Her first Swift Watch

Every year at this time, the Vaux Swifts migrate through Portland, and upwards of 10,000 of them spend the night clinging to each other's backs in the chimney at Chapman School, near me. Each night at sunset, as the birds wheel and mass and prepare to descend into the chimney in a speedy downward spiral, hundreds of people stretch out on blankets, have a dusk picnic, and watch the birds. Tonight was my granddaughter Bella's first Swift Watch.