Congress Avenue Bridge Bats
Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge
The world’s largest urban bat colony roosts beneath this bridge. On summer evenings, about 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats pour out.
After the bridge was rebuilt in 1980, the gaps beneath it became an ideal roost for Mexican free-tailed bats, whose numbers in summer reach 1.5 million. Around sunset, for about 20 to 40 minutes each day, the bats stream from under the bridge like a black ribbon and head east over the lake to forage.
Viewing is free. Stand on the east sidewalk of the bridge or at the Statesman bat-viewing lawn at the bridge’s southeast corner, or take a bat-watching boat on the lake (about 15–20 US dollars). Emergence times vary, so check Bat Conservation International’s daily estimates.
Opening hours
All day; best viewed at sunset
Nearby sights
- Rainey Street Historic District
- Sixth Street
- South Congress (SoCo)
- Continental Club
- Texas State Capitol
- Franklin Barbecue
- Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum