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Help us restore and preserve 12 acres of native habitat to create a thriving BIRD SANCTUARY in southern Oklahoma
Campaign Goal: $90,000 to build and establish the sanctuary over the next 3 years
Location: Duncan, Oklahoma
Organizer: Chad and Jacqui
About the Project
Shirley’s Bird Sanctuary is a 12-acre native habitat restoration project created in honor of Shirley Alexander — a kindhearted family friend who dreamed of transforming this land into a safe haven for birds and other wildlife. After her passing, we inherited her dream and made it our own — a shared vision shaped by her love of birds, nature, and quiet beauty. Our mission is to transform this neglected space into a thriving refuge for native plants and wildlife — blending beauty, ecology, and long-term sustainability. By restoring and preserving the native prairie landscape that once dominated the region, we will provide essential refuge for grassland species threatened by habitat loss.
Plans for the sanctuary site include:
- The Homestead: a subtle RV site to serve as home base and restoration headquarters
- Cassie's Rock Pond: a new, hand-built aquatic habitat named after Shirley's beloved dog
- Grasslands: two distinct fields restored with low-maintenance native grasses
- Prairie: a vibrant high-diversity native prairie filled with grasses and wildflowers
- Wildflower Patches: two wildflower zones, each seeded with a unique mix to support diverse pollinators
- Brush Pond: a natural pond, carefully restored to support birds, amphibians, and pollinators
- The Creek: a preserved intermittent creek forming the western boundary of the sanctuary
- Scrubby Zone: a transitional area between the prairie and creek, restored with native woody vegetation
- Red Rock Cactus Garden: a bold xeric garden planted atop natural red rock outcrops
- Cedar Moon Garden: a moon garden of nocturnal plants tucked into a cedar woodland edge to support night-pollinators
- Hummingbird Garden: a dedicated area of nectar-rich plants for hummingbirds and pollinators
- Orchards: two designated rows of native and adapted fruit trees planted to provide seasonal food for birds, mammals, and pollinators
- Wildlife Support: integrated water drips, seasonal feeders, and shelter boxes to ensure consistent year-round support
- Natural Observation: peaceful walking paths and quiet seating areas that allow visitors to experience nature without disrupting wildlife
Our ultimate goal is for Shirley's Bird Sanctuary to become a thriving mixed-grass prairie and eBird hotspot open to visitors at specified times. We'll regularly record bird and wildlife activity through official channels to support conservation efforts. We also envision the property eventually becoming a resource for local students, researchers, and wildlife enthusiasts through guided educational tours on native plants, wildlife, and land stewardship.
Once restoration zones are established, we plan to implement:
- monthly birding walks during peak migration seasons in spring and fall
- special access days when rare species are observed on-site
- guided visits for students, researchers, and conservation groups
- birding access by appointment for special requests
For more information, view our full [Guidebook], which includes:
- our story and Shirley's legacy
- detailed overviews of habitat zones and special features of the sanctuary
- native plant selections and our ecological reasoning for choosing them
- invasive species management strategies
- future plans, such as establishing an eBird hotspot and community outreach
- full project cost estimate and timeline
This fundraiser will help us cover the cost of building the sanctuary, which will take place in phases over the next few years. We plan to run the campaign for at least one year and hope to gather enough supplemental funding to complete the full vision for the property. We will begin phase 1 in late July 2025 after we move to Oklahoma from southern California.
How Your Support Will Help
Every dollar donated will directly fund habitat restoration, wildlife support, and ecological improvements at Shirley’s Bird Sanctuary. While we are committed to fulfilling Shirley’s dream regardless, donor support will greatly speed up our progress. All donations will fund restoration materials, infrastructure, and habitat creation — never personal expenses or unrelated equipment.
To establish the site efficiently, we’ll prioritize efforts in the following categories:
- Initial (1–9 months): We will begin by safely demolishing the dilapidated house and building the Homestead — our on-site base for restoration work. We will also construct Cassie’s Rock Pond where the house once stood, combining demolition and pond creation in one efficient process. Finally, we'll prioritize restoring the Brush Pond — which will quickly become a natural attractor for wildlife — and we'll conduct a thorough sweep of the entire site to identify any invasive species present.
