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Drone Rules for Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge
Kirwin, Kansas (KS)
• United States
702 E Xavier Rd, Kirwin, KS 67644, USA
Lat: 39.6544 • Lng: -99.1733
Rules Edit History: Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge
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Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 8:36 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Kirwin NWR with whooping crane Central Flyway spring stopover, Bureau of Reclamation dam buffer, and zero-tolerance policy context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's role as a primary stopover for whooping cranes during spring migration enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | USFWS prohibits drones on Kirwin NWR. The Kansas reservoir refuge is a primary stopping point for whooping cranes during spring migration on the Central Flyway. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 21c63956-2892-452c-9836-b22729da0ba0 |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Kirwin NWR, Kansas **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for whooping crane. ### Airspace / Site Context - Whooping cranes stop at Kirwin Reservoir March-April during northward migration from Aransas NWR to Wood Buffalo NP (Canada) - Salina Regional (SLN) Class D is ~75 NM south; Concordia Municipal (CNK) Class G is the nearest local airport - US Bureau of Reclamation manages Kirwin Dam; dam structure is critical infrastructure with 500-ft no-fly buffer ### Key Rules - Whooping crane stopover (March-April): USFWS zero-tolerance no-drone policy during confirmed crane presence; contact refuge office for daily crane status - Bureau of Reclamation dam: 500-ft no-fly buffer from dam structure independent of USFWS refuge rules - USFWS Special Use Permit required; whooping crane presence triggers Whooping Crane Recovery Team involvement in permit review ### Source - USFWS Kirwin: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kirwin
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+ ## Drone Rules - Kirwin NWR, Kansas + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for whooping crane. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Whooping cranes stop at Kirwin Reservoir March-April during northward migration from Aransas NWR to Wood Buffalo NP (Canada) + - Salina Regional (SLN) Class D is ~75 NM south; Concordia Municipal (CNK) Class G is the nearest local airport + - US Bureau of Reclamation manages Kirwin Dam; dam structure is critical infrastructure with 500-ft no-fly buffer + + ### Key Rules + - Whooping crane stopover (March-April): USFWS zero-tolerance no-drone policy during confirmed crane presence; contact refuge office for daily crane status + - Bureau of Reclamation dam: 500-ft no-fly buffer from dam structure independent of USFWS refuge rules + - USFWS Special Use Permit required; whooping crane presence triggers Whooping Crane Recovery Team involvement in permit review + + ### Source + - USFWS Kirwin: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kirwin +