Austin, Texas: World's Largest Urban Bat Colony

This is really an amazing thing to see! The bats came out after the sunset and they are hard to see in the dark. If you walk across the bridge and look down to the water while standing by the street lights you will be very impressed and have the best sightings.

Amazing to see, watch from the ground before sunset and from the bridge after. Get a spot by the lights for optimal winged mammal viewing. No need for an umbrella or hat -- we went twice and didn't see anyone with either. You can also rent a kayak to watch from the water!

I loved this as a little girl and still do! Great activity for the family -- just make sure you bring an umbrella. After sleeping all day, the bats have a tendency to relieve themselves ASAP.

We were there in early October, and it was unseasonably cool with drizzle. The weather wasn't good for bugs, so it wasn't good for the "World's Largest Urban Bat Colony," and we didn't see a very good flying display. Apparently, the best time is July/August. We had a hard time seeing them, until I discovered the best viewing spot. We went onto the pathway, just under the edge of the bridge. I certainly wouldn't want to be in that exact spot during a busy flight, but no-one seemed to get guano'd while we were there.

Take lawn chairs, because departure time is said to depend upon the weather and cloud cover.

The bats coming out from under the bridge are quite a sight to behold. When in Austin it is a "must-do." However, I have one recommendation. Take an umbrella (a clear one if you have it). The first time I went, at least a quarter of the people there had umbrellas. I wondered why. But not for long. When the bats come out after a long day of sleeping, the first thing many of them do is relieve themselves. The umbrella will help you see the bats and not get an up close and personal experience with guano.