DMD Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Over the summer, mexican free-tailed bats congregate underneath the Congress Ave. bridge (the road goes straight up to the Texas State Capitol Building) and they fly out in mass at sunset. They have offspring there (one each) and then fly back to Mexico in the fall sometime. I have seen the bats at Carlsbad Caverns. That was nothing compared to 1.5 MILLION bats underneath the bridge in Austin. There had to be at least several hundred people - maybe more than a thousand - standing on the bridge three deep the entire span and also below the bridge where we were. The Austin American Statesman (newspaper) owns the land and set it up as a free park to view the bats from. It was cool. If you have any kids and are in central Texas, they have to see it. Heck - I thought it was incredibly cool. Here are some pictures I found on the internets: Dusk looking at the bridge Down where I watched Starting to stream out The farther away they get, the more they become just a black, swirling cloud in the distance Pretty cool and free to do no less... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ABearWithFurniture Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 plus they eat a few tons of bugs every evening...thank you Lord! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Largest urban bat colony in the world. They chow down on 10 to 30 thousand pounds of insects every night. We've gone a few times; especially when friends/family are in town. We went last weekend, when my mother/stepfather-in-law were in town. Found out that August is definitely the best time to go. The bats come out both sides of the bridge and come out well before dusk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeeR Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Dude no way. They get in your hair n stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Maybe that's what is clogging the servers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retrograde assault Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 (edited) Seen em, and seen the bats coming out of Carlsbad cavern too. Also seen em coming out from under our little hotel suite in Acapulco one time years ago. Even seen a few here in the area I live in. Edited August 18, 2009 by Retrograde assault Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknrobn26 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 I was in Austin a few times, but the first time someone sugg'd we go down to the lake and watch them. We were staying at the Hyatt so a short walk. Saw the signs that read "Don't touch downed bats or guano!". We stood pretty close,but a guy who'd been there before said "Stand back about 20'.". I said "Why?". He said what is the first thing YOU do when you get up from sleeping?". I got his drift and he was right as the people close up were getting pee'd on like crazy! It was an unreal site and because it was April there were only about 500,000 there. They flowed out of there for 20 minutes or more. As I understand it, the bridge was designed for that purpose. Cool shots David, but as you know...you have to be there to get the full effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Forgot all about the bats. Not going to get any rest nexttime we finally get down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildcat2334 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Maybe that's what is clogging the servers. funny chit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby's Hubby Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Nothing beats Austin when it's ACL (Autin City Limits Music Festival) weekend. Too bad the Beasty Boys had to cancel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 If I am ever in Austin, the first trip I make is to see Darin. Dracula with wings can wait!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 If I am ever in Austin, the first trip I make is to see Darin. Dracula with wings can wait!! Well, if I don't find a job soon, I might be living under the bridge too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nogohawk Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 When I go hawk watching near Veracruz, Mexico in the fall - we head out to the country and hike out into the field where there is a cave opening about 10-12 ft wide in the ground. You can sit on the edge around it and wait until they take off at dusk - they just zip by your head as they exit the cave. This goes on for about 1 hour. You can hear them starting to exit the cave about 15-20 mins. before you actually see them - you just hear this rushing wind noise as they begin to take flight deep down in the cave. Pretty awesome stuff! I tried to count / estimate the numbers - I'd guess 250-350,000. I have a picture at home I could scan in if someone could PM me a link. Good stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 When I go hawk watching near Veracruz, Mexico in the fall - we head out to the country and hike out into the field where there is a cave opening about 10-12 ft wide in the ground. You can sit on the edge around it and wait until they take off at dusk - they just zip by your head as they exit the cave. This goes on for about 1 hour. You can hear them starting to exit the cave about 15-20 mins. before you actually see them - you just hear this rushing wind noise as they begin to take flight deep down in the cave. Pretty awesome stuff! I tried to count / estimate the numbers - I'd guess 250-350,000. I have a picture at home I could scan in if someone could PM me a link. Good stuff! No way I'd ever sit at that cave...but I would LOVE to see the pic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Bats don't just dwell under that bridge. At about 8pm tonight, I was out on a delivery and saw a stream of bats coming out of a freeway bridge by my work. Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 You can have the rabies and stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Maybe that's what is clogging the servers. I like how DMD says "back to Mexico"...like Texas and Mexico are separate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 I like how DMD says "back to Mexico"...like Texas and Mexico are separate. So where do the Cowboys play? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 So where do the Cowboys play? Shoot. More Mexicans have sat in Texas Stadium than a John Deere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Shoot. More Mexicans have sat in Texas Stadium than a John Deere. You mean Juan Deere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deathpig Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 They're only there half the year (and this half is bat season) so keep that in mind if you visit. They also tend to fly out around dusk, so you have to make sure your timing is right as well. I'd also recommend a restaraunt called the Shoreline Grill. If you go, ask for the patio seating and you can eat dinner and watch the cloud of bats fly out from the bridge. The restaraunt is just a block downriver from the Congress St. Bridge and the patio seating overlooks the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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