Crowd gathers for bat procession.

World's Largest Urban Bat Colony

Austin, Texas

Crowds gather nightly to watch 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats shoot out from under the Congress Avenue Bridge. Standing atop the bridge, or down below (wear a hat), visitors provide condemned mosquitoes a last meal while waiting for the bats to make their entrance.

Two thumbs up to the Austin American-Statesman for allowing the use of their parking lot, and their grass to hang out on.

Nightwing.

Across Congress Street from the Statesman stands a sculpture, "Nightwing," that celebrates the bat.

Another convenient-for-tourists (but smaller) bat colony is reported 15 miles north of Austin, underneath the I-35 underpass at McNeil Road, Round Rock. Again, wear a hat.

World's Largest Urban Bat Colony

Address:: 305 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX
Directions:: Congress Avenue Bridge on Town Lake, Austin American-Statesman parking lot on the southeast side, free parking to the public after 6 pm.
Hours:: Bats take wing just before dark, usually -- March through November.
Admission:: Free.
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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March 23, 2019