Swifts

Each year Vaux's Swifts migrate south to Central America and Venezuela. Along their way many stop in Portland to hang our for a month or so. The Chapman School chimney in Northwest Porthland houses the largest known roost of migrating Swifts in the world! So many swifts set up camp in the Chapman Chimney that they have had to add support cables to make it structurally sound. Each nigh around sunset thousands of Swifts gather and circle the chimney before crowding in for the night. Thousands of Portlanders also gather on the lawn to watch. It was quite the event. Pete and I packed a little picnic and had a great time bird/people watching. We sat at the top of a little hill were there were over 70 little kids (yes, I attempted to count them) sliding down the side on card board boxes. The hill was not large enough for 70 kids so there were a lot of collisions but for the most part everyone seemed to be having a blast and we thoroughly enjoyed watching. As the sun began to set more and more Swifts started circling the chimney. It was really neat to watch. They circled for a while andd then in unisen began to swarm into the chimney. At one point a hawk, which must have been hiding nearby swooped in for the kill and scattered all of the swifts. Everyone booed at the hawk. I guess he makes an apperance each night to grab some dinner and each night the crowed booes. It was very entertaining.