EventAudubon CEO Gerrit Vyn captures Teshekpuk Lake, an essential breeding area for nearly 30 migratory bird species, underscoring its value as one of the world’s most important Arctic wetlands and the ongoing conservation work to protect the habitat.
Gerrit Vyn is photographing Teshekpuk Lake, an Alaskan Arctic wetland essential for migratory birds, as the Trump administration opened most of the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska to fossil‑fuel drilling, prompting lawsuits by an Iñupiat nonprofit that have halted some leases.
Audubon’s CEO trekked to Teshekpuk Lake in Alaska’s western Arctic, a vital wetland where nearly 30 bird species breed. Observing the species and noting climate‑driven thaw delays highlighted the fragile Arctic spring and the urgency of protecting these habitats for worldwide bird migration.