heronry

American  

[her-uhn-ree] / ˈhɛr ən ri /

noun

plural

heronries

1. a place where a colony of herons breeds.

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heronry British  

/ ˈhɛrənrɪ /

noun

1. a colony of breeding herons

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Etymology

Origin of heronry

First recorded in 1610–20; heron + -ry

Example Sentences

The nests were revealed as part of the British Trust for Ornithology's annual heronry census.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2022

Carl Hawke, nature conservation adviser at the National Trust, said the larger heronry was "great news to discover".

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2022

Rooks and jackdaws sometimes take up their quarters near to a heronry, and do you know they steal their eggs, the rogues, and devour them.

From Country Walks of a Naturalist with His Children by Houghton, W. (William)

In nesting-time a heronry, as such a colony is called, is a very noisy, dirty place; for they do not keep their homes neat and nice, like the tidy land birds.

From Citizen Bird Scenes from Bird-Life in Plain English for Beginners by Fuertes, Louis Agassiz

I moved slowly through the drippling fern towards the heronry; from the little island suddenly flew forth, not the stately birds who ordinarily reigned there, but a pair of ravens.

From Lost Sir Massingberd, v. 2/2 A Romance of Real Life by Payn, James