During the approximately two hour interval of the count, you should walk the area of the Sector Map

The original self-guided tour was a collection of foam board posters displayed at the Transylvania Heritage Museum each Memorial Day weekend.  A handout queen tour dates describing the posters resembled this document but lacked its detail and transitions.  That was intentional so that observers could view the posters in any order they wished.   It was more of a virtual queen tour dates tour than an actual one.
This year marks the tenth annual White Squirrel Festival.  For the first eight, besides organizing the virtual tour, my role was to convince doubters that the ghostly critters actually queen tour dates existed by showing them some.  You’d be surprised how many people thought that they were a twist on the proverbial white elephant.  Weather permitting, I led approximated five walking tours on the Brevard College campus during the two day festival.  In all but one of almost 40 tours we saw at least one of the sought out rodents.  But even on that one in which we were shut out I received positive feedback. The one hour walk served as an extended queen tour dates Q A session.  As a retired professor, queen tour dates I could have easily “professed” that long but I never had to.  One question lead to another and although the order was often different, the same questions popped up again and again. queen tour dates I guess that qualifies them as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).  Now that I have a condition that is aggravated by sunlight and  can no longer lead tours, I thought that a “road map” coupled with a FAQ might substitute for the walking tours.  I choose the Brevard College campus (Sector 13) for the same reasons we scheduled the actual tours there.  Its easy to find.  The main gate surrounded by a rock fence can be seen as one descends down N. Broad Street from the County Courthouse. There is plenty of parking around the bell tower, especially when the college is out of session. There is an abundance of white squirrels and probably most important, with its park-like landscape, squirrels can be seen from a distance (bring binoculars if you have them).  If you are driving during the festival, the street barricades end just short of the College so that you will be able to pull right in. The FAQ can be read before, during queen tour dates or after the brief self-guided tour.
Squirrels have two peaks of activity, one in the late morning and the other in late afternoon and early evening. Although some squirrels will be foraging somewhere between dawn and dusk, noon to 3:00 p.m., especially on a hot summer’s day, is probably the worst time. Other suggestions queen tour dates can be found in Procedure section. Please don’t attempt to do a drive by. The approach of your vehicle may “spook” the squirrels and ruin the experience for those who have waited patiently for the squirrels to emerge. The only way to guarantee seeing a white squirrel is to spend significant time in and around Brevard. (By the way, that’s an example of circular reasoning as I could define “significant time” as enough time to see a white squirrel). There are other sectors with more white squirrels (see Rank Order table below), but these are in residential queen tour dates areas with little parking and much more difficult to find.. Residents value their privacy. During the fall squirrel count I usually recommend carrying a pair of binoculars, clipboard, or wearing a badge of some sort. That usually queen tour dates puts residents at ease. Once they realize what you are doing, they usually become a wealth of information.
What follows is an excerpt from the “Tips” handout for Sector 13 that we distribute to volunteers. It briefly describes their adopted sector and how to approach sampling it. The Sector Map not only serves for orientation but for recording the locations of white squirrels, gray squirrels, and nests. The Squirrel Count is an attempt to count all squirrels, white and gray but it is not a census. We do not expect to see every squirrel that resides in the study area. During the two hours of an actual count, not all squirrels will be out, and the observer will not see all of those that are out. Thus, the Count underestimates the actual squirrel population. queen tour dates It is intended to be a random sample that estimates the percent of the white variant. If we don’t estimate total squirrels, we can’t calculate percent white. The larger the sample size and the more complete the count, the more accurate the estimate will be. However, for most of you doing this self-guided tour, your goal is to simply see a living example.
The section queen tour dates entitled “FAQ” is intended to simulate the extended Q A of the walking tour of previous years. In the interest of time, you might skip questions that are of little interest during you quest for a white rodent sighting queen tour dates but consider coming back and reading them more thoroughly on your drive home. The Procedure Sections demonstrate our methods. Although this section is more detailed than you need to simply “spot” a white squirrel, it does offer some insight into squirrel habits queen tour dates and behavior (For more information about the count see posts General Information and Procedure queen tour dates , The Study Area , and The Purpose of the Squirrel Count ).. Happy hunting.
