Ann F. Sheppard Memorial Fund
To support bird conservation & restoration projects within the Montezuma Wetlands ComplexIn recognition of her deep respect for and love of nature, birds and all wildlife and her gentle soul, a special bird habitat restoration project is being planned as a lasting tribute to Ann’s memory.
Her hope was to carry on what her loving parents taught their children: leave only your breath and footprints out in Mother Nature 
and recognize that we are simply short term tenants of the land.
Ann F. Sheppard (née Britting)
December 9, 1956 - March 28, 2023
- a prolific artist of several mediums, illustrator for the Finger Lakes Times, and bird carver.
- a very creative residential and commercial sign maker, who’s work may be found throughout the entire Finger Lakes Region and beyond.
- a passionate bird, nature and animal lover. Hiking on any path, she could name birds by sight and song. Adopting rescue birds, cats, dogs, horses and any creature needing help was her passion.
- an avid gardener of native pollinators, flowers of all kinds, trees and shrubs and member of local gardening group.
- a dedicated volunteer for the House of John comfort care home, Beverly Animal Shelter and the Bread Box food bank.
- a remarkable, giving and loving friend to so many who crossed her path.
- a dearly loved daughter, sister, niece and cousin to her entire family.
- Ann was one lovely human being, inside and out.
The Ann F. Sheppard memorial fund was created to honor Ann’s lifelong love of birds, wildlife and the natural world.
Her bequest to the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex (FOTMWC) was for land conservation, bird habitat enhancement and the promotion of wildlife diversity. Donations will help support bird-related habitat or acquisition projects within the 50,000- acre Montezuma Wetlands Complex; a Globally Significant Important Bird Area (IBA).
Potential projects in support of the on-going work by the DEC and the USFWS within the Complex may include:
- new acquisitions to add to lands already held in the public trust
- habitat restoration or enhancement work to support migratory birds & pollinators and/or access projects bringing the many Complex visitors up close to birds and their habitat.
If possible, the administrators hope to maximize the impact of the fund by leveraging it as match for a habitat or access grant.
The project will involve the help from various partners, such as the above organizations: DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation), USFWS (US Fish & Wildlife Service), FOTMWC and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is one of many research organizations on site. With this combined expertise, it is our hope to enhance the much needed bird habitat, as well as promote wildlife diversity.
For more information on the great need for projects like this, please see the below references:
Please read the February 2026 New York Times article on accelerating bird population declines: Birds Aren’t Just Declining. They’re Declining Faster, a New Study Finds.
Published February 26, 2026, by Catrin Einhorn in The New York Times, this article covers a landmark study published in the journal Science examining 261 bird species across North America from 1987 to 2021. The research found that bird populations are not only declining — the declines are accelerating. Nearly half of the species studied showed significant population losses, with intensive agriculture identified as the primary driver of the acceleration, and rising temperatures from climate change as the strongest predictor of overall decline.
What affects birds affects us, and birds are telling us they are in trouble.
The State of the Birds Report underscores both the serious threats facing birds as well as opportunities to forge solutions that will benefit birds and the places they need. It also shows that what’s good for birds is good for people when it comes to addressing threats like climate change.
Please read the January 2024 Cornell Study describing the need for land conservation for birds: Most of the land humans need to thrive is unprotected
The 2022 U.S. State of the Birds report was produced by a consortium of government agencies, private organizations, and bird initiatives led by NABCI (North American Bird Conservation Initiative). Please read the full 2022 State of The Birds Report at: https://www.stateofthebirds.org/2022/.
Published by 33 leading science and conservation organizations and agencies, the 2022 U.S. State of the Birds report is the first look at the nation’s birds since a landmark 2019 study showed the loss of 3 billion birds in the United States and Canada since 1970. Findings included in the report:
- More than half of U.S. bird species are declining.
- U.S. grassland birds are among the fastest declining with a 34% loss since 1970.
- 70 newly identified Tipping Point species have each lost 50% or more of their populations in the past 50 years, and are on a track to lose another half in the next 50 years if nothing changes. They include beloved gems such as Rufous Hummingbirds, songsters such as Golden-winged Warblers, and oceanic travelers such as Black-footed Albatrosses.
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Celebrating the Life of Ann Sheppard: A Memorial Gallery
Click on each image to learn more about the cherished moments and contributions of Ann Sheppard.