Chapman Elementary has never been the only roost site for swifts in the Portland area, but it has always been the largest. This year, swifts appear to be seeking out other chimneys, with the largest numbers seen at a site in northeast Portland. We can’t provide a definitive answer on why the swifts have moved. However, it’s possible that an increased presence of predators may have driven the swifts to change locations. Predators like Cooper’s Hawks and American Crows have always been at Chapman, but this year we’ve seen predators stay for longer periods, delaying the swifts’ entry into the chimney. This theory requires more investigation and additional observation from our community science team.
If people do head to other locations looking for the swifts, we ask everyone to be respectful of the neighborhood, as it’s no easy task to account for an influx of that many guests. Most nights of Swift Watch at Chapman Elementary have attracted more than a thousand people in a single evening. For over twenty years, these naturally-occurring gatherings of people and birds have been supported by a coordinated team of staff and volunteers from Bird Alliance of Oregon, Portland Parks and Recreation, and Chapman Elementary School. A sudden influx of the public to different neighborhoods can cause disruptions in parking, an increase in trash, and potentially inhibit local events and businesses. We want to ensure that any new-found fame of a neighborhood or institution based on their avian guests doesn’t cause increased challenges.
Will the swifts be back at Chapman next year? Only time will tell, but we’ll keep you all updated.
