Andy Birkey
@andybirkey.com
Queer. He/him. Once an award-winning journalist. Part time field biologist: focus Coccinellidae/Lepidoptera. Nature-inspired artist/graphic designer. Aurora CO-based. Roots in Minnesota. Married to @worstmillennial.bsky.social
Our trip to New Orleans included an unexpected boat ride out into the bayou and Gulf for fresh oysters from the sea. We got a tour of the entire oyster farming process and as many free samples of the delicious creatures as we wanted. Definitely beats getting drunk on Bourbon St. any day!
November 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Our trip to New Orleans included an unexpected boat ride out into the bayou and Gulf for fresh oysters from the sea. We got a tour of the entire oyster farming process and as many free samples of the delicious creatures as we wanted. Definitely beats getting drunk on Bourbon St. any day!
Spent the weekend in Louisiana exploring bayous (first time in La!). Added roseate spoonbill and royal tern to my life list.
November 5, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Spent the weekend in Louisiana exploring bayous (first time in La!). Added roseate spoonbill and royal tern to my life list.
Every year, a series of articles comes out with this myth-making that Harmonia axyridis is not a "ladybug." There is no taxonomical difference between "ladybug" and "lady beetle." Different common names for the same thing. www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
October 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Every year, a series of articles comes out with this myth-making that Harmonia axyridis is not a "ladybug." There is no taxonomical difference between "ladybug" and "lady beetle." Different common names for the same thing. www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
I know I shouldn't get so worked up about this, but the MAGA-aligned candidates for Aurora City Council have illegally littered my entire neighborhood with campaign signs, all on public property (parks, rights-of-way, etc). I alerted Danielle Jurinsky to it, and she responded like she was a victim.
October 23, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I know I shouldn't get so worked up about this, but the MAGA-aligned candidates for Aurora City Council have illegally littered my entire neighborhood with campaign signs, all on public property (parks, rights-of-way, etc). I alerted Danielle Jurinsky to it, and she responded like she was a victim.
"Friends" is a beloved American sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004, following six young adults—Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe—living in New York City. The show explores their friendships, romances, careers, and personal growth over ten seasons.
October 23, 2025 at 2:25 PM
"Friends" is a beloved American sitcom that aired from 1994 to 2004, following six young adults—Rachel, Ross, Monica, Chandler, Joey, and Phoebe—living in New York City. The show explores their friendships, romances, careers, and personal growth over ten seasons.
Lots of coccinellidae stocking up for the winter on aphids at Pronghorn Natural Area in Arapahoe County, CO. Broad-striped and Sinuate lady beetles enjoying aphids on bulrush, and Nine-spotted and Ebony Shield lady beetles taking aphids from marsh elder. So far, I've seen 12 different species there
September 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Lots of coccinellidae stocking up for the winter on aphids at Pronghorn Natural Area in Arapahoe County, CO. Broad-striped and Sinuate lady beetles enjoying aphids on bulrush, and Nine-spotted and Ebony Shield lady beetles taking aphids from marsh elder. So far, I've seen 12 different species there
A good haul from the garden this morning: Potatoes, patty pan, pumpkin, tomatillos, lemon cukes, pickling cukes, red beets, roma tomatoes, and green peppers. Not bad for Colorado veggie gardening!
September 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
A good haul from the garden this morning: Potatoes, patty pan, pumpkin, tomatillos, lemon cukes, pickling cukes, red beets, roma tomatoes, and green peppers. Not bad for Colorado veggie gardening!
Broad-striped Lady Beetle, Paranaemia vittigera, native to the American West. Feeding on aphids on bulrush in Arapahoe County, CO. I've been looking for them for months in the Senac Creek watershed. Finally found 'em! Like many lady beetles, not much is known about their ecology. #inverts
September 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Broad-striped Lady Beetle, Paranaemia vittigera, native to the American West. Feeding on aphids on bulrush in Arapahoe County, CO. I've been looking for them for months in the Senac Creek watershed. Finally found 'em! Like many lady beetles, not much is known about their ecology. #inverts
Convergent lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens) swarm in the Colorado foothills as the weather cools. They can mass by the millions and hibernate together under the snow. Starting in the 1910s, people would scoop them up and sell them to CO farms for bio control. These are from Jefferson County.
September 11, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Convergent lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens) swarm in the Colorado foothills as the weather cools. They can mass by the millions and hibernate together under the snow. Starting in the 1910s, people would scoop them up and sell them to CO farms for bio control. These are from Jefferson County.
A few scenes from today's protest in Denver.
September 2, 2025 at 2:07 AM
A few scenes from today's protest in Denver.
A trio of brown butterflies, all of which are new species for me. Bell's and Nysa Roadside Skipper, and Southern Cloudywing. From natural areas north of Oklahoma City.
August 26, 2025 at 11:05 PM
A trio of brown butterflies, all of which are new species for me. Bell's and Nysa Roadside Skipper, and Southern Cloudywing. From natural areas north of Oklahoma City.
