Every evening from March through November, approximately 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge in one of nature's most spectacular urban wildlife displays. The colony, the largest urban bat colony in the world, streams out at dusk in a dark, undulating ribbon that can take 20-30 minutes to fully emerge. Watching from the bridge, the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, or from kayaks on the water is a quintessential Austin experience. The bats consume tons of insects nightly, making them beloved ecological contributors to the region.
Highlights
- ✓1.5 million bats
- ✓Nightly March-November
- ✓World's largest urban colony
- ✓Free to watch
Insider Tips
- Best viewing March-October
- Arrive 30 min before sunset
- South side of bridge for best view
- Kayak tours offer unique perspective
Features & Amenities
bat-colonywildlifefree-viewingnightly-emergencefamily-friendly