On The Wing is a movie about the “famous” swifts that gather in Portland, OR in the fall. According to the website, each autumn, thousands of Vaux’s swifts gather to roost in a chimney of an elementary school in Portland. The thousands of swifts apparently attract a devoted following of thousands of watchers. The website describes it as a ” cult phenomenon over the past 15 years and a shining example of people choosing to coexist with nature rather than smoking it out.”
Here’s a trailer:
Categories: Uncategorized
I live in Portland and enjoy the swift show every year. It marks fall for us and each September I sigh to my friends “I can’t believe summer is over and it’s time for the Chapman swifts again”. The movie is really wonderful and captures the frenzy that surrounds their gathering and migration. Thanks for posting about it!
I love to go see the Swifts of Chapman School too! Every September I make a date with friends and we pack our picnic dinners and hang out on the lawn and watch the swifts flying over the school and eventually circle and enter the giant chimney. Even non-birders are amazed at the spectacle.
if I could be any bird, i would choose to be a swift!
they are the number one coolest birds ever.
and there is nothing like hearing (and seeing) thousands chorusing together in the evening.
Thanks for the video Shaz