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 a very good thing for birds to learn to fear humans and stay away.

Literally😂

Sorry I don't believe the pigeons I'm sharing my local environment with, are scared by children running at them. I think they are moving out of the way because they can.

And they often return to where they were. Same when my dog goes nuts barking at them. They move to a slightly higher place in the garden. Who knows if they're 'scared'.

I'm totally against taunting or treating animals badly. But I'm finding some of the answers on here a bit precious tbh. My kids have run at pigeons occasionally but I would stop them more because I don't want to dive bomb other people by pigeons taking off all at once. The pigeons can take care of themselves.

It's about using the birds as entertainment for the kids which is the issue. Not whether they can fend for themselves etc.

We don't approve of animals in circuses etc so why is it ok to use chasing pigeons as a way to entertain a child?

Best comment so far 😁

Reminds me of The Good Life where Barbara says "you toad" to Tom.

We don't approve of animals in circuses etc so why is it ok to use chasing pigeons as a way to entertain a child?

A child running up to group of pigeons once , maybe twice ( the pigeons would be gone then ) is hardly " using them as entertainment ". More like a fleeting occurrence that I can't get worked up about.

And no I wouldn't want to see an animal spending it's life in a circus either but to put both those things in the same breath seems a tad performative to me.

Frankly I think you underestimate pigeons.

I don't understand why parents let their children do it. It's cruel. Not funny.

It is important to teach children to respect living creatures.

Yes they can fly away but why the hell should they have to. I have seen children run at them time and time again and the idiot parent says nothing

Well, what is the reason for the child running up to the birds, of not to be amused by their reaction?

What reason do they have that would be ok? And if it's ok once or twice, why isn't it ok every single time?

Because pigeons are vermin.

Seagulls depending where you live are as well.

Ducks, geese, swans, black birds, robins, parakeets and other birds are not.

I won't get fined for feeding these other birds by my local council or BTP but can fined for feeding pigeons (and sea gulls).

My council, national rail and the Mayor of London don't roll out measures to stop these other birds, but do use hawks, spikes, netting and other measures to deter pigeons.

Not as much vermin as humans are in my opinion.

Pigeons are still living creatures and no little brat should be allowed to chase them for fun

This thread made me wonder about something related to this. Question to everyone: AIBU you tell somebody's else's child off when they run through a flock of birds that you are feeding?
Our park encourages feeding ducks and off water birds living next to the lake (you can get special food for them there).
I often take my toddler there and we feed them, but often find some other kids running into the birds as soon as they gather to eat and scaring them.
I don't really know it's ok to tell them off if their parents are not reacting?

I have told children off whether I am feeding ducks/birds or not. I just say something like "it's not nice to chase the birds".

Only once have I had a mother have a go at me

All these things are true IMO:

• Pigeons are vermin
• seagulls can be aggressive
• kids running at/chasing birds is not cool

To add, you're more likely to be a psychopath if you found pleasure in upsetting animals as a child.

Me too, they can fly away so aren't in danger. Wouldn't even cross my mind tbh.

Those stating anything is vermin and therefore deserves to be tormented/harmed are just showing how incredibly deeply unpleasant they are and how their own children are likely to be the same if they follow their parents.

It's not "upsetting animals".
Things move near birds. They fly away. It happens. Don't be ridiculous.

Thank God, a sensible post!

Yes because a child who chases pigeons tortures all animals. 🙄

Your post is exactly why some people think all MN posters are batshit and why the media pick up on threads.

Only absolute twats let their kids run at birds.

The real issue is that people are feeding ducks and other birds with bread, causing malnutrition. People need to be educated

@AllThingsServeTheBeam Indeed. Seems there are a fair few of them sadly.

If you let your children chase living things for fun then you are a crap parent. Pigeons are highly intelligent and branded as ‘ vermin’ to make people feel better about being cruel or shooting them.
yes I am judging you if I see your brats harassing a creature for kicks.