Kid told to go and chase the birds

[GOODCAT]

I don't have kids, but was at the coast this morning when I overheard an adult, presume mum, tell a young girl to go and chase the birds, said in a way that meant she was to go and entertain herself by doing this.

My own parents would have told me off for this and to be kind to other living creatures.

It always annoys me when I see kids chasing birds and their parents saying nothing, but to actively encourage a kid to do so is a first.

AIBU to find it sad that this kid was being encouraged to chase birds for no other purpose than her own entertainment.

Unless pigeons or magpies. Which eat all the bird food and/or kill baby birds. Special place in hell reserved for magpies.

Let's just hope they aren't ducks or swans. They will chase you back , which discovered one night while very drunk 😅

I hate seeing kids being vile to animals. I afraid I’ve told other people’s children off for doing it. I couldn’t give a monkeys what their parents make of it, in my eyes they’re failing as parents by letting them do it, or worse, encouraging it.

Scaring birds for fun is never acceptable

I agree with you - it's the kind of thing I'd tell my child off for.

Same as picking flowers - it's insane how many adults encourage it. For me it's just something you don't do and it infuriates me when neighbours/the postman etc talk to her about picking daisies or daffodils to take home!

I honestly think that kids chasing birds to see them fly is not a big deal. I dont think its with any intent to harm them. Kids have been doing it forever. I even saw a video of a baby elephant chasing birds

Chasing seagulls is part of being at the seaside isn’t it?

Seagulls are pretty used to humans. I doubt they will care. I also hate cruelty towards animals but I think this is pretty minor.

Agree apart from seagulls! We have all been victim of these cheeky food thieves in our family so now my youngest DD takes the role of seagull patroller so the rest of us can eat our picnic or fish and chips in peace. She's very good at it

We don’t let our toddler chase birds either. I hate seeing other kids doing it. He does stand at our back door and shout at the pigeons on the garage roof though. But isn’t allowed to chase after them.

I once saw parents encouraging their kids to chase squirrels with a stick.

I’ve also been known to say to other people’s kids “don’t chase the ducks. Dicks don’t like to be chased”…

Fuck. I meant ducks.

My dog chases birds, should I tell her to stop? I wouldn’t encourage it but I wouldn’t get involved in someone else’s child chasing birds. I think you probably just need to get over it

@Peachesandhoople

Fuck. I meant ducks.

I love that you use 'dicks' so regularly that it overrides ducks on your autocorrect. I had to type it 3 times just because I was getting autocorrected to ducks and docks 😂

I'm with you op. I think it's cruel to chase birds; you're just scaring them into flying away l. I never let dd do it when she was a toddler.

@Peachesandhoople

Fuck. I meant ducks.

Dicks like being chased ime.

Pigeons, magpies and seagulls are pests and fair game for toddlers.

The difference in allowing a dog to chase birds is that they may be able to catch them, or shove through undergrowth to destroy nests. I holidayed by a nature reserve last year (when travel was alllowed) and saw this daily, irrespective of the ‘all dogs on leads’ notices.

Offenders appeared to be mostly middle-aged motorhome occupiers.

Well my friends mother used to tell her DH to take a long run off a short pier when he was annoying her, I am sure it is just a turn of phrase.

Or...... when he was really being annoying, (he had form for it,) to go run up a down pipe, which when I was little made no sense, I could never figure out until I knew what down pipe was.

This is antisocial behaviour that some parents seem to encourage. They must think their DC is missing out on some important development if they don’t chase birds.

Yanbu at all, its encouraging cruelty. Mine were taught not to stamp on insects either, as was I.

Usually it takes 14 attempts to write fuck because it repeatedly unto corrects to duck. This time it decided to screw me

@Onehotmess

My dog chases birds, should I tell her to stop? I wouldn’t encourage it but I wouldn’t get involved in someone else’s child chasing birds. I think you probably just need to get over it

Yes because your dog is just like a child isn't it? Maybe you should control your dog too?

Hate hate hate it when I see this. Totally with you OP, people need to teach their children to respect animals and wildlife.

No creature is ‘fair game’ to be harassed by children no matter your personal feelings on them. Any twat parent that teaches their kids otherwise is breeding little pricks.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

No creature is ‘fair game’ to be harassed by children no matter your personal feelings on them. Any twat parent that teaches their kids otherwise is breeding little pricks.

Absolutely agree with this.

Chasing seagulls isn’t exactly a crime, they are used to people. I think YABU.

@Branleuse

I honestly think that kids chasing birds to see them fly is not a big deal. I dont think its with any intent to harm them. Kids have been doing it forever. I even saw a video of a baby elephant chasing birds

I agree. The birds fly away pretty quickly.