Woman with dog
Alaska

Lauren Cusimano

Communications Manager, Audubon Alaska
About

Lauren (she/her/hers) manages Audubon Alaska's communications, which include news articles, newsletters, social media, and media outreach. She has reported on travel, culture, music, food, and sustainability in her former career as a journalist and editor in Arizona.

Since her interests have long been in conservation (and birds), she moved to Dzantik'i Héeni/Juneau in 2021 to work in communications for the Tongass National Forest and Juneau Audubon Society. She now lives in Dghevey Kag'/Anchorage. She also teaches remotely at the Cronkite School of Journalism. 

Joys include cycling and paddling with her partner, scary books and movies, and singing to her pets, Fred Meyer and Leroy.

Favorite Birds
!
Marbled Murrelet
Auks, Murres, Puffins

Articles by Lauren Cusimano

Trails carved into tundra landscape
An Issue of Seismic Proportions
October 22, 2025 — As concerns for the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Western Arctic heats up, seismic surveys—or irreversible ecological scarring—are at the heart of the issue.
Arctic Refuge
Flock of seabirds in water
When Ships Meet Seabirds: Mapping Risk in Alaska’s Waters
October 08, 2025 — Alaska’s seas are becoming increasingly busy highways for vessels, posing growing risks for seabirds during one of their most vulnerable times—fall migration.
Flock of seabirds on water
Large Vessels Pose Threat to Migratory Bird Species, Study Finds
August 20, 2025 — Michigan State University researchers and partners have been mapping the overlap between marine traffic and seabird movements to see when ships meet seabirds.
Remembering Our Colleague Shiloh Schulte, PhD
June 29, 2025 — Audubon statements on the passing of our colleague and friend, Dr. Shiloh Schulte, who recently died in a helicopter crash while conducting conservation work in Alaska.
Take Action for the Mendenhall Wetlands
May 19, 2025 — Comment on the Juneau Douglas North Crossing draft Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) Study.
Town in river valley
More Good News for the Chilkat Valley
May 12, 2025 — American Pacific Mining Corp., which recently took full ownership of the proposed Palmer Mine, has also decided to leave the project.
Shorebird feeding in mud
Let Them Eat Mud: How Biofilm Can Change Shorebird Conservation
May 05, 2025 — And how the biofilm “film” documents this scientific breakthrough for Western Sandpipers while highlighting a dangerous development project on a crucial stopover site.
Flock of shorebirds
Your 2025 World Migratory Bird Day Celebration Kit!
May 05, 2025 — This post is full of stories about Alaska birds, where they are celebrated, and how science can save them, plus a talking Aleutian Tern.
People with binoculars outside on gravel
The Utqiaġvik Migratory Bird Festival Is Coming Back for a Third Year
May 01, 2025 — The 2025 celebration of all the amazing migratory, Arctic-breeding birds in the area is set for June 12 to 15 at Fred Ipalook Elementary School.
People standing on shoreline with binculars
Introducing the Utqiaġvik Birding Trail
April 22, 2025 — A birding trail was born out of a festival to further celebrate birds, community, bird tourism, and conservation in Arctic Alaska.