The Migration Of The Mexican Bats To The Congress Avenue

The Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin invites the bats coming from Mexico. Usually during the period of March and April large number of bats, mainly pregnant female free tailed bats travels towards north to have their deliveries. They usually stay there through out the spring and summer.

The Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in the business district, Austin forms the residence of about 750,000 to 1.5 million bats during the bat watching period that is during the spring and the summer.

Bats have made Austin as their dwelling place for a long period of time after the reconstruction of the Congress Bridge over the Lady Bird Lake. It feels, Congress Avenue Bridge as comfortable because of the steep and deep opening made in the bridge.

Every day at the time of the sunset the Congress Avenue bats comes out of the bridge like a black cloud. They go around in the search of food and it is found out that they are taking about 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects.

They have their delivery by June of July and they remain hanging till the month of October after which they start their journey towards the south.

Though the Congress Avenue bats are residing from the month of March, it will be a beautiful sight to watch the bats during August as they will be flying out in search of food with their babies. It will take at least 45 minutes for all the bats to come out of the bridge. There are lots of positions around the Lady Bird Lake from where you can have a clear view of the bats. Usually they start their move around 8 to 8.30pm but sometime it may be earlier or late. You could watch the bats; way out from the side walks of the Congress Avenue Bridge moreover there are some other places for you to watch from. Austin American-Statesman public viewing place, which is in the southeast edge of Congress Avenue is another sight.

You could contact the Bat Hotline (512-416-5700, ext 3636) and get details about the bats and the time at which they will take their flight. End of the summer season is the correct time to have a watch on the bats flight. It is better for you to reach your sight little bit earlier so that you may not miss the scene if the bats take off their flights little earlier. If you decide to watch the bats from the grass meadow then don’t forget to take the blankets.

Do not touch the bats as they may have rabies. If you find any in your house or in any of your property then contact Austin/Travis County Animal Control.