He served as Colonial Secretary from 1852 to 1855, and in this position Sanford asked the assistant Surveyor of the state, Robert Austin, to make observations and collections of birds while exploring inland regions. In the report of the Austin Expedition of 1854 is a note on a "Ground Parrot", following Sanford's labelling of what is assumed to be the type specimen of Pezoporus occidentalis, the cryptic "night parrot". After returning to England, Sanford is noted for his interest in natural history, especially the paleontology of the Somerset area.
