LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Bird enthusiasts are once again preparing to take part in an annual nationwide effort to document avian species.

The annual Clear Lake Christmas Bird Count will be on Saturday, Dec. 27.

This year's local count is being held a little later than usual – one week after Christmas instead of one week before, which has been the usual time.

The Christmas Bird Count is a traditional project of Audubon societies around the country.

Each December birders gather to record every individual bird and species encountered during the day.

Each count group has a designated circle of 15 miles in diameter and tries to cover as much ground as possible within a certain period of time.

The data collected by each count group are then sent to the National Audubon Headquarters in New York and is available online.

The Christmas Bird Count began more than a century ago when 27 conservationists in 25 localities, led by scientist and writer Frank Chapman, changed the course of ornithological history.

On Christmas Day in 1900, the small group posed an alternative to the “side hunt,” a Christmas day activity in which teams competed to see who could shoot the most birds and small mammals.

Instead, Chapman proposed to identify, count, and record all the birds they saw, founding what is now considered to be the world’s most significant citizen-based conservation effort – and century-old institution.

Redbud Audubon invites all birders and nature enthusiasts to join in the upcoming Christmas Bird Count. Birders of all skill levels are encouraged to participate.

Last year's local count included 135 species, which was reported to be below the 10-year average. A full report on the 2013 count is here: bit.ly/19wsK98 .

This is Audubon’s longest running wintertime tradition, and the 40th year it has taken place in Lake County.

After the count, participants are invited to a pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. at Kelseyville Pizza on State Street to join in the count compilation, where the tally of the day’s sightings is compiled.

Prior to the bird count, Redbud Audubon will present an extensive slide show and discussion of distinguishing features of birds that are often seen during the annual count.

This event takes place at the monthly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 18, Glebe Hall, St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Kelseyville, starting at 7 p.m.

If you are interested in participating in the bird count on Dec. 27, please call 707-263-8030, leave a message and someone will return your call.

Visit the Redbud Audubon Society online at http://www.redbudaudubon.org/ .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Forecasters are predicting a week of rain ahead, but with estimated totals to be far less than those seen in last week's severe storm.

The National Weather Service's updated forecast for Lake County expects rain until next Saturday around the county, with conditions clearing slightly on Sunday.

On Monday, rainfall totals are estimated to be between half and three quarters of an inch during the day, with chances for another half an inch during the night.

Chances of showers on Tuesday are estimated at 80 percent, with predictions for rain also extending from Wednesday through Saturday.

There also will be light winds during the week, with temperatures falling into the low 40s at night and low 50s during the day.

More rain should help Clear Lake's level, which jumped up from less than 0.0 feet Rumsey before the storm started to 1.58 feet Rumsey on Sunday afternoon, according to the US Geological Survey.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Long ago, in the largest canyon system in our solar system, vibrations from “marsquakes” shook soft sediments that had accumulated in Martian lakes.

The shaken sediments formed features that now appear as a series of low hills apparent in a geological map based on NASA images. The map was released today by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

This map of the western Candor Chasma canyon within Mars' Valles Marineris is the highest-resolution Martian geological map ever relased by USGS.

It is derived from images taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which reveal details smaller than a desk.

The map is available for download at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3309/ .

Additional information about the map is available at http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/new-usgs-map-of-mars-is-most-detailed-one-yet/ .

“This new map shows that at the time these sediments were deposited, a part of west Candor Chasma, specifically Condor Colles, contained numerous shallow, spring-fed lakes,” said map author Chris Okubo of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Flagstaff, Arizona. “These lakes helped to trap wind-blown sand and dust, which accumulated over time and formed the extensive sedimentary deposits we see today.”

The wet sediments experienced seismic shaking in “marsquakes” related to movement along several large geological faults in the area. A series of low hills resulted.

Valles Marineris is more than 2,500 miles long. The conditions under which sedimentary deposits in it formed have been an open issue for decades.

Possibilities proposed have included accumulation in lakebeds, volcanic eruptions under glaciers within the canyons, and accumulation of wind-blown sand and dust.

HiRISE is operated by the University of Arizona, Tucson. The instrument was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder, Colorado. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project is managed for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, a division of the California Institute of Technology, also in Pasadena.

For more information about HiRISE, visit http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu .

Additional information about MRO is online at http://www.nasa.gov/mro .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As expected, last week’s storm brought heavy rains, strong winds, localized flooding and power outages, resulting in widespread damage throughout Lake County.

You may have experienced flooding in your home or business, become inundated with debris, or had your daily routine changed by damage to public infrastructure.

The Lake County Office of Emergency Services, or Lake OES, is working to compile damage information from all municipalities, businesses, and home owners.

If your property has sustained damage related to the flooding, here is a short list of what to do to report these damages:

• Take pictures of everything – before you begin to cleanup or make repairs, during clean up and repair, and after.
• Document all items that were damaged that you had to dispose of.
• Save written quotes, estimates or receipts for repairs.
• Contact your insurance company or the property owner (rentals) – contacting Lake OES or your local government is not a substitute for those contacts.
• Complete any cleanup or repairs you can. Don’t wait for “FEMA funding” to do your repairs because, at this time, we have no information that we will be given assistance.

Please report damages to your respective municipality – within the city of Clearlake, contact 707-994-8201; within the city of Lakeport, contact 707-263-5615; and within the unincorporated areas of Lake County, contact 707-263-2382.

Please include quotes/estimates/receipts for damages and any other information you would like to share along with your name, home address (location of the damaged property), and contact information.

You may also post your storm photos to the Lake OES Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-OES/307452049434603 .

At this time, Lake OES is simply collecting this information so that it may create files and report to local and state officials. There is no promise of reimbursement from FEMA or any other entity.

Lake OES said that, if by chance it is able to procure financial assistance, those who have reported damage and information to the OES office will be the first to be notified.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A final public meeting sharing the findings and climate change adaptation strategies for vulnerable state routes in Caltrans District 1 will be held on Thursday, Dec. 18, in Eureka and Webcast to designated locations in Mendocino and Lake counties.

The meeting will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the council chambers at the city of Eureka, 531 K St.

A live Webcast of the meeting will be viewable in Lake County at the Lake County Board Chambers, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport, and in Mendocino County at the Mendocino County Administrative Center, Conference Room C, 501 Low Gap Road, Ukiah.

The meeting also will be broadcast on Access Humboldt and available for review a day after the meeting at https://archive.org/details/access_humboldt , under the title “Caltrans District 1 Climate Change Adaptation Project Findings.”

State routes in Lake, Mendocino, Del Norte and Humboldt County were the focus of this study, which considered the potential impacts of sea level rise, increased flooding and erosion, increased landslides, and increased wildfire as projected by current climate change modeling.

The study is one of 16 pilot studies across the U.S. being funded, in part, by the Federal Highway Administration.

The District 1 Climate Change Pilot Study is a joint project of the Caltrans District 1 and the Humboldt County Association of Governments, with the collaboration of the Del Norte Local Transportation Commission, Mendocino Council of Governments and the Lake County/City Area Planning Council.

The study is funded by the Federal Highway Administration and Caltrans.

More information about the study is available at www.northcoastclimatechange.com .

For more information about the Webcast, contact Rebecca Crow of GHD at 707-443-8326.

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain.” – Author unknown

Gray overtones in darkened skies hung heavy over Lake County bringing welcomed relief with December's rainstorms.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, we still need plenty of rain to end the drought here in Lake County – and statewide.

With Lake County's average annual rainfall being 25 inches in the Clear Lake Basin, 60 inches on Cobb Mountain and a 45-inch average in Middletown, it will take considerable precipitation to end the drought.

The wild critters of Lake County have their own ways of dealing with inundation by the rainfall.

In cold weather our resident warm-blooded mammals and birds find it necessary to keep their body heat stable.

Animals have the ability to maintain this thermal homeostasis via their own built-in generators, or metabolic method.

Fortunately their natural coverings repel water. Birds, such as our beautiful blue jays and egrets, preen by using their bills to keep oils distributed over their feathers. The oils originate from the special gland at their tails, providing aviary species with natural raincoats.

According to Bay Nature Magazine, birds are tough creatures, and you will find them out feeding in rainy weather.

If the storms are too fierce, the birds that naturally nest in nooks and crannies stay put, but the others may crowd together under brush piles feeding on food that they had literally “ put away for a rainy day.”

After a storm, watch for large birds, like hawks and turkey vultures dramatically drying their wings by spreading them wide while standing on posts or tree limbs.

Mammals such as foxes and coyotes take shelter under rock outcrops or large shrubs. Smaller animals like woodrats or mice may huddle collectively in depressions against hillsides, or in rotted logs – maybe even in your barn!

Our local western gray squirrels, who mate in December to June, take shelter in dreys – their nests, located high in trees.

These creative creatures construct dreys with twigs which have been inventively swathed with grasses. Their winter dreys can be up to 36 inches in diameter, and are lined with cushy mosses, bark, leaves, fur from their tails or lichen.

These semi-enclosed shelters are utilized for birthing, and nurturing young. Their diet of pine nuts, acorns, insects and fungi – all high in carbohydrates, aid in accumulation of body fat for winter survival.

