The rumor is that the Portland Public Schools extorted tens of thousands of dollars from Portland Audubon for the chimney “upgrade” to Chapman Elementary school.

Tens of thousands of Vaux Swifts rest in the chimney on their migration south. From the end of August to sometime in September, the swifts circle the chimney and swirl in a vortex before they enter the chimney. And thousands of bird lovers congregate on the hillside to watch the birds.

Audubon paid to have a natural gas furnace and the small exhaust chimney installed so the large chimney could be left for “the birds.”

Now for the rumor:

The school district blackmailed Portland Audubon into coughing up more money. Portland Audubon was told that the chimney was going to be completely demolished unless $60,000 was paid for seismic upgrades. In the end, $20,000 was paid to leave the chimney up and to have the “S&M collar” installed.

It’s probably the ugliest reinforcement method I’ve ever seen.