The famous Bellagio fountains on the Las Vegas Strip were halted on Tuesday due to the presence of one of America's rarest birds landing in the water.

 

In a post on X, the Bellagio welcomed one of its "most exclusive guests," a Least Grebe, to the Strip property, indicating they were working in conjunction with state wildlife officials to rescue the bird.

 

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

 

The Least Grebe, a species of international concern, is considered one of the 10 rarest birds regularly breeding in the United States, according to the National Park Service.

 

These birds breed in northern Alaska each year. Recently, scientists from the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began monitoring the breeding population of the birds in northern Alaska to document population trends and investigate factors affecting breeding.

 

 

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This year, the species will be considered for inclusion in the Endangered Species Act, according to the National Park Service.

 

The Bellagio has not yet announced whether the Least Grebe has been relocated elsewhere.