The data from this project was collected from the The Squirrel Census, ran by the Department of Data - NYC, and available for download at NYC OpenData. The Squirrel Census is a multimedia science, design, art, and storytelling project focusing on the Eastern gray (Sciurus carolinensis). The aim of this project is to count squirrels and present findings to the public in the form of “comprehensive maps, data visualizations, 45-RPM records, anthropomorphic storytelling, live presentations, semi-true videos, and other fun stuff”. We love and embrace their mission of serving as a liaison for the believe and make-believe.
squirrel_census =
read_csv("data/clean_squirrel_2018.csv")The raw dataset we utilized can be found here. Our cleaned squirrel census dataset, available on our project github, has 2824 observations and includes the following variables:
x: Longitude.y: Latitude.unique_squirrel_id: Identification tag for each
squirrel sightings. The tag is comprised of “Hectare ID” + “Shift” +
“Date” + “Hectare Squirrel Number.”hectare: ID tag, which is derived from the hectare grid
used to divide and count the park area. One axis that runs predominantly
north-to-south is numerical (1-42), and the axis that runs predominantly
east-to-west is roman characters (A-I).shift: Value is either “AM” or “PM,” to communicate
whether or not the sighting session occurred in the morning or late
afternoon.date: Concatenation of the sighting session day and
month.hectare_squirrel_number: Number within the
chronological sequence of squirrel sightings for a discrete sighting
session.age: Value is either “Adult” or “Juvenile.”primary_fur_color: Value is either “Gray,” “Cinnamon”
or “Black.”highlight_fur_color: Discrete value or string values
comprised of “Gray,” “Cinnamon” or “Black.”combination_of_primary_and_highlight_color: A
combination of the previous two columns; this column gives the total
permutations of primary and highlight colors observed.color_notes: Sighters occasionally added commentary on
the squirrel fur conditions. These notes are provided here.location: Value is either “Ground Plane” or “Above
Ground.” Sighters were instructed to indicate the location of where the
squirrel was when first sighted.above_ground_sighter_measurement: For squirrel
sightings on the ground plane, fields were populated with a value of
“FALSE.”specific_location: Sighters occasionally added
commentary on the squirrel location. These notes are provided here.running: Squirrel was seen running.chasing: Squirrel was seen chasing.climbing: Squirrel was seen climbing.eating: Squirrel was seen eating.foraging: Squirrel was seen foraging.other_activites: Other activities.kuks: Squirrel was heard kukking, a chirpy vocal
communication used for a variety of reasons.quaas: Squirrel was heard quaaing, an elongated vocal
communication which can indicate the presence of a ground predator such
as a dog.moans: Squirrel was heard moaning, a high-pitched vocal
communication which can indicate the presence of an air predator such as
a hawk.tail_flags: Squirrel was seen flagging its tail.
Flagging is a whipping motion used to exaggerate squirrel’s size and
confuse rivals or predators. Looks as if the squirrel is scribbling with
tail into the air.tail_twitches: Squirrel was seen flagging its tail.
Flagging is a whipping motion used to exaggerate squirrel’s size and
confuse rivals or predators. Looks as if the squirrel is scribbling with
tail into the air.approaches: Squirrel was seen approaching human,
seeking food.indifferent: Squirrel was indifferent to human
presence.runs_from: Squirrel was seen running from humans,
seeing them as a threat.other_interactions: Sighter notes on other types of
interactions between squirrels and humans.lat_long: Combined lat long.day: Day value.month: Month value.year: Year value.date_assembled: Concatenated date of sighting.name: Unique squirrel name.