The pelicans temporarily settle in the Ciénaga de Chapala, in the municipality of Cojumatlán de Régules, on the Michoacan side, a region with deep-rooted Purépecha traditions. This is where Petatán Island is located. In the lake, different colonies have been sighted that, together, concentrate up to 20,000 specimens in a single season. The pelicans arrive at Lake Chapala in December to spend the winter before taking flight in March to the north anticipating the arrival of spring. Lured by a succulent feast of leftover fish, American Pelicans arrive each year from Canada to Lake Chapala in western Mexico. Here they spend several months before starting their journey north again.

The local people affectionately call them „sheep pelicans“ because of their thick white plumage. The beaks and legs of the females are yellow and of the males, orange. Females lay up to three eggs per season. Both parents take care of incubation.

Source: https://youtu.be/ArXAR01XD6o

The inhabitants consider that subsistence through agricultural activities would be impossible, because the spaces for planting fruits or vegetables are limited, while the arrival of birds from Canada only occurs between the months of November and March, which It is when the income of the families that have their “changarritos” or offer food and treats to visitors picks up.

Fill in the blank: Lake Chapala is the temporary settlement of the pelicans, that come all the way from Canada. The local people affectionately call them _________.

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