The Very Large Meadow at Oxon Hill, almost always bereft of avifauna, 
was alive and well this AM, hosting no less than 5 (five) Meadowlarks on 
the west (farther) side - some singing. This is a greater concentration 
of the species than has been seen here in a long time, and tantalizingly 
close to the DC line. A supporting cast of 5 (migrant) Savannah Sparrows 
and a Killdeer pair heightened the grassland-guild motif, while 
opportunistic Flickers, Robins, and Starlings foraged in the short grass.

Will the Meadowlarks stay to nest? That depends partly on future 
conditions at the site. A new conservation ethic reigns at NPS, allowing 
cautious optimism. The birds today were loosely grouped and showed no 
signs of pre-nesting pair bonding. But visitors might opt to view them 
from afar anyway so as to minimize disturbance to any who might be 
thinking it over.

This might be the place to add that another Meadowlark was seen at 
K'worth Park, "closed" section, on Monday (20th). Even more unusual than 
the location was the plumage - the outer tail-feathers, dorsal 
coloration, and black ventral V were all normal. But the usual bright 
yellow coloration was much subdued, even for a non-breeding-season 
female, being a dull white with barely a hint of yellow. This was not a 
case of partial albinism, but perhaps the result of a dietary 
deficiency, such as sometimes afflicts House Finches. Has anyone noticed 
this effect before?

-- 
Fred Fallon
Bowie MD