ANIMALS
Bellagio Fountains Paused After Rare Yellow-Billed Loon Gets Lost And Settles In
Bellagio Las Vegas
The famous fountains of the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas temporarily stopped flowing due to a visit from a rare yellow-billed loon.
We are happy to welcome the most exclusive guests, the Bellagio Las Vegas posted on social media Tuesday. The Fountains of Bellagio are paused as we work with state wildlife officials to rescue a Yellow-billed Loon.
The rare migratory bird is considered to be one of the 10 rarest birds that regularly breed on the mainland U.S., according to the National Park Service. The yellow-billed loon is listed as an international species of concern.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, yellow-billed loons are fish-eaters that breed on lakes in the arctic tundra of the U.S., Canada and Russia from June to September. The species typically winters in the southern coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean, or the Norway and North Seas.
The bird that made his home at the Bellagio fountain is believed to have come from the nearby Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, southeast of Las Vegas, after birders spotted it there last month.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife is monitoring the bird, hoping it will leave on its own when it doesn’t find any fish in the fountain. Despite requests for rescue, wildlife officials believe it would be better not to agitate the bird, and wait for it to realize there’s no food.
“Were just going give it space,” agency spokesperson Doug Nielsen told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Hopefully, itll say: Gee, Im not finding anything swimming in here, so I probably need to go.”
Kurt Buzard with the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve told FOX5 that the bird appears to be young, and is probably confused and a little frightened, which may explain why it got lost in the fountain.
“Its really off-course here,” Buzard said. “Very unusual to see a bird like that here. And unfortunately, it landed in two places without proper nutrition.” He said the bird would ideally find its way to Lake Mead, where there are fish to eat.
TMX contributed to this article.
