Every summer, migratory birds from six continents converge on the remote wetlands surrounding Alaska’s Teshekpuk Lake. As the largest lake in Alaska’s Arctic, it is home to globally significant breeding populations of shorebirds and waterbirds.
However, “bids, not birds” recently became the clear priority. The Trump administration held the highest-value oil lease sale in the 103-year history of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The record-breaking lease sale in March included parcels in and around the highly sensitive and ecologically critical Teshekpuk Lake area—threatening an untamed wilderness the size of Connecticut with industrial-scale exploration and drilling.
Cornell University needed to quickly communicate exactly what is at stake. Our challenge was to take complex, large-scale migratory and geographic data and translate it into clear, emotionally resonant, and highly accurate graphic maps that could seamlessly integrate into their documentary film.
The resulting film serves as a vital tool for conservation advocacy. Seeing our maps used to highlight the fragility of these remote habitats and the imminent threats to Teshekpuk Lake is a powerful reminder of why clear, impactful visual storytelling matters.
We are incredibly proud to have played a role in bringing this critical story to light.
Watch the full film here to learn more about the project and what is at stake for this irreplaceable wilderness.
