American White Pelican on a city pond

This morning, 18 August 2018, the Air Quality Health Index in Calgary was listed at 10+ — or very high risk, the highest possible rating.

"With such poor air quality, the federal weather authority is warning those most at risk, including children, seniors and people with cardiovascular or respiratory illness. They're encouraged to avoid strenuous outdoor activities entirely." From CBC News, 18 August 2018.

On 15 and 16 August 2018, Calgary's AIR QUALITY hit 10 and 10+, the worst possible rating, as wildfire smoke blankets Alberta. The smoke blown from the BC wildfires is intensely unpleasant - no sign of the mountains and we can barely even see the foothills, the smoke is so thick. Not just unpleasant outside, but I can also smell the smoke inside my home. I really, really hope BC gets some heavy rain as soon as possible, giving the brave firefighters a break and preventing even more loss, of lives, homes, wildlife and forest.

calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/air-quality-deemed-high...

B.C. (British Columbia) State of emergency declared across province as 566 fires burn. For the second year in a row, wildfires have prompted the B.C. government to declare a province-wide state of emergency.

calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/b-c-wildfires-2018-stat...

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Posting these four photos late tonight, just in case I decide to go on an outing with friends to Kananaskis tomorrow. If I go, it will mean an extremely early start, like 5:00 am. Not sure I really feel like doing that, so it probably won't happen. Next morning - no, decided not to go. Also, our air quality today is again at 10, the highest level of poor quality.

Yesterday, 16 August 2018, I was invited to go with a friend to visit a mutual friend down in Turner Valley and see the birds that come to her beautiful back garden. Only small, this area has been so thoughtfully and beautifully laid out, encouraging all sorts of birds and other wildlife to visit. She is so fortunate that a wildlife corridor is just beyond her deck and garden. Totally unexpectedly, Jackie made us a delicious cheese bun sandwich for lunch that included tomatoes she has grown herself on her deck, along with cold, refreshing lemonade. Thank you so much, Jackie, for your kindness, as always!

Pam, I really appreciate your invite to go with you, and thanks so much for driving a few new back roads and a stop at Frank Lake. I don't know where all the birds were, but there were so few at the Lake and most of those were far, far out. It was a real treat, though, to start off our morning with a beautiful Swainson's Hawk that was perched on a metal fence railing, and to end our day with several (was it three?) American White Pelicans in flight and then landing on a pond in the city. We were lucky that one of them was still on the water by the time we had parked and walked to the pond.

Despite the thick blanket of smoke everywhere and the dreadful air quality, the faint landscape that surrounded us was eerily beautiful. It will feel almost strange to see our beautiful foothills and mountains once again, when the wildfire smoke finally comes to an end.