Vaux Swifts

In honor of seeing my first Vaux Swift roost last night, here is some info about the Vaux Swifts. Turns out Portland is the scene of the largest roost in the world--over 30,000 birds. The one I saw last night in Eugene surely had at least 15,000. Turns out not all of them could fit into the chimney and had to fly away (to find another roosting site?) ~Karol

Like film footage of a smoking chimney played in reverse, the Vaux’s Swifts begin to descend, first one, then a few more, then dozens, then hundreds in a continuous swirl. Each bird drops into the chimney with its wings held high, parachuting feet first, to catch the rough interior, where it will hang by its claws, upright for the night.These small, dark, streamlined birds are summer visitors from Central America. At first glance, they look something like small, dark swallows. One of the largest known Vaux’s Swift roosts in the world – over 30,000 birds – can be seen each September in Portland, Oregon, in a chimney at Chapman Elementary School. http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote-transcript.cfm?id=1680

Eugene, Oregon: While there are a number of sites (one previously reported) in the Eugene Area, the granddaddy and most likely second largest in the state is Agate Hall on the University of Oregon campus. The Lane County Audubon has been involved here for years. With the arrival of Nicole Nielson-Pinus and the guidance of Maeve Sowles this huge braced brick chimney should be in good hands.A serious and important estimate of 4000-6000 swifts on 9/13 was provided by UO Biology Professor Peter Wetherwax

OREGON STATE 2008 VAUX'S HAPPENING ROOST SITES

Portland, Oregon: Chapman Elementary School is likely the largest Vaux's Swift roost site in NA. Portland Audubon has developed and promoted this site into a month long September wildlife spectacle. Their 9/13/08 count was a conservative 10,500. Website athttp://www.audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch