About bird kits

Get outside and discover the joys and benefits of birding! Bird kits include everything you need to observe wild birds in their natural habitat, including binoculars, a bird identification guide, and other helpful resources. Place a hold on the bird kits through our catalogue here.

Each bird kit includes:

• 1 pair of Vortex Crossfire HD 8x42 binoculars with a neck strap
• 1 binocular case (with Vortex branding)
• 1 microfibre lens cloth
• 1 bird identification guidebook
• 2 laminated seasonal local bird legends
• 1 binocular instruction sheet
• 1 backpack (with Birds Canada branding)
• 1 print survey

Bird kits are offered by Brampton Library in partnership with Birds Canada, and funding for this project is made possible thanks to support from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Learn about birding

There are so many great resources to explore! Birds Canada has developed free lessons to help beginners get familiar with birding.

Birds at the Library is a course that will teach you how to use and take care of binoculars, how to identify birds, and how you can take part in helping birds.

To get started, click on Birds at the Library and use the code LIBRARYBIRDS.

Other free courses offered by Birds Canada include:

• Birding by ear for all — This course is specially tailored for people with visual impairments such as sight loss and low vision, but all are welcome! 
• Making birds feel at home: a beginner's guide — Learn some easy-to-implement methods to create a bird-friendly oasis in your yard or garden.
• Bird sketching tutorials — Drawing birds is a really fun way to become a better observer and notice details. Learn the process through exercises on drawing a black-capped chickadee and a chimney swift.

A bird identification guide is included in each bird kit. If you want to do more reading on birds, here are some reading recommendations:

• The bird way: a new look at how birds talk, work, play, parent and think
• What it’s like to be a bird: what birds are doing, and why - from flying to nesting, eating to singing
• Best places to bird in Ontario
• Birding without borders: an obsession, a quest, and the biggest year in the world
• Natural birdhouses: 25 projects using found wood to attract birds, bats and bugs into your garden
• Birds
• How to find a bird
• Look up!: bird-watching in your own backyard
• A peek at beaks: tools birds use
• Birds from head to tail

To explore birds in Brampton and beyond, we also recommend these resources:

• eBird Canada — eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project. It’s a great tool to help you find the best birding spots for your particular region, and see what species to expect throughout the year.  
• Merlin Bird ID app for iOS and Android —- Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Merlin includes comprehensive regional field guides complete with photos, sounds, and ID tips to help you easily identify the birds you see or hear and build your birding skills.

Share your experience

After trying out a bird kit, we’d love to hear about your experience! Please fill out the online survey below, or the print survey included in your kit. Information collected will be shared with our partner, Birds Canada, to help measure the success of the program and support the expansion of bird kit lending to other libraries and community agencies.

Your feedback is valued and appreciated.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to borrow a bird kit?

You will need a Brampton Library card in good standing to borrow a bird kit. Click here to learn how to get a library card.

Where can I borrow a bird kit?

Bird kits are made available at all Brampton Library branches. We encourage you to plan ahead and place a hold with your Brampton Library card through the catalogue. When available, a bird kit can be borrowed on a first-come, first-served basis. To avoid disappointment, we recommend checking availability before you visit the library.

How long can I keep a bird kit? 

You can borrow a bird kit for seven (7) days. We appreciate your cooperation in returning this kit in a timely manner.

How do I use binoculars?

A guide for the Vortex Crossfire HD binocular is included in each bird kit. This guide covers parts of the binocular, and instructions on basic operations to adjust the binoculars. Check out the online version of this guide.

You can also access the Birds at the Library online course on the Birds Canada website. This course will walk you through the basics of binocular care and use.

To access this course:

1. Visit https://www.birdscanada.org/online-courses/birds-at-the-library/
2. Enter the password: LIBRARYBIRDS
3. Start learning!

Where can I go birding?

Birding is an activity that is best enjoyed outdoors in nature, and some of the best spots are right here in your own city! Brampton is home to many great parks and trails, including the Etobicoke Creek trail, Eldorado Park, and more. Discover a park or green space near you.

With your Brampton Library card, you can also borrow a pass that gives you free access to parks at Toronto Region Conservation Authority and Credit Valley Conservation. Bring your binoculars to Heart Lake or Claireville in Brampton, or get adventurous and head over to Island Lake in Orangeville or Limehouse in Halton Hills.

Learn more about birding at Credit Valley Conservation parks.

Learn more about birding at Toronto Region Conservation Authority parks.

Place a hold on a family general admission pass.

Where can I return this kit?

You can return this kit to any Brampton Library branch. Bird kits will need to be returned in-person to a staff member at a customer service desk during open hours. Please remember to fill out and return the survey included with your kit.