My wife and I are fortunate to live on a patch of oak woodland in the foothills of Northern California. Several years ago we decided to rid our yard of water-guzzling domestic fescue and replace it with gardens of drought tolerant native plants. In doing so, you might say we put out the welcome mat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Documenting bird species that visit our yard has provided a special sense of pride and enjoyment.
Growing up in the tiny farm town of Orland at the north end of California’s Central Valley, a pheasant sighting was a daily occurrence for me. These beautiful Asian transplants were so plentiful, and pheasant hunting was so popular, the annual season opener was practically a national holiday.
Most game wardens or wildlife officers will tell you that the odds of going out on any given day and catching someone in the act of taking a deer out of season are pretty remote. With thousands of square miles to patrol, it’s like finding a needle in the proverbial haystack.
We sold out in two hours at the Redding Costco book signing, on Friday. Saturday, we sold out again at the Whole Earth Watershed Festival.
Publishers Weekly published an excellent review of Badges, Bears, and Eagles yesterday: "This engrossing memoir by debut author Callan lets readers in on highlights of his 30-year career as a California wildlife officer. With a healthy dose of bravado, he always gets his perps, though he credits his fellow officers, like long-time partner Dave Szody, and the roles they've played in cases brought against poachers and other law-breakers. He recalls stories from back into the 1970's, his memory matched by a knack for pacing and recognition...
Chapter 23, “Bears and Bad Guys,” describes how California black bears were unlawfully killed for their paws, as well as their gall bladders. These were seized from an outlaw’s freezer during the arrest phase of our (1995-1997) undercover investigation.
We had a fantastic book signing yesterday at Redding’s Sun Oaks Tennis and Fitness. Thanks so much to Julie, Lisa, and the wonderful Sun Oaks staff who hosted our event. Kathy and I were amazed at the number of people who showed up, some to buy books and others to have their already-purchased copies signed. We sold out in a little over two hours and had a great time. Thanks so much to everyone who came.
Our next public book signing is scheduled for April 26th, at the Redding Costco (10:00 AM to 4:00 PM). Hope to see you there! For those of you from out of the area, you can order Badges, Bears, and Eagles online from Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, and Walmart. You can also have your local bookstore order a copy for you.