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.

I wonder if people would be so relaxed about it if the birds might fight back... bet they don't allow their kids to chase/run up to random dogs. But since the bird just flies off, it's somehow OK?

@FlyingBattie

I wonder if people would be so relaxed about it if the birds might fight back... bet they don't allow their kids to chase/run up to random dogs. But since the bird just flies off, it's somehow OK?

youre quite right. I would be less relaxed about my kid chasing a load of ostriches for example or crocodiles

Totally agree, this is the sort of thing I’d tell my DC off for if they ever tried it but then I’m an RSPB member and quite a bird lover.

@Greenrubber

I think you will find alot of kids don't need parental encouragement to chase a bird or two I've never seen a adult tell a child to chase a bird either so I reckon it's pretty uncommon But I doubt the bird is that bothered it's not like the kids can fly and actually catch them

That’s literally the title of the post… a parent encouraging their child to chase a bird. And the bird doesn’t know if the child will catch it or not hence it flies away.

And the bird doesn’t know if the child will catch it or not hence it flies away

It pretty much does. You do realise flying away isn’t a risk assessed decision? It’s pure instinct.

I saw a seagull chasing a pigeon recently - then the pigeon just dropped dead into a neighbours garden after some frantic flying.

I assume it’s heart just stopped. The seagull then swooped down and started pecking away at it, and was shooed away by the neighbour (who went off to get a spade or bin bag I assume). The seagull flew back and picked it up and flew off with it. 😳

I assume birds don’t have very strong little hearts.

@Blossomtoes

It makes zero difference to the animal whether it’s scared by a child, a car or a dinosaur. A scared animal is a scared animal.

Pigeons actually choose highly populated areas to congregate. They’re so “scared” they fly a few yards and settle again. If they were as terrified as you all make out they’d fly a mile.

They’re also vermin, just like mice. They damage structures and carry disease. Like mice. Defra defines them as such.

The double standards and hypocrisy on MN blows my mind.

No they wouldn't fly a Mile, because flight is metabolically very demanding and so a risk to future survival, so they'll minimise the flight they need to do. As already explained on this thread

You think it's fine for your child to frighten animals for fun. Many other people do not.

Where do you draw the line? Which animals is it ok to frighten and which aren't?

Interesting how no parents have answered this question.

Interesting how no parents have answered this question

They have 😊

flight is metabolically very demanding and so a risk to future survival, so they'll minimise the flight they need to do

Yet they only fly two metres and stay on the ground. Like I said, doesn’t indicate terror to me.

@WaltzingBetty

You think it's fine for your child to frighten animals for fun. Many other people do not.

Where do you draw the line? Which animals is it ok to frighten and which aren't?

Interesting how no parents have answered this question.

I think it's quite clear it's only the animals that aren't going to turn around and bite/attack their child. A lovely way to teach children it's OK to frighten those that can't fight back.

Better than 'go and play with the 192' (the bus that went down my street as a kid.

My grandma used to say “Haddaway and chase (or sometimes ‘loss’) yer’sel”

@Blossomtoes

Interesting how no parents have answered this question

They have 😊

flight is metabolically very demanding and so a risk to future survival, so they'll minimise the flight they need to do

Yet they only fly two metres and stay on the ground. Like I said, doesn’t indicate terror to me.

Has anyone said they're terrified? I haven't But they will be stressed and fearful. Otherwise what emotion do you think is driving their instinctive flight response?

What level of stress and fear do you teach your children it's acceptable to inflict on defenceless animals because it's fun?
Chasing pigeons - fine
Pulling legs off spiders - fine
Shooting a cat with a pellet gun - fine

Where's the boundary?

@Blossomtoes

And the bird doesn’t know if the child will catch it or not hence it flies away

It pretty much does. You do realise flying away isn’t a risk assessed decision? It’s pure instinct.

How would it know lol it’s called fight or flight response and it’s stressful to the animal in the same way it’s stressful in a human. It’s just not a nice thing to do end of.

My cat stalks birds, should I tell her to stop?

@MysweetAudrina

My cat stalks birds, should I tell her to stop?

🙄

People k this thread are nuts. My chd can't catch them so it's alright for them to chase and scare living things for no reason. I. A self righteous vegan so my child allowed to terrify birds because I don't eat meat.

For the hard of thinking. Chasing and terrifying another animal for kicks is not something you shoud let a child do. Yes the birds can fly away but they are both stressed and use cable calories in flying away. In winter that could be the difference between having enough energy to survive the night or not.

And there no such bird as a seagull.

No such bird as a seagull? How’s that?

There’s one that sits on the balcony of a flat opposite and stares through the window for hours on end. I wonder what it is looking at?

@toffeebutterpopcorn

No such bird as a seagull? How’s that?

There’s one that sits on the balcony of a flat opposite and stares through the window for hours on end. I wonder what it is looking at?

It's probably a Herring Gull. They're the birds that we usually mean when we talk about seagulls.

@toffeebutterpopcorn

No such bird as a seagull? How’s that?

There’s one that sits on the balcony of a flat opposite and stares through the window for hours on end. I wonder what it is looking at?

On a technicality, there are a couple of birds in a species that come under the umbrella that laypeople call "seagulls". I forget the name of the species, it doesn't matter. Seagull is perfectly appropriate unless someone is are an ornithologist.

Just as well we put some seeds out for the birdies then eh
Lure them into our garden so my DD can terrify them
Birds fly away no matter who it is that gets close to them
Like I say as a self righteous vegan my conscience is clear

We respect nature my DD was 3 when she told a boy off for stamping on ants she's is not hurting animals and wouldn't
She is not terrifying the birds!!!! 🤷‍♀️

The one that flew off with the pigeon on was bloody huge! Massive! I’ve never seen a bird eat another bird (apart from chickens - they are evil sods...).

PMSL at the idea of so many MNers tiptoeing past the seagulls so as not to disturb them 😂

Meanwhile. Has no one ever seen a working harbour? These are not timid birds! “Scare them” my arse!

Have u seen the seagull swallow the rabbit whole? I didnt think that was possible

From the OP: " just can't help but think if once women give birth and society deemed men should then look after a baby for the next 12 months, they'd instantly demand full pay for the whole period and everyone would think, yes that's reasonable. But as women we should just be grateful for any morsels we can get."

I entirely agree. The idea that stat mat pay is only 90% of full pay for 6 weeks - 6 weeks!! - and after that around £150 per week. It is a financial burden that essentially puts women in men's power - the woman just had to hope that her partner doesn't turn out to be a dick.