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

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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Thanks everyone!
Comments noted.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

But I also try to protect them with barriers etc

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.

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.

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

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.

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.
👏👏👏

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?

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