Gray squirrels hide, or cache their food. Called “scatter-hoarding,” they hide food all over the forest, and have the ability to find food by scent. Their “leftovers” make for good reseeding of the forest.

They use their lush tails as built-in umbrellas, which also serve them as protection from predators such as eagles or hawks.

“Weather is a great metaphor for life — sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and there’s nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella.” – Terri Guillemets

Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Planning Commission will hold a special meeting this week to discuss two project proposals.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The commission met Dec. 10 but had to reschedule the hearings on the projects due to issues with the mailings of project notices to affected property owners.

On the agenda is a public hearing on a project proposed by Jason K. Norris of the House of Living Rhythm.

Norris is seeking a use permit to allow the reestablishment of commercial activities in conjunction with an existing residential use, and has submitted an application for a zoning permit to allow the occasional presentation of acoustic-based live entertainment at a renovated church building at 100 N. Forbes St. The property is owned by Carlos and Nancy Guevara of Santa Rosa.

As part of the mixed use – commercial and residential – of the building, Norris wants to use the second floor assembly area for educational activities including wellness-based and community-building events.

The commission also will hold a public hearing to consider an application from Kathy Fowler Chevrolet for architectural and design review to build a 547 square foot sales office and a 43-space paved parking lot to display used vehicles at 1277 Parallel Drive and 1305 Todd Road Extension.

Fowler also has submitted an application for a use permit to allow the outdoor display and vehicle sales activities, according to the staff report.

The commission's next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has a new bunch of cats and kittens needing homes as the holidays near.

The cats include tabbies, calicoes and a Siamese.

In addition to spaying or neutering, cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).

Domestic medium hair mix

This domestic medium hair mix kitten has calico markings.

She's in cat room kennel No. 12a, ID No. 1345.

Domestic short hair mix

This domestic short hair mix kitten has calico markings.

She's in cat room kennel No. 12b, ID No. 1346.

Siamese mix

This female adult Siamese mix has a short coat and blue eyes.

She's in cat room kennel No. 41, ID No. 1373.

Domestic short hair mix

This male adult short hair mix cat has a coat with brown and white markings.

He's in cat room kennel No. 48, ID No. 1364.

Domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair mix kitten has white and gray markings.

He's in cat room kennel No. 58a, ID no. 1417.

Domestic short hair kitten

This male domestic short hair mix kitten has a coat with white and gray tabby markings.

He's in cat room kennel No. 58b, ID no. 1418.

Domestic short hair

This female domestic short hair mix has a coat with white and brown tabby markings.

She's in cat room kennel No. 73, ID No. 1316.

Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .

Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A Lucerne man was flown to a regional trauma center Saturday evening after being hit by a vehicle near Upper Lake.

The 50-year-old man, whose name was not released by the California Highway Patrol, suffered major head trauma in the crash, which happened just before 6 p.m. on Highway 20 east of Main Street.

The CHP said that Arthur Takao, 66, of Applegate, was driving his 2012 Toyota RAV4 eastbound on Highway 20 at 40 to 45 miles per hour.

At the same time, the Lucerne resident was crossing Highway 20 on foot, the CHP said.

For reasons yet to be determined, the CHP said the pedestrian walked into the path of Takao's vehicle and was hit.

Northshore Fire personnel transported the injured man to Sutter Lakeside Hospital, where a REACH air ambulance picked the man up, according to radio reports.

The CHP said the injured man was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Arthur Takao and his passenger, 57-year-old Linda Takao, also of Applegate, were both wearing their seat belts and were not injured in the crash, the CHP said.

The CHP's report said that drugs and alcohol were not factors in the crash for Arthur Takao, but as of late Saturday night it was not known if those substances were factors for the injured pedestrian.

The crash's cause is under investigation by CHP Officer Ryan Erickson.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LUCERNE, Calif. – A Lucerne man was arrested Sunday night after witnesses said he shot at several people following a domestic dispute.

Marcus Ray Gregory, 20, was arrested for attempted murder, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, terrorist threats, resisting arrest and exhibiting a deadly weapon, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

At 6:50 p.m. Sunday deputies responded to a report of multiple subjects arguing and shots being fired at the Riviera Motel, located at 6900 E. State Highway 20 in Lucerne, Brooks said.

As deputies arrived, Brooks said they observed a male subject with a handgun run into one of the motel rooms.

The subject, later identified as Gregory, jumped through a rear window of the motel room and attempted to run from the scene. Deputies, who had already set up a perimeter, took Gregory into custody a short time later, Brooks said.

During the investigation, deputies learned that Gregory was involved in a domestic dispute. Brooks said Gregory was seen by several people hitting a female victim and attempting to choke her while they were both inside a vehicle, which was parked at the motel.

