Rare Bird Shuts Down Bellagio Casino Fountain Show In Las Vegas
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The fountain shows at the Bellagio have become a popular Las Vegas tourist attraction since the property opened up in 1998. Visitors line the Strip to check out the choreographed streams of water spraying high into the air and synched to music in the 8.5-acre man-made lake.
However, the shows came to a stop on Tuesday after a rare bird was discovered on the water. A loon made a stop in the lake and the fountain shows were briefly suspended.
“We are happy to welcome the most exclusive guests,” the property noted on Twitter. “The Fountains of Bellagio are paused as we work with state wildlife officials to rescue a yellow-billed loon, one of the 10 rarest birds in the U.S., that has found comfort on Las Vegas’ own Lake Bellagio.
Relocation Needed
The species is normally found in the northern regions of Canada, but spends winters in the western coastal regions of the U.S.
Officials with the Nevada Department of Wildlife were able to remove the bird from the lake the next day and relocated it to an undisclosed body of water. The department released a video on Twitter of the bird’s release with the loon quickly flapping its wings and swimming away after being freed.
Wildlife experts believe the bird should now resume its migratory trip back north. Wildlife department spokesman Doug Nielsen told the Associated Press that the juvenile bird may have altered its migratory pattern to steer clear of a storm – not simply to check out the famous fountain show, which has been featured in numerous movies and television shows.
Nielsen added that it’s not unusual for migratory birds to visit the area, although a casino stop probably isn’t usually on the itinerary. The Bellagio was able to resume the fountain shows on Wednesday.
The Strip is no stranger to wildlife with the Mirage hosting tiger and dolphin habitats for years. Casinos mixed up with wildlife made a bit of news as well in 2020 when the Waze navigation app was directing visitors to the Borgata in Atlantic City instead to a wildlife refuge 45 minutes away.
*Photos by @AlanHalaly on Twitter
