Sep 4, 2023
Bats in flight. Austin, TX.
Millions of bats fly out for miles every night during the summer from their roost in Congress bridge.
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Bats in flight. Austin, TX.
Millions of bats fly out for miles every night during the summer from their roost in Congress bridge.
Austin - New Road Trip 2024
My next American trip is less than 48 hours away. I am super excited and actually have a night near Heathrow Airport to be able to be in Terminal Three and through security for the 08:10 departure to Dallas. Accompanied by my daughter for what has become an annual adventure since she was at Summer Camp and I would fly out and meet her for a holiday. We will be using MPC ESTA for the first time…
Day 9 - Austin
Day 9 – Austin
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South Congress Bridge Bat Watching Guide
Austin is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. Around 1.5 million Mexican Free-tailed bats live under the Congress Street Bridge from March to October emerge at dusk in a breathtaking display.
Austin's bats migrate every spring from Mexico and have made their home under the Congress Street Bridge by the thousands since 1980. Primarily female, the bats come to Austin to have their pups, usually in early June. They remain in residence under the bridge usually until mid-October, and each night they leave their roost to forage on the mosquitoes and flies and other bugs of Austin and its environs.
The bats normally emerge just before sundown and fly east to hunt for insects in the Colorado River valley. The south sidewalk of the Congress Bridge is my favorite spot. While other views are available, the Congress Bridge lets you see the columns of bats as they fly east down the river. The bridge vantage point also avoids the odor which can be intense. Arrive about an hour before sundown to claim a good spot. Also, take the time to read the education signs in the small park on the southeast bank next to the bridge.
See the Guide: https://www.austinbats.org/plan
The A to Z Guide to Bat Season in Austin, Texas
Austin is located right in the heart of Texas and is a very historic city. The weather is usually mild in Austin throughout the year and there are a number of activities that take place in Austin that you can enjoy.
One of the most unique and celebrated attractions in Austin is a naturally occurring phenomenon and costs absolutely nothing to enjoy. The 1.5 million Mexican Free-tailed bats that live under the Congress Street Bridge from March to October emerge at dusk in a breathtaking display. This nightly (almost) occurrence can be viewed in a number of different ways and is the kind of event that makes living in or visiting Austin so memorable.
Mexican Free-Tailed are medium-sized insect-eating bats. They are very fast flyers reaching speeds of 60 mph. They are also long-distance travelers often migrating up to a thousand miles between central Mexico, Texas and beyond.
Link to favorite Austin bat watching guide: https://www.austinbats.org/plan
Bat Watching Guide Austin Texas
Most people associate Austin, Texas with the outstanding music scene and industry that is there or the "Longhorns" of the University of Texas at Austin, however, there is something else incredible that resides in the heart of the city and that is a colony of over 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats.
This is the largest urban population of bats in the world. Every evening these Mexican Free Tail bats surface to seek out insects and bugs. This curiously attracts 100,000 viewers annually. After harboring under the bridge for the summer, spring, and fall months, the bats head toward Mexico in the winter, which is even a more amazing site to see. I highly recommend watching the bats whether you live in Austin or are just visiting.
Plan your Visit: https://www.austinbats.org/plan
Austin Bats - Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Austin is filled with many great attractions to satisfy a variety of interests. One of the most unique and celebrated attractions in Austin is a naturally occurring phenomenon and costs absolutely nothing to enjoy. Austin's amazing population of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats is one of the most unique aspects of an already exceptionally unique city. The congress street bridge in Austin, Texas is home to over 1.5 million bats.
Austin's love affair with those delightful little bug-eaters is epic, and is celebrated every year with a bat-tastic festival held right on the Congress Street Bridge, while the honorees sleep below.
Learn More: https://www.austinbats.org
A Detailed Guide to Bat Watching in Austin, Texas
Austin is a great city and has many wonderful attractions, but one is a bit different than what you one might usually expect in a city. The Congress Street Bridge in downtown Austin is home to the world's largest urban bat colony. More than 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tail bats make their home under the beams of the Congress Avenue bridge. People gather every night at sunset from spring to fall to watch the bats emerge and fly off into the sunset.
Austin's amazing population of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats is one of the most unique aspects of an already exceptionally unique city.
This guide talks about the bats and the experience of being there when they all "wake up" and fly out from under the bridge by the hundreds of thousands for their nightly insect hunt.
Plan a Visit: https://www.austinbats.org/plan