Nikon has always targeted sports/journalism and wildlife photographers as an afterthought.
Respectfully, I think that's completely unfair.
Nikon has produced numerous high-end (yet affordable) bodies almost purpose-built for wildlife and a consistent series of "pro" bodies also very well-suited to wildlife. They've also had--and
still do--have the most comprehensive wildlife lens lineup in the market, with more options from low to high-end than any system.
Bird eye AF (BEAF) coming into Sony's lineup the past couple years certainly caught Nikon flat-footed, and it has taken them some time to bring a suitable competitor to market. But the D500+500PF was
the standard mid-range wildlife setup for years, and Nikon has a long history of being at or near the top of the heap for digital wildlife photography. Personally, I'd say from the D3 (2007) until the A7IV and A1 (2021-ish).
The gap from 2019 to 2022 before the Z9 arrived was painful for Nikon shooters, and body availability remains an issue, but I think saying that Nikon doesn't focus on wildlife is untrue. Nikon has two 300's, a 400 (soon two), two 500's, a 600, two 800's, and a
multitude of long zooms. They've obviously put a lot of R&D dollars into their PF lenses, as well, which is a unique advantage (and if I'm honest, the
primary reason I have a Z9 instead of an A1 right now).
Nikon wildlife shooters are spoiled for wildlife lens options, and aside from a now-closed "time gap" in BEAF, and a bit of a residual performance gap in BEAF, it's a great system for wildlife.