September 5, 2010
Swift Watch 2010
Well, here we are approaching September. And September is Swift watching month here in Portland. For those of you who do not know what Portland Firefly is talking about, I shall explain.
Portland is on the flyway for a type of bird called Vaux Swifts. They migrate from Alaska to Mexico every year and use Portland as a stopover on their long journey. These little birds like to roost inside of old hollowed out trees or very tall chimneys.
The old chimney at Chapman School in North East Portland has been a favorite roosting, resting place for these acrobatic birds for many years. And they do put on quite a show in the evenings just before they dive inside the chimney at night to go to sleep. It is this aerial show that brings Portlanders out for the free event!
These birds are predictable as to the time they go to sleep at night and so Portlanders bring out their blankets, their picnic dinners and we sit and watch the spectacular show.
The Audubon society provides information on this event and here is the link to their website. http://audubonportland.org/local-birding/swiftwatch/swift-watch
If you enjoy watching the International Space Station flyovers you can also coordinate an ISS sighting with your Swift watch. Go to this website for the ISS sighting times in Portland: http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/view.cgi?country=United_States®ion=Oregon&city=Portland
So choose a night to attend and perhaps you will see Portland Firefly there…. our family makes it an annual event!
PS: This school is in a residential area so please be sure to respect the property of the local homeowners ~ don’t block driveways and take all trash back home with you. Enjoy!!!
