In Rainier, Oregon, Riverside Community Church has become a significant roosting site for Vaux's Swifts, a species of swift closely related to the Chimney Swift. Thousands of swifts gather at the church's chimney each evening, creating a dramatic aerial display before entering the chimney for the night. This phenomenon, known as "Swift Watch," draws many visitors to observe the swifts.
The church chimney was intentionally opened to attract swifts, and it has become one of the largest and most consistently monitored roosting sites for them in the Pacific Northwest, says the Bird Alliance of Oregon.
As dusk approaches, swifts form a swirling, funnel-like vortex above the chimney before plunging into the chimney for the night. This is a captivating natural event that attracts many people.
Swifts have increasingly relied on chimneys as roosting sites, says the Oregon Chimney Sweeps Association. The Riverside Community Church chimney provides a vital alternative to dwindling old-growth tree cavities.
