How do you use our technology? Let us know by completing a survey here.
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:
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.
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:
A bird identification guide is included in each bird kit. If you want to do more reading on birds, here are some reading recommendations:
To explore birds in Brampton and beyond, we also recommend these resources:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Summer activity kits are back!
Borrow activities like kids junior cricket, spikeball, and horseshoes.
New for summer 2022: Badminton, giant tic-tac-toe, tennis.
Learn more here.
Discover a new story walk. Visit Loafer's Lake Park throughout May 2022 to read My First book of Canadian Birds by Andrea Miller. Click here for details.
Brampton Library © 2022