Thousands of Vaux's swifts descended upon a church in Salem, Oregon, creating a swirling spectacle that drew comparisons to an "end of days" event. As dusk fell on a recent Sunday, an estimated 4,000 of the small birds gathered above the Salem First United Methodist Church, forming a massive, churning black cloud before funneling into the building's brick chimney.
Local resident David P. Craig captured the event, describing the phenomenon as a "swift'nado." He noted that many neighbors, families, and students gathered to watch the birds' descent, with phones down and necks craned. Craig, a professor at Willamette University, explained that students were on hand to count the birds and inform onlookers about the chimney's importance to the migrating swifts.
Vaux's swifts are tiny birds, typically measuring about five inches long and weighing just over half an ounce. They roost by clinging vertically to rough surfaces, such as unlined brick chimneys. Historically, these birds would roost in large, hollow old-growth trees, but as these trees have become less common, old chimneys have become vital substitutes.
These gatherings are a common sight in Oregon during the fall migration, which typically runs from late August to early October, with September being the peak month. While the spectacle can appear unsettling and spark imaginative comparisons, it is a natural migratory behavior.
In Portland, a similar phenomenon occurred for over 40 years at Chapman Elementary School, where up to 15,000 swifts would gather in a chimney. However, in 2024, the birds abruptly abandoned that roost. Experts believe they have dispersed to other chimneys in the Portland metropolitan area and surrounding regions, such as Oregon City, rather than disappearing entirely.