🐦 Vaux’s Swifts Return (We Hope)
The annual September welcome party for Vaux’s swifts was upended two years ago, when the swifts failed to roost at Chapman Elementary. No one knows exactly why the swifts abandoned the spot, where thousands had roosted for decades on their fall migration. Last year, the biggest group of them chose Abernethy Elementary School. No word yet on their preferred 2026 roosting spot.
- Learn more: The local advocacy group the Bird Alliance of Oregon is offering a Swifts 101 class tomorrow.
- Report sightings: The Bird Alliance is also asking for help locating the birds’ new roosts — fill out the form. Plus, the group has volunteer opportunities for anyone willing to get trained and survey sites where the birds have been known to hang out.
- Help migrating birds: The number of birds flying through Oregon skies reaches its peak later this month and into the next — roughly Sept. 19 - Oct. 19. And humans can help out by turning off unnecessary lights outdoors and keeping your shades closed at night. (Learn more about the Lights Out campaign.)
🦹 Rose City Comic Con and Geek Week Hit Town
A couple weeks ago, culture reporter and contributor Alex Frane offered a guide to Rose City Comic Con (Sept. 11 - 13) and Geek Week (Sept. 11 - 20) on the podcast — it’s the third segment of the show if you want to give it a listen. Key tip: An easy entry point for Rose City Comic Con is all the artists' booths. And don’t forget to look for the more casual events of Geek Week all around town. Or if you just find yourself wondering what all those people are doing in costume around the Oregon Convention Center, now you have your answer.
🍏 Apple-Picking Season Begins
The apple harvest is coming! Maybe it’s time to find a new favorite apple. AppleRankings.com has some very descriptive — and opinionated — ratings. (I’ve already found an apple I want to seek out; thanks to Althea Billings for this suggestion too.) Apple picking is a classic end-of-September activity.
- Apple orchards and more: Check out our guide to Hood River’s Fruit Loop if you’re planning a day trip — or a weekend. [City Cast Portland 🎧]
- Enjoy a hay ride too: Sept 19 -20 is Kiyokawa Family Orchards’ Honeycrisp Harvest.
