Did the Yellow-Billed Loon that Landed at Bellagio Pay the Resort Fee?

Did the yellow-billed loon that landed at Bellagio have to pay the resort fee?

Yes. Of course it did. But Bellagio accepted bird currency in lieu of greenbacks: three feathers and a worm.

Interestingly, and this wasn't reported widely, but we heard it from a surveillance agent, a blue-footed booby also visited Lake Bellagio, earlier this year, but didn't have to pay; boobies are comped and that includes the resort fee.

Seriously, this story made a splash, so to speak, a few weeks ago, when a single lonely yellow-billed loon, rarely seen this far south and east, touched down in Lake Bellagio. These loons are among the 10 rarest birds that regularly breed in the U.S. and are found mostly in coastal areas in the far north of Alaska, Canada, and Siberia, especially in the summer when they breed and raise their young; when they do venture farther south in the winter, they stay mainly along the coast of British Columbia, though some make it as far south of Baja. That's still on the coast.

When this particular bird was spotted in Lake Bellagio, the Nevada Department of Wildlife received a number of calls, but initially determined that it would "monitor the situation" and allow the loon to move on under its own power when it realized that the "lake" was manmade and had little of interest food wise. In the meantime, Bellagio turned off the fountains to keep the bird out of danger.

When the feathered friend, later identified as a youngster, showed no signs of flying off, wildlife biologists trapped and relocated it to a remote undisclosed location. They speculated that the loon, which had been spotted at the Henderson bird preserve, a 140-acre wetlands slightly southeast of Sam Boyd Stadium, a week or so earlier, had gotten off course on its long trek back to the Arctic.

Hopefully, it found its way and is winging northwest as we write.

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Comments

Donzack Mar-27-2024

Was it

Just a homeless migrant?

William Nye Mar-27-2024

Thanks

Appreciate this story, very interesting.  Glad the Bellagio was willing turn the fountains off!  Would be interesting to know how the Wildlife people were able to trap the bird?

O2bnVegas Mar-27-2024

our bird

In our neck of the woods, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is sought by nature lovers.  Said to be extinct, yet said to be seen on rare occasions.  The sightings are often disputed, so not sure if one (or more) has actually dropped/flown in from time to time, at least in the last several decades.

Very interesting about the loon.  Another factoid about Las Vegas and Bellagio that would go unknown if not for the wonderful LVA and QoD, and whomever sent in the question.  Thanks, all!

Candy

Tim Soldan Mar-27-2024

Speaking of Loons

Whatever happened to Kevin Lewis? He used to comment on nearly every question. I would like to have seen whatever his wisenheimer response to this question of the day. Kudos to Bellagio for turning off the fountains and not charging a resort fee to the bird.

Kevin Lewis Mar-27-2024

Tim, buddy

I had no idea that you would be traumatized by my not responding to this question or that you so eagerly awaited daily spiritual fulfillment by reading my answers to the QoD. I apologize for my neglect, but you have to be aware that I don't respond to every QoD. And it's "Weisenheimer," a German term, just like "Arschloch."

David Miller Mar-27-2024

The Insulting Meaning

  What is the meaning of the word arschloch?
neuter noun (vulg) 1. ( lit) arsehole (Brit sl), asshole (US sl)

John Mar-27-2024

Mr. Lewis

While Mr. Lewis and I have widely varying political opinions, I would enjoy having a beer or two with him.  He has an interesting take on Las Vegas life and knowledge about the town that I would enjoy.  As well as a sense of humor.  I always enjoy adding to my repertoire of naughty foreign words!

I had not seen him comment of late and was actually growing concerned about him.

Glad you are still around Kevin!  Seeing how today is International Whiskey Day, I will pour one to your health.

AL Mar-27-2024

[humorous reply]

Some people in New Joyzee [New Jersey] are asking:
"Why wouldn't a boyd go to Boyd Stadium instead of Bellagio?"

Question of the Day - 27 March 2024

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