The Susan Broom Kilmer Branch Library is expanding its “Library of Things” to include bird-watching backpacks, thanks to a new partnership with the UF/IFAS – St. Lucie County Extension Office.
Starting Wednesday, November 1, 2023, library cardholders are able to check out a bird-watching backpack to watch the birds on the breakwater, islands which are visible across the street from the downtown library or to take them out to the more than 11,000 acres of nature preserves available in St. Lucie County.
“I had the bird-watching backpacks in the back of my mind for months. Then I did some kayaking around the breakwater islands in the Indian River Lagoon just off the Fort Pierce Marina with Master Naturalist Ellen Butler. I was so incredibly impressed by the number of seabirds roosting on them. What an amazing opportunity to residents to bird watch in downtown Fort Pierce,” said UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension Agent Ken Gioeli.
Gioeli then approached St. Lucie County Library Director Robyn Saint-Paen with the idea of having birding backpacks at the library, and she responded: “Let’s do it.”
With generous donations from Gioeli’s colleagues, including Florida Master Naturalists and biologists, backpacks were assembled with binoculars (used but in great shape), lens cleaning kits and Florida bird checklists. The library also contributed copies of “Peterson’s Field Guide to Birds” to include in the field kits.
The bird-watching backpacks are part of St. Lucie County’s “Library of Things,” which also offers disc golf bags and discs available for checkout.
For more information about the birding backpacks, read Extension Agent Gioeli’s blog at: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/stlucieco/2023/10/24/bird-watch-backpacks-at-st-lucie-countys-kilmer-library.
For more information about St. Lucie County Library programs, visit: www.stlucielibrary.org.
