Mexican free-tailed bat

4th of July fireworks – Annual spooking of the bats

For the Congress Avenue Bridge bats, the scariest time of year is 4th of July, when the annual fireworks display takes place just a few hundred yards to the east of the bridge.  The bats are emerging at dark this time of year, exactly at the time the fireworks start.  The emergence peaks around 9:30 pm this time of year, just when the fireworks are reaching their crescendo, seen in yellow on the left.
We normally see greatly reduced emergences for a number of days after the 4th.

4th of July 2016

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The Face

Hours old new-born Mexican free-tailed bat pup.

The face that gets hundreds of millions of Central Texas mums out of the roost each evening to go to work in the agricultural fields.

Check out that cute little nursing nose; like all mammals, makes it easier to nurse and makes the pups even more irresistable.

newborn Tabr use this one

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Sunrise service work – Happy Easter!

Easter Bat – 911

First thing this morning we got a call from the Austin Police Department. Our first reaction? We didn’t do it! Then they said “We have a bat in the main building downtown, can Dianne come and help us?” So, ready to protect and to serve, we saved the APD from this bat. She sure does seem ferocious!

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Releasing a Bat

I just had an amazing experience releasing a rehabilitated bat. They are so tiny! She was eager to join the party at Congress Bridge. Thanks Lee and Dianne. Your passion and love for bats is inspiring. Thank you for the great service you give to the Austin community and especially the bats!

image-1

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The Bats are Back!

Bats are Back 16Mar2016 UTC HD   (Click on link to see video)

The bats are back at Congress Ave Bridge in Austin!

2016-03-16_10-45-58

This video from last night shows 3 or 4 separate flights from the bridge before a north front sweeps in, taking most of the bats along for the ride.
The last few years the bats have made sure to be back for the South by Southwest Music Festival.

The viewing is great these days, they’re coming out well before dark.

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Valentine’s Day free-tail

Mexican free-tailed bat

It’s a Happy Valentine’s Day for this little male Mexican free-tailed bat!   He came to us from our friends at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX and he’s now flying free under the Congress Avenue Bridge, in plenty of time for mating season!

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