Richard Podolsky, Ph.D.

Dr. Podolsky’s training is in ecology and he assists clients with all aspects of environmental compliance, including environmental conservation, natural resource assessments, ecological/environmental restoration, site assessment/site investigations (SA/SI), habitat evaluations, resource conservation and recovery, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA), particularly Section 7 Consultations pertaining to ESA.

Dr. Podolsky has 30 years of experience in assisting land developers and oil, gas, and electric generation companies in reducing potentially adverse environmental effects of a wide range of projects and achieving regulatory compliance. He is experienced in researching and successfully applying cost-effective, state-of-the-art environmental techniques, materials, and software to new development and mitigation projects, proactively addressing the environmental concerns of nonprofit organizations and community groups, and troubleshooting with governmental officials to achieve regulatory compliance. Dr. Podolsky has worked on the impact of the built environment on wildlife, especially wind and solar power, artificial lighting big boxes, skyscrapers, and communication and utility towers.

Dr. Podolsky has in-depth experience with the application of computers and modeling to scientific problems, specifically with GIS integration, pattern recognition, data mining, risk assessment, and remote sensing. He regularly designs and develops software and models for environmental scientists, including the Avian Risk of Collision (ARC) Model, which quantifies risk of birds around wind turbines and communication towers; FullPixelSearch, an image mining software tool; GAIA, the first GIS designed for Macintosh OS; Diversidad, a software model for mapping biodiversity hot spots; and FireTower, a software tool for modeling wildfire spread.

Podolsky RH. Take back the night. Ecology 2006; 87(12):3223–3224.

Podolsky RH. Wind power shifts into high gear. Perspectives. The quarterly publication of the New England Society for Conservation Biology, November 2004.

Podolsky R. Application of risk assessment tools: Avian risk of collision model. Proceedings, Onshore Wildlife Interactions with Wind Developments: Research Meeting V. Schwartz SS (ed). Prepared for the Wildlife Subcommittee of the National Wind Coordinating Committee. Prepared by RESOLVE, Inc., Washington DC, pp. 86–87, Lansdowne, VA, November 3–4, 2004.

Ainley DG, Podolsky R, Deforest L, Spencer G, Nur N. The ecology of Newell’s Shearwater and dark-rumped petrel on the island of Kaua`i. Final Report. Task 2, Seabird Ecology Study. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA, 1995.

Podolsky R, Ainley DG, Deforest L, Spencer G. Mortality of Newell’s Shearwaters caused by collisions with urban structures on Kauai. Colonial Waterbirds 1998; 21(1):20–34.

Ainley DG, Podolsky R, Deforest L, Spencer G. New insights into the status of the Hawaiian Petrel on Kaua`i. Colonial Waterbirds 1997; 20:1–7.

Podolsky R. Biodiversity prospecting from digital earth imagery. Diversity 1995; 11(4)16–17.

Podolsky R. Ecological hot spots: A method for estimating biodiversity directly from digital earth imagery. Earth Observation Magazine 1994; Jun: pp. 30–36.

Podolsky R. Quantification of habitats in Prince William Sound from Landsat TM satellite imagery. In: Proceedings of the Alaska University, Fairbanks, et al. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Symposium, Abstract p. 147, Anchorage, AK, February 1993.

Podolsky R, Conkling P. Satellite imagery aids analysis of rare coastal ecosystems. GEOInfo Systems, June 1992.

Podolsky R. Remote sensing, geographic data and the conservation of biological resources. Endangered Species Update 1992; 9(12):1–4.

Podolsky R, Freilich J, Knehr R. Predicting plant species richness from remotely sensed data in a high desert ecosystem. 1992 ISPRS/ASPRS Global Change Conference Proceedings, Washington, DC.

Kress SW, Nettleship D, Podolsky RH. Reintroductions of Atlantic puffins, terns, and Leach’s storm-petrels at former breeding sites in the Gulf of Maine. Bell BD, Kromdeur J (eds). In: Management Methods for Populations of Threatened Birds International Council for Bird Preservation Technical Publication, Cambridge, England, UK, 1992.

Podolsky R, Kress SW. Attraction of the endangered dark-rumped petrel to recorded vocalizations in the Galápagos Islands. The Condor 1992; 94:448–453.

Podolsky RH. Effectiveness of social stimuli in attracting Laysan albatross to new potential nesting sites. The Auk 1990; 107(1):119–125.

Podolsky RH, Morehouse BC. Analyzing and managing digital earth imagery: An ecological perspective. Scientific Computing & Automation 1990 Jan; 19–26.

Podolsky RH. Monitoring biodiversity and landscape richness through digital earth imagery. In: Global and Environmental Monitoring: Techniques and Impacts. International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing Commission VII Symposium, Vancouver, BC, 1990.

Podolsky RH, Morehouse BC, Greene R. Geographic information and analysis of digital earth imagery on the Macintosh II. In: Advances in Spatial Information Extraction and Analysis for Remote Sensing, Orono, ME, 1990.

Podolsky RH, Kress SW. Factors affecting colony formation in Leach’s storm-petrel to uncolonized islands in Maine. The Auk 1989; 106:332–336.

Podolsky RH. The Status of the razorbill in the Gulf of Maine. American Birds 1989; 43:14−16.

Podolsky RH, Kress SW. Plastic debris incorporated into cormorant nest in the Gulf of Maine. Journal of Field Ornithology 1989; 60:248–250.

Podolsky RH. Entrapment of sea-deposited plastic debris on the shore of a Gulf of Maine island. Marine Environmental Research 1989; 27:67–72.

