Rescuers of feathered friends

Couple operate Cockatiel Relocation Station

Jennifer LaRue   /  Correspondent

Sarah Forbes cares for cockatiels Tiki, on her head, and Honey in her Spokane home. (DAN PELLE/The Spokesman-Review) More information •Online: If you are interested in adopting a cockatiel or wish to make a donation, check out www.cockatielrelocation.org. •Visit: See birds at their house or attend the Spokane Parrot Festival on May 12th. •Call: Sarah Forbes at (509) 218-0051 @spokesmanreview.com •See: A video presentation about Cockateil Relocation Station.

It's an unconventional lifestyle, that's for sure.

Having a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week day care could get to anyone, but Sarah Forbes and Rick Olsen don't mind.

Their charges don't talk back. They chirp and ruffle their own feathers.

In their small North Side home, Forbes and Olsen care for more than 30 birds, mostly cockatiels. Cages and perches decorate the home in the main living area as well as a bedroom called the "night room," where the birds sleep.

Their first bird was Bandit, a Concure Parrot who had plucked off most of his feathers due to emotional distress.

More birds followed but Mr. Peepers cinched the deal. "We got him four years ago when someone called a local bird store and asked what time of day was best to release a bird to fly south," said Forbes, "It broke our hearts." They took him in and it snowballed. They continued to hear more and more stories about "disposable" pets.

"Someone needs to stand up for the little guy," said Forbes.

A few birds became a dozen birds. And then more arrived, turning the home into a sanctuary for the poorly fed and cared for.

Forbes and Olsen learned all they could about the small birds and, after deciding that what they were doing was actually rescue work, they became a business.

In August, they got their 501(c)3 status and became the "Cockatiel Relocation Station." The pair work around the clock, even getting panicked phone calls in the middle of the night.

"A common problem is when a female cockatiel can't pass an egg," said Forbes.

Forbes could be considered the Martha Stewart of cockatiels.

"She's the flock leader," said Olsen, "You can't have this many birds without having control. She's constantly cooking and cleaning for them."

Forbes is quick to whip up a breakfast mixture of scrambled eggs and hashed browns or an appetizing loaf of baked birdy bread. Forbes is also crafty and makes bird toys.

Forbes and Olsen's lifestyle does raise some eyebrows. "I think that some people just think we're crazy," said Forbes.

To people on the outside, their lifestyle may seem a bit over the top.

"I've got some medical problems and I'm a bit of a shut in," Forbes said as a bird poked its head out from beneath her shirt, "They give me purpose. They calm and relax me. They're good companions."