rookery
noun
rook·ery
| \ ˈru̇-kə-rē
\
\
plural rookeries
Definition of rookery
b
: a breeding ground or haunt especially of gregarious birds or mammals (such as penguins or seals)
also
: a colony of such birds or mammals
2
: a crowded dilapidated tenement or group of dwellings
Examples of rookery in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Creating islands to assist in nurturing the largest great blue heron and egret rookery on the Upper Mississippi and what is becoming an annual stop for migrating white pelicans can only add to the rich wildlife refuge in our midst. — Letter Writers, Twin Cities, "Letters: The goal of the Pig’s Eye Lake island project," 7 Aug. 2019 First, belying their solitary reputation, the seals came together in groups to attack king penguins (twice the size of the gentoo penguin in the photograph) that were entering the sea from a rookery on the island. — The Economist, "Leopard seals share their suppers," 17 Aug. 2019 Virtually all the sea lions seen in the rivers and bays of the West Coast are males; most females stay near the rookeries. — Sallie Tisdale, Harper's magazine, "Catechism of the Waters," 10 June 2019 Just beyond the rookery, nearly three dozen orcas circled relentlessly. — Author: Paxson Woelber, Anchorage Daily News, "Trekking into the storm-battered, golden beauty of Adak Island," 17 June 2019 The declining water level revealed a land bridge connecting an island rookery to the shore, allowing coyotes to pad across and feast on gulls and their nests. — Louis Sahagun, latimes.com, "A changing climate at Mono Lake could mean more dust storms in the Eastern Sierra — or less water for L.A.," 5 July 2018 Gaze over the gunwales and listen: There’s an egret rookery out on Indian Island. — Robert Earle Howells, SFChronicle.com, "Insider: A sea captain’s guide to Eureka," 5 July 2018 Before the fires are set, biologists and fire staff will make sure no bird rookeries will be harmed. — David Fleshler, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Prescribed fires to burn this week at Loxahatchee wildlife refuge," 3 May 2018 This weekend also marked the opening day of the heron rookery at Almond Marsh by the Lake County Audubon Society, which had its scopes out Saturday for visitors. — Frank Abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "The weather has been for the birds recently, but now we are talking spring again," 22 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rookery.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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