GPS: 45.533212° -122.705978°
Evenings in September you can watch Vaux’s Swifts prepare to roost for the night at Chapman Elementary School in northwest Portland. It happens one hour before sunset each night of the month.
Vaux’s Swifts use the Chapman chimney as an evening roost during their fall migration. Every year Portlanders gather on the school lawn and in Wallace Park to watch the birds swirling and funneling overhead waiting for their chance to dive into the chimney trying to avoid the hawks that wait to dive bomb them looking for an evening meal. Most nights there are Audubon volunteers on hand to answer questions about the Swifts.
Chapman School Swifts info panel.
Chapman School Swifts parking at Montgomery Park.
The masses gather in September to watch the Chapman School Swifts
Chapman School Swifts, everyone has a camera! Hahaha, no eye-looking allowed.
Chapman School Swifts stalked by the dastard, a hungry Coopers Hawk.
Swifts entering the Chapman School chimney.
Vaux Swift
Chapman School Swifts in September
An OPB video about the Swifts.
Here is a photographer’s video of the September night show at Chapman Elementary.
