José R. Ramírez-Garofalo (born March 17, 1996) is an American ecologist, ornithologist, and naturalist known for his work on avian ecology, conservation biology, and the impact of environmental change on urban bird populations.

He is a noted expert on the natural history of the Greater New York Area, and has published widely on the changing composition of the ecological communities of the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States since the turn of the 20th century.

On December 3, 2023, Ramírez-Garofalo was elected to serve as the fourth president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization focused on preserving natural areas in New York City.

[4] With a wide network of colleagues, Ramírez-Garofalo has conducted research with a regional and global-focus, with publications ranging from the spread of southern ticks into the northeastern United States and changes in the migratory patterns of geese.

[9] Discoveries made by the small team of ecologists consisting of Shannon Curley from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Richard Veit of the City University of New York include the return of highly-specialized grassland birds like Sedge Wrens and Grasshopper Sparrows,[8][10][11] and a previously unknown, regionally-important population of diamondback terrapins.

Ramírez-Garofalo frequently communicates science to the media, and has been quotes on a variety of topics within ecology including the recovery of Bald Eagles,[29] the unappreciated importance of vagrancy in birds[30][31][32] and issues related to the spread of invasive species.

[36] Following heavy coverage of the invasion of the joro spider in the eastern United States, he wrote "the truth is that millions of them are not floating in the skies of New York City or Boston and dropping in like paratroopers.