Tyler Starr: 9/26, Mill Stream North of Goudy

Tyler Starr

26 September 2008 from 1215 to 1230

Location: North bank of the Mill Stream just to the north of Goudy

Weather: 57 ̊ F, partly cloudy, no wind

General: The squirrels are out in full force today—there are four of them around where I’m sitting. They must sense that the weather is beginning to get colder. They keep alternating between foraging for acorns up in an oak tree and for fallen acorns on the ground. One specific squirrel, when it finds an acorn, runs across the pavement to the bushes next to Smith/Fine Arts and buries its find. Another buries its acorns right next to the tree where I am sitting. Many acorns rain from the tree where the squirrels are jumping around. Another squirrel sits on the ground and picks up the acorns that fall. Many of the acorns fall into the stream as well. The squirrels jump from tree to tree, and often walk on very thin branches that don’t appear that they would be able to support any weight. One squirrel right now is walking on some of the thin branches directly over the Mill Stream. I can definitely believe what Dave was telling us, that evidence shows squirrels often fall, seeing all of these squirrels jumping around on the trees. More leaves are beginning to fall from the trees as well, and some more leaves have changed, although the vast majority of trees and leaves are all green still. There weren’t too many other animals out at this busy hour. The squirrels seem to be one of the only animals that aren’t frightened off by all of the bustle of an awake campus.