Four Bat Watching Tours of Austin

This post contains affiliate links. See affiliate disclaimer here.

Every year International Bat Night falls on the last full weekend in August, which means for 2019 it’s August 24-25. (And in case you’re wondering. Yep. This is one of the things I have listed on the Weird Holidays & Observances page.)

What is International Bat Night? Let’s take  look.

A Bit About Bat Night

It started in Europe in 1997 to draw attention to the threatened bat populations. It’s now garnered worldwide support and is hosted by conservation organizations.

Bat Appreciation

There are actually a lot of “bat” days throughout the year.

• Bat Appreciation Week is the first full week in April
• Bat Appreciation Day is on April 17.
• Then there’s a whole Bat Appreciation Month in September.

Them bats get a lot of love!

 

Best Place to See Bats

For the best place to see bats in the U.S., head to Austin, Texas. Specifically, the Bat Bridge, a.k.a. the Congress Avenue Bridge. 

From late March to early Fall, the bats put on a free nightly show starting at sunset. Visit Austin says the best bat viewing is at the Statesman Bat Observation Center, adjacent to the bridge.

However, many also line up on the bridge itself. Still others want to make it a more “active” experience. Some find a place to watch along the Butler Hike & Bike Trail, while other “aquatic adventurers float around under the bridge” on kayaks, canoes, water bikes and paddle boards.

But there’s yet another way to experience Austin’s bats…on a tour!

Bat Tours

Clever tour operators have come up with some really fun ways to see both the bats and some of Austin’s other notable sites. There’s even a ghost tour!

Some are more active than others, like the biking and kayaking ones. But all sound fun, and all are also available through Viator.

Check them out. Which would you take?

Austin Bat Watching Bike Tour

Congress Avenue Bat Bridge Kayak Tour in Austin

Congress Ave Scavenger Hunt and Bat Tour

Our Famous Ghost and Bat Segway Tour

Why Are Bats So Batty for That Bridge?

Are you like I was and wondering, “Why Austin? What’s so special about it that bats like so much?”

The Mexican Free-Tailed bats that call the Congress Avenue Bridge home for about six months each year migrate from Mexico. In 1980 the bridge was renovated in such a way that it created an ideal bat cave. One the bats were soon attracted to and have now fully embraced.

As have the locals. They love their bats.

I have not yet personally witnessed them, but I hear it on good authority that watching the nightly bat migration is exhilarating and awe-inspiring. And that you’ll fall in love with the bats too once you experience the magnificence of the “winged nocturnal” beauties.

Check-In

Have you been to Austin’s “Bat Bridge” and seen their nightly flight?