The pelicans of 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.

When the pelicans have washed themselves, it is time to preen their feathers.

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, but also called Peter, 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.

Petros (Peter) the pelican in Mykonos town.

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.

When Petros the pelican is hungry...

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.

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

Petros, or one of the other pelicans, has booked a table for the evening.

There is some chaos when Petros (see red arrow) walks around in the evenings.

Also on Tinos there is a tame pelican that sneaks around and tries to steal food. That pelican's name is Markos and, appropriately enough, he lives in a fish shop. Once upon a time there was a tame pelican on Astypalea called Yannis. There was also a tame pelican in Plomari on Lesvos.

Markos the pelican lives in a fish shop in Tinos town.

Read about the pelican Markos on Tinos here »