[westmama]

Every Sept for about 3 weeks THOUSANDS of Vaux Swifts migrate to Portland and at sunset all 10 thousand of them (not kidding) swirl and whirl into the chimney at Chapman elementary school. The community has taken so kindly to them that the school doesn't turn on the heaters of the school and the students happily agreed to wear coats in class so the swifts could have a safe place to stay.
So for 3 weeks thousands of people gather on the lawn, eat food, drink wine, and watch the birds. Then the whole crowd roars and cheers and boos and yells when the hawks make their appearance for their nightly dinner. It is all very fun and exciting.


p.s. check youtube for some awesome videos of this happening

[MrsWTownsend]

That is a funny story; it would be pretty neat to check that out...  I've always wanted to go see the migrating monarchs too.  I like your Swift T design~ is that a hawk on the chimney waiting for dinner to arrive? 

[westmama]

Yes, the hawks are super smart and just on the edge of the chimney waiting, it gets pretty nerve wracking because you know the only way the birds are going to get in the chimney is if the hawk gets one of the birds, yet you don't wan the birds to "get it"... yet it's pretty exciting to watch.

Seriously check out some of the youtube videos it is amazing.

This are definitely for a the local market, however I got a custom order for one today and she was from TX.

[westmama]

here's a video... really you only need to watch the first 2 mins to get this gist.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1XKHWY1sBY

[MrsWTownsend]

You are right, that was cool!  It was funny to listen to the crowd in the background when the hawk evil doer swooped in and I must say, sliding down the grass hill on cardboard sleds is GENIUS!!! 

[Chainmaille By MBOI]

Great story scheduled tweet!

[westmama]

You are right, that was cool!  It was funny to listen to the crowd in the background when the hawk evil doer swooped in and I must say, sliding down the grass hill on cardboard sleds is GENIUS!!! 

Well in Portland we don't a lot of snow.... we have to pretend :-)

[Kelli]

Well I'm in Vancouver WA So just up from Portland, and I think I have heard of this before. I'll have to watch the video though, as I haven't seen it happen!

And very cute design!

[MakinTheBestOfIt]

I lived in Portland for a short time when I was little but we never saw anything like that!  I love the little ones booooooing the hawk!