Sacramento, Calif. – As more and more people are taking their drones for a spin in California's open spaces, there's concern that all these flying robots might not be so great for birds and other wildlife. After tracking reports of disturbances to wildlife and habitat arising from done ruse, Audubon California decided to co-sponsor legislation that will require the state to create rules for drone use in state wildlife areas. The bill, Assembly Bill 2148, is authored by Assembly Majority Floor Leader Chris Holden.

“One of the biggest threats to birds is human disturbance of nesting, feeding, and roosting sites, and drones only extend our reach even further into the natural environment,” said Brigid McCormack, executive director of Audubon California. “We’re talking about protecting a limited number of particularly sensitive areas that have been set aside to benefit wildlife and for the enjoyment of people who enjoy wildlife.”

The bill provides the National Resources Agency the ability to develop regulations regarding drone use on about 1,000,000 acres of publically managed lands in California. By requiring the development of a unified regulatory system, AB 2148 strives to create a cohesive, statewide system of rules governing the use of unmanned drones on public lands.

The regulations could include conditional use or outright prohibitions when necessary to protect the safety of wildlife, natural habitats or visitors.

“There’s no denying the rapidly increasing number of drones in public spaces,” said Assembly Member Holden. “Now is the time to take preventative steps to protect California’s wildlife and natural habitats before it becomes a problem.”

The proposed legislation comes as the federal government is continuing to review the use of unmanned recreational drones. The National Park Service banned the use of drones over its properties in 2014, and the Federal Aviation Administration is still in the process of creating a regulatory framework for drone use in public spaces.

About Audubon California

Audubon California is building a better future for California by bringing people together to appreciate, enjoy and protect our spectacular outdoor treasures. With more than 150,000 members and supporters in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of the National Audubon Society.

More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.

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