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.

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: contact@squawkshop.com

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