Definition:
(noun) The highly elevated nest of a raptor, typically built in an inaccessible location such as a cliff, mountaintop or top of a tall, isolated tree. While many birds build nests at great heights, the term aerie is generally reserved for the larger birds of prey such as hawks and eagles, particularly species that reuse the same nests year after year and add to them to create substantial structures.
Aeries are typically built in locations that offer good protection from predators and wide fields of view for nesting parents. These sites are also frequently near good hunting areas and regular thermals and other useful air currents, making them highly desirable nesting sites.
Pronunciation:
AIR-eee
Alternate Spellings:
Aery, Eyrie, Eyry
