Got info on the Bat bridge thingy...

[Abel]

i remember many years ago there was a bridge that tons of bats lived in etc and then at dusk they would all fly out.

anyways.. i know its vague but does anyone have info on it... hehe

[Mongo]

Theres actually a couple of thos enow. The main one is the Congress street bridge downtown over the river. Theres also one in Round Rock. Its bridge over McNeil road. Not quite as many as the ones downtown, but theres still probably somewhere around 10,000 living in there... Wild to wach them come out at night..

[Nocturnus]

http://www.batcon.org/discover/congress.html

There ya go.. I've seen the bats off i-35 and old mcneil road before. I actully thought something was on fire (thought the bats were smoke) and drove out there. It was cool. I have yet to see the Congress bats yet...

[wedeking]

It's not open to the public, but the largest bat colony in the world, Bracken Cave, is located between Austin and San Antonio:
http://www.batcon.org/discover/bracken.html

I have a friend who works for the Bat Conservation Org. and was allowed to visit the cave about a year ago. Here's a few shots I took while there:
http://www.pbase.com/wedeking/bracken_bat_cave

I must say that both the cave and Congress St. bridge emergences are spectacular sights. I haven't seen the Round Rock bats yet, but I expect it too is a sight to see.

I did find the photo shooting conditions quite challenging. Large dynamic range difference. Fast moving objects at dusk. And at the time, a camera which didn't have a very good high ISO capability. I would love to go back someday and give it another go.

This shot is a combo of two exposures, trying to deal with the large dynamic range. (Admitedly, not that good of a photoshopping job) :D


Greg
http://www.pbase.com/wedeking

[swanny338]

thats a lotta bats, crazy

[Nocturnus]

Isn't Bracken Cave open via tours? I saw something on TV that look like that, and there was a little guided tour. You had to park kinda away and hike to it..

[wedeking]

Unfortunately, all I really know about visitation is what is posted on their website. I could check with my friend to see if that has changed.

From: http://www.batcon.org/discover/bracken.html
----
Bracken Cave is not open to the public but we do offer viewing opportunities to BCI members several times during the spring and summer months. So, if you are interested in seeing the emergence, join BCI and watch for an announcement in the winter issue of BATS magazine and this webpage for the upcoming dates and how to sign up.
----

The cave is located on a large ranch that BCI owns. It was a pretty good ways off the main road. There is a quiet zone around the cave area, so the parking area is about 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the cave from what I remember.

Greg

[lydiapenn]

the bats are under 35 at 620 and i guess everyone knows they take off at sunset. i'm not sure if they always fly in the same direction but when i've seen them they always go east. it's an amazingly HUGE cloud of bats. i mean, it doesn't really look like birds, because of the way they fly and the sheer numbers.

it's worth checking out. if you want a sunrise-sunset calendar, go to http://www.sunrisesunset.com/calendar.asp ^_^

[Gordon]

The Congress Ave bridge is a good location for bats/ people pics



Don't think this is the best time of year though.