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!
On the other hand, the part where there still was deeper water was FULL of alligators. These three were closest to the path, but I counted maybe 18-20 total. Plus a heron in satellite dish mode! #wildlife 🪶🐊
November 30, 2025 at 12:32 AM
On the other hand, the part where there still was deeper water was FULL of alligators. These three were closest to the path, but I counted maybe 18-20 total. Plus a heron in satellite dish mode! #wildlife 🪶🐊
We’ve had such a dry autumn that the wetlands at the prairie were… not very wet.
November 29, 2025 at 10:36 PM
We’ve had such a dry autumn that the wetlands at the prairie were… not very wet.
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
November 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
#OnThisDay in 1859, Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species was first published.
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
Much of the original manuscript was used as scrap paper by Darwin's children. On the back of this painting of a house is an original manuscript page from Origin!
#CambridgeUniversityLibrary (DAR 185)
My favorite assignment that I give my #Vertz students is to pick a fantasy creature and argue for where they think it would fit in the vertebrate phylogeny. They get so creative and detailed with their analysis, and it's so much fun to read.
November 28, 2025 at 8:17 PM
My favorite assignment that I give my #Vertz students is to pick a fantasy creature and argue for where they think it would fit in the vertebrate phylogeny. They get so creative and detailed with their analysis, and it's so much fun to read.
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
Happy Thanksgiving, to all who celebrate. May you be the one feasting on turkey-sized paravian theropods, and not the other way around!
And to those condemned to battling family upon the occasion, may the strength of a million raptors course through your veins.
And to those condemned to battling family upon the occasion, may the strength of a million raptors course through your veins.
November 27, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Happy Thanksgiving, to all who celebrate. May you be the one feasting on turkey-sized paravian theropods, and not the other way around!
And to those condemned to battling family upon the occasion, may the strength of a million raptors course through your veins.
And to those condemned to battling family upon the occasion, may the strength of a million raptors course through your veins.
Who’s got two thumbs and totally forgot to take the turkey out to bring it up to room temperature before putting it in the oven?
At least I did remember to defrost it.
At least I did remember to defrost it.
a man wearing a white shirt and tie smiles in front of a window
Alt: Jim from The Office points both thumbs at himself and says “this guy!!!”
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Who’s got two thumbs and totally forgot to take the turkey out to bring it up to room temperature before putting it in the oven?
At least I did remember to defrost it.
At least I did remember to defrost it.
The first time I hear Sandhill Cranes trumpeting in a given year, it always takes me a minute before I remember what that weird unearthly sound is. 🪶 #birds
November 27, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The first time I hear Sandhill Cranes trumpeting in a given year, it always takes me a minute before I remember what that weird unearthly sound is. 🪶 #birds
You've just died. The 6th picture in your gallery is what killed you.
Oh. Erm, well. That’s actually plausible.
(It was pretty small in real life, so I’m going to assume it got lucky and nicked my femoral artery or something.)
Oh. Erm, well. That’s actually plausible.
(It was pretty small in real life, so I’m going to assume it got lucky and nicked my femoral artery or something.)
November 27, 2025 at 4:49 AM
You've just died. The 6th picture in your gallery is what killed you.
Oh. Erm, well. That’s actually plausible.
(It was pretty small in real life, so I’m going to assume it got lucky and nicked my femoral artery or something.)
Oh. Erm, well. That’s actually plausible.
(It was pretty small in real life, so I’m going to assume it got lucky and nicked my femoral artery or something.)
#LocalVertDiversity 37. Domestic Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) & 38. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Duck face-off! The Muscovys looked like they were about to cause trouble, but the Black-bellied held their ground (water?) and the Muscovys swerved around. #birds 🪶
Duck face-off! The Muscovys looked like they were about to cause trouble, but the Black-bellied held their ground (water?) and the Muscovys swerved around. #birds 🪶
November 26, 2025 at 6:08 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 37. Domestic Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) & 38. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
Duck face-off! The Muscovys looked like they were about to cause trouble, but the Black-bellied held their ground (water?) and the Muscovys swerved around. #birds 🪶
Duck face-off! The Muscovys looked like they were about to cause trouble, but the Black-bellied held their ground (water?) and the Muscovys swerved around. #birds 🪶
#LocalVertDiversity 36. Downy Woodpecker male (Dryobates pubescens)
I just learned that Downys are not particularly closely related to Hairy Woodpeckers, which are almost identical except they've got bigger bills and are bigger overall, which absolutely blows my mind. Evolution's so neat. #birds 🪶
I just learned that Downys are not particularly closely related to Hairy Woodpeckers, which are almost identical except they've got bigger bills and are bigger overall, which absolutely blows my mind. Evolution's so neat. #birds 🪶
November 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
#LocalVertDiversity 36. Downy Woodpecker male (Dryobates pubescens)
I just learned that Downys are not particularly closely related to Hairy Woodpeckers, which are almost identical except they've got bigger bills and are bigger overall, which absolutely blows my mind. Evolution's so neat. #birds 🪶
I just learned that Downys are not particularly closely related to Hairy Woodpeckers, which are almost identical except they've got bigger bills and are bigger overall, which absolutely blows my mind. Evolution's so neat. #birds 🪶
Reposted by Nicole Gerlach
DAY 172
SPECIES 172 - Thermus aquaticus
STAGE: Bacteria
MEDIUM: Arches Paper. QoR Watercolor. Sakura pen. Derwent Pencil
Thanks to @ngerlach.bsky.social for suggesting it!
T. aquaticus can tolerate high temperatures, it was first isolated from Mushroom Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
SPECIES 172 - Thermus aquaticus
STAGE: Bacteria
MEDIUM: Arches Paper. QoR Watercolor. Sakura pen. Derwent Pencil
Thanks to @ngerlach.bsky.social for suggesting it!
T. aquaticus can tolerate high temperatures, it was first isolated from Mushroom Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
November 24, 2025 at 7:45 AM
DAY 172
SPECIES 172 - Thermus aquaticus
STAGE: Bacteria
MEDIUM: Arches Paper. QoR Watercolor. Sakura pen. Derwent Pencil
Thanks to @ngerlach.bsky.social for suggesting it!
T. aquaticus can tolerate high temperatures, it was first isolated from Mushroom Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
SPECIES 172 - Thermus aquaticus
STAGE: Bacteria
MEDIUM: Arches Paper. QoR Watercolor. Sakura pen. Derwent Pencil
Thanks to @ngerlach.bsky.social for suggesting it!
T. aquaticus can tolerate high temperatures, it was first isolated from Mushroom Spring in Yellowstone National Park.
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.