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BOULDER, Colo. – As Curiosity rover marches across Mars, the red planet’s watery past comes into clearer focus.

In early 2017 scientists announced the discovery of possible desiccation cracks in Gale Crater, which was filled by lakes 3.5 billion years ago.

Now, a new study has confirmed that these features are indeed desiccation cracks, and reveals fresh details about Mars' ancient climate.

"We are now confident that these are mudcracks," explained lead author Nathaniel Stein, a geologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

Since desiccation mudcracks form only where wet sediment is exposed to air, their position closer to the center of the ancient lake bed rather than the edge also suggests that lake levels rose and fell dramatically over time.

"The mudcracks show that the lakes in Gale Crater had gone through the same type of cycles that we see on Earth," said Stein.

The study was published in Geology online ahead of print on April 16.

The researchers focused on a coffee table-sized slab of rock nicknamed "Old Soaker."

Old Soaker is crisscrossed with polygons identical in appearance to desiccation features on Earth.

The team took a close physical and chemical look at those polygons using Curiosity's Mastcam, Mars Hand Lens Imager, ChemCam Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer and Alpha-Particle X-Ray Spectrometer.

That close look proved that the polygons – confined to a single layer of rock and with sediment filling the cracks between them – formed from exposure to air, rather than other mechanisms such as thermal or hydraulic fracturing.

And although scientists have known almost since the moment Curiosity landed in 2012 that Gale Crater once contained lakes, explained Stein, "the mudcracks are exciting because they add context to our understanding of this ancient lacustrine system."

"We are capturing a moment in time," he added. "This research is just a chapter in a story that Curiosity has been building since the beginning of its mission."

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – They’re tiny brown bird with very loud voices, and you can hear them this time of year in the forests and wetlands. They’re wrens!

A wren featured prominently in the old fable about how songs came to earth. According to the story, all of the birds of the world had gathered together to see which one could fly the highest and snatch the songs from the heavens.

One by one each bird species tried and failed, and then an eagle tried his hand (or wing) at reaching the heights. Eventually his stamina failed him, as well, and he started to fall back to earth.

But just then a tiny wren that had been hiding in the eagle’s neck feather burst out, flew up into the heavens, and brought the songs back to the planet with him. And that’s why his songs are some of the longest and loudest.

In California, we have several different species of wren, but for this article we’ll focus on two: the marsh wren (Cistothorus palustris) and the house wren (Troglodytes aedon).

The two species look very much alike: they’re small relatively drab birds that weigh less than half an ounce, and males and females both look pretty much the same.

The wrens have barring on their wings and tail, and the marsh wren usually holds its tail up behind it when it sings.

The two species also primarily eat insects and spiders, although the marsh wren will sometimes also eat vegetable matter and small water invertebrates, and the house Wren will sometimes eat the shells of snails for their calcium.

The greatest difference between the birds is where and how they build their nests.

When it comes to nest building, both the house wren and the marsh wren select several different nesting sites at the same time in the same general area.

Once they’re done, the male wrens then flit from nest to nest, singing their loud songs to attract females. It’s the female who selects which nesting spot she likes the best for her egg-laying purposes.

House wrens build their nests in the cavities of trees – or actually just about anywhere there’s a nook or cranny they can fit into. Some house wrens have been known to nest not only in nest boxes provided by humans, but also in buckets, boots and empty cans.

Aggressive little things when seeking a good nesting spot, house wrens will sometimes evict birds much larger than themselves, like wood ducks and flickers, and take over their nesting cavities.

The cavities are then lined with twigs; some of which are used like “guard rails” if the entrance hole is large enough to let in larger birds and other predators, while others are used as the base for the cup-shaped “mattress” on which the female will lay her eggs.

This cup inside the nesting cavity is lined with grass, feathers, animal (or human) hair, spider egg sacs (to feed the babies when they hatch), and other things.

Marsh wren nests are more elaborate. Rather than nesting in a cavity, the male marsh wren builds three or four intricately woven dome-shaped nests out of the “skin” of wet tules and cattails, dried grasses and other vegetation.

When building these nests, the male will start with a base in the shape of a cup that is woven between several upright branches or tules. Then he builds the roof, moving in and out of the nest as he works on it, taking breaks occasionally to sing or chase off rivals.

When the construction of all of the nests is finished, the male starts advertising his newly built homes by singing … sometimes for up to 18 hours a day.

Once a female has chosen a nest she likes the best, the other nests sit vacant, available to other birds, mice, wasps or anyone else who wants to move into them. The nests are not reused from season to season, so each year the males have to start from scratch.

When there is a lot of competition for space and food, the male marsh wren is known for going into the nests of other marsh wrens and breaking the eggs in them, so its competitor’s offspring don’t make it to the hatching stage.

Although one brood of three to 10 eggs is common, they can have up to two broods per year (especially if the first brood isn’t successful).

Tiny but loud, both species of wren are very visible (and audible) this time of year, so keep an ear and eye out for them.

Mary K. Hanson is a Certified California Naturalist, author and nature photographer. Tuleyome is a501(c)(3) nonprofit conservation organization based in Woodland, Calif. For more information, visit www.tuleyome.org.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – People Services Inc. invites community members to mark their calendars for fun at this year’s annual Chicken-Que, scheduled for Saturday, June 2.

The event will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St.

The Chicken-Que with a country picnic theme will feature food, music, children’s activities, a raffle, auction and door prizes.