- Medium (9–24 months): Our main goal will be planting native vegetation and removing invasive species to begin establishing native habitat. We will also supplement any initial water drips, feeders, and shelter boxes with more thorough coverage throughout the property. Finally, we will begin laying the groundwork for the gardens and refining areas that need thinning or adjustment as well as removing invasive species.
- Long-term (24–36+ months): As native habitat establishes, we will complete the gardens and add final touches to walking paths, seating areas, and viewing spots. We'll also begin restoration and preservation of the Scrubby Zone and creek bed as well as boundary areas throughout the property. By the end of the third year, we should be in the monitoring phase, meaning we can turn our attention toward wildlife observation, continuing to control invasive species, tending to restoration zones, and hosting visitors.
The first 6 months (July–December 2025) will be the most costly phase of the project due to the following expenses:
- demolition of existing structure — $13,000
- construction of RV site — $15,050
- equipment purchases (mowers, tools, etc.) — $4,000
The remainder of the $90,000 estimated cost covers materials and supplies — such as seed mixes, native vegetation, construction materials to build wildlife support systems, and products to help control invasive species. These costs will likely be spread out over the first three years. We did not factor in any labor costs (aside from initial demolition and Homestead construction) because we plan to do all the labor ourselves.
Remaining estimates include:
- Native vegetation and gravel for the Homestead — $1,200
- Habitat zone restoration (seeds, plants, supplies) — $25,600
- Construction of features and gardens — $25,650
- Additional supplies (invasives control, signage, trail cams, etc.) — $5,500
After the site is fully established, we estimate expenses to range from $3,000–$5,000 annually to maintain the land, support wildlife, and replenish supplies. This operating cost will sustain key elements like native plant re-seeding, wildlife feed, pond and trail upkeep, drip system repairs, and basic monitoring tools. We plan to cover these ongoing expenses with personal funds, but we may use Patreon or YouTube subscriptions in the future to allow people to continue supporting the sanctuary if they wish.
Why This Matters
Bird populations have dramatically decreased by the billions since the 1970s, with grassland species among the most affected. The largest driver of this horrendous decline is loss of habitat. Oklahoma's once-vast prairie landscapes were perfect environments for species now suffering. Our sanctuary site is in an ideal location to restore natural vegetation and make at least some difference in the fight against native habitat loss.
The land already hosts over 60 species of birds, several mammal species, and countless pollinators, reptiles, and amphibians. [View our eBird trip report] from April 8–15, 2025, for a complete account of our findings during an initial site survey. We hope that Shirley's Bird Sanctuary will eventually support more than 200 bird species annually.
The sanctuary property has excellent potential, but it also faces invasive overgrowth, aging structures, and degraded soil. With your help, we’ll turn it into a mosaic of healthy native habitats that support wildlife year-round, especially during drought, migration, and nesting seasons. This is more than a restoration project — it’s a long-term act of stewardship that honors both land and legacy.
Restoring even a small patch of land can have a ripple effect. This sanctuary won’t just serve wildlife — it will become a living example of what’s possible when we choose to give land back to nature.
Follow Our Progress
Supporters will receive updates through GoFundMe. We’ll share wildlife sightings, restoration milestones, and the story of this land as it slowly comes back to life. We may also create a social media presence so others can follow along and witness the transformation. For the time being, we will post regular updates on [Shirley's Bird Sanctuary Photoblog]. Eventually — and if there is sufficient interest — we may offer live streaming of key areas of the sanctuary that produce the most wildlife activity.
We will recognize major donors with gestures like engraved plaques on seating areas, named trails, commemorative feeders, or dedicated native plant zones. These recognitions will blend naturally with the landscape, maintaining the sanctuary's quiet beauty and spirit.
Thank You
Every donation — no matter the size — brings us one step closer to transforming this land into a thriving sanctuary for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Thank you for believing in the sanctuary and helping us make Shirley’s dream become a reality.
With gratitude,
Chad and Jacqui
Organizer
