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

I just think they all need feeding and don’t really mind what gets there first, mine all line up in the mornings for breakfast seagull first pigeons next then the magpies starlings and lastly the sparrows they all seem to get some pickings The smaller birds can come down into my over full garden but the seagulls can’t as they don’t take off upwards they need a runway and as I say my garden is fulllllll

This is a bit of a dilemma. I would stop my children (back in the day) from chasing them because it’s not kind and I would want my children to understand that.
I have no problem with my DH shooting them though!
I wonder what the pigeons prefer!

AmberGran

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.

It’s how I feel too. I think there’s no comparison between stoning swans and a toddler running after pigeons.

For what it’s worth 🐦 🔫

I saw boys stoning frogs when I was a young child, out to play. My friends ran away but I stayed and shouted at them and then thought it best rpto run home myself!

Running at pigeons? I think it would train them to react by flying away from danger.

Claremont

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.

I agree with Claremont.
Some years ago walking my dog in the park I came upon two children , a girl about 7 , boy about 9 , throwing large sticks at ducks,quite deliberately in order to hit them. No adults were present to stop them so I told them off in no uncertain terms and stood waiting with my dog until they both buzzed off on their bikes. Of course I got a load of " mouth" from the boy. What is the world coming to when children are so cruel.

My grandson is 10 and severely autistic and his favourite thing is going to the park and making sure all duck and geese are in the pond where they should be. I feed them proper duck food and he guards the perimeter making sure they don’t hope out. I make sure he’s very gentle and I’ve explained why he should be and I would be so upset if he was judged because of it. People are very understanding when I explain. It’s very calming for him.

What is the world coming to when children are so cruel.

If you read my post above yours you will see it's nothing new.

An absolute no from me.Children need to learn kindness and respect for all creatures. And I once read an article about a woman who rescued a pigeon that was being tormented by children and now raises awareness as apparently they are frequently kicked and ill treated.

Claremont

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.

Totally agree with you on this 👍

Why are people bringing up stoning, kicking or taunting, when the thread is about a 2 year old running around in a park?

I would be the first to intervene if I saw someone abusing an animal, but I just don't see this as being on the same level at all.

Allira

^What is the world coming to when children are so cruel^.

If you read my post above yours you will see it's nothing new.

Sadly, Allira.
🥲🥹😞😔

Doodledog

Why are people bringing up stoning, kicking or taunting, when the thread is about a 2 year old running around in a park?

I would be the first to intervene if I saw someone abusing an animal, but I just don't see this as being on the same level at all.

Absolutely!!
It's an over-reaction.

Ps I heard DH shouting at the pigeons this evening and clapping. They just don't learn!

Doodledog

Why are people bringing up stoning, kicking or taunting, when the thread is about a 2 year old running around in a park?

I would be the first to intervene if I saw someone abusing an animal, but I just don't see this as being on the same level at all.

Ps I mentioned stoning and said it was on another level altogether.

Doodledog

Why are people bringing up stoning, kicking or taunting, when the thread is about a 2 year old running around in a park?

I would be the first to intervene if I saw someone abusing an animal, but I just don't see this as being on the same level at all.

Quite!

Doodledog

Why are people bringing up stoning, kicking or taunting, when the thread is about a 2 year old running around in a park?

I would be the first to intervene if I saw someone abusing an animal, but I just don't see this as being on the same level at all.

Agreed- this is just an example that I remembered reading the thread- not at all the same thing. Those kids were also very young however, and the father watched and laughed. Small gravel, not stones.

Right back to another recent thread, hw do you teach children right and wrong.

Conundrum - how do you teach small children that it's wrong to chase pigeons in the park but it's ok to chase them off the raspberries and stop them pulling up the peas in the garden 🤔

70 years ago my mother was complaining about children chasing pigeons and I was never allowed to do it. She considered leaving them to get on with their lives undisturbed to be on a par with not picking wildflowers because you'd be stopping other people enjoying them.

Oh!

We used to pick primroses and bluebells.
Shocking. Not now, though.

Allira

Conundrum - how do you teach small children that it's wrong to chase pigeons in the park but it's ok to chase them off the raspberries and stop them pulling up the peas in the garden 🤔

Good question.

Where do pesky seagulls fit into this?
My DGC chase them because they eat their chips.

escaped

Where do pesky seagulls fit into this?
My DGC chase them because they eat their chips.

Oh, they're scavengers, aren't they!!

Teach her to respect all animals and wildlife.

A 2 yr old can't distinguish risks ; if chasing pigeons is fun and approved then why not chase swans; or cats in the garden, or dogs in the park.

She can't foresee any reasons not to but you can.

I wouldn't be chasing a swan 😯

Oh yes, we don't want cats in the garden either!
Poo on your own territory.

Allira

Conundrum - how do you teach small children that it's wrong to chase pigeons in the park but it's ok to chase them off the raspberries and stop them pulling up the peas in the garden 🤔

My kids learnt which things they were permitted to do in their own garden, which they were not allowed to do in the park or when visiting other homes.