Colias scudderii, the Willow Sulphur or Scudder's Sulphur, at Lilypad Lake north of Frisco, CO. These are only found in the Rocky Mountains from AK to NM. These were on my bucket list and we saw a ton last weekend. #invertebrates #butterflies
August 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Colias scudderii, the Willow Sulphur or Scudder's Sulphur, at Lilypad Lake north of Frisco, CO. These are only found in the Rocky Mountains from AK to NM. These were on my bucket list and we saw a ton last weekend. #invertebrates #butterflies
Hippodamia sinuata crotchi, Crotch's Lady Beetle, subspecies of Sinuate Lady Beetle, at Pronghorn Natural Area, Arapahoe County, CO. This western species ranges from north Texas to northern Alberta to Vancouver to southern California. It has a wide range elytral patterns, even in one location.
July 30, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Hippodamia sinuata crotchi, Crotch's Lady Beetle, subspecies of Sinuate Lady Beetle, at Pronghorn Natural Area, Arapahoe County, CO. This western species ranges from north Texas to northern Alberta to Vancouver to southern California. It has a wide range elytral patterns, even in one location.
This is probably Brachiacantha illustris, a species of spurleg lady beetle (coccinellidae). It matches Gordon's figures (1985), but like with many species, genital examination is probably necessary (and I just take photos, I don't kill). Found at 7500 ft in the foothills west of Golden, CO. #bugsky
July 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This is probably Brachiacantha illustris, a species of spurleg lady beetle (coccinellidae). It matches Gordon's figures (1985), but like with many species, genital examination is probably necessary (and I just take photos, I don't kill). Found at 7500 ft in the foothills west of Golden, CO. #bugsky
These are Coccinella prolongata, the Prolongate Lady Beetle. An uncommon species of higher elevations. Sightings are scattered throughout the mountain west. @worstmillennial.bsky.social and I saw a ton in Crested Butte.
July 16, 2025 at 1:42 AM
These are Coccinella prolongata, the Prolongate Lady Beetle. An uncommon species of higher elevations. Sightings are scattered throughout the mountain west. @worstmillennial.bsky.social and I saw a ton in Crested Butte.
My best ever bowling three game average at last night’s league. 200 point game, I’m coming for ya!
July 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
My best ever bowling three game average at last night’s league. 200 point game, I’m coming for ya!
We saw Judd Falls while in Crested Butte. A great hike and a really large waterfall. Worth a visit! #waterfallwednesday
July 3, 2025 at 12:12 AM
We saw Judd Falls while in Crested Butte. A great hike and a really large waterfall. Worth a visit! #waterfallwednesday
Three-banded Lady Beetle (Coccinella trifasciata) a new species for me. We saw plenty of them along the trails around Crested Butte, CO. #invertebrates #coccinellidae
July 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Three-banded Lady Beetle (Coccinella trifasciata) a new species for me. We saw plenty of them along the trails around Crested Butte, CO. #invertebrates #coccinellidae
I was cleaning up the yard after the storm on Wednesday and found this pile of hailstones next to the downspout. It’s survived two 90 degree days so far. We had a LOT of hail. #cowx
June 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I was cleaning up the yard after the storm on Wednesday and found this pile of hailstones next to the downspout. It’s survived two 90 degree days so far. We had a LOT of hail. #cowx
Winter in late June? No, that’s my garden being destroyed by a stationary supercell dumping tons of hail on Aurora.
June 26, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Winter in late June? No, that’s my garden being destroyed by a stationary supercell dumping tons of hail on Aurora.
We go to cemeteries when we vacation. Beating the Colorado heat at 8800 feet in Crested Butte. It's very lovely here.
June 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
We go to cemeteries when we vacation. Beating the Colorado heat at 8800 feet in Crested Butte. It's very lovely here.
My first time seeing a Cream-spotted Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) at a park in Westminster, CO. The Colorado type of this species doesn't have cream spots like the northeastern North American and European types. Instead it is pink with these bold spots. #invertebrates
June 21, 2025 at 3:06 AM
My first time seeing a Cream-spotted Ladybird (Calvia quatuordecimguttata) at a park in Westminster, CO. The Colorado type of this species doesn't have cream spots like the northeastern North American and European types. Instead it is pink with these bold spots. #invertebrates
My ghoulish, Trump-worshipping city council member, Danielle Jurinsky, claims that the man who assassinated MN Majority Leader Melissa Hortman, and her husband, and shot two others, was a "registered Democrat." She's the reason Trump's kidnapping of people is called operation Aurora. She needs to go
June 17, 2025 at 12:04 AM
My ghoulish, Trump-worshipping city council member, Danielle Jurinsky, claims that the man who assassinated MN Majority Leader Melissa Hortman, and her husband, and shot two others, was a "registered Democrat." She's the reason Trump's kidnapping of people is called operation Aurora. She needs to go