A Black Vulture Nestling finally showed itself from a nest cavity at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. I have watched this nesting pair for several years, but this was the first time I had a clear view of one of the young birds near the opening of the tree cavity.
Black Vulture Nestling Peering from the Tree Cavity
As I drove the auto tour road at SNWR on June 22, 2023, I stopped to check on the nesting Black Vultures once again. Their nest sits inside a large hollow opening near the base of a massive tree beside the road.
That morning, one of the young birds slowly moved toward the entrance of the cavity and looked outside for a few moments. The soft down feathers and curious expression immediately stood out against the dark interior of the nest.
Seeing the Black Vulture Nestling this clearly felt rewarding after years of watching this nesting site. Moments like this are easy to miss if you are not paying attention.
If you enjoy seeing these scavengers up close, take a look at my post about the American Black Vulture.
Watching a Black Vulture Nest at SNWR
I always observe this nesting pair from inside my pickup truck to avoid disturbing the birds. The location beside the refuge road provides a rare opportunity to watch Black Vultures without approaching the nest directly.
Many visitors likely pass this tree every day without realizing a nesting pair of vultures is hidden inside. By keeping my distance and remaining quiet, I can observe natural behavior while helping reduce stress on the birds.
Black Vultures play an important role in the environment by helping clean up carrion and limiting the spread of disease. Watching a nestling grow inside this hidden cavity offered a rare glimpse into a part of their life cycle that many people never see.
Photographing the Black Vulture Nestling in Low Light
The lighting conditions inside the tree cavity were difficult. The shaded opening forced me to balance exposure carefully while still keeping enough shutter speed to capture detail in the young bird.
Even with the technical challenges, the experience mattered far more than perfect light. Wildlife photography often rewards patience, and this Black Vulture Nestling was one of those moments that made years of returning to the same location worthwhile.
Camera Settings
- Camera: Canon EOS R5
- Lens: Canon RF 800mm F11
- Exposure Mode: Manual
- Aperture: f/11
- Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
- ISO: 8000 (Auto)
- Exposure Compensation: -0.7
- Focal Length: 800mm
- Date Taken: June 22, 2023 at 9:11 AM
- Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge, Oklahoma
I was fortunate to share this memorable encounter at Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge with my friend and fellow wildlife photographer, Mia McPherson. We both spent time watching the young Black Vulture nestled safely inside the tree cavity while photographing the scene from the refuge road.
Mia also wrote about this special moment in her blog post, “Young Black Vulture Snuggled Into A Tree Cavity Nest,” where she shared one of her own beautiful images from the encounter. It was a great experience to witness and photograph this young Black Vulture together while appreciating another remarkable moment in nature.