Squawk Global

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

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.

You can find the full length video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: @SquawkGlobal

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

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]

#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. 🦜💙

Parrot rescues are quietly approaching a breaking point, and Judy Tennant (Founder of Parrot Partners Canada) says the pressure is about to spike. In this episode, we dig into the real drivers behind the “parrot crisis,” from aging owners and economic strain to limited access to avian vets and a lack of infrastructure for parrots compared to cats and dogs. Judy lays out why the traditional adoption model isn’t enough, and what a sustainable, community-supported system could look like.

What You’ll Learn

 • Why the aging baby boomer wave could trigger a surge of parrots needing rescue
 • How inflation and economic instability are squeezing rescues and pet owners
 • Why the shortage of avian veterinarians creates a major welfare bottleneck
 • How rehoming stress can impact parrot health and long-term behavior
 • What a “humane society for parrots” could look like — and why it matters
 • Why education + community support are the missing pieces in bird ownership

About the Guest

Judy Tennant is the founder of Parrot Partners Canada, focused on improving welfare outcomes for companion parrots through education, support, and new models that go beyond traditional rescue and adoption.

Get Involved

If you care about parrots and companion animal welfare, share this episode and help push the conversation forward. Support reputable rescues, learn before you adopt, and advocate for better access to avian veterinary care and education.

Follow Parrot Partners

 @ParrotPartnersCanada - YouTube | IG

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.

You can find the full length video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: @SquawkGlobal

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

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]

#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. 🦜💙

Join us for an in-depth conversation with certified parrot behavior consultant Robin Horemans about building trust, understanding bird communication, and creating enriching environments for our feathered companions. Robin shares her expertise on positive reinforcement training, working with rescue parrots, and groundbreaking research on environmental enrichment.

Guest: Robin Horemans, CPBC (Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant), Founder of ParrotSOS

Key Topics Covered:

• What it means to be a Certified Parrot Behavior Consultant (CPBC)
• The evolution of parrot training over the past 20 years
• Building trust through communication and body language
• Working with rescue parrots and understanding individual needs
• Problem behaviors: biting, screaming, and cage reluctance
• Reinforcement beyond treats: creating a comprehensive reward system
• Wild macaws in Costa Rica and what we can learn from them
• New research on greenery and environmental enrichment for captive parrots
• Harness training and advanced skills

Resources Mentioned:

• ParrotSOS Website: parrotsos.com
• Dr. Susan Friedman's "Trust Bank Account" concept
• Upcoming research paper on greenery enrichment (March publication)
• Free YouTube videos: Tap Tap Treat game, Harness training

Connect with Robin:

• Website: parrotsos.com
• Social Media: @ParrotSOS on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok
• Services: One-on-one consultations, membership program, online courses

Key Takeaways:

• Birds are individuals - what works for one may not work for another
• Trust must be built before training can be effective
• Communication is a two-way conversation through body language
• Environmental enrichment (like adding greenery) can reduce problem behaviors
• Positive reinforcement works best when paired with understanding the bird's needs

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.

You can find the full length video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: @SquawkGlobal

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

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]

#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 Oscar-winning actors at hiding illness, which is why “they seem fine” can turn into an emergency fast. In this episode of Squawk Global, we’re joined by Dr. Noémie Hoffman, an exotic veterinarian in Dubai, to break down seed diet dangers, “silent illness,” wing clipping risks, egg binding, and what real preventative parrot care looks like.

If your bird is a seed junkie (or you’re trying to avoid becoming one), this is your wake-up call, with practical steps you can start using immediately.

What you’ll learn
 • Why seed-heavy diets cause long-term health problems
 • Why parrots hide symptoms until things get serious
 • How to transition a “seed junkie” to a healthier diet
 • Enrichment + foraging ideas that make diet changes easier
 • Wing clipping: the hidden health risks (and what to do instead)
 • Egg binding: why it happens and how to prevent it
 • How often to see an avian/exotic vet + what checkups should include
 • The social media effect: impulse buys, rehoming, and the bigger welfare picture

Follow / Guest

Dr. Noémie Hoffman: @dr_noemie_exotics_vet (Instagram)

Disclaimer: This episode is educational and not a replacement for veterinary care. If your bird is showing symptoms, contact an avian/exotic vet.

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.

You can find the full length video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: @SquawkGlobal

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

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]

#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 heartfelt conversation, we sit down with Kelsey from @noplucksgiven  to hear the incredible rescue story of Louie, a 28-year-old Blue and Gold Macaw who spent 26 years confined to a tiny cage, losing the ability to fully spread his wings.

Louie’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake. We get real about parrots as “pets,” why rescues are overwhelmed, and why parrot ownership needs to come with a higher standard of responsibility, for life.

In This Episode:
• Louie’s heartbreaking backstory and rescue journey
• The long-term effects of 26 years in a cage
• How to build trust with a rescue parrot
• Managing hormonal behavior and aggression
• The truth about parrot ownership that pet stores won’t tell you
• Why social media can help (and hurt) parrot rescue efforts
• Training tips and socialization strategies
• The reality of fostering multiple macaws
• Why rescue birds can form incredibly deep bonds

Key Takeaways:
✅ Parrots are not domesticated pets, they’re wild animals with intense needs
✅ Many parrots are rehomed multiple times in their lifetime
✅ Rescue centers are overflowing and underfunded
✅ Responsible ownership means planning for decades, not months
✅ Volunteer at rescues before committing to adoption

Resources Mentioned:
•   @BirdTricks     YouTube Channel (training education)
•   @parrotsos     - Robin (online training)
• Local parrot rescues (volunteer opportunities)
• Rolling Stones - Inside the Black Market Fueling TikTok's Grey Parrot Craze - https://bit.ly/4qfoRir
•   @ExoticPetVet    - Dr. Rachel Siu, Exotic Pet Vet

Follow Kelsey & Louie:
Instagram/TikTok/Facebook/YouTube:  @NoPlucksGiven 

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.

You can find the full length video of this podcast on our YouTube Channel

YouTube: @SquawkGlobal

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

🛒 Shop: https://squawkshop.com
📧 Contact: [email protected]

#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. 🦜💙