One of the witnesses pulled Gregory off the victim; Brooks said that witness then was assaulted by Gregory.

Gregory then retrieved a handgun from his motel room, started pointing it at everyone standing outside and said he was going to shoot them, Brooks said. Witnesses reported that Gregory had also pointed the handgun at several children and threatened them as well.

Gregory then started shooting at people as they ran to get away from him. Witnesses estimated Gregory fired his handgun five to seven times, according to Brooks' report.

Deputies located damage caused by several bullet holes to the exterior of the motel. They also collected evidence from the scene which included expended shell casings, a bullet which was lodged in one of the exterior motel room doors and a firearm, Brooks said.

Gregory was arrested and, prior to being transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility for booking, he was treated by Sutter Lakeside Hospital staff for a laceration he sustained from jumping through the window at the motel, according to Brooks.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office is attempting to identify a body found on a beach near Fort Bragg on Sunday.

Capt. Greg Van Patten said that at 7 a.m. Sunday a man walking his dog on Noyo Beach came upon the remains of a deceased male adult lying on the beach near the surf.

Mendocino County Deputy Sheriff-Coroner's staff responded and initiated an investigation, Van Patten said.

Van Patten said the decedent was estimated to be 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and 130 to 160 pounds. The man appeared to have been in the water for some time and was in an advanced state of decomposition.

The decedent was wearing blue “Alfred Dunner” brand sweatpants, gray socks and brown "Outdoor Gear" hiking boots, Van Patten said.

The man also has a tattoo of what appears to be the letter “S” on the back of his left hand between the thumb and index finger and also a tattoo on his right shoulder of a “heart” and a name, which Van Patten said is unreadable.

No identification was located and the identity of the decedent is unknown at this time, Van Patten said.

Any persons with information which may assist in identifying the decedent are encouraged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office tip-line at 707-234-2100.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Animal Care and Control has dogs in a variety of ages and sizes needing homes this week.

This week's featured dogs include mixes of basset hound, boxer, Chihuahua, dachshund, hound, Jack Russell terrier, pit bull, pointer, poodle and shepherd.

Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.

If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets hoping you'll choose them.

In addition to the animals featured here, all adoptable animals in Lake County can be seen here: http://bit.ly/Z6xHMb .

The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (additional dogs on the animal control Web site not listed are still “on hold”).

Female Chihuahua mix

This female Chihuahua mix has a short black coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 3, ID No. 1398.

Jack Russell terrier mix

This handsome male Jack Russell terrier mix has a short tricolor coat.

He's in kennel No. 4, ID No. 1357.

German Shepherd mix

This female German Shepherd mix has a short black and tan coat.

She's in kennel No. 11, ID No. 1393.

'Rambo'

“Rambo” is a male shepherd mix with a tan and black coat.

He's in kennel No. 12, ID No. 1354.

Boxer-pointer mix

This female boxer-pointer mix has a short black coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 13, ID No. 1391.

Boxer-pointer mix

This female boxer-pointer mix has a short black coat with white markings.

She's in kennel No. 14, ID No. 1390.

Pit bull mix

This female pit bull terrier mix has a short black coat.

She's in kennel No. 16, ID No. 1380.

Dachshund-basset hound mix puppy

This female dachshund-basset hound mix puppy has a short tan and black coat.

She's in kennel No. 25c, ID No. 1271.

Dachshund-basset hound mix puppy

This female dachshund-basset hound mix puppy has a short tan and black coat.

She's in kennel No. 25d, ID No. 1272.

'Lela'

“Lela” is a female poodle-terrier mix.

She's got a long, curly white coat.

She's in kennel No. 27, ID No. 1330.

Male Chihuahua mix

This male Chihuahua mix has a sad story.

Shelter staff said he was found abandoned in a house. He was very scared at first but is now warming up.

He will need training and he may do better in a single owner home who is willing to spend time with him. He has been neutered and is ready to go to his forever home.

Find him in kennel No. 29, ID No. 1202.

Pit bull-shepherd mix

This male pit bull-shepherd mix has a short tan and white coat.

He's in kennel No. 31, ID No. 1348.

Pit bull terrier mix

This young male pit bull terrier mix is young, spunky and energetic, according to shelter staff, who said he just wants to get out and play.

He's looking for a great person willing to love and train him as he matures.

He's in kennel No. 33, ID No. 1307.

Hound-shepherd mix

This male hound-shepherd mix has a short brown coat.

Shelter staff said he is a very sweet dog that walks well on a leash and does not appear to be interested in cats.

He needs more socialization with other dogs; he does well with female dogs but caution is suggested around other males.

He has no signs of food aggression.

He's in kennel No. 34, ID No. 1107.

To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .

Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .

For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.