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.
Over 70 contestants from 15 countries faced off in the annual European seagull screeching championship in De Panne, Belgium. 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.
This year marked the 6th time the event was held as the contest took place at a local pub that featured participants of all ages, with many dressed in seagull-themed costumes. REUTERS The event, which has become a tradition, aims at changing the image of seagulls, often seen by the public as intrusive.
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“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.
