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Experience the spectacular sight of more than a million Mexican free tailed bats emerging from beneath the Congress Street Bridge just before sunset in Austin, Texas. You’ll be amazed and it will be a sight you will never forget!
The best vantage point to watch these bats blanketing the sky as they fly out to hunt for food is from the water. We’ll tell you about a great tour that will give you a front row seat to this incredible natural phenomenon. And then we’ll tell you how to save money on this tour.
You’ll meet your guide at the Austin Rowing Club. Your professional guide will give you an introductory paddling lesson. No previous experience is needed.
As you paddle the water toward the bridge, you can see Austin’s impressive downtown skyline and the bridges over the Lady Bird Lake. Locals call it Town Lake.
Your guide will tell you all about the bats and what you’ll be seeing. The Congress Avenue Bridge spans Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin.
Texas has the highest bat population of any U.S. state as well as the most bat species. The Texas Legislature recognized the Mexican free tailed bat as the “Official Flying Mammal” of the state of Texas in 1995.
The Mexican free tailed bat is a medium sized bat native to North, South and Central America. Its name comes from the fact that its tail can be almost half its total length and is not attached to its uropatagium. Their ears are wide, round and large for their heads. They use their ears to find prey using echolocation.
It has the fastest horizontal speed of any animal, up to 99 mph. It also flies the highest among bats per Desert Museum and Wikipedia.
The Congress Avenue Bridge is home to the largest urban bat colony in North America. This colony of 1.5 million bats is known as the Congress Bridge Bats.
Each night the bats’ exodus takes place between 30 and 60 minutes before sunset. You’ll watch in awe as they emerge from under the bridge. These bats will form enormous swirling clouds and dancing clouds as they ascend into the night sky.
Take instagram worthy photos and videos of this incredible sight. This nightly event is the most spectacular, unusual and popular tourist attraction in Austin.
Like birds, the bats fly south for the winter. They usually arrive in early March and leave Austin in late October, after the first cold snap.
Coupon
Okay, now I think it’s time to tell you how you can save money on this tour. Book your ticket here and you can save $12 (10% discount) on each ticket. The saving will be automatic and you won’t need to enter a discount code or a promo code.