Rare Birds 'Playing Impact', Sulgio Fountain Hotels And Casinos In Las Vegas Stop Operating

JAKARTA - A rare bird that was allegedly targeted when it was about to migrate seasonalally, was seen in an iconic fountain pool in Las Vegas, United States and made it stop operating.

A Yellow-Leaded Loon was seen swimming in a pool in the Sulgio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last month.

"Bellagio's Fountain was temporarily suspended as we teamed up with state wildlife officials to save the Yellow-Leaded Loon, one of the 10 rarest birds in the US, which found comfort in Lake Sulgio in Las Vegas," the resort tweeted on social media X., reported by CNN April 10.

The Nevada Wildlife Department (DOW) is involved in the relocation of the rare birds.

"Be sure, our experts have determined the Sulgio fountain does not pose a danger to birds, and we have instructed hotels that the fountain can continue to operate without any risk to wildlife," NDOW wrote.

We are happy to welcome the most exclusive guests.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. https://t.co/3ENRZURDxp

— Bellagio Las Vegas (@Bellagio) March 5, 2024

We are happy to welcome the most exclusive guests.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. https://t.co/3ENRZURDxp

The teenager was caught safely the day after his appearance on Tuesday, March 6, was moved to a more suitable and remote location with quiet space, food and environment, according to NDOW's Facebook posts.

The bird appears to be in good health, according to a biologist involved in catching the bird.

"According to the biologist who oversaw the arrests, the bird was not injured and appeared to be in relatively good health conditions," Doug Nielsen, a spokeswoman for the Nevada Wildlife Department, told FOX Weather's Chris Oberholtz.

"Lion Middle-Juning is generally associated with coastal areas," said NDOW.

The yellow-shell loon bird is a migrant bird that typically spends summer in the Arctic plateau and winter along the Alaskan coast, according to Audubon.

They are considered a species of conservation concern due to its small global population and habitat limitations, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

This is one of the ten rarest species to breed regularly on the mainland of the United States, according to the National Park Service. Globally, International Union for Conservation Nature categorizes them as "almost threatened," with estimates of around 11,000 to 21,000 individuals living in the wild.

A juvenile, yellow-billed loon, generally associated with coastal regions, was discovered within the fountain at the Bellagio. This morning, biologists safely captured and relocated the loon to a more suitable and remote location where it has space, food, and quiet surroundings. pic.twitter.com/rIwepWpOkC

— NV Dept. of Wildlife (@NvDOW) March 6, 2024

A juvenile, yellow-billed loon, generically associated with coaltal regions, was covered within the fetus at the Sulgio. This morning, biologically safely captured and recovered the loon to a more sustainable and remote location where it has space, food, and Quiet surrounds. pic.twitter.com/rIwepWpOkC

Scientists have a lot of unanswered questions about the yellow-half loons, such as what they eat and which routes they take between winter habitats and breeding grounds, according to Audubon.

They know that the birds are almost the same size as the cranes and have yellow, white, green and black fur. Yellow-half LOons also have short tails and narrow wings and tapered. They are related to ordinary loons, but larger in size and live further north.

"Its large size, remote reach, and scarcity generally provide a mystery aura for many bird lovers," according to Audubon.

Even with all the mysteries around these birds, Nevada is out of its usual reach and it's unclear how or why the yellow-half bird got to the Sulgio.

Whatever the reason for this unexpected dismissal, Donald Price, a biologist at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, told Las Vegas Review-Journal he was "surprised" a loon would roam near so much human activity.

"It's strange that this bird could come to the Sulgio fountain, where there are so many people," Henderson Bird's Kurt Buzard Viewing Present told FOX5 News.

He added that this individual is a young bird and may get lost while trying to migrate to the beach, where most of the yellow-shell birds travel.

"It's really off track here," he said.

After the bird was rescued, the Fountains of Belgium resumed its regular schedule the next afternoon.