A European import with a distinctly Victoria flavour is set to once again ruffle some feathers and shatter the usual calm of Beacon Hill Park.
Migrating back to Victoria for a second time is the Scream Like A Seagull contest, which challenges bird lovers of all ages to throw back their heads and show off their best impression of the much maligned and misunderstood bird.
Hosted by Rocky Point Bird Observatory Society (RPBO), the contest is one many events planned for World Migratory Bird Day celebrations May 9, which kick off Victoria Bird Week, May 10-17.
“Last year we threw it in as a last-minute thing, we didn’t expect it to blow up as much as it did,” said Simone Littledale, RPBO education chair.
The contest is inspired by the increasingly popular annual European Seagull Screeching Championship in Belgium, now in its sixth year.
This year’s showdown in the Belgian coastal town De Panne attracted more than 70 people from 15 countries, with Norwegian entrant Carine Gronholz, soaring to victory with a near-perfect score.
Like the European contest, Littledale hopes the Victoria event will challenge the negative stereotype of gulls, which are often painted as noisy pests, waiting for the perfect moment to swipe food from your hand.
“They get a bad rap, but they are survivors,” she says. “They’ve adapted to live in the very difficult conditions that we’ve given them.
“A lot of bird species couldn’t hack it in the city, so being able to manage that is impressive in its own right.”
Gulls are also intelligent and beautiful birds, she adds.
“We think of all these white birds that we love – swans, pelicans and doves – and we’ve got this very lovely white bird that we see every day and yet it’s associated with trash and garbage.
“But they’re beautiful, especially when you see some of them getting into their breeding plumage, they’re pretty spectacular.”
Beyond the squawks and laughs, the contest also serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges facing birds. Many bird populations are in decline, including some gull species.
“Our bird numbers are dropping at a pretty precipitous rate,” she says. “Some families more so than others, but gulls are included in that.”
New for this year’s contest will be a panel of three celebrity judges, including reigning Scream Like A Seagull champion, Virgin Radio host Johnny Novak – leaving this year’s competition wide open for hopefuls.
As for the identity of the other two judges, Littledale is keeping her cards close to her chest, but she says they are well-known local names.
“I did send an email to Canadian rapper bbno$ and Pamela Anderson, but they did not respond,” she adds with a laugh.
For aspiring squawkers, Littledale recommends using the Merlin or eBird mobile apps to listen to the different calls of the many gull species found in Victoria.
“And don’t be nervous, everyone’s going make a fool of themselves at some point in their life, so why not do it on purpose,” she says.
“Scream with your full chest because if you half-ass it, it’s not going to sound as good as if you just really go for it.”
One person who won’t be taking part is life-long birder and Victoria resident Pieter Poll.
“No, I don’t think so, I probably wouldn’t do very well at it,” he says when approached by Victoria News at Cattle Point.
But while he might be keeping his impression to himself, he shares Littledale’s passion for the gull.
“I think a lot of people call them seagulls and think of the problems they cause,” said Poll. “But if you look a little more closely, you’ll be quite fascinated by them – and we’re blessed to live in a place where we have a huge variety of gull species to enjoy.”
One standout is the Bonaparte’s gull, which Littledale ranks as her “favourite bird today,” whose unique “goblin screech” could make it a great candidate for wannabe impersonators.
“It’s kind of like when you see someone and they’re really attractive and then they have like a terrible laugh,” she says with a much more gentle chuckle.
RPBO’s Scream Like A Seagull takes place Saturday May 9, at 12:30 p.m., near Beacon Hill Children’s Farm. World Migratory Bird Day events run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information about RPBO and their upcoming events, including Victoria Bird Week, visit: rpbo.org.
READ MORE: Feather in his cap: Victoria man’s seagull screech soars above the rest.