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

I'm in the "I think it's wrong" camp. I've been s#£t a few times by pigeons and a seagull but would still not allow a child to torment a bird or any other animal. Also a strong believer in dogs being on leads in public places. Protection for humans, wildlife and other dog owners, especially nervous dogs. I once ran up a woman waving my arms and shouting at her and she screamed at me to stop as she was "scared" . So I pointed out that my anxious dog was "scared" of her boisterous yapping cockerpoo that had zero rerecallSeemed to hit home

From some of the responses on here, you'd think any toddler who chases a pigeon is going to grow up to become a serial killer.
No, it's not something I would encourage, and I would either try to distract them or explain why it's not nice to do that - but have you tried reasoning with a two-year-old?

Allira

Oh dear, every time I see this thread I hear Tom Lehrer singing:

"Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

Before anyone shouts at me, Tom Lehrer was a satirist.

^Tom Lehrer's famous song "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park" was inspired by the City of Boston doing exactly that. The city spread strychnine-laced corn in its public parks to reduce the pigeon population^

I was going to link to that on YouTube, but given the tone of some of the posts thought better of it

Bluecat

I think it's stretching things a bit to assume that a 2 year old chasing pigeons is likely to grow up to chase or mistreat birds and other wildlife. Think of the other crazy things that 2 year olds do - put random objects in their mouths, draw on the walls, have a tantrum in the supermarket... Do you honestly think they'll keep doing those things when they're older? So why shouldn't they grow out of chasing anything that moves, including pigeons?

I agree.
Highly unlikely they’d continue, especially since as they get older they’d understand your explanation of why not.

I’d probably distract him/her at that age, especially if other children are there and doing it too.
Interesting reading the confusing answers on here, about when and where it is OK to chase e.g. OK if it’s inconveniencing us, not OK under other circumstances.

I wouldn’t allow my grandchild to chase pigeons. I get very annoyed when I see other children doing it.
We should teach our children/grandchild to respect all animals and birds. They ate not playthings!!

I stop my Grandsons from chasing wildlife. I know it can be fun for them but I don't think it's fun for whatever creature they are chasing.

I definitely would have explained that chasing any bird or animal is unkind. When I was brought up in London I was taught that if you want to see/feed any bird then stand still and it will come to you.

Pigeons actually recognise peoples faces and remember people that are nasty to them.
Ours don't.

If they were sitting right outside the bedroom window and cooing away at 4.30am, I have been known to keep a jug of water handy. The water has never actually contacted one because they fly away too quickly.

Report me to the RSPCA if you wish 😀

You in the generic sense, not you to anyone in particular, Maybee.

I fill the bird bath, the pigeons use it then turn and poo in it.

I think it's stretching things a bit to assume that a 2 year old chasing pigeons is likely to grow up to chase or mistreat birds and other wildlife. Think of the other crazy things that 2 year olds do - put random objects in their mouths, draw on the walls, have a tantrum in the supermarket... Do you honestly think they'll keep doing those things when they're older? So why shouldn't they grow out of chasing anything that moves, including pigeons?

Pigeons visit my garden, frequently. Never have to chase them as soon as I srep outsude, open a window they're off. This morning one must have been on the ground so close to the house that when I did open a window the creature upped and flew into the window. Full splatter, fell to ground but was off in a few seconds. Had to wipe the imprint off the window.

I watched part of a documentary about pigeons last night. Pigeons actually recognise peoples faces and remember people that are nasty to them. Not sure what my local pigeons think of me. I do shoo them off when they pounce on the food I put out for the smaller birds, but I also put water out for all of them ( which the pigeons poo in, along with pooing all over my patio and car). Given that they regard my garden as some kind of utopia I don’t think that any amount of shooing will make them move away. I do remember getting annoyed with some children chasing the pigeons that used to congregate round the fountain in Birmingham; I was quite young myself at the time and thought it was cruel of them. A child that thinks it’s ok to run at and chase pigeons might do the same to ground nesting birds etc. I don’t think a child should be scolded; just have it explained to them that what they’re doing isn’t very nice. I’ve looked at pigeons in a different way since reading one of Bill Baileys books in which he points out that pigeons are the most wonderful aerial acrobats. Much as I get angry with them for pooing all over my garden I do get upset to occasionally find that something has killed one of them and it’s mate is left alone. We do have a bit of a love hate relationship.

