Locale for drones

SKY

Think of where birds and clouds are commonly found, far above the ground.

"Locale for drones" plays on the double meaning of "drones." While we often think of drones as unmanned flying machines, the word also refers to male bees—both of which are commonly found in the sky. The clue cleverly hints at the answer by focusing on where you’d typically spot either kind, making "SKY" the straightforward solution. It’s a simple but effective example of how crossword clues use everyday words in unexpected ways.