I have been on threads on here where some people saw no problem with their children chasing pigeons or ducks or other birds. I never let my children do this, even though I know it was a phase that lots of children go through and completely understandable.
Rasko
Most mall children do not do it to scare - they want to catch the bird, or on a more basic level, they want to see what happens when you chase a bird. They don't realise birds can suffer fear and can be harmed, so it's our job to teach them. I would not judge a child who did it. I would judge their parents.