Jeff Zirpoli - Director of Ecological Services

Mr. Zirpoli is a professional wildlife biologist and project manager with extensive experience in wildlife, ecology, and project management. His work focuses on surveys, research and conservation of birds with emphasis on guiding the assessment and avoidance of potential impacts to raptors at renewable energy facilities. His work also includes other small- and large-scale development projects for private and public clients. As Director of Ecological Services, Mr. Zirpoli applies his extensive experience and regulatory knowledge to guide projects from siting through post-construction monitoring by developing and implementing effective strategies for ecological surveys, permitting, and impact avoidance and minimization strategies. He routinely coordinates with other researchers, agency personnel, and clients to ensure that projects are efficiently designed and managed to achieve objectives to result in successful project permitting and development.
 
Jeff has worked in a variety of habitats and settings including solar and wind energy sites, with experience in grasslands, rangelands, agricultural and rural lands, desert, xeric shrub and bunchgrass, and variety of forest habitats (e.g., redwood, conifer, hardwood, and riparian forests). In addition to birds, Jeff has worked with (surveyed, researched, evaluated impacts, etc.) for many special-special status amphibian, reptile, and mammal species. Recently, Mr. Zirpoli played a large role in a federally funded research study on a commercial-ready raptor detection and acoustic deterrent at wind energy facility and coauthored the technical report resulting from the project. Jeff has also conducted research and coauthored numerous papers related to impacts of solar development to birds and drafted the first state agency-approved Swainson’s hawk nesting abandonment plan in California. 
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