To think kids should not chase pigeons

[greentreesdream]

I’m aware miserable bastard of the year award might belong to me but it pisses me off when I’m quietly making my way through a town or city centre and a flock of alarmed pigeons come flying towards me at eye-level.

There’s also something horribly aggressive in kids who stamp at them.

AIBU / miserable or do others agree it’s a bit of a shitty thing to do?

I appreciate its not great for the pigeons but yabu because it's just something kids do and I reckon it's harmless not aggressive. If they were chucking stones at the birds then I'd think differently but kids like the reaction of the whole flock taking off at once and then flock will land again so it can't be that alarming for them

It’s understandable that children want to chase them but it is very wrong to not stop them. It’s stressful and frightening for the birds and I can’t understand why so many parents think it’s ok. If it were kittens, dogs etc they would probably stop their kids chasing and scaring them. I hate to see it. My DGC tried to do it mainly because they wanted to get close and stroke them but I explained that it’s really scary to be chased.

I agree kids do it but then why oh why don’t adults tell them not to do it?

It’s more to do with the trauma of surrounding people in the town than pigeons with PTSD but generally speaking it’s just Not Very Nice to scare animals!

Children should be prevented from chasing pigeons (I sometimes see parents encouraging their children to chase pigeons - and other birds, which is just bizarre). Chasing birds is cruel for the birds and unpleasant for other pedestrians, as the birds fly up in alarm.

I hate seeing kids do this. It seems so mean. But I have dogs, and dogs are also assholes when it comes to chasing birds so I can't complain!

I agree OP- I’m sure someone will jump on this and tell me I’m being a sensitive snowflake, but I’ve always told DS it’s unkind to scare animals. I’ve always stopped him when he’s tried.

We were out at Peppa Pig World last summer, and a family were looking on fondly as their kids chased a couple of ducks round the tiny pond.

I agree with @Ghostlyportrait- it wouldn’t happen to cats or dogs. Presumably because the animals are ‘owned’, so parents think it would be unacceptable to chase a pet. Also, possibly because those animals are much more likely to fight back? Pigeons are defenceless 🤷🏻‍♀️

I taught my children to be kind and considerate children.

Tormenting, chasing or scaring animals, birds or any living creature is not kind.

I hate this, I thought it was just me because everyone here seems to encourage their little darlings to do it. Yeh pigeons maybe vermin but that still doesn't mean it's okay to scare them.

I hate to see it.
It teaches children that birds and animals are lesser and that you can treat them any way you see fit. A nasty attitude to have.

I hate seeing children chase them. Instantly judge the parents that they aren't bringing them up better than to frighten animals for their own amusement. That's all it is, is shit cba parenting.

I agree

Mine were told from a young age not to chase pigeons/gulls etc. My youngest still does it occasionally on the beach (gulls) but he's very unpredictable (asd) and unfortunately he does run up to them sometimes.

Only ever seems to be gulls or pigeons though. Never ducks, geese 🤷🏻‍♀️

Children shouldn't be chasing pigeons and their parents should ask them to stop. In the city centre there are a fair few pigeons that have ties missing and some just have a stump and those pigeons struggle to run then take off! I know younger children probably do it because they are fascinated by the birds but older children should know better. I am an animal /bird lover who will even if possible move bees from the pavement to greenery so they don't get trodden on!

Agree OP, I think it’s horrible and cruel to the birds. They are not lesser creatures and if I saw it happening, would immediately say something.

whole flock taking off at once and then flock will land again so it can't be that alarming for them

They take off because they are alarmed. Landing back in the place where they live doesn't mean they weren't frightened. They're prey - taking off at a perceived threat is instinct. They're not to know whether that threat is children thinking it's fun or they're going to get hurt or killed.

YANBU. I always told my kids off for doing this and they stopped pretty quickly. It's cruel to frighten animals on purpose and it's horrible to have a flock of pigeons flapping in your face if you happen to be walking past when this happens.

I also used to discourage them from being 'cruel' to their teddies when they were young - hitting, kicking them etc. I may have been taking this too far but wanted them to grow up as kind people who consider the feelings of others - human or animal - and on the whole they have.

@iklboo

whole flock taking off at once and then flock will land again so it can't be that alarming for them

They take off because they are alarmed. Landing back in the place where they live doesn't mean they weren't frightened. They're prey - taking off at a perceived threat is instinct. They're not to know whether that threat is children thinking it's fun or they're going to get hurt or killed.

It’s not about how distressing it is for the pigeons really. More the attitude it teaches the child, that you can chase an animal for fun.

Totally agree. It’s unacceptable to frighten and chase animals of any kind and parents have a responsibility to teach children that, while it’s great fun to do, it’s extremely unkind.

I don’t see a problem with a child shooing pigeons away myself. It does them no harm. These pigeons have much faster predators like raptors and cats that they evade all the time. A 4 yr old human slowly bumbling towards them is not a threat and they know it.

I’m not talking about shooing them away. Kids actually specifically go charging up to them in order to chase them.

YANBU. Animal cruelty is not ok.

They should do a longitudinal study on the minority of children who do this and the parenting that allowed it to see how the cruelty developed as adults.

Teaching children that cruelty is normal seems like something that's going to have future repercussions.

It’s not ok for children to chase any animals , likewise it’s not ok for people to allow dogs to chase wildlife .

I'm with you OP.

It may be natural, but our kids were always stopped from doing it and they know it is wrong.

I always stop my 3yo from doing it. My mum thinks I'm ridiculous for telling him not to.

I hate it, and weirdly hated it as a child. I remember being on holiday in Italy watching other kids chasing them and thinking it just seemed wrong. Why would anyone encourage chasing and scaring an animal?