IS LAWSUIT OVER ESPN'S X GAMES LOCATION FOR THE BIRDS?

          The National Audubon Society charged in a lawsuit filed
     Tuesday that staging ESPN's "X Games" next month on a man-
     made San Diego peninsula "may damage" a colony of endangered
     birds during their breeding and nesting cycle, according to
     Richard Sandomir in the N.Y. TIMES.  In the suit against
     ESPN and the city of San Diego, the conservation group asked
     for a temporary restraining order against the event until
     the city studies the environmental effect the games may have
     on the birds.  ESPN spokesperson Mike Soltys said the
     network had taken "numerous" steps to protect the area,
     including hiring a security firm to monitor the safety of
     the habitat (N.Y. TIMES, 5/29).  In San Diego, Caitlin
     Rother writes that city officials and Audubon Society
     attorneys began settlement talks earlier this month after
     the local chapter filed "a notice of intent to sue the city.
     Audubon attorneys say this week's legal action was prompted
     by a breakdown in those talks" (UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/29).