In this episode of Squawk Global, we sit down with Sara Gannon, guardian of Mona the Macaw, an 18-year-old Scarlet Macaw rescue whose story is equal parts beautiful, heartbreaking, and eye-opening. Sara shares how she met Mona while volunteering at a bird sanctuary, how their bond formed over time, and why adopting a parrot should never be a rushed decision.

We get into the realities of parrot rescue, rehoming, and what life is really like with a large bird. From hormonal behavior and partner preferences to property damage, screaming, poop, training, enrichment, and long-term care planning, this conversation tells the truth about macaw ownership and responsible bird guardianship.

Sara also opens up about the emotional side of living with a rescue parrot, the patience it took for Mona to trust both her and her husband, and why parrots are not “starter pets.” The episode also explores the bigger mission behind Squawk Global: raising awareness about the parrot rehoming crisis, the ethics of keeping birds in homes, and why education matters if we want real change for parrots in captivity.

In this episode:

• Mona’s rescue and adoption story
• How Sara met Mona at a sanctuary
• Why parrots choose their people
• The truth about living with a Scarlet Macaw
• Bird behavior, hormones, bites, and body language
• Why there is no such thing as a “starter bird”
• Rehoming, sanctuary life, and rescue realities
• Travel, enrichment, routine, and household challenges
• Long-term planning for parrots with long lifespans
• Why Squawk Global is advocating for better futures for parrots

About the Guest

Mona is an 18 year old Scarlet Macaw that was adopted from Free Flight Birds in 2019 by her guardian Sara.

Instagram: @monathemacaw

TikTok: @monathemacaw

YouTube: @monathemacaw

Support the show

Our Mission:
We’re dedicated to parrot rescue advocacy and education. Through Squawk Shop, we support rescue efforts with the hope that one day parrots will only exist in the wild where they belong.

Follow Gizmo the Grey Bird
Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/YouTube: @gizmothegreybird

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: contact@squawkshop.com

#ParrotRescue #MacawRescue #RescueDontBuy #ParrotCare #BirdRescue #ExoticPets #AnimalRescue #ParrotTraining #MacawLife #RescueAdvocacy

If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help spread awareness about parrot rescue. 🦜💙

Claire joins Kyle and Emily to share the story of Yorka, her 23-year-old blue-and-gold macaw, and the rescue journey that brought them together. They talk about trust, second chances, and the realities of life with a parrot — from bonding and behavior challenges to enrichment, training, and long-term care.

Claire reflects on Yorka’s past, their quick connection, and the patience it took to help him settle into family life. The episode also highlights the joys of living with Yorka, from pistachios and foraging games to sofa cuddles and public outings on his harness.

At its heart, this is a story about rescue, responsibility, and why Claire believes so strongly in adopt, don’t shop.

Key Topics

• Yorka’s rescue story and rehoming journey
• Why Claire chose adoption over buying from a breeder
• Building trust and bonding with a rescue macaw
• Managing jealousy and family dynamics with parrots
• Reading parrot body language and understanding warning signs
• Diet, treats, enrichment, and foraging
• Household destruction and the realities of parrot ownership
• Harness training and social outings
• The shortage of avian vets and emergency preparedness
• Why long-term planning matters for parrots with long lifespans

Memorable Moments

• Claire choosing Yorka after reading his cheeky rescue bio
• Yorka’s habit of swearing, saying hello, and blowing kisses
• The story behind his name changing from “Majorca” to “Yorka”
• Yorka attacking magazines like they personally offended him
• Claire describing sofa cuddles before bedtime as her favorite moment
• Yorka’s love for pub visits and attention from strangers

Guest Links

Claire says Yorka can be found on:

• Instagram: @aintnolawmacaw
• TikTok: Yorka Macaw

Support the show

Follow Gizmo the Grey Bird
Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/YouTube: @gizmothegreybird

Our Mission:
We’re dedicated to parrot rescue advocacy and education. Through Squawk Shop, we support rescue efforts with the hope that one day parrots will only exist in the wild where they belong.

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: contact@squawkshop.com

#ParrotRescue #MacawRescue #RescueDontBuy #ParrotCare #BirdRescue #ExoticPets #AnimalRescue #ParrotTraining #MacawLife #RescueAdvocacy

If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help spread awareness about parrot rescue. 🦜💙

In this episode of the Squawk Global Podcast, we’re joined by exotic veterinarian Dr. Rachel Siu to talk about one of the biggest challenges parrot owners face: hormones.

We dive into why so many parrots are rehomed once they reach sexual maturity, the common hormonal behaviors owners mistake as “cute,” and what bird parents can do to reduce triggers at home. Dr. Siu also shares insight on egg laying, mating behaviors, sleep, diet, unsafe toys, Teflon dangers, rescue advocacy, and why parrots often arrive at the vet too late.

This episode is packed with practical education for both new and experienced bird owners.

In this episode:

• Why parrots often change as they mature
• Common signs of hormonal behavior in male and female birds
• Egg laying, nesting, and species differences
• How owners accidentally reinforce hormonal behavior
• Why parrots get rehomed
• The role of rescue, rehabilitation, and advocacy
• Household dangers like Teflon and unsafe toy hardware
• Diet mistakes owners commonly make
• How much sleep parrots really need
• Dr. Siu’s thoughts on wing clipping

Guest: Dr. Rachel Siu

Exotic veterinarian and exotic pet educator based in Dallas, Texas

Follow Dr. Rachel Siu on Social Media

Instagram: exotic.pet.vet

TikTok: exotic.pet.vet

YouTube: Dr. Rachel, Exotic Pet Vet

Facebook: Dr. Rachel, Exotic Pet Vet

Support the show

Follow Gizmo the Grey Bird
Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/YouTube: @gizmothegreybird

Our Mission:
We’re dedicated to parrot rescue advocacy and education. Through Squawk Shop, we support rescue efforts with the hope that one day parrots will only exist in the wild where they belong.

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: contact@squawkshop.com

#ParrotRescue #MacawRescue #RescueDontBuy #ParrotCare #BirdRescue #ExoticPets #AnimalRescue #ParrotTraining #MacawLife #RescueAdvocacy

If you enjoyed this episode, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE to help spread awareness about parrot rescue. 🦜💙