Though he grew up as a city kid in San Francisco, Eli has had a love for the natural world for as long as he can remember. From a young age he spent countless hours outdoors hiking and exploring the myriad of habitats that California has to offer. But a Red-shouldered Hawk grabbed his attention as a 5 year old and began a lifelong passion for birds. Raptors were always a favorite of his as a child, which led to volunteering for the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory throughout middle and high school. After finishing college, he did several years of avian field research positions throughout the United States and Mexico. Since 2020 he has been lucky enough to spend a large amount of time as a spotter on pelagic trips off central California, primarily for Alvaro's Adventures, and is always looking forward to the next trip offshore. When not working or out exploring, you'll find Eli spending time with his wife, Maritza, and their dog, watching sports, or playing pickup basketball.