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

I love birds, so I would have told her not to do it and that it was unkind and frightening for the birds.

Personally I d have explained to the little girl that the birds would be frightened snd she would upset them
By letting her chase the pigeons you have allowed her to think it’s an ok game to chase any wildlife and actually although it seems innocent to you it’s the first step to being thoughtless

I m with her mum on this one I certainly wouldn’t have let my grandkids chase anything except a ball or toy
Who knows she may chase a cat next time and get scratched

I haven’t got a problem with allowing them to do it apart from their Mother saying no.
Sometimes not mentioning little things is a better plan.

Am presuming everyone avoids eating battery chickens! Gosh - they have a far worse life than pigeons living their lives being chased around in the open air.

I could understand if there had been even a remote possibility that she might catch a pigeon, but really - they can just take flight and be perfectly safe, which they know. A child chasing them might disturb their pecking at crumbs or whatever, so be a bit irritating for them, but they are in no danger.

NotSpaghetti

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

I just clapped my hands at a pigeon which was feasting on our raspberries.

No, it isn't right - I have never allowed my children or GC to chase and torment any creature. Where does it end?
Well, next I'm planning a recipe for pigeon pie.
Where will it all end, I wonder. Discouraging rats from coming into the garden

A two year old is more likely to think the pigeons want to play with her. She might be quite surprised when they fly off.

I don't like to see children chasing wildlife no matter if they pigeons, gulls or anything else. It is mean.

Children chasing birds is one of my pet peeves! It doesn’t matter what type of bird it is. There are several parks with birds that I visit and it is amazing to me that small children, in clear view of their parents, are allowed to chase them and even to try to kick them or throw things at them. Bottom line, it is cruelty to wildlife. Not OK. The younger children are taught to name, nurture and respect wildlife the better for all of us!

Well, when gulls are crashing down on your outside table at the coast, stealing your crab salad, I take it you smile and say "There you are, Sebastian, you're welcome, take your fill. I'll eat what's left."

and even to try to kick them or throw things at them.
Absolutely not.
But pigeons and seagulls threatening your picnic? Sorry. They need to keep their distance.

Am presuming everyone avoids eating battery chickens! Gosh - they have a far worse life than pigeons living their lives being chased around in the open air

Frankski yes I don’t eat any meat or fish either but to be honest it’s very different to teaching children to respect wildlife and not to want to hurt them not eating flesh is my adult choice teaching respect is another choice and obviously this little girls mums choice too
Posters are correct to say the little girl can’t hurt the pigeons they ll just fly away, but surely it’s a great lesson in respect for wildlife.
Give the child a ball

Allira, I know what you mean! A crow took my croissant from my hand on route to my mouth a couple of weeks ago! But guarding the food and shooing off wildlife is an adequate response. Is only natural they seek sources of food. No need to be cruel to them. However, I like birds, even pigeons. Just because there are a lot of them they are called vermin. This is unfair. They are quite beautiful in my opinion!

Cronesrule

Allira, I know what you mean! A crow took my croissant from my hand on route to my mouth a couple of weeks ago! But guarding the food and shooing off wildlife is an adequate response. Is only natural they seek sources of food. No need to be cruel to them. However, I like birds, even pigeons. Just because there are a lot of them they are called vermin. This is unfair. They are quite beautiful in my opinion!

My crab sandwiches and DH's icecream - stolen by a seagull.
Today the pigeons eating the garden produce.

The problem is, pigeons can have 5 or even 6 broods a year, no sooner have the fledglings gone, they're at it again on the fence. We didn't have any here at all years ago and we had a lot more smaller garden birds. Now they have declined and the pigeons, crows and seagulls increased.

Just watching Mrs Blackbird pecking up ants and spilled bird seed but if the pigeons come they'll see her off.

I would say, slow down and walk up to them slowly then you will be able to watch them and see what they are doing.

You could otherwise be discouraging one of the country's greatest bird experts, before he is out of nappies.

😁
A future Sir Peter Scott!

I totally agree with those who feel it is wrong to allow children to chase birds. I was told to 'go away' (FO) when I told a father with young children who were bothering swans, throwing small stones, the female sitting on eggs.

We can all agree pigeons can be a pain, are too numerous in some seaside towns, etc, and that it is fair to shoo away ana trying to steal food. Absolutely nothing to do with children learning that it ok to taunt animals and cause distress to animals for fun.

Throwing stones at nesting swans is quite different from a two year old rushing around a park and consequently making the pigeons fly to the nearest tree! It's on a different level altogether.

Well yes, but the same basic principle. Not telling young children that taunting animals is cruel and not acceptable.

We had our dog (a Cairn Terrier, so not sure very big dog) on his lead in a town a few weeks ago. There was a flock of pigeons strutting on the pavement nearby. Without warning, he suddenly let out a single ear-splitting WOOF! The pigeons flew off more quickly than they had probably ever flown before.

Allira

^and even to try to kick them or throw things at them^.
Absolutely not.
But pigeons and seagulls threatening your picnic? Sorry. They need to keep their distance.

Quite. Talk about a false equivalence. Throwing stones and kicking are not remotely comparable with a toddler 'chasing' pigeons, and the fact that the comparison has had to be made in an attempt to prove a point speaks for itself - the chasing (which will basically be running amongst the birds) is innocuous and cruelty to animals is quite another.

We Grans are supposed to be known for our wisdom.
I remember DGS1 running towards pigeons when he was a toddler. I warned him he might fall over and the pigeons would fly away. Well, we know everything don’t we?

It was such fun dealing with a sobbing toddler with grazed knees and not a pigeon in sight! 😂

Children should not be allowed to chase any wildlife full stop.

Very young children possibly see wanting to get near the pigeons in the same light as adults always wanting to get close to them for cuddles or “isn’t she cute” moments.

Certainly not the same as kicking or throwing stones at them and unless the many grans on here who probably ran after pigeons in their early childhood, went on to kick, or throw things at the pigeons or other animals . . .
Just a quiet “you’re frightening the birds” is enough. Or maybe keep the children confined to their pushchairs or even stay away from the park?

I never ran after any bird when I was a child I was always taught to respect birds and animals and old people and to be courteous to a policeman but not afraid to ask for help if I needed it

I think most of the young children I've seen chasing pigeons have not been intentionally chasing them but trying to get close enough to play with them.

I'll admit to chasing pigeons, jackdaws, rooks, magpies, starlings and squirrels out of the garden because while they're stealing all the bird food the smaller birds don't get a look in. I also chase them away from the table if I'm eating outdoors. I suspect I really ought to resign from the human race.