Chasing birds in a park?!

[peanutmandmss]

How frowned upon is this?
Running through a flock of pigeons id not get too worked up about, chasing and scaring a bird continually is different.

It’s horrible. The birds think they are in danger, even if it’s not the case .
Plus they aren’t there to entertain children

Why do you ask? Agree with your post. I'd educate said child not to run at pigeons after the first instance if it were mine.

I absolutely don’t understand people letting/encouraging their children to chase birds. It is wrong and harmful. How can you help a child become empathetic if they’re getting the message that it’s fine to scare defenceless animals?

Pavement Soup 😂

It's awful , I cant understand why parents would allow it. It is not hard to teach them not to.

Thanks @Soubriquet [shocked]

Lovely. Obviously you're the type of parent who is oblivious as their little darling chases defenceless animals. Then every time the poor birds settle the kid runs at them again. I really have to bite my tongue when I see this happening and the parent just letting it continue.

This

I hate seeing this.

It’s horrible. The birds are scared. Passers by might be. Just so little Timmy can be a little toad.

Quite a stretch.... I didn't say anything about letting my kids repeatedly run at birds. The odd time I honestly wouldn't care though.

They are bloody pigeons.

As an aside, I never knew so many vegans were on mumsnet. Or when it's factory farming, does animal suffering not count?

Meh. I can’t get worked up with the odd startling of pigeons tbh. I wouldn’t encourage my child to run over and scare them, but if they are kicking a ball around and the ball goes that way and they chase it, or run to the swings, and just happen to veer too close to some pigeons startling them. Not going to care over much.

It’s good practice for the pigeons to keep their survival instincts because next time could be a loose dog or cat actually intent on doing them harm.

The pigeons in our park will practically eat the food out of your hand - they are afraid of nothing. I didn't mind when my kids were toddlers and they'd waddle into a flock of them.

The pigeons would land about two metres away. I'm definitely not getting in a flap about it .... ooooh

Yes I view a toddler waddling in their direction and scaring them as very different to a slightly older child deliberately running at them.

Deliberately running at a group of pigeons is ok?

Because animals are there to entertain your child? Because you think it's fun for a child to worry animals? Because they're "just" pigeons so deserve to be used as a toy?

Aren't you being mean and disrespectful to toads here?

I hate it and massively judge parents who allow their children to do it.

Had to laugh the other day at a brat being allowed to chase the ducks at the lake opposite my flat. The little darling fell in! Lots of screeching from its inane mother who up until that point had been engrossed in her phone.

Its incredibly poor parenting to allow it. I judge out loud if I see it.

Chasing birds or anything in a park is mean, I’m forever (politely!) saying don’t chase the birds. Completely unnecessary to scare them & the parents should be stopping them!

I would always tell people’s kids off (kindly) if I see them doing it. It’s not ok and teaches a lack of empathy.

My children get told off if they chase birds and id judge any parent who allowed it.

Thinking about it....if it were pesky food snatching and intimidating seagulls, I'd completely support!

It's an unnecessarily cruel thing to allow children to do.

However I was amused at someone letting their 'darling' child run up to the geese in an effort to scare them like they had the ducks.

The geese were the victors in that particular instance...which is another reason not to condone this behaviour. Even the meekest of animals can attack when faced with fight/flight - if you're daft enough to provoke something like a goose then you'll definitely come off worse!

When I see kids running at birds deliberately I always view them as little shits with rubbish parents who can't be bothered to reach them basic respect. Sorry. Harsh but true.

Teach them. Although reach them probably also works.