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Oasis Diary - July 2001

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It is mid-summer at The Oasis. Here, at our new facility in southeastern Arizona, the landscape is beautifully lush, green, and, yes, hot and monsoon-rain humid. The approximately 350 birds that call The Oasis home live under the shade of the pecan trees in the breezy orchard.

It is hard to believe that a year has already passed since we found this property. Went into escrow. Applied for and received our Special Use Permit. Surprisingly, it has been ten months since we actually moved.

A lot has transpired since The Oasis has come to make this remote location home. We have become a part of this unusual community of artists, ranchers, conservationists and recluses. The Sanctuary has been befriended by new veterinarians, new shopkeepers, new volunteers and staff, and new supporters. Several supporters, new and old, have made the somewhat arduous trip down our distant and winding country dirt road to visit with the birds in residence here.

With much help and hard work from donors and supporters, the new bird building comes closer to becoming a reality. If all goes well, we should have the indoor birds placed in their new home early this autumn.

We are already preparing for next winter, making plans to install electricity for the outdoor birds, to provide supplemental heat as needed. And we extend the planning to next summer, designing placement of additional water spigots for mist showers. There is so much to do.

We wish to thank all of you for your ongoing support, your well wishes, your encouragement. The birds thank you too for the toys and blankets, the food and the tools, the dollars and the time you all are giving to The Oasis. None of this could be happening without YOU.

Thanks!

Sybil Erden
July 17 2001

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