This is Bird Note.

When Janet Ing was a kid, there was a very specific moment when she realized what she wanted to be as a grown-up.

I actually expressly remember watching a nature documentary and they were interviewing

wildlife biologists and seeing their job title come up as part of their byline that they were

a wildlife biologist.

A lot of pieces clicked into place that that was actually a real profession that I could pursue.

Janet now works for the Canadian Wildlife Service, surveying birds that live in Canada's southern plains, like these black turns.

She and her colleagues help find out whether bird populations are increasing or declining so that we know which species need the most help.

I guess a wildlife biologist job is to have the finger on the pulse of what's going on

with what their focus is. Right now my focus is on

shorebirds and water birds so it's really my job to know what's happening with the

birds, anticipate what might be threats that they might encounter, and to know as much as possible about the species that I'm taking care of really.

If I had words of advice to young people interested in biology is to like embrace every possibility. I've been

really lucky just to like what funny little career trajectory took me to where I am now.

The pieces did kind of fall into place in a really lovely unexpected way.

And so taking opportunities, being paid for your time, being paid for your value,

and also being a little bit outside of your comfort zone

is a good place to be.

For Bird Note, I'm Connor Geerin.