Bird-watcher helps keep baby trees safe
Janet Kleinsmith, 66, is a professional bird-watcher. More specifically, she stands watch in fields, despite the cold, rain, wind or scorching sun, to protect thousands of tree seedlings at the U.S. Forest Service Nursery in Coeur d’Alene.
Yelling at the top of her voice and armed with her trusty slingshot, she encourages the critters to find food sources other than the valuable baby trees. The slingshot is used to scare the birds, not hurt them – “We aren’t allowed to hit the birds, so it improves my aim,” Kleinsmith explains.
The longtime employee, a graduate of Coeur d’Alene High School and a former North Idaho College student, works for a Forest Service subcontractor and has done weeding, tree harvesting and packing, as well as bird-watching. Kleinsmith believes in what she does, saying, “People need these trees.”
To keep busy between bird attacks, she pulls weeds between the rows of seedlings.
Established in 1960, the 220-acre nursery provides trees for Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. One hundred and thirty acres of irrigated seedbeds produce more than 16 million seedlings annually. Seedbeds are planted in April and May, with the seeds germinating in five to 25 days. If not protected, birds would consume much of the seed, resulting in significant financial losses to the nursery.
What is your job title? “Bird-watcher – not with binoculars! In addition to bird-watcher, I’ve been a weed puller, then I did ‘Lift and Pack’ – we put the trees in the freezer until they are planted in the spring.”
How long have you been doing this? “Thirty years.”
How did you choose this line of work? “I am an outdoors person, or ‘earth person’ and people told me of this great place to work. It is a very important job for all of us.”
Are you paid: (a) well; (b) more than you are worth; (c) slave wages, (d) could be better? “Well.”
What is the best thing about your job? “Being outside and saving the trees for our future children. We need their oxygen. I love the people who work here.”
What is the worst thing about your job? “Misplaced outhouses and jumping rows to scare the birds because they have us figured out from all sides while they are eating.”
Do you plan on doing this job (a) until retirement; (b) until something better comes along? “I’m not going to retire until I’m old.”
Do you have any on-the-job funny stories? “Where else can you get a job to pop rocks at birds legally? When we worked with the Guatemalans, Brazilians and Mexicans, I made a chocolate brownie cake that was to be shared by all. But the boy whose birthday it was ate it all and needless to say, he couldn’t work the next day.”
Any bad experiences? “It is sometimes cold and rains until the puddles cause sinking up to your ankles. Slipping in the tree beds. We once had 50 people working in the fields, all using the same outhouse. Working in zero-degree weather while sorting and packing for two shifts. Stuck tractors.”
If there was a movie made about you and your job, what actor should play you and why? “Sandra Bullock, because of the acrobatics and her comedy talent.”