Congress Avenue Bridge, S Congress Ave, Austin (South Austin), TX 78704
I was walking across the Congress Avenue Bridge one evening and I saw a huge crowd of people on the bridge and more under the bridge. More people were on kayaks and boats.
I had stumbled upon the famous Austin bat bridge. People were hoping to see the Mexican free tailed bats that are part of the largest urban bat colony in the country. The bats nest under the Congress Avenue Bridge. You can hear them if you go under the bridge.
The bats are usually seen during the spring and summer about 30 minutes before sundown. They’re more likely to be seen when the weather is warm and dry. Most of the colony migrates to Mexico in October or November.
I didn’t see any bats but I love the idea that people love the bats and their emergence. I did see a bat statue somewhere downtown. I went back another night and saw a few bats, not many.
You'll have a better chance seeing them from the south side of the bridge, across from the downtown north end.
Check https://austinbatrefuge.org/congress-avenue-bridge/ for the predicted time of the next bat flight and recent sightings.
5 out of 5 stars
By Lolia S.
