Throop Woman Launches Parrot Rescue, Helps More Than 50 Birds

A Throop home has become a second stop for more than 50 parrots that need shelter, rehabilitation and, eventually, a new place to live. Paige Moore launched The Birdy Bunch Parrot Rescue in Lackawanna County after turning a childhood love of birds into a nonprofit built around animals that are too often overlooked until a family can no longer keep them.

Moore got her first pet bird at 13, and the rescue she built now takes in birds from surrenders, neglect cases and emergency SPCA situations. Her boyfriend, Evan, and volunteer Leesa Rivera help with the daily work of getting those birds ready for adoption. Rivera said many arrive not hand friendly and need patience, handling and trust-building before they can move on to a forever home.

That rehab work matters because parrots are not short-term pets. The American Veterinary Medical Association says recorded lifespans for larger birds such as parrots, conures, macaws and cockatoos range from 20 years to more than 100 years, and large parrots can live for more than a century. The ASPCA says medium and large parrots are highly intelligent, social animals with complex care needs, including room to fly and climb, regular exercise, mental stimulation, a proper varied diet and an environment free of fumes and toxins. The Association of Avian Veterinarians also recommends regular checkups for companion birds, a reminder that bird ownership is as much about long-term medicine as it is about food and housing.

That is the part many new guardians underestimate. Before bringing home a parrot, the real question is whether there is a plan for decades of food, shelter, training, enrichment and veterinary care. A responsible surrender or adoption process should look just as deliberate: birds should be moving into care with a clear path to rehab, not bouncing from one home to another when the work gets harder than expected.

The Birdy Bunch is also asking for support through Amazon and Chewy wishlists and monetary donations to cover veterinary bills, a sign of how expensive parrot rescue can be when a flock this size needs hands-on care. Moore’s rescue is doing more than housing birds. It is building the bridge between crisis and a stable home, one patient bird at a time.