Late last week, near our home, my family spotted a small colony of swifts taking up residence in a nearby chimney. It was great fun to see these little birds gather, circle, and then enter a snug space for the night. Typically, swifts migrate through Oregon each September on their way to Central and South America. Chapman Elementary School in NW Portland is "one of the largest known roosting sites of migrating Vaux's Swifts." Our family joined the crowds of people there last September to watch the nightly show of wildlife. Chapman School has a huge chimney with room for thousands of birds. The Audubon Society has volunteers on site to answer questions. Folks gather early and picnic on the hill (just up from the playground). Bonus: If you go early in the season and bring cardboard, the kids can sled down the hill as they wait for the nightly "show". The night we were there a hawk also came to join the event. Wowza! Migration; food chain; ecosystem; habitat: This end-of-the-summer, Oregon event is perfect for nature lovers both young and old. |
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