Breeding Bird Counts: Oxon Cove and the Oxon Run relict magnolia bog As you may know, a for-profit company intends to build a prison on the Oxon Cove site (which is in DC, directly opposite the Oxon Hill Children's Farm, in MD). We believe the 42-acre tract, which has been Federal parkland, would serve the community best by remaining in its present natural state. Several informal birding excursions to the site earlier this spring produced a nice list, including various warblers and a good selection of residents. Bald eagles feed in the cove, and a turkey has been spotted in the woods. The New Columbia Audubon Society is conducting counts of the Oxon Cove site and the nearby Oxon Run relict magnolia bog on Saturday, July 19, in conjunction with an event at Oxon Hill Children's Farm. The event, a picnic and cleanup, is sponsored by, among others,the Ward 8 Coalition, New Columbia Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, Friends of Oxon Hill, and the Anacostia Watershed Society (and NCAS as well). We hope to call attention to the need to keep these valuable patches of DC habitat available to the public for birding and other nature-related activities. Birders will meet at 5:45 A.M., Saturday, June 19, at the corner of 7th and Pennsylvania, SE (Bread and Chocolate corner), to divide into two teams to carpool to the sites. Or meet onsite at 6:15 – the auto impoundment lot off Shepherd Pkwy. for Oxon Cove, or Mildred Green Elem. School lot off Mississippi Ave. for the magnolia bog. (call Mike for more directions). Please call ahead to register, so that we know how many people we can count on: Mike Milton: (h): (202) 543-6672; (w) (202) 293-8242) Peter Vankevich: (h) (202) 547-4523; (w) (202) 707-0600. Mike Milton mikemilton@ibm.net Judy Schaefer judyschaefer@ibm.net Washington, DC