Bernie Lohr
@blohr.bsky.social
Sensory ecologist, animal behaviorist, evolutionary biologist by day. Puzzle solver, game player, classical music appreciator, SF/F reader, and film enthusiast by night. I mostly work on birdsong and avian hearing. I.e. dinosaur communication.
We've been waiting > 5yrs to see one of these in the yard. The native Carolina mantis. We've dispatched dozens of invasive Chinese mantis egg cases with the hope that we'd eventually get these natives back.
And we finally did. On the car (we gently placed it in the mistflowers).
And we finally did. On the car (we gently placed it in the mistflowers).
October 9, 2025 at 10:32 PM
We've been waiting > 5yrs to see one of these in the yard. The native Carolina mantis. We've dispatched dozens of invasive Chinese mantis egg cases with the hope that we'd eventually get these natives back.
And we finally did. On the car (we gently placed it in the mistflowers).
And we finally did. On the car (we gently placed it in the mistflowers).
Another one. The actual emergence happened in less than 30 sec. I wasn't quite ready for that (so didn't catch the very beginning). Hopefully, with the next one.
September 12, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Another one. The actual emergence happened in less than 30 sec. I wasn't quite ready for that (so didn't catch the very beginning). Hopefully, with the next one.
Over the last few days the monarchs that consumed our paltry 4 common milkweed plants (we have GOT to figure out a way to grow more...) have been emerging. We still have a few caterpillars on the swamp milkweed/butterfly weed out back.
We wish them the best of luck on the long trip ahead of them!
We wish them the best of luck on the long trip ahead of them!
September 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Over the last few days the monarchs that consumed our paltry 4 common milkweed plants (we have GOT to figure out a way to grow more...) have been emerging. We still have a few caterpillars on the swamp milkweed/butterfly weed out back.
We wish them the best of luck on the long trip ahead of them!
We wish them the best of luck on the long trip ahead of them!
The pond flowers are mostly finished and going to seed now (especially the swamp milkweed and butterfly weed). We've still got plenty of butterflies and frogs while the weather's still warm, though.
September 2, 2025 at 9:36 PM
The pond flowers are mostly finished and going to seed now (especially the swamp milkweed and butterfly weed). We've still got plenty of butterflies and frogs while the weather's still warm, though.
Over the last couple of weeks, monarchs have taken full advantage of our few common milkweeds. They rapidly stripped them bare and we've been acquiring more leaves to supplement the remaining caterpillars. The first few should be eclosing by the end of the week (hopefully devoid of the OE parasite).
September 2, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Over the last couple of weeks, monarchs have taken full advantage of our few common milkweeds. They rapidly stripped them bare and we've been acquiring more leaves to supplement the remaining caterpillars. The first few should be eclosing by the end of the week (hopefully devoid of the OE parasite).
Baltimore No Kings protest, Patterson Park.
June 15, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Baltimore No Kings protest, Patterson Park.
Sometimes, when you're working late at night, this happens.
May 16, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Sometimes, when you're working late at night, this happens.
Your daily reminder that despite all the other horrific things he's trying to distract you with, Donald Trump is also really bad for the economy.
April 17, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Your daily reminder that despite all the other horrific things he's trying to distract you with, Donald Trump is also really bad for the economy.
Freya.
She's wanting her dinner. Early.
She's wanting her dinner. Early.
April 7, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Freya.
She's wanting her dinner. Early.
She's wanting her dinner. Early.
Baltimore rally today.
April 5, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Baltimore rally today.
What it looks like during the day:
March 17, 2025 at 1:32 AM
What it looks like during the day:
A week ago the wood frogs started. Tonight, an American toad joined them. We're looking forward to more toads in the coming days.
The pond is paying dividends.
The pond is paying dividends.
March 17, 2025 at 1:31 AM
A week ago the wood frogs started. Tonight, an American toad joined them. We're looking forward to more toads in the coming days.
The pond is paying dividends.
The pond is paying dividends.
<sigh> I don't have a lot of time for extracurriculars, but I suspect I'll be doing a lot of these in the next few years, here in Annapolis, and down in DC...
February 18, 2025 at 2:22 AM
<sigh> I don't have a lot of time for extracurriculars, but I suspect I'll be doing a lot of these in the next few years, here in Annapolis, and down in DC...
A little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) seed landed on and decided to grow in our driveway right in front of the garage door. I haven't had the heart to pull it out. Yet. (Unfortunately, those roots could do some damage, so I'm guessing it'll happen at some point).
October 27, 2024 at 2:08 AM
A little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) seed landed on and decided to grow in our driveway right in front of the garage door. I haven't had the heart to pull it out. Yet. (Unfortunately, those roots could do some damage, so I'm guessing it'll happen at some point).
Reservoir-walk. On the eve of the anniversary of all that water flooding into my office. Thought it was appropriate.
December 25, 2023 at 3:58 AM
Reservoir-walk. On the eve of the anniversary of all that water flooding into my office. Thought it was appropriate.
We wondered what it would finally take for a Republican to stop supporting an incompetent, mendacious, egomaniacal buffoon who also happened to be Republican. Well, now we know. Stealing directly from their mother.
Max Miller (R-OH) explains:
Max Miller (R-OH) explains:
December 1, 2023 at 9:01 PM
We wondered what it would finally take for a Republican to stop supporting an incompetent, mendacious, egomaniacal buffoon who also happened to be Republican. Well, now we know. Stealing directly from their mother.
Max Miller (R-OH) explains:
Max Miller (R-OH) explains:
Just realizing this weekend that decoding this, and its variants, has been the basis of most of my professional career...
November 12, 2023 at 8:38 PM
Just realizing this weekend that decoding this, and its variants, has been the basis of most of my professional career...