VANCOUVER, Wash. - After rescuing, rehabilitating and adopting out birds for years, a man known as the "Birdman" could soon be forced to give up his love.

Christopher Driggins said he may lose his Vancouver rescue and adoption facility – called Northwest Bird Rescue – after he said volunteers and officers of the nonprofit embezzled more than $700,000 from the organization.

Driggins, who declined to name the suspect, said he is 10 months behind on the mortgage due to the crime. It hasn't helped that he also has been unemployed for about a year.

Driggins said his bank gave him until Dec. 4 to come up with the $8,100 it will take to keep the building that is both the headquarters of the bird rescue and his home.

"It's ripping out my heart," Driggins said. "I haven't been able to sleep for months."

He said he is already lining up foster homes for the birds.

"If I were to be homeless tomorrow, these guys have somewhere to live," Driggins said, "and I can sleep in my car and this, this is all material stuff. It can be bought."

His passion for saving birds has a long history, including his fight last year to save parakeets in Yacolt, Wash., an effort he said has more than tripled the population of the birds.

Despite the current setbacks, the "Birdman" said his efforts will continue no matter what.

"I know I'm going to bounce back," he said. "I don't care if I'm in a small apartment … if I get a call for a bird in need, and I've got a quarter tank of gas and only $5 to my name, I'm getting that bird."

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