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Elkhorn woman offering $3,000 for return of beloved cockatoo

Rosie the cockatoo has been missing from her Elkhorn home since early May. Her owner is offering a $3,000 reward for her safe return. Suzanne von Foerster photo.

ELKHORN -- After 11 years together, Suzanne von Foerster became quite attached to her pet cockatoo Rosie.

So, after the bird flew off last month, the Elkhorn woman was devastated and is offering a $3,000 reward for the bird's safe return.

"I'm just desperate to get people out and looking for her," she said. "She's my baby."

As she often did, Suzanne von Foerster was moving Rosie to an outside cage May 10, 2011 while she worked in her garden. However the bird was startled and flew off from von Foerster's home on Evergreen Drive toward Potters Road.

Rosie remained in the area for several days, but wouldn’t return to its cage.

Then, about two weeks ago, von Foerster spotted Rosie in the front yard. She placed the cage in the yard, hoping Rosie would come back inside.

Instead, von Foerster said someone stole the cage -- treats, toys and all.

She said she suspects Rosie still might be in the Potters Road area. She's been putting food up in a tree, and something's been eating it, von Foerster said.

She's set up a remote camera in attempt to get a photograph of whatever is eating the food, but with no luck.

In addition to the $3,000 reward for Rosie's return, von Foerster also is offering $500 for anyone who can photograph Rosie, perhaps at a bird feeder in their back yard.

She says she knows it's a lot of money. "But it would get people to look at their bird feeders to see if she's out there," she said.

Rosie is slightly larger than a dove and has a light pink head, hot pink chest and grey back. She also has a disabled right leg.

Despite hearing from some people that the bird is either dead or has flown south, von Foerster says Rosie has been spotted several times.

The last time was in between Elkhorn and East Troy.

"These types of cockatoos are extremely intelligent and powerful flyers," von Foerster said. "Rosie is so special to me in ways I could never fully explain."

"Many people in my situation have recovered their bird months after escape," she said.

Anyone who has seen Rosie is asked to call von Foerster at (262) 949-4550.