Thousands of Vaux's swifts recently gathered above a church in Salem, Oregon, creating a mesmerizing and somewhat ominous spectacle that has captured online attention. Footage shared on September 6 by David P Craig, a professor at Willamette University, shows approximately 4,000 of the small birds swirling in a dense, dark cloud before descending into the chimney of the Salem First United Methodist Church to roost for the night.
The event, described by Craig as a "swift'nado," has been interpreted by some online viewers as a sign of impending doom, with one Reddit user commenting, “I recognize the end of the days when I see it.” Another commenter warned, “I've watched enough movies to know the protagonists have to get in there immediately or we're all doomed.”
However, experts and locals point to this phenomenon as a natural part of the birds' annual migration. Vaux's swifts are known to migrate through Oregon in large groups during their fall southward journey, typically from late August through early October, with September being the peak month. Their specialized adaptation allows them to cling vertically to the rough, unlined brick walls of chimneys using sharp toes to sleep.
These specific chimneys are crucial for their survival. Vaux's swifts once relied on enormous hollow old-growth trees for roosting, but as these trees have diminished, certain old, unlined chimneys have become essential substitutes. The brick's ability to regulate temperature and the exposed mortar joints for gripping are key factors in their choice of roosts. Groups can range from a few individuals to as many as 35,000 birds in larger structures.
The gathering of such a large number of birds also provides an indirect indicator of the local insect population's health, as Vaux's swifts feed exclusively on insects caught in flight. Therefore, protecting these roosting sites is vital for both the swifts and the broader ecosystem.
A similar, though now absent, spectacle occurred for over 40 years at Chapman Elementary School in Portland, where up to 15,000 swifts would roost in its chimney. However, in 2024, the birds abruptly abandoned this location. Experts believe they have dispersed to other chimneys across the Portland metropolitan area and surrounding regions, including Oregon City, rather than disappearing entirely.
