In Pictures: Pelicans a big hope for Mexican tourist town

Petatan Island plays seasonal host to American white pelicans when they travel from northern United States and southern Canada in search of warmth and food. The birds have become a tourist attraction, and people gather on the island’s boardwalk to feed and watch them.

Updated

Published

Feb 26, 2024, 09:13 AM

American white pelicans jostle for space on Petatan Island in Cojumatlan de Regules municipality, Michoacan state, Mexico on Feb 23, 2024. The Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, as the 15kg bird is classified, is one of the biggest birds on the continent. PHOTO" AFP

Boasting a wingspan of up to 3m, the yellow-beaked bird is known for working in teams to herd and catch fish. PHOTO: AFP

A man feeding the pelicans, which would dip their pouched bills into the water to scoop up fish when they hunt in the wild. AFP

The pelicans feeding on scraps given by locals and fishermen. PHOTO: AFP

A fishing boat approaching Petatan Island. The island's residents, who are mainly fisherman, welcome the pelicans' arrival as they attract tourists from nearby towns. PHOTO: AFP

Locals leaving scraps of food for the pelicans. PHOTO: AFP

The pelicans typically breed on islands in shallow wetlands, and spend winters mainly at coastal waters, bays and estuaries. PHOTO: AFP

Pelicans and fishing boats share the waters off the coast of Petatan Island, with the fishermen often extracting scraps from their catch to feed the birds. PHOTO: AFP

Pelicans feeding on scraps left behind by fisherman. It is estimated that between one and two tonnes of fish backbones are collected daily for the pelicans. PHOTO: AFP

A fishing boat approaching Petatan Island. The fisherman say they are not bothered by the pelicans and instead, they care that the birds are well fed. PHOTO: AFP

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