“Come join us for fun, delicious food, and top-notch entertainment,” said People Services Executive Director Ilene Dumont. “The Chicken-Que is not just about chicken – the chicken is delicious, by the way. We’ll have meal alternatives, however, and we are planning a 50-50 raffle, a silent auction and a children’s activities area.”

Music will be provided by the LC Diamonds, known for its upbeat vintage tunes. “The Diamonds play a variety of dance songs – from rock and blues to rockabilly and surf - always entertaining!” said Dumont.

Chicken meals will include “tasty barbecued chicken, the best baked beans ever, salad and a roll,” said Dumont. For those who prefer hamburgers or hot dogs, meals featuring those entrees will be available.

“We also will have a special plate for our vegetarian friends,” Dumont added.

This year’s event will include a special partnership with Paradise Skating “to enhance your entertainment choices for you and your little ones.”

The annual event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit People Services, which serves as the local community agency, providing the delivery of quality services for people with disabilities.

People Services has been in business for more than 40 years, and this is the 44th year of the Chicken-Que.

Tickets are $10 each or four for $30. For ticket and event information, call 707-263-3810 or visit www.peopleservices.org.

Sponsors for this year’s event include Westamerica Bank, Umpqua Bank, North Lake Medical Pharmacy, Figg Creations and Savings Bank of Mendocino County.

Dumont says there is still time to join the "team of sponsors" that represent the driving force behind the success of this event. Sponsorships start at $250. For information, call Dumont at 707-263-3810.

For more information about People Services’ services and programs, visit www.peopleservices.org.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – District 3 Supervisor Jim Steele announced this week that the three area town halls in his district now have Web pages.

These Web pages can be found on the County of Lake’s Web site.

The three area town halls in District 3 are municipal advisory councils designed to increase resident participation in decisions affecting the community.

The three town halls are:

East Region Town Hall, or ERTH: The eastern region of District 3 from Paradise Cove East to the county line and north to the High Valley area.

Lucerne Area Town Hall, or LATH: Lucerne community growth boundary.

West Region Town Hall, or WRTH: The western region of District 3 includes Upper Lake, Nice, Blue Lake, Bachelor Valley and Lake Pillsbury.

Agendas for the town hall meetings are posted on the new Web pages.

Meetings are open to the public and there are no membership requirements; however, to take part in any action taken by the town hall, persons must reside within the area boundaries for that town hall.

Each town hall also has a governing council whose members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors. When council vacancies occur, applications for the governing council’s openings can be found on the new Web pages.

“These groups are the arm of the board,” Steele stated. “They advise me about the community issues and help move the message of county government into the local community; and they promote this district themselves.”

Steele, continued, “There are so many things that can be done, but they can only be done when you talk with the community in a forum. This is where accomplishments are going to happen locally – at these community councils.”

Residents in the various District 3 areas are encouraged to participate in upcoming town hall meetings.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Authorities in Ukiah this week investigated a Facebook post that had raised concerns for the safety of students at Mendocino College, with the man responsible for the post later arrested on an unrelated charge.

Capt. Gregory Van Patten of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said that just before 4 p.m. Thursday deputies were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance at Mendocino College in Ukiah.

When deputies arrived at the campus they contacted school administrators who wanted to report a concerning post which appeared on the Facebook page of student Lyle Luke Vincent, 31, of Ukiah, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said the Facebook posting contained the wording "feeling sad" with an image of a semi-automatic pistol – which looked like it had been obtained from the Internet – with the location tag being "Mendocino College.”

School administrators advised Vincent's class schedule showed he was not scheduled for any classes on campus on this specific day, Van Patten said.

Deputies located Vincent's maroon Dodge 2500 pickup truck parked in a parking lot stall in front of the main pedestrian path into the campus. Van Patten said the pickup truck was unlocked, with some windows partially down and the key was in the ignition.

Van Patten said deputies conducted an immediate hasty search of the campus and buildings in an attempt to located Vincent.

When this hasty search ended with negative results it was decided to lockdown and evacuate the campus to ensure the safety of college staff, students, and visitors who were actively on campus, Van Patten said.

He said a reverse 911 advisory message was issued for a half-mile radius of the college campus advising of the lockdown and evacuation.

Once the lockdown and evacuation was completed a systematic search was conducted of the campus. Van Patten said the search concluded at 8 p.m. Thursday without Vincent being located and the campus determined to be safe for repopulation.

At 8:40 p.m. Thursday Mendocino County Sheriff's Office deputies developed information that Vincent was at a residence in the 200 block of Vineyard Oaks Drive in Redwood Valley, Van Patten said.

When the deputies arrived at the location, Van Patten said they contacted Vincent and determined he was not an active threat.

Vincent subsequently was arrested on an unrelated incident for violation of a domestic violence restraining order, Van Patten said. Vincent was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where was later released after posting bail.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office thanked the Mendocino College administration, facility and security staff along with Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol, Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services and the Ukiah Police Department, which responded to the college and assisted in the search.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Friday the California Highway Patrol held its cadet graduation at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento.

CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley and California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Annis were on hand for the morning ceremony, during which 82 new officers were sworn in.

Throughout 28 weeks of training, these men and women have been preparing to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security.

Following Friday’s graduation ceremony, the new officers will serve in communities throughout the state.

CHP spokeswoman Jaime Coffee said that of those new officers four are assigned within Northern Division, the jurisdiction that includes Lake County.

Of those four, three will report to the Humboldt Area and one is being assigned to Ukiah Area, which is the office next to the Clear Lake Area office, which is located in Kelseyville.