The Sight To See in Austin
Whether you are visiting Ausitn or a native, there is one sight that everyone must see: The Congress Avenue Bridge Bats. I’m sure you are probably getting visions of gross rodents flying towards you and getting stuck in your hair, but that’s not quite it.
The Congress Avenue bridge in downtown Austin on Town Lake, is home to 750,000 to 1.5 million bats during the peak seasons. So how did all these bats get here and why do they like the bridge so much?
Well, bats have always lived in and around Austin because it is a prime climate for them during the Texas spring and summers. However, it was in 1980, after rennovations to the Congress Avenue brige, when they found their famous hang-out spot. The bridge has may narrow, but deep openings which are the perfect accomodations for the bats.
There are several boat cruises you can take on Town Lake to see this magnificient sight just at sundown each evening. As the bats leave the bridge to consume an estimated 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects each night, all you can see are black clouds swarming about. It really is quite the sight.
For more information you can call the bat hotline at 416-5700 ext. 3636 to find out the best viewing times each evening. Also, check out these popular places for bat viewing:
- Austin American-Statesmen public viewing area–located on the Southeast end of Congress Avenue
- Lone Star Riverboat or Capital Cruises (if you prefer a water view)
- Shoreline Bar & Grill
- T.G.I.Fridays (in the Raddison Hotel)
- Four Seasons Hotel
Here is a great video to see just how many bats come out of this bridge each night!