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It’s still hard to fathom that I wrote a book (well, two!). But reading it? Yes, I actually did read the published edition of Migration: Exploring the Remarkable Journeys of Birds shortly after it was released. For a writer, that’s not always a good thing, as I was continually critical about turns of phrase and examples that I might have done better with.

To be fair, I’d read the book over and over and over during writing and editing. It wasn’t precisely a new read for me, but it was very profound to feel the covers between my hands rather than the keyboard beneath my fingers.

Nevertheless, it was an odd experience to read. Even trippier was receiving copies of Vogeltrek and Muuttolintlintujen Matkassa – Migration in Dutch and Finnish, respectively. One I can read (I studied German many years ago, and it is similar to Dutch), the other I can pick out a few words, or at least make an attempt (I honestly have no clues on Finnish pronunciations, however).

A New Copy I Can Never Read

Now, I’m both honored and humbled to add yet another copy to the shelf, one I will never even be able to guess at reading. I can only discern titles, names, and subtitles based on font sizes, but it is clearly and undeniably Migration.

It’s in Korean.

I’ve never been to Korea and never birded in that unfortunately fractured nation, though it is home to outstanding birds (more than 550 bird species recorded, with about 400 as regular residents or visitors). Yet I am deeply honored that my book may now be read by birders who could enjoy such birds as the brilliant common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), the perky daurian redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus), and the fierce tiger shrike (Lanius tigrinus).

To be fair, however, I can actually read 193 words of the Korean edition (yes, I counted), as the scientific bird names are still printed in English characters and some other terms include the English word where there is no adequate translation. This does not count the copyright page or index, but you get the idea.

What an amazing flight this book publication experience has been. I never sought to write a book in any way, but I am proud to have done so. Now, I can be prouder still and always grateful as Migration continues to fly to different corners of the globe, reaching out to birders no matter what language they may speak.

Click here to buy the Korean edition of Migration!