2018 Central Park Squirrel Census - Stories

The Squirrel Census (https://www.thesquirrelcensus.com/) is a multimedia science, design, and storytelling project focusing on the Eastern gray (Sciurus carolinensis). They count squirrels and present their findings to the public.

This table contains stories, observations, and notes written on tally sheets by Squirrel Sighters during the Census. Individual stories have been tagged with common story themes, such as “squirrel experience,” “park experience,” “dogs,” “other animals,” “accidental poems,” and “squirrels acting odd.”

Environment The Squirrel Census Dataset gfqj-f768 12 fields
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Dataset fields
Showing 9 real records
42F
Hectare: 42F • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
42F
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Litter: Some but lots on 110th Street in park.

Squirrel #1 had nut in mouth, dug many times before finding place to leave it.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
42G
Hectare: 42G • Shift: PM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
42G
Shift
PM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Most of the zone is taken over by a playground with shrieking children and gaggles of geese. Then, from the skies! A red-tailed hawk drops down, strikes a rat! The rat sits, dying slowly. People hardly notice the hawk. The starlings seem unconcerned.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Other Animals
1
Story Topic Other
Hawk, Birds, Rat
42G
Hectare: 42G • Shift: AM • Date: 10182018
Hectare
42G
Shift
AM
Date
10182018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Cool playground. I took advantage of no one being in the playground to explore inside. Technically adults without a child are not allowed in. The playground is surrounded by landscaping and one section has an area for children to explore. Found all squirrels in this natural playground section — also taking advantage of area since no one was around.
42G
Hectare: 42G • Shift: PM • Date: 10172018
Hectare
42G
Shift
PM
Date
10172018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Man in Falcons cap raising a fit, upset with woman.

Kids playing.

Saw Squirrel #4 pat the ground. Got excited.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
Story Topic Park Experience
1
42H
Hectare: 42H • Shift: PM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
42H
Shift
PM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
grey body, red head — exquisite. These two appeared to be engaging in a flirtatious yet combative ritual, ending up out of sight high up in a tree.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
42H
Hectare: 42H • Shift: AM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
42H
Shift
AM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Very quiet for squirrel activity but glad I managed to spot two squirrels in the fenced area.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
42H
Hectare: 42H • Shift: AM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
42H
Shift
AM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
Homeless couple under tree
Bunch of mallards (Meer bank)
Heard a goose — didn't see it
Small bird with stripes
(like a hummingbird)
Man fishing in the Meer
Chipmunk crossing East Drive
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Accidental Poems
1
42I
Hectare: 42I • Shift: PM • Date: 10142018
Hectare
42I
Shift
PM
Date
10142018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
I saw squirrel #1 chase squirrel #2 away from a tree. They did 3 spiral loops around a tree.
Story Topic Squirrel
1
42I
Hectare: 42I • Shift: AM • Date: 10192018
Hectare
42I
Shift
AM
Date
10192018
Note Squirrel Park Stories
A tiny apricot-colored dog bounded like a rabbit. His owner explained he had found a small green ball (a tennis ball in its former life?) and he, the dog, was so happy. The ball kept falling out of his mouth, it was too big for the dog to carry.

Nearby, a German Shepherd barked at every passerby. A walker stopped to talk to it — his way of "barking" back.
Story Topic Park Experience
1
Story Topic Dogs
1