Nicole Gerlach
@ngerlach.bsky.social
Behavioral ecologist, evolutionary organismal biologist (birds, other verts, & critters in general), & educator. Aspiring Ms. Frizzle. Avid reader. Seeker of tiny moments of joy and magic. she/her.
Comments, opinions, & photos my own.
Comments, opinions, & photos my own.
Pinned
Nicole Gerlach
@ngerlach.bsky.social
· Aug 20
Hi, I'm Nicole. I'm a biologist and full-time teaching faculty. I'm primarily a behavioral ecologist by training, with my main research interests in mate choice / parental care behavior, especially extra-pair mating behavior in socially monogamous songbirds like the dark-eyed junco!
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
*wakes up 7 hours later* these whales are migrating thousands of miles, which you can imagine is tiring, especially when the way you sleep is by turning off half your brain.
You know what they're not doing?
Buying Starbucks during the duration of @sbworkersunited.org's ULP strike.
You know what they're not doing?
Buying Starbucks during the duration of @sbworkersunited.org's ULP strike.
November 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
*wakes up 7 hours later* these whales are migrating thousands of miles, which you can imagine is tiring, especially when the way you sleep is by turning off half your brain.
You know what they're not doing?
Buying Starbucks during the duration of @sbworkersunited.org's ULP strike.
You know what they're not doing?
Buying Starbucks during the duration of @sbworkersunited.org's ULP strike.
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
This needs to be drilled into students at the university level as well.
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
This needs to be drilled into students at the university level as well.
I’d seen the cool spiky egg sacs of the Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) before, but this was the first time I’ve seen some with mom guarding them! #spider 🕷️📸
(They’re related to black widows but Wikipedia says their bites are “painful but not dangerous”. I’ll take their word for it.)
(They’re related to black widows but Wikipedia says their bites are “painful but not dangerous”. I’ll take their word for it.)
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I’d seen the cool spiky egg sacs of the Brown Widow (Latrodectus geometricus) before, but this was the first time I’ve seen some with mom guarding them! #spider 🕷️📸
(They’re related to black widows but Wikipedia says their bites are “painful but not dangerous”. I’ll take their word for it.)
(They’re related to black widows but Wikipedia says their bites are “painful but not dangerous”. I’ll take their word for it.)
Doing an online training thing, I get to a question that is "what is the first step in ______?". It's checkboxes rather than radio buttons.
I chose the first step.
"Incorrect. There are two correct answers."
THEN THAT IS A FIRST AND A SECOND STEP AAAARGH.
I chose the first step.
"Incorrect. There are two correct answers."
THEN THAT IS A FIRST AND A SECOND STEP AAAARGH.
November 21, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Doing an online training thing, I get to a question that is "what is the first step in ______?". It's checkboxes rather than radio buttons.
I chose the first step.
"Incorrect. There are two correct answers."
THEN THAT IS A FIRST AND A SECOND STEP AAAARGH.
I chose the first step.
"Incorrect. There are two correct answers."
THEN THAT IS A FIRST AND A SECOND STEP AAAARGH.
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
Me: "Taking vacation time is essential for emotional well-being, recovery from burnout, and future productivity. In all jobs but especially true in research, where mental focus is essential. Offering more vacation time should be required, and employees should take it"
Also me: "But not me though"
Also me: "But not me though"
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Me: "Taking vacation time is essential for emotional well-being, recovery from burnout, and future productivity. In all jobs but especially true in research, where mental focus is essential. Offering more vacation time should be required, and employees should take it"
Also me: "But not me though"
Also me: "But not me though"
The Vert Diversity #mammal lab really does have a bunch of neat specimens. This is our station on bacula, which is the penis bone found in many species of mammals. The big one is from a walrus, the curved one in the box is from a raccoon, and the squirrel mount has the baculum in situ! 1/3 #anatomy
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 35. Some kind of mouse (superfamily Muroidea)
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 35. Some kind of mouse (superfamily Muroidea)
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
Only a crop of the picture today, since the whole thing's a little gory. 😔 (Full pic's on iNat if you can help ID, though!) I found it near a house that has a semi-feral cat colony. Keep your cats indoors, folks!
#LocalVertDiversity 34. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
November 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 34. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
I first encountered pilateds while doing fieldwork in a large, remote, protected National Forest, so I was shocked when I moved to Florida and they're just... in my backyard. #birds 🪶
#LocalVertDiversity 33. Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
November 18, 2025 at 8:20 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 33. Domestic Cat (Felis catus)
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
Following the iNaturalist rules for what counts as wild vs. captive observations (is the animal at that place/time under its own power or because a human put it there), the feral campus cats count towards our class project, although pet cats don't.
I am very behind on my #LocalVertDiversity posting. Time to catch up!
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
November 18, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I am very behind on my #LocalVertDiversity posting. Time to catch up!
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
32. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura). The sound that their wings make upon takeoff is potentially used as a signal/cue to other birds about the presence of a predator. (In this case, me and my dog.) #birds 🪶
This can’t possibly be what Past Me was referring to, but I love that the textbook authors thought it worth noting that pelycosaurs (including sailbacks like Dimetrodon) did not have an ass.
November 17, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This can’t possibly be what Past Me was referring to, but I love that the textbook authors thought it worth noting that pelycosaurs (including sailbacks like Dimetrodon) did not have an ass.
I always leave notes for myself after a lecture about what I can change to make it clearer, questions people had, slides to add, etc.
