Pelicans in Mykonos

There have been "domesticated" pelicans in Mykonos ever since the mid-fifties. There are many stories and myths about the Pelicans, some are true, others are nice tall stories.

Today there are three or possibly four pelicans on the island, I'm a little unsure about pelican number four, he may have left the island. One of the pelicans is Petros, he has been longest on the island and he is the most "domesticated" of the pelicans. Petros has "always" existed, until the day he actually died. However, when Petros the First died he was soon replaced by a new Petros, because that is how it is: when a Petros dies, he is replaced by a new Petros.

Today's Petros has been on Mykonos for many years and he is vastly popular with both tourists and islanders. However, the fishermen in the port of Mykonos old port do not look so happy when Petros tries to steal their newly caught fish. Something he mostly succeeds in.

Petros patiently waits for food outside a tavern in Mykonos Town. The guests look pretty shocked. :-)

Apart from stealing fish in the fish market, Petros and his friends are often strolling about the alleys of the village. They do what they can to pinch food from the tables. But few seem to care, most people just think it's charming when a pelican comes by. Until that expensive fish is in a completely different throat than it was intended to be from the beginning.

There is also a pelican in Tinos that sneaks around and tries to steal food. His name is Markos. Read about Markos here.