At the end of every summer, Vaux swifts start migrating through the region. For many years, thousands and thousands of them used to roost each night, precisely at sunset, in the Chapman elementary school chimney.

After decades of roosting there and attracting near circus-level crowds that watched them each night, they appear to be seeking quieter locations to roost each night on the east side of Portland. It’s probably for the best – the swift parties near the school were getting out of control.

Little did I know someone actually wrote a song about them.