Imaginary Adventure: Episode 11 - Wings and Whiskers — Eulsukdo
My cat Namu loves to sit by the yard or the window, watching birds. Even just a few sparrows are enough to make his eyes go wide as he watches them for ages. Seeing this, Halbae had a thought: "A cat who loves birds this much — imagine how happy he'd be somewhere with tons of them!" So this episode's imaginary adventure sends Namu and Halbae to Eulsukdo, Korea's largest migratory bird sanctuary.
What Kind of Place Is Eulsukdo?
Eulsukdo is an island at the mouth of the Nakdong River in Saha-gu, Busan, formed over centuries as soil and sand carried by the river settled and built up. It was once known as the largest migratory bird sanctuary in East Asia, and in 1966 it was designated a Natural Monument. Every year, from early November through early March, tens of thousands of migratory birds — mallards, whooper swans, bean geese, black-faced spoonbills, and more — arrive here from as far as Siberia. Right now (September), it's not quite peak season yet, but if you visit after November, you can see the sky filled with flocks of birds.
When the Nakdong River estuary barrage was built in 1987, much of the wetland and reed marshes were damaged. But in recent years, the area has been restored as an ecological park, making it a wonderful spot for an outing once again.
Namu's Eulsukdo Outing
Walking along the boardwalk through the reed fields, a huge flock of birds suddenly takes flight overhead. Namu's eyes go wide as he watches, and Halbae laughs, "Loads of birds, huh?"
At the water's edge, Namu peers into the water and spots some fish, delighted. "Wow, there are fish, too!" Halbae keeps a gentle hand nearby, just in case Namu gets a little too close to the water.
Then, a stranger peeks out from the reeds — a grey tabby, one of Eulsukdo's resident wild cats. The reed marshes of Eulsukdo have been home to wild cats for a long time. Namu cautiously approaches and says hello: "Hi, do you live here?" In real life, Namu always shows interest in the cats that come to the yard for the food Halmae leaves out — though those cats aren't exactly thrilled about him, so we keep them apart. But in this imaginary world, maybe Namu and Eulsukdo's wild cat can be friends.
Eulsukdo Bridge — More Special Than It Looks
Further along, a long, gently curving bridge comes into view — Eulsukdo Bridge, connecting Myeongji-dong in Gangseo-gu and Sinpyeong-dong in Saha-gu. It was originally planned as a straight bridge, but since that route would have cut right through the bird sanctuary, environmental groups pushed back, and the design was changed to curve around the habitat instead. Even a bridge can have a story like that.
Learning About Birds at the Eco-Center
At the Nakdong River Estuary Eco-Center, there are exhibits all about the wetland and its birds. Halbae picked Namu up so he could get a better look at the displays, and Namu's eyes lit up as he gazed at the bird illustrations. "So many birds here at Eulsukdo." Beyond the outdoor scenery, there's plenty to learn indoors too.
🌊 Satoori Spotlight
This episode's dialect word is '대다 (daeda)'.
- Korean: 아이고, 대다~ (Aigo, daeda.)
- English: Oof, I'm beat~
- Meaning: A Gyeongsang-do dialect expression meaning "exhausted" or "worn out."
Three example sentences:
- 오늘 마이 걸었더마는 다리가 대다. → I walked so much today, my legs are worn out.
- 하루 종일 일했더니 억수로 대다. → I worked all day and I'm completely beat.
- 니도 대제? 쫌 쉬었다 가자. → You're tired too, right? Let's rest a bit.
Sitting on the bench, Halbae pats his legs and sighs, "아이고, 대다~ (Oof, I'm beat~)." Namu looks up at him with concern: "Halbae, are you okay?" After all that walking, who could blame him?
🐾 Butler's Note
Working on this episode, it really struck me — Namu loves watching birds from the window so much, and yet I've never actually taken him somewhere he could see real ones up close. So I sent him on an imaginary trip to Eulsukdo instead, and while researching it, I learned a lot of things I didn't know myself. I had no idea Eulsukdo was once the largest migratory bird sanctuary in East Asia, or that Eulsukdo Bridge was deliberately curved just to protect the birds.
Honestly, I think even a lot of people here in Busan just know Eulsukdo as "that island you pass on the way over the estuary barrage." I was the same way. But the more I looked into it, the more special it turned out to be — the title of Korea's largest bird sanctuary, the wild cats who've made a home in the reeds, all of it. Like the grey tabby Namu meets in this episode, you might run into an unexpected friend if you visit in person, too.
And especially from now (September–October) into November, the real bird season kicks off. Mallards, whooper swans, spoonbills, and other rare visitors flying in all the way from Siberia fill the sky — doesn't that sound like something worth seeing? Stopping by the Eco-Center first to learn about the birds, then watching them through binoculars from the birdwatching deck, sounds like it'd be a lot of fun.
As the fall breeze picks up, I'd love to hear from any of you who make it out to Eulsukdo — send me your stories! Namu's much too nervous a traveler for a trip like that, but I think I'll plan a fall visit myself this year. I'll come back and share photos when I do!
💬 Let's Connect!
If you're planning a visit to Eulsukdo, these links might help:
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