Amazing Mexican Free-Tailed Bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin

The month of March does not just mark the blooming of bluebonnets but also the return of the famous Mexican free tailed bats to the Congress Avenue bridge. These special bats can be seen from March through the month of April not just in hundreds but in thousands. Mostly female, these bats are known to be pregnant thus explains the northern migration at the Congress Avenue Bridge. They usually stay all throughout the spring and summer as well as early days of fall.

The Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin downtown is commonly the main summer and spring home to about seven hundred fifty thousand Mexican free-tailed bats. During the peak of the season for bat watching, it is estimated that these bats can reach a number of 1.5 million. This is perhaps by far the largest bat colony in any urban area in all of North America.

It was actually after the restoration of the Congress Avenue Bridge just over the Town Lake (otherwise known as Lady Bird Lake) in the year 1880 that led these bats to think of Austin an ideal home for quite some time now. The bridge has steep and deep creases which is perfect for accommodating these bats.

Though these bats can be seen making their residence at the Congress Avenue Bridge as early as the month of March, it is actually during the month of August which is the best time view them. This is primarily because of the fact that these previously pregnant bats can be seen flying with their young for the very first time at night. This is quite a spectacle for many visiting tourists as well as Austin locals. People can see these bats exit the Congress Avenue Bridge for about 45 minutes.