The Swifts

Each year in Portland, we get a population of Swifts who roost in a chimney at a local elementary school for the most part of September, as a stop along their migration path.

During this time, just before sunset you can see the swifts start to gather and hundreds of them swirl and whoosh and fly around the air together in unison until they ultimately whirlpool down into the chimney where they roost for the night.

It's a totally amazing sight and one that we've been wanting to see in person for a couple years after watching a documentary on our PBS station about them- and a couple weeks ago, we got the chance to go with some friends of ours and it was AWESOME! In the truest sense of the word- nature is crazy amazing and awe inspiring.

But I didn't catch any pics of the birdies swirling into the chimney at the end as they do, because you really need a zoom lens and tripod for that, so I thought the photos were kinda a bust. But I was checking them out again yesterday and eventhough I didn't catch the money shot at the end, so to speak, there were some pretty beautiful moments along the way that I did catch- so I thought I'd share them afterall!

{our little friend Juniper}

There was a hawk waiting on the edge of the chimney ready to grab his dinner as the swifts came in, and they would swoop in a pack and scare him off and the crowd would cheer! And then the hawk would go for a kill and dive, get nothing and the crowd would cheer! And we wouldn't see the hawk for a little while and the swifts started to swirl around like they were going to go into the chimney, and the hawk would suddenly return and the crowd gasped! And the swifts would swirl around and scare him off again, and the crowd cheered!

It went on like that for about half and hour until the hawk finally caught some dinner, and then the swift's roosting ritual could go back to normal. It was hilarious! A whole hillside packed with people just riveted watching nature unfold in front of us- pretty darn cool.

God, I just love the fall! I feel like I come alive in a whole new way this time of year, I love watching all the changes happening around us.

Do you have swifts where you live? What sort of natural phenomena is making you feel happy to be alive lately?

Comments

[moose]

we don't have massive amounts of Swifts like you do .... but, we are happy to be alive to rake leaves {another natural phenomena} LOL..... tail wags ~moose

[Arianne]

This is so nice! I have blue jays visiting my backyard pond/fountain, and just discovered that the dogwood tree in my front yard has edible fruit.

[Julz]

It was indeed spectacular! Let's go back again next year and maybe you can get that money shot! Ha

[Emily @ Anna Delores]

I love the fall, too! Just this evening I was walking out of a cafe and the air just SMELLED like fall, and I love it. We finally got some rain today. The heat has been especially persistent in So Cal this year (but I guess it lasts for awhile every year). Those swifts are so cool, and how amazing that everyone gathers to watch them!