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. 🦜💙

Parrots are in crisis — in the wild AND in captivity. In this episode of Squawk Global, we pull back the curtain on the global parrot crisis: poaching, trafficking, commodification, and the massive (often ignored) captive parrot overflow problem.

We’re joined by Dr. LoraKim Joyner (One Earth Conservation) — a wildlife veterinarian and longtime parrot conservation leader with decades of field experience, and Josh Anderson from the International Alliance for the Protection of Parrots (IAPP). Together, we connect the dots between poverty, demand, policy, and the story people don’t see behind “pet parrot” culture.

This is a tough conversation, but it’s one we need to have, because parrots can’t advocate for themselves.

What We Cover

•Why parrots are wild animals, not products — and why the “parrots are pets” narrative causes harm
•The captive parrot crisis: long lifespans, overwhelmed rescues, and nonstop breeding
•How the illegal trade devastates parrots (and why so many don’t survive trafficking)
•Why “none are free until all are free” really means free from harm, not “release pet birds”
•Real, practical actions anyone can take — starting today 

What You Can Do (the short list)

If you care about parrots, the most powerful choices are:
Never buy one. Never sell one. Never breed one.
Adopt, don’t shop. Volunteer. Support sanctuaries and conservation in countries of origin.

Join the movement

📅 Parrot Crisis Awareness Day: March 10 — share your story, spread the truth, and help shift the culture.

🌍 Learn more / get resources: allianceforparrots.org

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. 🦜💙