lots of joggers and families skirting Reservoir. Not much grass — mostly sidewalks and dirt. Not many squirrels. #s 2 and 3 were in brambly area with ground covering and small, low trees.

1

1

22I

PM

10132018

There was a fancy poodle with bows galore. (x 2)

Two Central Park Conservancy workers were cleaning up trash.

No squirrels here :( too bad.

1

1

1