Each year, waterfowl migrate great lengths to spend their summers in the Teshekpuk Lake area of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. This area allows them to molt and recover for their long fall journeys—which often pass through many states in the United States. Alaska Wilderness League is working with Congress to pass legislation that would grant this important area the strongest protection possible while also studying the potential impact of oil, gas, and coal development on other sensitive areas within the Reserve.

The Reserve is also home to other wildlife. It is home to two caribou herds. The 45,000 strong Teshekpuk Lake heard and the 490,000-head Western Arctic herd. The cliffs along the Colville River provide critical nesting sites and adjacent food hunting areas for peregrine and gyrfalcons, golden eagles, and rough-legged hawks. Over 3,500 beluga whales use Kasegaluk Lagoon to breed and feed. Both grizzly and polar bears also use this area.

You can help us work towards the study and protection of important areas within the Reserve with a fun craft project. Through the beginning of May, the League will be collecting origami Tundra Swans to deliver to Members of Congress asking that they cosponsor legislation to protect the tundra swans’ habitat. Click here to view the instructions. It’s important that you start with a square piece of paper.

Your organization could use a meeting to make swans. You could have friends over for a swan party. Your school could learn more about the Reserve and have a competition to see which class can make the most swans. You can write notes on the swans telling your Representative why he or she should protect Teshekpuk Lake.

It would be great if you could take a photo of your group making the swans and then send it along with your swans to our DC office – 122 C Street NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC, 20001. We hope to deliver the swans to Congress for International Migratory Bird Day on May 8.

NEW for Teachers: Check out our lesson plan onswans and bird migration!

More information on the Reserve:

• History and background
• Wildlife
• Alaska Natives
• Bird migration map (see below)