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

Wood pigeons Allira as opposed to feral, shot I expect.
The apex of our roof is above our bedroom, it’s either pigeons or magpies having an early morning catch-up, at the same time they multi task and leave a deposit right outside the patio door. Bleary eyed bin visits are discouraged from the slippery mess until it’s been sluiced down.

Did any of you play tig as a child ? Chasing your friends ?
I hated it , I couldn’t run so I ended up as “ it “every time
But the pigeons just flutter up and return

Growing up in the countryside means you often see 'nature red in tooth and claw'. Our GS has seen pigeons and pheasants being plucked and prepared for the pot, likewise rabbits. He's been known to collect skulls and other bones he finds while out for a walk with his papa and the dog. At one time we had a 'skull tree' in the garden.
The first time my own children met one of our Labrador puppies (who had been bred by a gamekeeper), he took us into a barn to meet the pups, only to see several deer hanging from the rafters.

No, they are shot, on shoots. It is not only grouse and pheasants that are shot for sport and consumption.

Personally I prefer my pigeon breasts well cooked, but, in seson I do buy them and cook them slowly in a rich red wine sauce. Whole pigeins I stuff and cook in a similar fashion.

I think ours are wood pigeons, looking at pictures of the two.
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When I was a child, my Grandfather used to shoot wood pigeons for the pot.
We were always advised to look out for any pellets that might have been missed when eating them.