- The kid’s got a talent, you have to admit that.
It’s that time of year again. By which we mean it’s time to compete in who screeches the most like a flipped-out seagull.
No, we’re serious.
The fourth annual Seagull Screeching Contest took place on April 21 in the town of Adinkerke in Belgium. This more or less illustrious event has grown with each year and this year’s contest attracted competitors from far and wide, including England, Portugal, and Sweden.
You might’ve expected seasoned seagull squawkers (if they exist) to snatch the victory, but the audience was in for a surprise. The competition’s overall champion was first-timer Cooper Wallace, a nine-year-old boy from England.
Not only did he win, but he trounced his competition. Cooper scored 92 points out of 100 — one of, if not the highest score ever awarded in the history of the Seagull Screeching Contest.
He squarely defeated not only his peers in the Juvenile category but also the adults in the single and group categories. And it’s no wonder, as gull costume-clad Cooper virtually transformed into a seagull on the contest stage, even swooping in for some fries held by his sister.
Mr. Wallace, Oddee sends you our most sincere congratulations on your achievement!
The Seagull Boy Rises
It’s a bit surprising, however, that Cooper likes seagulls. He could very well be afraid of them, as the encounter that sparked his interest in the birds was on the negative side.
When he was a bit younger, Cooper got pecked by a seagull. It wasn’t after his digits, though, but the tuna sandwich he was eating.
So, you could see how some kids might’ve become terrified of gulls. But not Cooper, although he does have a healthy respect for the birds.
“Sometimes they can be a bit scary and I’m still a bit wary of eating at the beach, so that’s why I eat in a small tent,” he told the BBC.
Instead of being afraid, Cooper wanted to become Seagull Boy following the bite. You know, like how Peter Parker became Spider-Man.
He dedicated himself to becoming the hero of his dreams. That said, he never figured out how to turn into one, but at least he taught himself to sound like a seagull.
And he’s really good at it. Even his mother, Lauren, admits her son has a talent (although we’re certain there have been times when she wished he wasn’t practicing).
“People would start to turn around and look for the seagull,” she said, describing her son’s skills.
The family found out about the Seagull Screeching Contest from a stranger who overheard Cooper’s imitations. He suggested that perhaps the boy should compete — and that’s what he did.
Better Than the Rest
At the competition, Cooper achieved victory with his complete seagull performance. You see, despite the name of the competition, it’s not enough for the contestants to sound like a seagull.
The vocal imitation part can award a contestant a maximum of 75 points. The remaining 25 are given based on their costume and behavior.
To win, the participants must embrace the essence of… Being a seagull.
No one has ever scored a perfect 100, which we would assume would require them to turn into an actual seagull. Cooper, however, scored a truly impressive 92 points, which is more than any contestant got in 2023, for example.
He did have some help from his family, though. As part of his act, Cooper’s younger sister Shelby held out a portion of fries (made from foam), which his brother attacked with a convincing screech.
“He managed to include several call types in his performance and each of them resembled a real seagull call in a most impressive way,” said Jan Seys, a competition judge and marine biologist.
“In fact, for me, he was not only the best of the young participants, but of all those who took part in the championship.”
The scores would agree with Seys. Against Cooper’s 92 points, Simao Joao from Portugal scored 87 in the Adults category, while a team from Anzegem, Belgium, netted 88 points in the Colony (or team) category.
Then again, what did you expect? After all, Cooper is the Seagull Boy.
As long as he remembers that with a great screech comes great responsibility. And an obnoxious volume.