I agree with your daughter. Stressful for the wildlife and unnecessarily extends their precious energy reserves.

Is, sorry, not ^was*
He's 97!!

Oh dear, every time I see this thread I hear Tom Lehrer singing:

"Poisoning Pigeons in the Park" 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

Before anyone shouts at me, Tom Lehrer was a satirist.

Tom Lehrer's famous song "Poisoning Pigeons In The Park" was inspired by the City of Boston doing exactly that. The city spread strychnine-laced corn in its public parks to reduce the pigeon population

Diplomat

Should we all be screeching to a halt in our cars when a pigeon waddles in the road so the poor thing isn't frightened and has to fly off?! I can't believe some of the responses on here and yes my little grandson runs after pigeons in the park and they fly off to probably poop on someones windows.

Better not screech to a halt unless you’re certain the road behind is clear.
The pigeon would most likely have flown away by the time you’ve exchanged insurance details or called an ambulance for the people in the car behind you.

Well, I would never allow a child to chase pigeons or any other birds, even although it is perfectly true that the birds can just fly away.

I would also prevent a dog from chasing pigeons, and both dogs and children from chasing cats, hares, squirrels etc.

Surely, when you take a child anywhere, you are supposed to supervise said child's behaviour, and part of doing so, is stopping inconsiderate behaviour.

I am not sure whether OP knew her daughter would disapprove of the child being allowed to chase birds. If she did, she most assuredly is in the wrong. However daft we may find our childrens' rules for their children, it is wrong to allow the child to do things her parents don't allow.

No, it's not gentle, it's nasty the pidgeons dont now why they are being chased and wildlife was here way before humans.

Mean. The forgiving element is that children need educating. This was your opportunity to give her the information to let her know what is the decent and kind thing to do. The problem appears to be that you do not recognise that causing fear or pain to sentient, living creatures just for fun is wrong , regardless of who is doing it.

It depends how much you value living creatures Diplomat and yes I would always stop for wildlife on the road if it was safe to do so. We get a lot of squirrels and pheasants and most people try to avoid them.

I would have discouraged it. I don’t like to see children trying to scare pigeons. I would much prefer to see them setting a better example.

Should we all be screeching to a halt in our cars when a pigeon waddles in the road so the poor thing isn't frightened and has to fly off?! I can't believe some of the responses on here and yes my little grandson runs after pigeons in the park and they fly off to probably poop on someones windows.

Agree ith most of what jas been said here. Chasing anything is terrific fun for small childrem.

Remember, it may be the. first time they may have seen someething.

Back in the day. Mommy Deatest always gave me a short, kind, sensible view on why l should not do ssomething. I smnow 70.

She also gave me the respect and space to ask questions.

So maybe this approch will work for you.

Hope this helpful.

Yes - I agree with your daughter - your granddaughter should have been stopped from chasing the birds - if she’s not checked - she will think it’s OK to scare animals and maybe eventually it could lead to bullying. At 2 years old I’m sure she meant no real harm - but it’s best she learns sooner rather than later - that it’s much nicer to be kind! and it was a good opportunity to talk to her about why it wasn’t a nice thing to do!

I’m terrified of any birds flying near me. I think it goes back to my childhood when my gran had a budgie that used to fly into my head when the cage was being cleaned. I tend to freeze when birds are flying near me, therefore I don’t let my DGD chase the birds when we’re in the garden. When we were in Dubrovnik recently we sat down and a little girl started chasing the birds, I was completely frozen, so much so her father told her not to do it.

Aren't pigeons flying rats, or is that just in cities?