Baikal Teal is Korea’s emblematic winter migratory bird, offering a breathtaking display of flight that serves as a profound message to humanity. These birds, originating from Siberia and Sakhalin in Russia, spend their winters in South Korea, where they gather in massive flocks numbering between 600,000 and 800,000—about 90% of the global population. As evening approaches, they begin their movement, resting on lakes during the day and feeding at night, preparing for their journey north in the spring. Their coordinated flight creates mesmerising patterns in the sky, resembling abstract ink paintings. Birds become one whale.
Become a big bird, become a duck. This collective dance not only showcases their unity and grace but also reflects the deep love and connection shared between all living things, including humans. It symbolises our coexistence with nature and serves as a reminder to cherish and protect our unique and irreplaceable Earth.

The photos are a record of 10 hours a day, a total of 1,800 hours, over a period of about 6 months from 2021 to 2024.
These are some of the shots I took while following them as they moved to various locations in Korea depending on the environment, such as weather, food, and birds of prey.