Small children chasing pigeons in the park - harmless or mean?

No, it isn't right - I have never allowed my children or GC to chase and torment any creature. Where does it end?

When we had a terrier she used to chase Squirrels in the garden, she never got close, it’s wrong to think of wild animals as pets they need their survival instincts or they don’t last long. That aside in some places Pigeons and Seagulls are a real pest, however it’s not acceptable to kick or throw stones at them (unless they are eating my cabbages)

I am with your daughter here, be kind to all living things and treat them as you would want to be treated whether human or not.

I chase the vast number of wood pigeons out of the garden constantly - I’m sick of the c**p everywhere. All they do is fly up into the garage roof and smirk at us. Definitely not scared. We have had numerous magpies for the first time this year. Not seen any baby birds like robins or blackbirds this year. Soon the only birds left will be corvids, seagulls and pigeons.

There is a difference between chasing them off for a reason and chasing them for fun as many children are allowed to do. I believe children should learn how to respect all living things. It is a difficult question though as children chase other children for fun (remember the game of “It” ?) but need to learn they cannot chase things that cannot respond. Would you encourage them to chase a dog?

DGS always ran towards the ducks and geese he saw in the park because he loved them so much and he wanted to get close and watch them and talk to them.

Does that make what he was doing OK because his motives were of the highest and were driven by his love and concern for the birds.

I think the high falutin moral discussion here is a over the top. I doubt the toddler knows or understands the moral angst the adults around him are convulsed by.

Our DGS realised in time that it was better to approach the birds slowly and carefully because then they did not fly away the way they did when he ran towards them.

Chasing birds or animals is not right but they do it themselves too don't forget - I was brought up in the country and watch Springwatch and birds and animals being chased by others. It's part of our DNA I suppose

Oh dear, we go out and clap our hands at them!

They pull up the pea plants, they poo everywhere and spend afternoons bonking on our fence. Then the babies look so sweet pecking up the spilt bird seed, your heart softens!

Better keep the dog indoors, he chases them.

Rats with wings according to a friend.

Anyone remember that Tom Lehrer song?

David49

When we had a terrier she used to chase Squirrels in the garden, she never got close, it’s wrong to think of wild animals as pets they need their survival instincts or they don’t last long. That aside in some places Pigeons and Seagulls are a real pest, however it’s not acceptable to kick or throw stones at them (unless they are eating my cabbages)

it’s wrong to think of wild animals as pets they need their survival instincts or they don’t last long.
👏👏👏

Yes. This is wrong as far as I'm concerned.
I have always thought so and never let my own children do it.

Treat animals and birds with respect.

I admit I'm happy to scare birds off food crops!

Pigeons are feral and a nuisance, but I wouldn’t have allowed my GC to chase them.

If you let them chase pigeons, they would then think it’s ok to chase other birds or animals, i.e. cats, ducks, etc.

No, I think your DD had the right idea.

Children are not very moral creatures and need to be taught morality. It seems to me to be a good idea to discourage a child in its natural urge to torment animals.

But I also try to protect them with barriers etc

I never let my children chase pigeons, if they tried I just explained it wasn’t nice to chase any wildlife, if chasing pigeons is ok, then is chasing ducks or chickens ok?

I do understand your daughter’s viewpoint.

PS I don't mean stern lectures or shock/anger. IK mean mild remarks such as " pigeons don't enjoy being chased".

Yes, of course children chase after things but if that thing is a living creature and being startled and scared by the chase then that is cruel.

The same applies to feeding wild animals food that is made for humans. Feeding ducks with bread is bad for them.

Our parish council has placed signs all around the village pond asking people not to feed them bread (and explaining why) but it doesn’t stop them doing it with their children and grandchildren. I see adults urging children to throw bread into the water even when there are no ducks there.

If they are there, the ducks will eat it and get sick. The pond stinks from the decomposing bread that isn’t eaten and develops blue algae which is toxic to animals which drink the water.

I’m tired of adults teaching children irresponsible behaviour that results in animals suffering.

I agree with your daughter. Chasing animals for fun is wrong, even if it's a long-established tradition.

I chase the foxes and the occasional rat that appears at the bottom of our garden.
I chase the magpies off the bird feeders (though not off the lawn).
I chase the pigeons that drop over my clean washing and I actually kill the mosquitoes that try to bite me.

My DGS used to chase the blackbirds that he said were being cruel to the worms.

May as well get it all off my chest now.

Thanks everyone!
Comments noted.

I agree with your daughter, scaring wildlife for fun is wrong, a child may think it is ok to scare all wildlife.

I think even 2 year olds - maybe especiallyyear olds- should learn both by example and teaching that chasing or frightening something smaller than yourself is cruel. It goes without saying that chasing anything bigger than yourself (bears for example) is unwise.
But the bottom line is that we do not want to see our little ones grow up as bullies, and chasing pigeons or chickens or small pets is a no-no.

There is a photo of me as a small child in Trafalgar Square with pigeons sitting on my arms. The birds were totally unafraid because they were used to people. In a small park they would not be and would fly up out of the way. This may not seem particularly unkind and may even seem amusing and harmless but it’s where it could lead to that dd probably has in mind if we don’t learn to respect wildlife. If you chase chickens it will put them off laying, pregnant cows and sheep can abort or worse. So we need to learn to be kind.

A toddler running after a few pigeons seems harmless enough to me. It’s just not the case that the next step will be throwing stones. A pity if the OP feels she can’t take her to the park without saying no all the time.

I would have said “that’s not kind” and “they are not hurting you” to the child.