To add to Bill's queries and comments, there is an article in the April 2017 issue of the Auk: The feasibility of counting songbirds using unmanned aerial vehicles Andrew M. Wilson, Janine Barr and Megan Zagorski - Ron Ronald A. Canterbury Associate Academic Director University of Cincinnati Department of Biological Sciences Cincinnati, OH 45221-0006 Voice: 513.556.9570 Mobile: 513.237.7791 E-mail: [log in to unmask] ________________________________________ From: Ohio birds [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Bill Whan [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2017 11:49 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Regulation of drones I don't know how drones are regulated in Ohio, and seek some information. Are there statewide rules, and might they be applied in different areas for different purposes? One major concern involves public property--refuges, parks, etc. I would appreciate a way to learn more about how these devices may lawfully be used there, and how their impact on wild birds is recognized and regulated. For example, could a hunter--or an armed birdwatcher--be justified in shooting down a drone that's disturbing protected wild birds? Can jackasses dive-bomb duck flocks with drones just for kicks? More helpfully, might drones easily be used to more accurately census certain bird populations? Seems to me this is not a major concern...yet...but it's not hard to envision some problems. Here on my expansive Columbus estate we have always shielded our nude bathing behind the bougainvillea hedges and palm trees; while neither we nor peepers have seen any rare waders drone intrusion is obvious. Seriously, it is worth looking at the impact drones might have on bird populations--such as migrant waterfowl--even though they allow us to more accurately assess their overall numbers. How are raptor numbers affected as well? Drone counts are very handy, but can be sloppy; even raptors might be spooked by drones! I imagine the effect of drones on bird presences has been studied, and I'd like to see results. Why wouldn't censuses from satellites be more helpful? Who's going to inform us about these devices? Just a few half-baked notions as food for thought, and an invitation for more, Bill Whan ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Please consider joining our Society, at www.ohiobirds.org/site/membership.php. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: listserv.miamioh.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]