#324: Sally

Back in November when I had asked Steve to share something he was grateful for, he ended up responding with a short story about an unexpected encounter he had in the woods while out walking. What started out as a simply interesting encounter, grew into what I will call a forest friendship.  I'll stop there and let Steve recount his memorable and wonderfully unusual experience out in nature. 

- Amanda

Sally

Thinking about my walking companion Sally...  

Sally happens to be a turkey vulture and perhaps a bit of explanation is in order.  Our place borders a large heavily wooded area that’s home to enough wildlife to attract birds of prey.  Crows are most common, but there are hawks, vultures, and the occasional eagle.  I love watching hawks and vultures work the sky, but didn’t expect to get to know one. 

I take a long walk split between the sidewalks of the community and deer trails of the woods.  The normal walk takes me through a residential area with a heavy tree canopy before opening onto a meadow with a sidewalk and homes on one side.  Several years ago I noticed a female turkey vulture working on some roadkill.  I was too close and she flew to a telephone pole as I approached.  Walking along I noticed her sitting on the next pole on my path.  And then the next and the next.  She continued with these short hops for about a mile until I disappeared into a wooded area.   After twenty minutes later I re-emerged onto the meadow.  There she was - sitting on a pole.  She followed me across the meadow until I disappeared under the residential tree canopy.

Upon hearing this Sukie reminded me this may be a warning to schedule my yearly physical.  The next day, I was halfway across the meadow when a female turkey vulture broke from her wheeling and landed on the pole in front of me.   She repeated her pole hopping until I went into the trees and waited to accompany me back.

On the third day I called her Sally as it seemed like a good name for a friendly vulture.  

Our walks continued on most good weather days. This went on for about five years and then nothing. I still find myself searching the sky looking for vultures and wondering.  It’s been three years since I’ve seen her.  Vultures can live a long time so maybe she’s found something more interesting. Nature has this way of teaching you there's magic about the ordinary and Sally was a good teacher.