The Watcher of the Olive Tree - The Caucasian squirrel - Sciurus anomalus - Taken at North Aegean region - Türkiye
‘Curious’ the Caucasian Squirrel - On a bright morning in the North Aegean, beneath a sky just cleared of rain clouds, I revisited the same mulberry tree where I had previously spotted a young Caucasian – Anatolian squirrel. I named it “Curious,” inspired by its bold, unblinking gaze.
No sooner had I arrived than I felt a pair of round black eyes fixed upon me from above. There it was — motionless, alert, and watching me. I smiled and whispered "Good morning" as I gently pressed the shutter. For a few minutes, we simply watched each other. Then, in a flash, it darted up the tree to resume its breakfast among the branches.
After half an hour, it descended swiftly to a century-old olive tree — its home — and paused on its favorite branch as if posing just for me.
I feel lucky and grateful to have shared this peaceful moment with such a graceful forest spirit. I hope to gain its trust for many more gentle encounters in the days ahead.
Anatolian Squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) – Distribution and Details in Turkey
The Anatolian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), also known as the Caucasian squirrel or Persian squirrel, is a tree squirrel species native to parts of the Middle East. It is the only native squirrel species in Turkey and plays an important ecological role in forested habitats.
Distribution in Turkey
The Anatolian squirrel is widely distributed throughout much of western, central, and southern Turkey, particularly in the following regions:
Aegean Region: Olive groves, oak woodlands, and fig orchards (like those in Pelitköy) provide suitable habitat.
Marmara Region: Thrace and surrounding mixed forests.
Central Anatolia: Especially in forested and steppe transition zones.
Mediterranean Region: Taurus Mountains and surrounding coastal forests.
Eastern Black Sea foothills: Patchy populations, typically in deciduous and mixed forests.
They prefer forests with oak, pine, walnut, almond, fig, and mulberry trees — and are commonly spotted in traditional olive groves, especially where some natural tree cover is retained.
Habitat & Behavior
Arboreal (tree-dwelling), diurnal (active by day).
Solitary and territorial, though tolerant of other squirrels in rich feeding areas.
Nests in tree hollows or builds leaf nests high in the canopy.
Feeds on a variety of nuts, seeds, fruits, and tree buds, including figs, almonds, acorns, and mulberries.
In cultivated landscapes like olive groves, they adapt well if large trees are present. The presence of fig and mulberry trees near human settlements helps maintain stable populations.
Conservation Status & Threats
Currently classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
However, local population declines have been observed due to:
Habitat fragmentation (especially loss of old trees and tree hollows),
Agricultural expansion, and
Climate change impacts, particularly in southern and drier regions.
Monitoring efforts in Turkey are still limited, and there's a growing call among researchers and nature photographers for increased ecological surveys and community awareness programs.
Curiosity
The Anatolian squirrel has adapted well to traditional Turkish agroforestry landscapes. In mythology and folklore, squirrels are sometimes seen as guardians of trees, and this species continues to serve that symbolic role in Anatolia.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f5.6 full length.. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)
The Watcher of the Olive Tree - The Caucasian squirrel - Sciurus anomalus - Taken at North Aegean region - Türkiye
‘Curious’ the Caucasian Squirrel - On a bright morning in the North Aegean, beneath a sky just cleared of rain clouds, I revisited the same mulberry tree where I had previously spotted a young Caucasian – Anatolian squirrel. I named it “Curious,” inspired by its bold, unblinking gaze.
No sooner had I arrived than I felt a pair of round black eyes fixed upon me from above. There it was — motionless, alert, and watching me. I smiled and whispered "Good morning" as I gently pressed the shutter. For a few minutes, we simply watched each other. Then, in a flash, it darted up the tree to resume its breakfast among the branches.
After half an hour, it descended swiftly to a century-old olive tree — its home — and paused on its favorite branch as if posing just for me.
I feel lucky and grateful to have shared this peaceful moment with such a graceful forest spirit. I hope to gain its trust for many more gentle encounters in the days ahead.
Anatolian Squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) – Distribution and Details in Turkey
The Anatolian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus), also known as the Caucasian squirrel or Persian squirrel, is a tree squirrel species native to parts of the Middle East. It is the only native squirrel species in Turkey and plays an important ecological role in forested habitats.
Distribution in Turkey
The Anatolian squirrel is widely distributed throughout much of western, central, and southern Turkey, particularly in the following regions:
Aegean Region: Olive groves, oak woodlands, and fig orchards (like those in Pelitköy) provide suitable habitat.
Marmara Region: Thrace and surrounding mixed forests.
Central Anatolia: Especially in forested and steppe transition zones.
Mediterranean Region: Taurus Mountains and surrounding coastal forests.
Eastern Black Sea foothills: Patchy populations, typically in deciduous and mixed forests.
They prefer forests with oak, pine, walnut, almond, fig, and mulberry trees — and are commonly spotted in traditional olive groves, especially where some natural tree cover is retained.
Habitat & Behavior
Arboreal (tree-dwelling), diurnal (active by day).
Solitary and territorial, though tolerant of other squirrels in rich feeding areas.
Nests in tree hollows or builds leaf nests high in the canopy.
Feeds on a variety of nuts, seeds, fruits, and tree buds, including figs, almonds, acorns, and mulberries.
In cultivated landscapes like olive groves, they adapt well if large trees are present. The presence of fig and mulberry trees near human settlements helps maintain stable populations.
Conservation Status & Threats
Currently classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.
However, local population declines have been observed due to:
Habitat fragmentation (especially loss of old trees and tree hollows),
Agricultural expansion, and
Climate change impacts, particularly in southern and drier regions.
Monitoring efforts in Turkey are still limited, and there's a growing call among researchers and nature photographers for increased ecological surveys and community awareness programs.
Curiosity
The Anatolian squirrel has adapted well to traditional Turkish agroforestry landscapes. In mythology and folklore, squirrels are sometimes seen as guardians of trees, and this species continues to serve that symbolic role in Anatolia.
I've captured some unforgettable moments with my camera, and I hope you feel the same joy viewing these images as I did while shooting them.
Thank you so much for visiting my gallery, whether you leave a comment, add it to your favorites, or simply take a moment to look around. Your support means a lot to me, and I wish you good luck and beautiful light in all your endeavors.
© All rights belong to R.Ertuğ. Please refrain from using these images without my express written permission. If you are interested in purchasing or using them, feel free to contact me via Flickr mail.
Lens - hand held or Monopod and definitely SPORT VR on. Aperture is f5.6 full length.. All my images have been converted from RAW to JPEG.
I started using Nikon Cross-Body Strap or Monopod on long walks. Here is my Carbon Monopod details : Gitzo GM2542 Series 2 4S Carbon Monopod - Really Right Stuff MH-01 Monopod Head with Standard Lever - Really Right Stuff LCF-11 Replacement Foot for Nikon AF-S 500mm /5.6E PF Lense -
Your comments and criticism are very valuable.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and explore :)