Is it ok for kids to chase ducks?

[QuackersQuestion]

Today at a family attraction, there were quite a lot of ducks, and a big lake. Lots of space for kids to run around.

Two primary age kids were chasing ducks around. The parent was loosely with them, could see what the kids were doing, and allowed the kids to continue to chase the ducks. Probably for about five minutes. No contact made with the ducks, just chasing right behind.

Another member of the public came into view, with their own family. And called out firmly but calmly to the two kids "Don't chase the ducks, that's wrong". This was the only person to comment out of quite a few passers by.

The kids ran away, the parent was shocked but said nothing, the commenting member of public kept walking. No great drama.

But it got me thinking. So my question is, is it bad for kids to chase ducks - YABU. Or is it ok for kids to chase ducks - YANBU. If you don't think it's ok, would you tell a kid who was chasing ducks, to stop?

Why would it even need to be debated about whether the ducks mind or not? We can't possibly know. Surely it's just the same basic rule you'd apply to all other beings...don't interfere with them unless you know that your interaction is welcome. So, an animal approaches you, you may interact if safe to do so. Otherwise they're for looking at only, chase a ball or mummy, and leave them alone.

I wouldn’t waddle up to a shark pecking for food either.

I know all about swans and geese having grown up around them. Grew up with ducks in my back garden. And re squirrels only other week saw a girl crying in park because a squirrel had bit her. I explain animal differences all the time to my child and that he must be gentle.

My goodness, so many more concerning matters to worry about in life than turning into ducks and pigeons psychologists.

Honestly, ducks have survived, reproduced and populated in areas where children congregate. I'm sure they'll continue to do for many more centuries!

You don't know if a bird is traumatised or not. Lots of birds are pretty stupid and I am not sure they are able to think that a child chasing them is not going to hurt them.

Go sit on a quiet park bench and watch all the little sparrows in the bushes chase each other they aren't being aggressive. Plenty of birds do in a none aggressive way. Birds are very intelligent and many of them play. Many animals also play with animals of other species.

'saw a girl crying in park because a squirrel had bit her'
You mean the squirrel turn back after being chased and assaulted her? Or was she feeding it and the squirrel missed the nut and got a bit of her finger too?

Well let kids chase each other and leave birds and animals alone

If they are not able to think a child is not going to hurt them , how are they able to think a child is going to hurt them? You can’t have it both ways. People are simultaneously projecting subjective emotions onto these animals and at the same time denying they have any kind of sense/ perception/ agency.

You don't know if a bird is traumatised or not. Lots of birds are pretty stupid and I am not sure they are able to think that a child chasing them is not going to hurt them
Exactly, they react by learnt instinct and safety is primordial to them. They would have long learned through the generations that stepping in areas where kids are is not the best for them.

If food is their motivator, all they have to do is wait until nightfall!

She was feeding it and it bit her finger. I wouldn't let my child hand feed squirrels for this reason.

👍🏻

Lots of animals do play, birds don’t. You’re not witnessing play. Sparrows don’t chase for play, they chase for sexual, aggressive, food based or pecking order reasons. Sorry to burst your bubble but they aren’t playing.

Exactly. Take moorhens for example- they are alot more skittish than ducks and won't come anywhere near as close.
They hide in the bushes. The ducks have been coming near crazy kids for generations.

I don´t see the problem, as long as they aren´t touching them.

A very quick Google:

Yes, birds play, including sparrows, and play can help them develop skills and behaviors:
Social play: Birds can play with each other, and some examples of social play include play chases and object play

Not with all animals. Some animals have been known to repeatedly hurt themselves in order to get food in scientific experiments.

Not all species are built the same. Some are shy, some are bold, some are smarter than others. Same as humans.

But do you also shout at adults walking through a town square full of pigeons? Do you tell off tourists in Trafalgar Square, and tell them they should keep out and leave the flocks of pigeons undisturbed?

Adults make pigeons fly off all the time. I wouldn’t let DS chase them for a prolonged period, but if we are walking that way anyway I don’t have an issue with him running ahead - if nothing else it stops them flying up at me. They are going to be disturbed anyway, I’m not going to make a massive detour because there’s a pigeon on the pavement.

Ducks are different, because you can walk past a duck and it won’t fly off - you have to put effort into scaring it, which I agree is cruel. You just have to exist to make a pigeon fly off.

Seagulls should be wary of humans. I’ve lived in many places with aggressive seagulls, so if they get close I do try to scare them off. I don’t think you should go out of your way to chase them if they aren’t bothering you, but if they are after your sandwiches I think it’s fine to shoo them off. The alternative is they chase you.

Yes some birds play, sparrows do not.

Of you link the paper that shows sparrows play I’d love to read it. Google can be written by anyone claiming anything.

Birds don't play? Sorry to burst your bubble

There’s a difference between moving somewhere because you need to get here and deliberately chasing and frightening an animal because you think it’s fun for yourself or your child.

I clearly meant sparrows. I have said repeatedly that some birds do. Lots of corvids etc do play and are very smart.

I worked with animals for years, some play, sparrows don’t.

Literally you just wrote- I quote-

Lots of animals do play, birds don’t

im not personally a sparrow scientist but a very quick google tells me very quickly that you are talking nonsense and birds do play

I meant sparrows, it was a typo.

Nad as I said, show me the research and I’ll hold my hands up. Google is written by anyone. It just pulls up webpages.

I can’t say I’ve ever been told my parenting is terrible. There’s first for everything I suppose…I’ll be honest, it didn’t really occur to me that when he occasionally runs after a pigeon or seagull at the park it was such a terrible thing but I’ll take the advice on this thread and stop him doing if it he does it again!