Marathon Intersects High Grade Polymetallic Mineralization

at BirdRiver Mines’ Ore Fault Property:

6.8 m of 2.03% Cu, 4.01% Zn, 200 g/t Ag and 0.58 g/t PGM and Au

Winnipeg, Manitoba, February 21, 2008: Bird River Mines Inc.’s (BRMI-CNQ) option and joint venture partner, Marathon PGM Corporation (“Marathon”) has reported initial assay results from drilling at the Ore Fault North within the Bird River Property in southeast Manitoba.

Highlights

-polymetallic high grade zones (up to 3% Cu, 5% Ni, 4% Zn, and 200 g/t Ag) have been identified at the Ore Fault North

-mineralization occurs as multiple lenses within a 100m thick envelope that trends north-south for over 300 m

-8 holes were completed with sulphide zones reported in every hole, remaining assays are pending

-zones of mineralization are open along strike and to depth

Dave Good, Marathon’s VP of Exploration stated, "The historical exploration focus on the Ore Fault property was nickel. Hole MF-08-03 confirms the nickel mineralization and also highlights a previously understated Zn-Cu-Ag and PGM mineralization that occurs in 14 other historic drill holes from the 1970’s.”

Assay Results from Marathon’s Drilling

From / To / Width / Est. True Width / Cu / Ni / Zn / Ag / Au / Pt / Pd / PGM and Au
Hole / (m) / (m) / (m) / (m) / (%) / (%) / (%) / (g/t) / (g/t) / (g/t) / (g/t) / (g/t)
MF0801 / 91.4 / 94.4 / 3.0 / 3.0 / 0.19 / 0.35 / 0.06 / 2.5 / 0.02 / 0.06 / 0.28 / 0.36
MF0803 / 175.4 / 196.0 / 20.6 / 18.0 / 0.88 / 0.19 / 1.60 / 79.0 / 0.06 / 0.04 / 0.28 / 0.38
incl. / 175.4 / 183.4 / 8.0 / 7 / 0.25 / 0.30 / 0.13 / 10.9 / 0.03 / 0.08 / 0.24 / 0.36
incl. / 188.2 / 195.0 / 6.8 / 6.0 / 2.03 / 0.14 / 4.01 / 200.0 / 0.11 / 0.02 / 0.46 / 0.58

Historical Assay Results(1)

From / To / Width / Est. True Width / Cu / Ni / Zn / Ag / Au(2) / Pt(2) / Pd(2)
Hole / (m) / (m) / (m) / (%) / (%) / (%) / (g/t) / (g/t) / (g/t) / (g/t)
Copper and ZincRichZones
4 / 21.09 / 28.96 / 7.9 / 7.8 / 2.44 / 0.35 / 2.02 / 50 / n/d / n/d / n/d
13 / 53.25 / 55.87 / 2.6 / 2.5 / 2.99 / 0.05 / 1.87 / 43 / n/d / n/d / n/d
24 / 201.17 / 213.06 / 11.9 / 11.9 / 0.75 / 0.02 / 4.26 / 44 / n/d / n/d / n/d
NickelRichZones
89-16 / 233.6 / 240 / 6.4 / 5.2 / 0.59 / 1.17 / 0.04 / 16 / n/d / n/d / n/d
21 / 163.1 / 178.3 / 15 / 15 / 0.29 / 0.87 / 0.03 / 1.7 / n/d / n/d / n/d
Nickel Rich Channel Sample
5.0 / 5.0 / 0.75 / 5.54 / 9.88 / 51 / n/d / n/d / n/d

(1)NI43101 Technical Report On the Ore Fault Property, SE Manitoba, Canada (N.T.S. : 52L-5NE & 6NW), Prepared for: Bird River Mines inc., Author:Horst W. Petak, Ph.D., P.Eng., P.Geo., PHW Consulting Winnipeg, March 31st, 2005.

(2)n/d – not determined

A total of 8 drill holes have been completed along a zone of nickel mineralization that trends north-south for approximately 300m. Mineralization in the 8 holes typically occurs as multiple lenses of disseminated to semi-massive sulphides that are usually 1 to 10 m thick and can generally be correlated across several holes. A section of mineralization in hole MF-08-03 that consists of semi-massive and stringer sulphides including abundant sphalerite, chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite returned assay results of 0.88% Cu, 0.19% Ni, 1.6% Zn, 79 g/t Ag and 0.38 g/t PGM and Au across 16m including 5.3m of 2.03% Cu, 4.01% Zn, 200 g/t Ag and 0.58 g/t PGM and Au. Interestingly, the intersection is zoned from a Ni-Cu top and Zn-Cu-Ag base.

Exploration Focus

Marathon’s exploration strategy on the Ore Fault Property is comprised of the application of geophysics, interpretation of historical data and drill target definition with the goal of defining a resource for each of the zones. This systematic approach to exploration is being applied to the Ore Fault North and the Ore Fault South. Subsequent to drilling at Ore Fault North, the rig has been moved to Gossan Resources’ (GSS-TSX.V) Page Zone located on the Bird River Sill. The rig will return to the Ore Fault Property in early spring to complete the drilling.

“This looks like a mine to me based on my 30 plus years of mining experience. The question we have to answer is how big is it.” said Phillip Walford, P.Geo. Marathon’s President and CEO.

Samples consist of NQ-size drill core that are split by diamond saw on site, prepared at ALS Chemex Vancouver, and assayed by fire assay with an ICP-OES finish (for Pt, Pd and Au) and aqua regia or four acid dissolution and ICP-OES finish for base metals. Marathon’s quality assurance-quality control (QA-QC) program consists of insertion of standards of known PGM content and duplicates every 30 samples. After sampling, the remaining half core is retained on site for future verification and reference purposes. David Good, P.Geo, Marathon’s V.P. Exploration, is the Qualified Person in compliance with National Instrument 43-101 with respect to this release.

About Marathon PGM Corporation

Marathon is an emerging Canadian PGM and base metal near-term producer with significant projected PGM, gold and base metal production. Marathon has properties at the development and exploration stages in NW Ontario, southeastern Manitoba and western Newfoundland and Labrador. Marathon’s management plans to build on this focus through the advancement of its properties, focusing on resource development and by examining other strategic PGM and base metal opportunities within Canada.

About Bird River Mines Inc.

In the summer of 2007, Bird River Mines was granted two exploration permits known as the Lakeshore Property, totalling 10,338 hectares, located on the eastern and western shores of Lake Winnipegosis about 360 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Lakeshore Property is prospective for zinc mineralization. The Company held its Annual General and Special Shareholders Meeting on December 28, 2007 and full details of the Meeting are outlined in the Company’s MD&A for the interim period ending October 31, 2007 which is available on SEDAR. BirdRiver Mines has9.4 million common shares outstanding and trades on the CNQ Exchange under the symbol BRMI.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Circumstances or management's estimates or opinions could change, and management disclaims any obligation to revise or update forward-looking statements, whether for new information, future events or otherwise. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

For further information, contact:

Nelson Shodine, President, Bird River Mines Inc. 204-589-2848

email: