Austin’s Bat Colony & Bat Viewing
How do I see the bats?
You’ve heard about Austin’s legendary bats but you aren’t quite sure how to see them. What time of year do they come out? Where should you stand to get a good view? What time should you arrive? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. During bat season, Nitty Gritty City Tours offers Austin’s best Historical Walking tour of Downtown Austin beginning at the Capitol Building and ending at the bat bridge just before sunset, with a local guide to tell you the history of Austin’s bat colony and show you to the best spot on the bridge. Unlike other bat tours, we don’t take tours out mid-summer when the bat activity is low, we only guide tours during peak season.
Just want to see the bats without a history tour first? No problem. Below is everything you need to know to go see them on your own. We’ll start with the basics.
Where are the bats?
The bats live under the Congress Avenue Bridge. It’s right on the south edge of downtown Austin. They roost there from about February to November every year.
Will they fly over our heads? Do they bite? What can I expect?
The bats will not fly above you or over your head. They will not bite you unless you are a mosquito. They will either fly around under the bridge, or they will fly eastward into the distance if it’s very hot and dry. Depending on the weather, you may see only a few flitting about below the bridge or you may see millions flying in ribbon-like clouds from the southeast side of the bridge.
What time of year can they be seen?
There are two prime seasons for seeing them in great numbers:
End of Spring (approximately March 15 - April 15) - The pregnant mamas are emerging to feast on bugs.
End of Summer (Approximately Aug 1 - Sept 30) - The mamas and pups are emerging to feast, and the pups are learning to fly.
What about mid-summer?
In mid-summer, the bats are having babies and staying close to take care of those babies. They emerge in much smaller numbers after dark and stay close to the bridge, so it’s hard to see them.
What time of day?
The bats tend to emerge around sunset during the two prime seasons and during hot, dry weather. Do a simple google search for “sunset tonight Austin” and arrive about 25 minutes before that. When the weather is cooler or more humid, they emerge after dark.
Where’s the best place to see them?
During the prime seasons, stand on the bridge near the middle or south end looking east.
In the mid-summer or in cool or humid weather, get on a boat. From under the bridge you should be able to get a view of the few that will emerge.
What kind of bats are they?
The bats in the Congress Avenue Bridge are all female Brazilian free-tailed bats and their babies (pups).
Why are they there?
In 1980, the designers of the Congress Avenue bridge accidentally built a luxury bat maternity ward by structuring the underside of the bridge with grooves perfectly suited to house bats at the perfect temperature for birthing and rearing their young. It was an accident, but many bridges in the area are now built like this on purpose to provide maternal roosting places for the Brazilian free-tailed bats.
I did everything right, but I didn’t see any bats!
To file a complaint regarding the performance of the bats, contact Batricia Nocturna, director of HR within the bat colony. She’s presently on maternity leave, so you may have to make an appointment for several months out.
But seriously. These are wild animals, and they do whatever they want. There are no guarantees.