Going Batty

To fly around everywhere! Perks: To be photographed with any unique landmarks (e.g., Austin Bat Bridge, Eifel Tower).

To the Bat Bridge!
Written by Chelsea Wallace

1.5 million bats take flight from the heart of Austin...and it's not even creepy.

An army of bats pouring into the sunset sky may sound like something from the latest horror flick, but each year, thousands of people flock to Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge to see such a spectacle. Humble abode to nearly 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats, the Austin landmark stands as a popular attraction to tourists and locals alike.

The largest urban bat colony in North America feels perfectly at home in Austin from late March until early October. Each evening during these months, observers can watch in awe as these creatures of the night flock out in search of food. This dinnertime hunt creates quite a show for onlookers, resembling a dark smoke cloud spilling into the deep orange evening sky.

Like most bi-peds around Austin, the Mexican free-tail bats aren’t from here, but got here as soon as they could. The summer of 1980 to be exact, after reconstruction on the Congress Avenue Bridge created rifts beneath that unexpectedly provided the perfect roost. It’s their extended summer vacation spot if you will. Though the nocturnal flight is now a calling card of Austin’s unique character, locals didn’t immediately embrace sharing the town with these mysterious animals. It seems everyone has seen one too many scary movie.


Watch froom the bridge, or below

Many Austinites were weary of this new arrival and petitioned for the city to remove the group. Thankfully, Bat Conservation International stepped in. BCI, a local organization dedicated to the protection of bats and their ecosystems, educated the community about the gentle, often misunderstood migrants and their benefits.

The nightly bat flight provides more than just a stunning visual display; the bats provide insect relief for the area, as they impressively consume between 10-20,000-pounds of insects per night, including those pesky mosquitoes. Some consider this a simple “thank you” for hosting the bats’ way of life.

In recent years, the Austin community has made it strikingly clear how much they cherish the show at dusk. The Austin-American Statesman has dedicated an area beside the bridge for bat observation, where close to 100,000 people come to witness the memorable show each season. A bat sculpture, created by local artist Dale Whistler, sits cattycorner to the notable bridge as a tribute to the black-winged friends.

The Bat Sculpture

The bats typically begin emerging around 8:30pm. The population is at its peak mid-August. If you’re planning to take a trip down to the bridge, contact the Bat Hotline for an estimated flight time at 512.416.5700 (x3636). But don’t plan for a picnic dinner. With that many bats flying high overhead, the chances of getting guano in your ham sandwich are rather high, and the pungent smell is anything but appetizing.

Come October, the colony will make the long journey to Mexico for warmer, drier weather, and locals can only hope they continue to return each March for years to come. For those traveling through in the warm summer months, the Congress Avenue bats are a fascinating must-see. As for the locals, hot evenings mean taking a moment to appreciate the character and comfort the bats have added to the Austin landscape over the years.

Note: Although the bats are completely harmless in flight, in the odd chance that you come across a wounded bat on the ground, do not attempt to handle it.