2021 Global Big Day at Hicks Orchard

Spend Global Big Day 2021 in good company with Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) and Hicks Orchard! Global Big Day is a day to celebrate birds everywhere by getting outside and reporting your bird observations to eBird (created by Cornell Lab of Ornithology). Recorded observations help populate databases supporting powerful tools like animated abundance maps that help us understand global bird populations. Since apple and cherry trees will be in, we expect to see orioles, waxwings, warblers, and dozens more during this peak of spring bird migration!

A ticket to Global Big Day includes: birdwatching with experienced bird guides from GBT and Hicks Orchard, a LIVE bird of prey program with Trish Marki from Wildlife Institute of Eastern New York, and hot cider with cider donuts! Lunch will be available to those interested in hanging out after the event (cost not included in ticket).

We will have two main groups going out and exploring the orchard:

1. Early Bird Enthusiasts (starting 8 am)
2. Intro to Birding and Citizen Science (starting 9 am) - if you are bringing kids please select this group

You may select tickets based on what group/time works best for you. If you are not a GBT member, add a GBT membership to your cart so that you can get discounts and other perks at future events. We are offering a FREE bottle of Hidden Star, Hicks Orchard's most popular and award-winning craft cider, if you sign up for a GBT membership today! Proceeds from this event will support the incredible work that both Grassland Bird Trust and Hicks Orchard are doing for the birds and the community. We hope to raise $5,000 from this event to help fund our work. Other ways that you can help us achieve our goal (purchase online or day-of at Global Big Day):

• Purchase any cider from Slyboro Cider House (Hicks Orchard is donating 10% of sales to GBT from Earth Day to Mother's Day)
• Purchase Bird Collective Merch (Bird Collective donates 15% of sales to GBT year-round)
• Make a Donation (add a donation at check-out or go to our donate page)
• There will also be an art show in the tasting room of Slyboro Ciderhouse by naturalist painter, Tim Achor-Hoch. 10% of painting sales will go to GBT!
• Can't make it?! Pledge $5 or more (as a donation) to TEAM GBT as we seek to register as many birds as we can on eBird! We will send donors photos and a list of birds seen at the orchard!

Notes: 1) If you don't know if you are a member, please contact info@grasslandbirdtrust.org. 2) You do not have to report your sightings to eBird, but it is encouraged! Learn more about eBird and Global Big Day here. 3) We will be following COVID safety protocols at this event.

Thank you and see you soon!

Thank you to our collaborators, Hicks Orchard & Slyboro Cider, and leading sponsor, Eden Renewables, for helping us make this event a reality!