The Pelicans of Mazatlan: Walking the Malecon along Av. Del Mar every day or so, I always marvel at the behavior of those pelicans who have chosen this area of Mazatlan’s beaches to hunt and play. There are always a few that will ride at anchor outside the surf-line waitin’ for an easy lunch to swim by - but, most seem to prefer to hunt. They will cruise, wings spread, 50 yards offshore, a foot or so above the water at maybe 15 mph, when BAM! Quicker than we can say “look”, they’ve stopped, beak in the deep and lunch! Then off they fly looking for another morsel. Now, I’ve watched pelicans in the U.S., up the west coast and down the east and along the Gulf of Mexico. They usually feed in the same way, then go sit on the beach, a seawall, a piling or someone’s boat - until hunger hits and they must hunt again. That’s where Mazatl-an’s pelicans are so different. They love to fly. Maybe that’s why they are so athletic and sleek looking, with graceful wing spans of 5 feet or more - because they exercise daily. The near constant sea-breezes must encourage this love of flying for these Mexican Pelicans, as up and down Av. Del Mar they float-soar-and cruise - as soloists, or pairs or flights of five or more. Sometimes, as I watch the aerial antics, I get the sense these pelicans are rehearsing for a special show - that’s how serious these daily performances seem to be - well - The last three days of January past, we had some serious winds along the beach. On the 31st, hanging on to my hat, I wandered the Malecon to the Monument to Pulmonias, then sat on the seawall in the bright sunshine and looked around. The surf was

near calm considering the high winds, I thought, the traffic on Del Mar normal and speedy, and a few other strollers like myself on the Malecon. But! Where are the pelicans? I turned looking south past the De Cima hotel and the other two high-rises further on - then looked to the sky - and there they were - dozens and dozens of pelicans gliding, soaring, circling, diving and swooping a thousand feet up having a wild and wonderful time so it seemed to me. I watched in awe this grand aerial show - then realized why my fascination at the fun I knew these birds were experiencing. I learned at 15 the meaning of the phrase, “Free as a bird”, when I took flying lessons in gliders - (Since called sailplanes) - and soared at 5 to 10,000 feet over the mountains of So. California, the only sounds heard were my heartbeats and the wind over the wings. With that memory, I just knew the fun and excitement up there among those frolicking birds. I guess I sat there watching them for 20 or 30 minutes. In that time many of them had swooped and sailed lower along the Avenue - when suddenly I spied a flight of 4 near the Hotel DeCima coming toward me. They were in a staggered line, not a foot apart - perfect formation and total precision in every move they made. I felt as if I were watching a flight of the U.S. Navy’s, ‘Blue Angels’, in miniature, these pelicans were so perfect. Thirty feet up and over my head they went, swerving and swooping past the monument to ‘Pacifico’ and out of my sight. Whew, that was a show and a very special day - for them and me. So, next time you’re strolling the Malecon, take a seat and watch these Mazaltlan pelicans - maybe they’ll do a ‘special’ show for you, too.