My notes for tomorrow just say “Reread the textbook; you don’t understand this stuff as well as you think you do.”
Thanks, past me, for keeping present me humble.
My notes for tomorrow just say “Reread the textbook; you don’t understand this stuff as well as you think you do.”
Thanks, past me, for keeping present me humble.
November 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I always leave notes for myself after a lecture about what I can change to make it clearer, questions people had, slides to add, etc.
My notes for tomorrow just say “Reread the textbook; you don’t understand this stuff as well as you think you do.”
Thanks, past me, for keeping present me humble.
My notes for tomorrow just say “Reread the textbook; you don’t understand this stuff as well as you think you do.”
Thanks, past me, for keeping present me humble.
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
I do love going out for a stroll after a storm
This Bonaparte’s Gull had the same idea
📷🌿🪶
This Bonaparte’s Gull had the same idea
📷🌿🪶
November 17, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I do love going out for a stroll after a storm
This Bonaparte’s Gull had the same idea
📷🌿🪶
This Bonaparte’s Gull had the same idea
📷🌿🪶
I preordered Amanda Gorman’s Call Us What We Carry shortly after Biden’s inauguration. When it arrived in Dec 2021, I read maybe 30 pages, but the various hurts of the pandemic were still too raw for me, and I had to put it down. 1/3
#books 💙📚
#books 💙📚
November 16, 2025 at 10:25 PM
I preordered Amanda Gorman’s Call Us What We Carry shortly after Biden’s inauguration. When it arrived in Dec 2021, I read maybe 30 pages, but the various hurts of the pandemic were still too raw for me, and I had to put it down. 1/3
#books 💙📚
#books 💙📚
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
Here is your Saturday Snoot. This colorful little cartoon-looking critter is a planthopper nymph, about 1 cm. long, from Costa Rica. I do not know the function of the marvelous snoot. (Per iNat, family Dictyopharidae, possibly Lappida sp.) #Bugsky 🐙🌿👃
November 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Here is your Saturday Snoot. This colorful little cartoon-looking critter is a planthopper nymph, about 1 cm. long, from Costa Rica. I do not know the function of the marvelous snoot. (Per iNat, family Dictyopharidae, possibly Lappida sp.) #Bugsky 🐙🌿👃
Some alligator and softshell turtle zen for your weekend. 🐊🐢
November 15, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Some alligator and softshell turtle zen for your weekend. 🐊🐢
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
In the last 11 days another 102 donors have given >than $40,000, with some other donations in stock waiting to become available for use.
PRI can make it with your help!
Please continue to share with your networks for potential donors so we can keep the museum and its online resources available!
PRI can make it with your help!
Please continue to share with your networks for potential donors so we can keep the museum and its online resources available!
November 15, 2025 at 12:33 AM
In the last 11 days another 102 donors have given >than $40,000, with some other donations in stock waiting to become available for use.
PRI can make it with your help!
Please continue to share with your networks for potential donors so we can keep the museum and its online resources available!
PRI can make it with your help!
Please continue to share with your networks for potential donors so we can keep the museum and its online resources available!
Am I too late for more snailposting? Although, isn’t late snailposting really capturing the true essence of snailposting? 🐌
These Ghost Bulimuluses (Bulimuli?) (Bulimulus bonariensis) were having an all-ages snail party on this mural yesterday morning.
These Ghost Bulimuluses (Bulimuli?) (Bulimulus bonariensis) were having an all-ages snail party on this mural yesterday morning.
November 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Am I too late for more snailposting? Although, isn’t late snailposting really capturing the true essence of snailposting? 🐌
These Ghost Bulimuluses (Bulimuli?) (Bulimulus bonariensis) were having an all-ages snail party on this mural yesterday morning.
These Ghost Bulimuluses (Bulimuli?) (Bulimulus bonariensis) were having an all-ages snail party on this mural yesterday morning.
As much as I love our local community theaters, it had been way too long since I’d seen a big professional production, and whoo, I missed it.
My first time seeing Hadestown and it was *phenomenal*.
My first time seeing Hadestown and it was *phenomenal*.
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 AM
As much as I love our local community theaters, it had been way too long since I’d seen a big professional production, and whoo, I missed it.
My first time seeing Hadestown and it was *phenomenal*.
My first time seeing Hadestown and it was *phenomenal*.
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
Somehow these peas also require 10x the normal amount of water to boil.
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
November 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Somehow these peas also require 10x the normal amount of water to boil.
I’m wearing a new pair of sexually dimorphic earrings today, and the desire to have them facing each other is warring with the voice in my head insisting that “ladies go on the LEFT!” (our mnemonic for which of a bird’s legs gets the numbered silver band.)
November 13, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I’m wearing a new pair of sexually dimorphic earrings today, and the desire to have them facing each other is warring with the voice in my head insisting that “ladies go on the LEFT!” (our mnemonic for which of a bird’s legs gets the numbered silver band.)
I love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, but this week's episode had some casual hagfish erasure (referring to them as "eels"), and they're too awesome to let that pass unremarked.
And you can imagine what happens when 7500 lbs of hagfish are disturbed by being in a car crash... www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctoB...
Truck full of slime eels crashes on Highway 101
YouTube video by KGW News
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:04 PM
I love Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, but this week's episode had some casual hagfish erasure (referring to them as "eels"), and they're too awesome to let that pass unremarked.
*sighs in zoology professor*
November 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
*sighs in zoology professor*