Kosinski RJ, Podolsky RH. An analysis of breeding and mortality in a maturing kittiwake colony. The Auk 1979; 96:537–543.

Oil Spill Response/Restoration

Analyzed satellite imagery of over one million acres affected by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, to identify and quantify the habitats of species most impacted; trained and led an expedition to ground-truth the satellite imagery of Prince William Sound; and presented results of the GIS analysis and mapping to the land acquisition team to guide their purchase and subsequent protection of critical coastal habitat to restore species displaced by the spill.

Wind Project—On-Shore, Near-Shore, and Off-Shore

Contributed substantially to pre- and post-construction studies of birds, bats, and other wildlife at over 70 wind power projects from Maine to Hawaii, especially in the Great Plains of Texas, Montana, and Colorado. Approximately half of the projects conducted are in the coastal zone, and 10 were offshore assessments. Focus has been pre-construction studies and post-construction monitoring. This project entailed coordination of a team of biologist observers, boats, and deployment of a floating, offshore avian radar station that Dr. Podolsky designed.

Holds US Patent #7,315,799 – Method of and Article of Manufacture for Determining Probability of Avian Collision. This model, called “ARC – Avian Risk of Collision,” has been used to predict and model annual bird mortality at a dozen wind-power projects and most notably for a wind-power project sited in the middle of critical habitat for the Hawaiian Petrel and Newell’s Shearwater on Maui.

Currently serves as Scientific Advisor to the Mineral Management Service (MMS) in their risk assessment of the impact of offshore wind to Roseate Terns, Red Knots, and Piping Plovers. Dr. Podolsky is a member of the impact assessment and regulatory subcommittees of the Governor of Maine’s Offshore Wind Power Task Force.

Transmission and Distribution

Worked on the avian impacts of transmission and power distribution lines. These studies have had two foci. First, the impact of lines and towers directly on birds via collision, and second, the impact of siting of lines on critical habitats. In the first case of collision, studies typically focus on the impact that line-induced mortality may have on the viability of threatened and endangered species populations. In the second case, habitat, studies focus on how a new transmission line or the expansion of transmission lines would affect critical habitats located in the proposed transmission corridor. For the latter, habitat studies often include the need to ground-truth GIS maps showing the habitats that would be affected by transmission.

Restoration and Mitigation Planning for Sensitive Habitats

Worked on coastal bird restoration/mitigation projects. Specifically, worked for over 10 years on the restoration of Atlantic Puffins, Roseate, Common and Arctic Terns, and Leach’s Storm-petrels to Maine Islands. Worked for 4 years on the restoration of the Galapagos Petrel on Santa Cruz and Pinta Island in the Galapagos Islands. In Hawaii, assisted in restoration of Laysan Albatross to Kauai and Oahu and has worked for many years on the restoration and mitigation of Hawaiian Petrel and Newell’s Shearwater in Hawaii.

Section 7 Consultation for Threatened and Endangered Species and NEPA Compliance

Technical avian lead for DEIS, EAs, and EIS where proposed actions will affect birds. These projects include but are not limited to alternative analysis for off road vehicle use at Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout National Seashores and the impact of recreation at Golden Gate National Seashore—both for the National Park Service (NPS). Analyzed the impact of telecommunication towers within Rock Creek Park in Washington DC and contributed to the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the FCC.

Peer reviewer for the avian studies done by the Cape Wind offshore project in Massachusetts.

Conducted Section 7 consultations associated with telecom towers proposed in or near endangered species habitats in the Hawaiian Islands.

Green Building Programs, LEED Certification, Sky Scraper Design That Limits Collision Mortality

Worked on several projects to help clients reduce the risk of birds being affected by the built environment. This work has been focused on two practice areas: impact of artificial lighting, and impact of tall buildings and telecommunication towers. Regarding the former, consulted with the largest wetland complex in Los Angeles County, California, The Ballona Wetland, to reduce the impact of artificial lighting on wetland birds from roadways surrounding the wetland complex. Advised companies on reducing reliance on artificial lights at their facilities that are sited near wetlands.

Currently under contract to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for all four towers being proposed to be built at the former Twin Towers site at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Advises the developer, Silverstein Properties, and their architects on reducing the risk of birds colliding with tall buildings. Specifically, this entails minimizing the use of reflective facades that can reflect surrounding vegetation. Also, dimming the facilities’ lights at night will allow migrating birds to fly past the buildings and not become exhausted.

Computer Modeling, Software Designs and Patent

Providing clients with all aspects of environmental compliance, including environmental conservation, natural resource assessments, ecological/environmental restoration, site assessment/site investigations (SA/SI), habitat evaluations, resource conservation and recovery, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Endangered Species Act (ESA), particularly Section 7 Consultations pertaining to ESA.

Designs and develops software and models for environmental scientists, including Avian Risk of Collision (ARC) Model, which quantifies risk of birds around wind turbines and communication towers; FullPixelSearch, an image mining software tool; GAIA, the first GIS designed for Macintosh OS; Diversidad, a software model for mapping biodiversity hot spots; and FireTower a software tool for modeling wildfire spread.

Climate Change — Avian Indicators

Provided review and design of the avian sampling protocol at a network of 20 U.S. bio-region sampling sites (NEON—National Ecological Observatory Network), where these and other ecological data are being collected to enable forecasting impacts from global climate change.

• Ecological Society of America
• Society for Conservation Biology
• American Ornithological Union
• National Wind Coordinating Committee