T o let my son chase pigeons

[mrsruffallo]

DS loves chasing flocks of pigeons. Every time we go to the park he and his friends scream with delight as they fly away.
Woman in the park today got very angry and told me that 'pigeons have feelings too' and that IT WAS CRUEL.
Funnily enough there was something along similar lines on CBeebies the other day.
AIBU to think it's just a bit of fun?

dreamylady
There is no debate to be had. I totally agree with your post, you sound very sensible

FYI, re pigeons and disease, this is from the PICAS website:

"The PiCAS group receives thousands of enquiries every year about bird control and yet the most common question is ? do wild birds transmit diseases to human beings? The answer is no, wild birds do not transmit diseases to human beings. The likelihood of a bird passing on a disease to a human being is so infinitesimally small that it is not even worth considering."

PICAS is a pigeon control advisory service which operates nationally and internationally and is the only solely independent organisation of it's kind in the UK.

I can't believe I read this whole thread. I hate pigeons. DD is scared of them and wont walk up to them on the path, let alone charge at a flock!

We had one fly down the chimney and skitter threateningly around the living room, coating everything in chimney filth. I love my mum, but I am ashamed to say my terror led me to shut her in the room with it shrieking 'get it out! get rid of it!' whilst she tried to herd it out the window. Was the worst experience ever....but I still tried to help a sick one I found under the stairs to my manky flat. I put it in a box and released it in the woods. DH then pointed out that it was sick, and was probably hiding there from predators, so I had signed its death warrant.

Anyway, if toddlers chase them, I think they are just doing something they think is brave or bold. Not trying to be mean.

Valhala - I see your PICAS and raise you a that's bollocks that is!

You might be unlikely to catch something off a pigeon but their poo is toxic as hell and can give you nasty respiratory infections and chlamydia.

I think I'm right in saying that their poo is so corrosive that it damages buildings and that the reason they always have manky feet is because they stand in it

Yup feral girl and several constructions workers die every year because they slip on the pigeon poo and either fall or impale themselves on things

No-one has said anything positive about pigeons yet. Although (I'll kick the pigeon-lovefest off - they do taste nice in pie )

Lol, WMMChocolate I love the way you put your comment "Valhala - I see your PICAS and raise you a that's bollocks that is!"

I'll trump your remark with a quote from your link:

"Contact with pigeon droppings MAY pose a SMALL health risk"

Or, as PICAS puts it, "The likelihood of a bird passing on a disease to a human being is so infinitesimally small that it is not even worth considering".

Lol

Indeed. Much like the risk of you dying from swine flu. However I'm still waiting for you to tell me something positive about pigeons other than they are mostly harmless

I mean, mice are mostly harmless.

And don't get me started on rats with good PR squirrels.

PMSL!

Something positive about pigeons... okay...

The little fella we're hand-rearing at present is a real sweetie, comes when he's called and is very fond of DD2.

Can't fault him, apart from crapping on her a couple of times hes really very cute.

But then I'm cool with snakes and mice, used to have a couple of pet rats and don't freak at frogs or spiders either, so maybe its just me....!

I live in a thatched house - I don't have a choice but to associate with the wildlife!

You are hand rearing a pigeon? Why? Don't you have butchers were you live?

Oh bugger, that should have read "chuckling wildly", not "chucking wildly"! Sorry Chocco (may I call you Chocco?)

Hand rearing him as he fell out of his nest at circa 14 days old and would otherwise have died.

And I'm a vegetarian of some 30 odd years!

I thought the main purpose of pigeons being on the planet was so we could chase them.

Great game

valhala - call me what you like, haven't been yelled at on here for yonks!

I was a veggie for 20 years - there is a cure

Seriously, all power to you, but I find it hard to square the whole 'animal welfare' argument with removing yourself from the situation (ie there is more power to change from within by demanding well reared meat than by just saying 'nothing to do with me guv!') Incidentally I'm not having a go at you by saying this.

Another one bites the dust

PMSL WMMC!

Yes, it IS cruel to chase pidgeons. It shows a lack of respect for birds and all animals.Chasing them will frighten them and that is wrong.

Although it is not necessary to eat animals, most people eat poultry as part of their diet to keep healthy. Running after them as entertainment/for fun is very different to comsuming a bird to provide protein. Chasing birds has no purpose and teaches a child poor habits. I would never let my son chase pidgeons. Sorry, but it's wrong IMO.

yanbu, its not like he'd actually be able to catch one. Cant believe how huge this thread is and how strong opinions are over this. Only on mumsnet eh?

No problems, I'm used to far worse

I just can't accept that its okay to eat an animal so long as its been properly reared or killed. I come from a long line of master butchers so have seen the other side - its just not right to kill imho.

Anyway, if I carry on I'll create mayhem!

I can't believe this thread is still going!

LOL @ "And don't get me started on rats with good-- PR squirrels."

Here's a heart warming pigeon tale:

In October 1918, as the war neared its end, 194 American soldiers found themselves trapped by German soldiers. They were cut off from other Allied soldiers and had no working radios. The only chance they had of alerting anybody about their desperate situation was to send a pigeon with their co-ordinates attacked to its leg. The pigeon's name was Cher Ami. When released it flew 25 miles from behind German lines to the Americans headquarters. Cher Ami covered the 25 miles in just 25 minutes. The pigeon was, in fact, shot through the chest by the Germans but continued to fly home. With the "Lost Battalion's" co-ordinates, the Americans launched a rescue and the 194 men were saved. Cher Ami was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm for its astonishing flight. As with other pigeons, it would not have known where the American's nearest headquarters was - its natural homing instincts took over.

Pigeons fly at 60mph!!!???

But sod it, we've got mobile phones now, kill the lot of them.

Valhala - would be delighted to debate the virtues or not of vegetarianism but probably not here

Just to clarify though OP when you say chasing, are you talking with spears or nets or just running after pigeons. If it's the former, probably a tad unreasonable. However on the plus side, you are contributing towards their recommended hour of exercise a day. So well done you

ROFL @ wmmc

mrsruffalo to answer your question - I was a bit worried myself ! However, his point was that a plant is a growing thing, he knows what will happen if you pull its leaves off (it won't grow), so he didn't see the experiment as necessary, and he didn't want to kill the pretty plant. I suppose my initial reaction was "so what, it's just a plant", just like the reaction of many on here has been to the pigeon issue.

It hasn't generalised to him not eating plants

SGB so basically, the pigeons are flirty little minxes who are asking for it ?

Literally crying laughing..

Huge applause to valhala & whomoved - best comedic rally I've seen!

thanks so much!