It's Book Ordering Season!

As the Vaux's Swifts enjoy August in Canada, we here in their Oregon roosting spot are preparing for their return in September. We recently received an order to supply all of the New Season's Grocery Stores in the Greater Portland region with copies of "Swifty's Big Flight." Thank you New Seasons!

Food Front, Audubon Society of Portland and Umpqua Bank Host "Swifty's Big Flight" Book Raffle at Food Front Northwest Portland

A warm evening played host to about 50 people in front of Food Front's Northwest Portland, store, where Gus Henry Clevenger and Than Clevenger (aka, "Jackson" in Lee Jackson, the authors of "Swifty's Big Flight"."

It was an enjoyable event and we loved the chocolate chip oatmeal cookie balls.

Yummy.

Let's Flock Together; A Swifts Celebration

Let's Flock Together; A Swifts Celebration
Friday, September 10
Location: Food Front NW

The authors of Swifty's Big Flight will be at Food Front NW at 6pm with signed books. We'll be raffling off copies and having dessert before going to watch the Swifts at Wallace Park. Earlier, at 5pm, there will be wine and appetizers at Umpqua Bank at 23rd and Glisan. Join us!

Thank you Food Front and Audubon Society of Portland for your Book Order

Food Front Co-Operative and the Audubon Society of Portland Bookstore recently re-stocked their shelves with new orders of "Swifty's Big Flight" in anticipation of "Swift Watch 2010" at Champan Elementary School.

A donation to the Audubon Society of Portland will be made for each copy of "Swifty's Big Flight" sold during the year.

Lee Jackson

Swift Watch 2010. Vaux's Swifts Make First Appearance at Chapman 8/21/10

August 21, 2010 -- The Vaux's Swifts have returned from their summer Canadian vacation to Chapman Elementary School's chimney in Northwest Portland. Their numbers are small - about 100 birds -- these are the vanguard of the tens of thousands to follow.

Please be sure to pick up a copy of "Swifty's Big Flight" at all Food Front Food Co-Operatives, Renaissance Books Store on NW 23rd Avenue, Powell's, and all Back Yard Bird Shops. You can also pick up a copy of "Swifty's Big Flight" at the Audubon Society of Portland Bookstore on NW Cornell Road.

Lee Jackson

Sadness for Gulf Coast Birds

We will donate 100% of the profits of our children's book, Swifty's Big Flight" in the month of June to the Audubon Society, in order to help save birds injured by the BP oil spill.

It is extremely sad to see so many animals dying by slow degrees as a result of this epic disaster.

We can't do much, but we can do our small part to save these lives.

Seattle Times Takes Note of Swift Watch

Birdwatchers flock to see Portland's swifts

By The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — The annual "Swift Watch" in northwest Portland used to be a neighborhood affair. Bird fans would gather nightly in September to watch tiny Vaux's swifts swirl and dive before roosting in the chimney at Chapman Elementary School.

Now the event has gotten so big that government has to police it.

Crowds these days often block driveways, toss their empty pizza boxes and drink, neighbors say. This year, police dispatchers have been told to call an officer assigned to the area and other officers as needed when residents complain.

"I think there's an 'event' mentality," said neighbor Hilda Welch, who has one of the best views of the bird show from her second-floor deck. "Sometimes it seems it's almost out of control. We'd like people to be a little more mindful."

At its peak, the event can feature about 25,000 birds nightly, stopping in Portland on their winter migration journey. And the aerial show can draw as many as 3,000 spectators.

"We didn't know that there were that many people congregating to watch it," said Officer Sue Abrahamson, who's on swift patrol. "This was kind of a shock."

The Audubon Society of Portland has made sure folks know about the avian event and now is trying to help manage it, handing out traffic cones to some residents so they can block off their driveways.

"In a way, we're a victim of our own success," said Steve Robertson, the Audubon Society's education director. "We want it to be an enjoyable experience, including for the neighbors. We don't want them to have a love-hate relationship with Swift Watch."

The operators of Montgomery Park, an office park four blocks away, are offering hundreds of free parking spaces.

Residents have been enjoying the show at Chapman since the swifts began visiting Portland in the mid-1990s. They say they're happy about the crackdown on the rowdies, if a little wistful about the old days.

And some of the visitors are considerate folk. Last year, a birdwatcher knocked on Kevin Tomlinson's door and asked if he could park in his driveway. Sure, Tomlinson said. The man parked his car, then knocked on the door again — to hand Tomlinson a bottle of wine.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company