Lion’s Den Gorge draws birds and birders galore!
March 2, 2026 | Topics: Events, Places, Stories
By Michelle Allison
Photography by Eddee Daniel and guests
It was late April in Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve. A flurry of bird activity signaled the start of spring. We could hear birds singing from the edge of the parking lot, starting with the flutelike whistles of an Eastern Meadowlark in the adjacent farm field. We began the hike towards Lake Michigan, when we were greeted by some early spring warblers in the bare branches overhead. Several Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, and a Pine Warbler flitted around us, in search of newly hatched insects.
As we arrived at the 100-foot-high bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, we paused to take in the expansive view. It took a moment to absorb all the shades of blue in the sky and water. After adjusting to the wind off the lake, we noticed waterfowl floating on the waves in the distance. Dozens of Red-breasted Mergansers had gathered to migrate to their breeding grounds in Canada. They were filling up on fish, which provide the energy needed for their journey north. As we walked along the top of the bluff, Tree Swallows and Purple Martins darted through the air, feeding on flying insects.
Next, we ventured through the treetops, descending the staircase down to the beach. Several Common Mergansers flew low overhead, displaying their sleek silhouettes. We also witnessed hundreds of Double-crested Cormorants congregating on the shoreline to the south.
We hiked back up the bluff on the Lion’s Den Trail, heading towards the wetlands. Songbirds delighted us at every turn, from tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglets to numerous sparrow species scratching in the leaf litter as they foraged for food. The first Brown Thrashers of spring had arrived, as the males sang loudly from the highest branches to claim their territory.
At the marsh, the new Boardwalk Viewing Area did not disappoint! Dabbling ducks like Northern Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal and Gadwall floated along the cattail edges, scooping up food in their bills. In comparison, a tiny Pied-billed Grebe dove down below the water’s surface to forage. We heard the distinct clicks and grunts of two Virginia Rails calling back and forth across the marsh. For a brief moment, one Rail emerged from the vegetation on chickenlike legs to vocalize in front of us. The upland revealed a Wilson’s Snipe, comfortable enough to preen in front of us. After a wonderful day of birding, I returned to the parking lot to find a female American Kestrel hunting over the adjacent field. The Eastern Meadowlark from the morning was still singing away.
For more information about Lion’s Den Gorge Nature Preserve go to our Find-a-Park page. This program was sponsored by Schlitz Audubon Nature Center, which is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.
Related stories:
A guided—and illustrated—tour of Lake Park by Michelle Allison
Touring Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area by Michelle Allison
Lion’s Den Gorge: A Meditation on Photography By Eddee Daniel
Michelle Allison is an Environmental Educator at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.
All photos by Eddee Daniel, except as noted. Eddee Daniel, writer/photographer, is a board member of Preserve Our Parks and a member of Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.
The Natural Realm blog is part of A Wealth of Nature, which is a project of Preserve Our Parks. The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin is a project partner of A Wealth of Nature.
About Preserve Our Parks
Preserve Our Parks, Inc. is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of parks and green spaces. Our mission: To advocate for and promote Milwaukee area parks and open spaces and to strive to protect the tenets of Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine.
For more than 25 years, we have been a leader in advocating for the protection of Milwaukee County park lands, halting many proposals to develop, privatize, or sell local parkland and lakefront spaces. More information about POP, including past accomplishments, is available at www.preserveourparks.org.