Fighter Kite flying has been a popular sport at Woodley Park and the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve (SBWR) for nearly 10 years, but it has been known to cause harm to human lives, wildlife, and the environment and, as such, has been banned in many Countries. We are urging the L.A. City Council to ban any/all kite flying activity in these areas to protect the visitors and families who enjoy the park, and protect the ONLY Wildlife Reserve here in the San Fernando Valley. 

According to a study by the National Audubon Society, kite strings can cause serious injuries or even death to birds that become entangled in them. In addition, kites can scare away birds from their nests, causing them to abandon their eggs or chicks.

Furthermore, kite flying also poses a threat to human safety as the strings can pose a hazard for cyclists and pedestrians who use the park trails.

Here are some key reasons why kite flying should be banned in these areas:

1) Fighter kite string is commonly littered in these areas. It's intentionally coated with a sharp material (such as fiberglass) meant to sever an opponent's kite string. This string consistently gets caught around trees and bushes in the SBWR, around the lake, and within Woodley Park. This string is also incredibly difficult to see and could easily be accidentally walked in to. This activity has been banned in several countries because of the danger it puts people and wildlife in. For example, in India, 3 children and 3 adults died when their throats were cut by this kind of string. 176 people were injured, and 482 birds were injured. This all happened just in the 1st two weeks of January 2023. In contrast, the first 6 months of 2022, more than 1,000 birds died and over 13,000 were injured. 

We've personally removed approx 1000 feet of this littered string just in the past 3 months.

2) This activity has no businesses being in or around a Wildlife Reserve or a family park, and should be redirected to an appropriate area for everyone's safety. 

We encourage you to Google the incidents involving this Fighter Kite string in New York, Toronto, and many other parts of the world; be warned that that the images you find will be graphic. 

We believe that banning any/all kites in this area will ensure the preservation of the San Fernando Valley's wildlife and ensure the safety of park visitors for future generations. 

Sign this petition to show that you want to continue to enjoy Woodley Park and the SBWR, maintain safety for everyone, and also give the birds a voice!

For The Birds! #ftb818

Photo credit: Michael Lynch Photography