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

So, should we not educate young children in not throwing litter down? Our attitudes are formed at a very young age ( give me a child to the age of seven and all that). You don’t have to make a big thing about it or make the child feel they’ve done something awful. Just point out that maybe the pigeon might not like it ( and remember thry never forget a face .

I don’t think anyone is saying not to educate young children.

Oh dear, I startled a pigeon today by shutting the car door. He was having a lovely time attempting to pull up one of my plants, too.

ViceVersa

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?

In my opinion, two-year olds are too young to reason with. At that age, guidance with a short explanation is the best route.
Trying to reason with a two-year old (just a baby, really), is pointless.

Allira

Oh dear, I startled a pigeon today by shutting the car door. He was having a lovely time attempting to pull up one of my plants, too.

Shocking behaviour! 😱
Although opinions will differ about whether that refers to you or the pigeon.

Well I had to brake to avoid the pigeon that flew directly towards me out of nowhere hitting my car windscreen this morning.
I did wonder if it was a deliberate attempt on the pigeon's part 🧐

V3ra

Well I had to brake to avoid the pigeon that flew directly towards me out of nowhere hitting my car windscreen this morning.
I did wonder if it was a deliberate attempt on the pigeon's part 🧐

Hope you’re OK. That pigeon obviously need a good talking to. How old was it?

Mollygo

Allira

Oh dear, I startled a pigeon today by shutting the car door. He was having a lovely time attempting to pull up one of my plants, too.

Shocking behaviour! 😱
Although opinions will differ about whether that refers to you or the pigeon.

I threw some crusts on to the lawn at lunch-time in the direction of a pigeon. A seagull flew in, nabbed them, and the poor pigeon flew away.

Allira
I don’t know how old that seagull was, but it should be careful. Pigeons remember faces, or so I’ve heard.

Hope you’re OK. That pigeon obviously need a good talking to. How old was it?

Mollygo old enough to be out on its own.
Big, and looked straight at me through the windscreen as it veered up and away 👀

Allira

Mollygo

Allira

Oh dear, I startled a pigeon today by shutting the car door. He was having a lovely time attempting to pull up one of my plants, too.

Shocking behaviour! 😱
Although opinions will differ about whether that refers to you or the pigeon.

I threw some crusts on to the lawn at lunch-time in the direction of a pigeon. A seagull flew in, nabbed them, and the poor pigeon flew away.

A seagull killed a baby blackbird whose mother I’d just put an apple out for.It swooped down, picked it up and dropped it from a height. I was so upset and blamed myself. Poor thing is buried in the garden with a little headstone . I do like watching the pecking order in the garden with the rooks, seagulls and magpies.

Our pecking order starts with Magpies, who scare off the pigeons, the blackbirds, the starlings and other birds. The tits don't seem to be bothered because they don’t feed on the grass.
The seagulls only land if I put out large chunks of bread etc.

Mollygo

V3ra

Well I had to brake to avoid the pigeon that flew directly towards me out of nowhere hitting my car windscreen this morning.
I did wonder if it was a deliberate attempt on the pigeon's part 🧐

Hope you’re OK. That pigeon obviously need a good talking to. How old was it?

It's been reading this thread.
And thought "this is Pigeon Street, how dare she drive down here. I'll scare her away".

Ps was it ok? Sometimes they slam into our windows, leaving a perfect imprint but seem to survive. I think they're trying to get away from the sparrowhawk, more scary than any two year old!

MayBee70

Allira

Mollygo

Allira

Oh dear, I startled a pigeon today by shutting the car door. He was having a lovely time attempting to pull up one of my plants, too.

Shocking behaviour! 😱
Although opinions will differ about whether that refers to you or the pigeon.

I threw some crusts on to the lawn at lunch-time in the direction of a pigeon. A seagull flew in, nabbed them, and the poor pigeon flew away.

A seagull killed a baby blackbird whose mother I’d just put an apple out for.It swooped down, picked it up and dropped it from a height. I was so upset and blamed myself. Poor thing is buried in the garden with a little headstone . I do like watching the pecking order in the garden with the rooks, seagulls and magpies.

I was walking to work one day (city centre) and a seagull swooped onto a smaller bird, snapped its neck and dropped it a couple of feet from me. It was very upsetting (and worse for the small bird!). The seagull just flew off. I could understand it it had eaten the bird, but it was violence for violence's sake.

It's been reading this thread.
And thought "this is Pigeon Street, how dare she drive down here. I'll scare her away".

Ps was it ok? Sometimes they slam into our windows, leaving a perfect imprint but seem to survive.

It certainly startled me!
Thankfully I was able to brake quite sharply so was able to avoid a collision and it flew off, more lucky than it deserved.

I had a redwing years ago that slammed into the patio door and left a very detailed imprint.
It ricocheted back and lay motionless on the patio. I thought it was dead, then it disappeared so I presume it was merely stunned, had come round and flown away.

One pigeon which slam ed into the kitchen window was being chased by the sparrowhawk. As it lay stunned, the sparrowhawk flew down, picked it up and took it on to the lawn where it pulled out its feathers then ate the rest.

Allira

One pigeon which slam ed into the kitchen window was being chased by the sparrowhawk. As it lay stunned, the sparrowhawk flew down, picked it up and took it on to the lawn where it pulled out its feathers then ate the rest.

I’ve still got a video clip of that happening in our garden. We didn’t see all the eating of course because when we rushed outside to defend the pigeon, the hawk simply picked it up and flew off.

It was horrible but fascinating.
Nature, red in tooth and claw!

Our current bedroom has french windows with those balcony bars very close to the window to stop you falling out. The window was open last night.

This morning a large pigeon with a deep gravelly voice was perched on the balcony railing sometime around 5.00am carrying on a loud conversation with a friend about a mile away.

I got out of bed and chased it way. Does this qualify me for all the pejorative descriptions given to children who chase pigeons?

Yes, they sit outside our bedroom window too. Keep a jug of water handy, Monica. The water doesn't need to connect, just the action is enough to send them off to annoy another neighbour at 5 am.

M0nica
I’m not sure if your chasing qualifies or not.

Initially, the wrong doing that caused all the furore, was carried out by a child who was unlikely to know chasing after pigeons could be called unkind.

On the other hand you, along with many posters including me, carried out a deliberate action to scare away the birds to protect your well-being.

It’s difficult . . .
But I’m sure someone soon will be along to support or decry your action.

Only on Gransnet could we have eight pages on pigeons’ rights!

Yes but it’s better than politics.😁

Only on Gransnet could we have eight pages on pigeons’ rights!

😂

But agree, much more interesting than politics ( a subject which seems to dominates this site 😑 )

I never understood where the pigeons came from on Masterchef (which they cooked pink!).
Are they specially bred or culled from Trafalgar Square and other places?