Summer's Migration

Koreans like to boast that they have Four Seasons. It's not so much the 'amount' of seasons as much as the 'distinction'. Although Koreans boast about the idea of their weather patterns, you sure won't find them in the midst of heat or cold with many positive things to say. The weather, to them, is a problem where the only solution can be found from within the safety of an indoor environment. 

Anyway. Each season has its distinct weather patterns. In spring and summer there is an added bonus. The ornithological creatures in Korea sing proudly and nest inconspicuously. Which is decent of them to do. Would be a hell of a thing seeing a Masked Booby uncover itself.

The Booby is a migratory bird, and there are a number of others that frequent the peninsula. South Korea is going to lengths preserve the migratory birds and their patterns. An agreement known as Republic of Korea–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement (ROKAMBA) has been ongoing since 2006. Conservationist efforts have collaborated to care for 59 species of intercontinental fliers. The red-rumped swallow falls under that agreement.

Personally, I have never seen the red-rumped swallow. I will tell you about its cousin, the Lesser Striped Swallow, that visits Lower Albany. A pretty, petite, pin-tailed fellow. To the Albany folk, though, he is a menace and a problem-causer. Lower Albany farming folk are a level-headed, rational people. To them, every problem has a solution.

For example. Freezer breaks down? No worries! Just cook 50kgs of defrosted meat so it doesn't go to waste.

But Lesser Striped Swallows? They boil an Albanian's blood more than any culinary emergency does. 

Swallows make Albanians ask emotionally charged questions like, "Why the hell do they come into OUR house and build their nests in OUR kitchen rafters that break and fall into OUR coffee?" 

The Albany folk have come up with a interesting solution to the indoor nesting issue. They dance and flap with long-handled feather dusters to usher swallows out the door. They keep doors and windows closed to prevent the birds  from entering. Try as the Albanian might, though,  the patient swallow waits for its chance to sneak back indoors.

"When the swallows arrive", an Albanian will additionally say, "you just bleddy well know that it's gonna get bleddy hot bleddy soon!"

In Albany, just as in Korea, there are only a few things one can do to escape the heat. Blaming it on the birds is an illogical yet satisfying reaction.

Then the time of year comes when the swallows follow the warmth across the equator. That time coincides with the time when Koreans and Albanians alike start saying, "Winter is around the corner."

At the time of writing, Autumn has just arrived in Korea. The swallows are following the warmth back to the south. Now I've got a just-perfect excuse to put my hiking boots to good use.