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?

The ones in Holland Park are territorial and will run up to you and bite you. The black squirrels in Toronto too.

The ones in our local park have been fed so often that they will climb into pushchairs looking for food! You can hand feed them, they will pick peanuts out of your hand with their little paws (we don’t, but I’ve watched people doing it)

And even if I am wrong, and I’m willing to hold my hands up if I am but I don’t think I am because sparrows don’t play in the way that we view play, what I said earlier still stands - species chasing each other for whatever reason doesn’t mean it’s okay for human to chase them. It doesn’t make it any less scary or stressful.

Dogs play but can still be terrified by an unknown human chasing as they get scared due to their own life experiences.

Birds playing is not relevant. And I still don’t believe sparrows play chase. They chase for other reasons.

Not from the pigeon’s point of view though. It’s either cruel or it isn’t.

Well I do see a problem. Firstly, why on earth do kids need to chase birds? Answer - they don't. Secondly, by allowing children to chase living creatures the parents are telling their kids that it's OK to cause distress to other living creatures. They are basically saying that other living species are just play things or toys for their amusement. Surely you can't agree with that?

To be fair most of the parents I see who think this is funny are straight out the benefits office and wearing pyjamas. So I guess we've got a long way to go as a species ourselves.

I’m not sure a toddler chasing a pigeon in the park means he will be terrorising the local town when he’s older but I’ll stop him nevertheless. I’m sure you don’t believe me but despite this obvious faux pas I am a good parent and he does have boundaries!

Ok I think we can respectfully agree to disagree. I genuinely think sparrows play. Whether or not that is just my subjective opinion who knows. Have to pick up dc now. It's been an interesting debate. And please do be reassured my feral children won't be hurting any animals!

By a complete stranger? So if I ran at your small children completely out of the blue while they were quietly eating their food, shouting at them and chased them away from their family group, they wouldn't be terrified? Bullshit.

They don't know that the children can't catch them or wouldn't hurt them.

Don't teach your kids that it's OK to frighten those smaller than them for entertainment. Just leave them alone. Why would you raise children to think that's OK?

As so often, the first answer nails it! Thank you. Being pursued is very stressful, whatever your species. I can't believe the OP couldn't work that out for herself.

Sounds like an average day at soft play! Can barely get mine to sit still long enough to eat because he wants to run around with the bigger kids!

Interesting that people are parroting that pigeons 'aren't the brightest'

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/oct/26/pigeons-smart-ai-learning#:~:text=A%20new%20study%20has%20found,news%20and%20even%20save%20lives.

Pigeons are intelligent animals.

🫶🏻

Speckled Jim, there’s a good pigeon.

Other children at a soft play are

A) Not 20 times bigger than them.
B) There for the purpose of playing and expect to chase and be chased
C) Speak the same language or at least are capable of communicating in some way if they don't like it.

Don't be obtuse. They aren't playing with your child, they're being harassed by them.

It is an instinct in a lot of animals and birds to run away/fly away if they are being chased.

I don't know just how intelligent pigeon are and neither do you. They may be incredibly intelligent or incredibly thick. Either way little brats should not be chasing them.

It is an instinct in a lot of animals and birds to run away/fly away if they are being chased

sure. And that doesn’t imply they are frightened or suffering in any way. The subjective experience of suffering comes from the fear/ perception of harm.

Research suggests that pigeons are pretty intelligent.

We were at universal in Florida and there was a mother duck with ducklings and a man had picked one of the ducklings up, the mother duck was going bananas. Now perhaps he was from a country/area where they go in for a bit of duck bothering but how bonkers.

serial killers usually start out being mean to animals so that’s one to think about.

They're beautiful, highly intelligent birds. The ones we feed know us. There's a few highly distinctive looking ones we see on a regular basis. They fly straight to my hand.

That is interesting. I assumed they were not very bright just because of the ones we have in our garden and garage.

They build the most useless of nests. A couple of twigs sometimes and then their eggs fall out. If the eggs do hatch quite often one or all of the babies fall out.

They also seem to like building their nests low in our tree or in our garage so very easy for a cat to get to them.

Also they flew into our windows so often that we put net curtains on them so they could see there was something there. No other birds flew into the windows, only pigeons

My cat probably fits those criteria and she likes being chased too, and often instigates it!

A couple of weeks ago I was at a NT place that has a large lake and various birds. A couple with small children were letting them chase the birds, they ended up having to rescue them from a swan who took exception to their little game !

@Skinthin

"My children enjoy being chased . Literally one of their favourite things. I’m shocked by this thread. I’m a vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare. I really don’t think pigeons being chased are enormously distressed or fearful of their life. They fly off and then straight back again. Children are slow and clumsy and don’t have a hope in hell of catching a bird that can fly."

You're a vegetarian and passionate about animal welfare and yet you think it's fair game to let human beings treat living creatures as play things? Sorry, but you are either very confused or very deluded. I don't know what part of animal welfare exactly you're passionate about, but I would have thought that not chasing living creatures for fun was a pretty basic tenet!

Pigeons are intelligent animals.

They build utterly shit nest's though

Pretty sure if a random adult ran at children in an agressive manner or with a weapon they wouldn’t like it.
it’s context and a feeling of safety isn’t it?

But small children aren’t running at the pigeons with aggression and a weapon?

but I would have thought that not chasing living creatures for fun was a pretty basic tenet!

well, no, because chase is a perfectly ordinary, fairly ubiquitous , harmless and often enjoyable animal and human behaviour.