5.16.26 Shelby Farms Park, TN Day 4 (vultures)

When my father, sister, and I first drove in Shelby Farms Park, we saw a bunch of pitch-black birds in the distance, right next to the path. We originally thought they were turkeys, but when we got closer we realized they were black vultures! Not only was this amazing because we don't have black vultures up in Chicago, but also because we have never been that close to vultures except for ambassador animals. When we got out of the car, they let us get within three feet of them. It was a sort of mutual understanding that we were both doing our own thing, and neither of us were provoking the other. We have never been so close to a wild bird that hasn't flown away immediately or hissed at us (I'm looking at you, Canada Gees). Even chickens, a bird that has been domesticated for millennia, won't let us get that close. The most amazing thing was that black vultures spend most of their time in the sky and high in trees, well away from humans. It's important to remember that if you don't provoke the wildlife, the wildlife won't provoke you.

From 5.13.26-5.16.26 my father, sister and I drove from Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN and back. This is from Day 4.

See all of the Memphis trip posts at the Memphis 2026 page.