Childs and Colvin were able to photograph and video an adult male cat in the wild while on a hunting trip in Southern Arizona. This was so rare it was just the second and last time a wild jaguar had ever been captured on film in the United States.
And the encounter so impressed Childs that he became active with the Arizona/New Mexico Jaguar Conservation Team, where he is now chairman of the depredation committee. Through the organization, Childs and Colvin were sent to Brazil to study jaguars and learn how to recognize their tracks and other signs.
Childs wrote Tracking the Felids of the Borderlands, a book about his experiences learning about the great cats.
The retired land surveyor will present Jaguars on the Border, a remarkable (and free) video presentation, at 7 p.m. Monday at DuVal Auditorium, University Medical Center. For more information, please call 622-5622.
DOUBLE-HEADER. If you find yourself with a little time on your hands this week, and not much change at the bottom of your pockets, buzz over to Bookmans on Grant for a couple of free events.
First, acoustic guitarist Mike Hatch will be performing at the store from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Hatch performs a wide variety of musical styles from original compositions to popular, slack-key, delta blues, jazz, classical, rock and country. All tunes are played with originality, subtlety and nuance. Hatch just release his first CD titled Pentimento. This is a free event, open to all.
If Hatch has you humming along, dust off that guitar and start practicing for Tuesday's acoustic open mic night from 7 to 9 p.m.
Aspiring performing songwriters and musicians of all levels of ability are invited to come and play in a warm, acoustically friendly environment. Each performer gets a 12-minute time slot. Signups begin at 6:45 p.m.
Bookman's Used Books is at 1930 E. Grant Road. For more information, please call Chris Stead or Dennis Pepe at 325-5767, or check www.bookmans.com.
OH, MAMA. Imagine delivering 12,000 babies.
Now imagine your career as a midwife started when you were 14 years old. And your rounds were homes in the isolated mountains of New Mexico.
It's the story of Fran Buss' life. La Partera: Story of a Midwife is the book she wrote about her emergence as a leader in her community, where she helped build a small maternity center for her patients.
Gradually, Buss gained the respect and admiration of all who came into contact with her, including the Anglo medical community.
Hear more about her fascinating life at 7 p.m. Friday at Antigone Books, 411 N. Fourth Ave. Buss will read from her book and answer questions afterward. For more information, please call 792-3715 or visit www.antigonebooks.com.
