Vaux's Swifts descend into the Chapman School chimney in NW Portland each evening during September
Get Ready for the Swifts Return
Come and see the amazing return of Vaux’s Swifts as they gather at various sites in the Portland area during the month of September on their Fall migration south. Each evening tens of thousands seek a communal roost site in the Portland / Vancouver area (as well as north and south of here. Chapman School in NW Portland being the most well-known).
Let the Migration BeginJoin friends on the lawn at Chapman School (NW 26th, between Pettygrove & Raleigh. Get Map!) most evenings in September for a spectacular display of Vaux’s Swifts as they gather to roost in the school’s chimney. Volunteers from Portland Audubon will be present with information about the swifts, binoculars and a spotting scope for viewing. |
 Vaux's Swifts, Portland OR. Click to enlarge |
According to the Portland Audubon’s website, as many as 35,000 swifts have been reported streaming into the school’s chimney at sunset, an amazing number. They say the scenario will repeat itself every night at least through the end of September when the birds will continue their migration toward Middle America.
The speed with which these tiny birds go zipping into nightly roost sites is nearly unbelievable.
To add to the quandary, consider this: The dramatic spiral the birds take into a chimney at night is accomplished nearly en masse; an avian tornado. How in the world the Vaux’s (pronounced vawks, not vohs) swifts sort each other out without crashing into one another is indeed one of those facts we have to just sit back and behold.
FAQS
When will the swifts be there this year?
During the month of September.
When should I arrive?
Plan to arrive at least one hour before sunset. The sun sets at:
- 7:48 on Sept 1st
- 7:23 on Sept 15th peak viewing
- 7:09 on Sept 22nd
- 6:56 on Sept 29th
The swifts begin gathering in the sky above the Chapman School neighborhood in large numbers 40 to 60 minutes before sunset. Closer to sunset the swifts begin circling directly above the school chimney in a large swirling flock – this is a dramatic sight and ideally you will be there before it begins. They begin to enter the chimney within 10 to 30 minutes after sunset. Entry time is between 10 and 20 minutes. Timing can vary as the season progresses and according to different weather conditions.
Please park in one of the courtesy parking areas. With so many people coming to the neighborhood to see the swifts, close-in street parking is not available after 6PM. If you arrive after 6pm, DO NOT EXPECT TO FIND PARKING WITHIN BLOCKS OF THE SCHOOL. Please do not drive up NW Pettygrove St past NW 26th Ave, it is a dead end street.
GO DIRECTLY TO MONTGOMERY PARK (NW 27th Ave & NW Vaughn St). FREE PARKING IS AVAILABLE THERE and it is only 4 blocks away from the school. Allow ten minutes to walk to school.
How many swifts are there?
It varies from year to year, so it's difficult to predict what 2012 will bring. However, in 2009 Portland Audubon volunteers counted:
- 4000 swifts on Sept 1
- 8000 swifts on Sept 15 (peak viewing)
- 1700 swifts on Sept 30
As many as 35,000 swifts in one evening had been counted prior to 2004. More recently high estimates have been around 15,000 swifts.
How long will the Swifts be there?
Swifts will most likely be roosting at Chapman through the end of September or even early October but will decrease in numbers by then. The best viewing is the first 3.5 weeks of September.
More info at: http://audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swifts_landing/?searchterm=chapman swifts 2012