Tips for Sector 13: Acerage: 37. Type: college campus. Estimated Time 0.75 hours. Park at main entrance. (gate is opposite the letters “BR” of ”N. Broad” queen tour dates on the map; in real life it is opposite queen tour dates a strip mall containing Highland Book Store and Radio Shack.  From this location a number of park-like lawns can be surveyed, including queen tour dates behind (west) queen tour dates of classrooms (McClarty-Goodsen Moore Science Building), Beam Administration Building, queen tour dates fountain (academic quad), library and area in front (south) of Taylor and Green (former dormitories). From here proceed toward Kings Creek between Dunham (Music Hall) and Green. Although the Gym on the other side of the creek, is in a different sector, squirrels are often active queen tour dates in the shady areas near the two foot bridges. Follow the road parallel to creek behind Jones Dormitory and head towards the barn (now a theater). Turn right between volleyball court and barn, heading towards President’s house. Pause in wooded area before the President’s house since it is also the home of many squirrels. Head left (east) behind the President’s house and around queen tour dates back of a retreat house. Head south and pick up a driveway queen tour dates leading queen tour dates to Guest and Alumni houses. Cross the road between the infirmary and cafeteria and pass through two parking lots. Wrap around to front of the cafeteria (note: woods along French Broad Ave. have squirrels). Now you should queen tour dates be back in the vicinity of your car.
During the approximately two hour interval of the count, you should walk the area of the Sector Map one time. Be aware that sometimes there are inaccuracies in the details of the map. Take a moment and plan your path ahead of time. Doubling queen tour dates back may result in some squirrels being counted twice but may be unavoidable. On the second pass, don’t count squirrels of the same color unless queen tour dates you see more of them or they are distinctive in size or markings. Even when not doubling back care must be taken. Squirrels are quirky, changing direction and speed frequently. Particularly in brushy queen tour dates or wooded areas it is sometimes difficult to tell if you are seeing queen tour dates one squirrel whirling about or if the first one flushed out another foraging in the same area. Use your best judgment. We believe these types of errors cancel out in the long run.
Do not be afraid to visit backyards and wooded areas since these are tree squirrels and are rarely found far from mature trees but please do not climb fences or enter other restricted areas. Ask permission when appropriate. Using a clipboard not only makes recording information easier but makes you look “official.” Our experience has been that once people realize what you are doing, you are more than welcome; in fact, being able to “move on” in a timely way may become a problem.
We do not expect to see every squirrel that resides in the study area.  The Count is intended queen tour dates to be a random sample that estimates the % of the white variant.   The larger the sample queen tour dates size and the more complete the count, the more accurate the data will be. Look carefully in areas where you observe nests (if you have time, record the location of the nest on your map with an N), on the ground near (and in) large trees, around feeders, etc., as these are areas that squirrels frequent. Listen for clucking sounds (“chuck, chuck, queen tour dates kwaaaa”) but, obviously, you must see the squirrel to determine if it is white or gray. We understand that:
We will attempt to account for these factors by other means. Our objective is primarily to estimate queen tour dates the percent of squirrels in the area that are of the white versus gray variety, not to complete a census. To that end, it is just important that you complete as large a sample of your Sector as possible in the allotted time.
After a sighting, record the location of the squirrel on the detailed Sector Map with a W for white or a G for gray. IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO OBSERVE AND RECORD GRAY SQUIRRELS AS WHITE ONES!   If the squirrel was up in a tree (as opposed to foraging on the ground or posed on the base of the tree trunk), place the W or G over a T.  Only about 10% of squirrels are usually observed in the tree proper.  This may have to do with perceptibility but probably queen tour dates also reflects their actual distribution during diurnal activity.  If you think the squirrel is a juvenile use lower case; however since it is sometimes difficult to distinguish “W” from “w”, please circle the w if it is a white juvenile. If you are uncertain as to whether it is an adult or juvenile, queen tour dates don’t be concerned; just mark “G” or “W”. While this additional information may be useful for future studies, we are not actually distinguishing between adults and juveniles in this count. Record “road kills” on the Sector map with WK or GK and include in your final tally totals (if the same dead squirrel seems to be reported on multiple counts, a correction will be
Below is a comparison of the completed maps of all three counts for Sector 19 in 1999. Note how variable the r