Swainson's Hawk

It's noon and I only finally woke up just after 11:30 a.m.. Waited up till around 3:00 a.m., waiting to see if there was another e-maill from my youngest daughter about whether she had been evacuated or not, because of the devastating flooding that is going on in Calgary right now. She lives 9 blocks from the river and was on standby for evacuation. She e-mailed again at 5:30 this morning, saying she still hadn't heard about the evacuation, but still has to go to work, so is hoping that an order doesn't come when she's away from home. Every school in Calgary is closed. The flooding in Calgary (and other places in Southern Alberta) is utterly devastating. Back in 2005, we had dreadful flooding in the city, too, but this present flooding is even worse! If I was on a path in Fish Creek near the river right now, the water would be way over my head - someone said that it was half way up tall trees. I feel so sorry for all the endless people who will have suffered so much damage to their homes and belongings. Damage to other buildings, pathways, natural areas is going to be horrendous - and I can't help but also think of all the helpless wildlife out there. This flooding came at a time when baby birds have just been hatched or are still very young. I can't help wondering if the Bluebird nest boxes have filled with water and drowned the little ones. So, from the most major devastation to the tiniest, but still so precious, losses, it is a very sad time going on here. Stay safe, everyone! It's still raining, with more to come.

"In June of 2005, one of the city's worst flood years on record, heavy rain caused flood damage to about 40,000 homes, and 1,500 Calgarians were evacuated. Right now, city officials warn the current flooding situation poses a much more serious threat. Mandatory evacuation notices were issued to up to 100,000 people in 20 neighbourhoods along low-lying areas of the Elbow and Bow Rivers today, as city officials cautioned that more communities will probably be told to pack up and leave as flood waters were expected to rise overnight."

www.calgarysun.com/2013/06/20/heavy-rain-in-banff-canmore...

Took this photo of a beautiful Swainson's Hawk, NW of Calgary, on 15 June 2013. When I left Calgary, the weather was pleasant, but as I got nearer to my hoped-for destination, a massive, black cloud was hanging over the area. I did drive northwards on paved road, but turned around just before the hilly, gravel roads began. They are not good roads to drive on when it is, or has been, raining. Ten minutes later, on the return drive, I saw a white field that looked strangely out of place, lol. In just that short time, it had hailed heavily over just that one huge field, piling up along the edge of the road, too. We do have some strange weather where I live, ha! Little did I know about the major flooding that was about to happen! Passed this Hawk and presumably its mate, perched on nearby fenceposts. One flew off, but this one gave me a chance for a few photos. Such spectacular birds of prey.


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