A building at the University of Oxford has been closed for nearly a week after an unusual incident involving a seagull repeatedly dropping a rock onto a glass roof, eventually cracking it.
The Blavatnik School of Government confirmed that the damage occurred last Wednesday, when the bird targeted a glass panel on the rooftop. A video captured by the Oxford Clarion shows the seagull hurling a sizeable stone onto the glass structure, with enough force to cause a break.
A spokesperson for the school stated that the building remains temporarily closed as repairs are carried out. “We hope the building will be open as normal again soon,” they added.
The distinctive four-storey structure, which cost around £55 million to construct, features a blend of rectangular and circular glass-panel designs. It houses prominent figures, including visiting professors like human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The school was largely funded by businessman Leonard Blavatnik, who contributed £75 million. Its current chief operating officer is Nicholas Joicey, husband of Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Experts suggest the seagull's behavior may stem from a natural instinct—seagulls are known to drop shellfish onto hard surfaces to crack them open, and the rock-dropping could be a similar attempt gone awry. Photo by Cmglee, Wikimedia commons.