The Bats of Austin, Texas // North America’s Largest Urban Bat Colony
The Bats of Austin, Texas
Austin’s Congress Ave Bridge is home to North America’s largest urban bat colony.
Every night, 1.5 million Mexican Free-tailed bats emerge from underneath the bridge at sunset and it is definitely an amazing sight to see.
After the Congress Ave bridge was reconstructed in 1980, these Mexican Free-tailed bats began to make their home in the crevices underneath the bridge.
This was at first met with fear and ignorance as many people called for the bats to be exterminated.
Bats are gentle and help out with the pest population, eating up to 30,000 pounds of insects and agricultural pests every night.
“Despite the popularity of the bridge bats in Austin, bats are still among the world's least appreciated and most endangered animals. Like other wildlife, bats suffer from habitat loss and environmental pollution, but persecution from humans remains a primary cause of their decline.”
Quote from Bat Conservation International
Wow, that is an incredible sight! The sunset combined with the bats makes the images very beautiful.
thats amazing i never knew bats hand out in cities. wicked.
This is officially on my bucket list now
That sight may well be worth a trip to Texas!
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nice post
Wow ! extraordinary photography
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This is new to me. It is sad how we humans degrade other living beings on earth whereas they own this place as much as we do.