DE PANNE, Belgium (Reuters) — Contestants faced off in the Belgian coastal town of De Panne on Sunday at the annual European seagull screeching championship, which brought together more than 70 participants seeking to produce the best imitation of the bird’s distinctive shriek.
Competitors from 15 countries took part in the sixth edition of the event.
The contest, which took place in a local pub, drew participants of all ages, including families with children, many in seagull-themed costumes. Each screech was met with cheers from the crowd.
The jury can award a maximum of 15 points for how well contestants imitate the seagull’s sound, and five points for performance.
The event, which has become a tradition, aims at changing the image of seagulls, often seen by the public as intrusive.
“When you are on holiday, you always remember the waves of the sea and the calls of the seagulls,” said Claude Willaert, the event’s organizer. “So be positive about them.”
