While assembling this guide, we discovered that new bat-related programs and exhibits are continually being developed all over North America as more and more people discover the wonder of bats. Unfortunately, this good news means that although we have compiled a list of the majority of bat-related facilities from the U.S. and Canada, we cannot claim to have the complete list. (We had to draw the line somewhere or we might never have gotten this book printed.) More sites will be added in the second edition of this guide, and we would appreciate your help in gathering information about them. (See instructions under "After you Return," page 13.) Inclusion in The Vacationer's Guide to Bat Watching does not constitute an endorsement by BCI. Readers are encouraged to call or write each site to research their relative merits before visiting.

Please be aware that the wild bats listed in this guide are mostly small, insect-eating species, since this is the dominant type of bat living in North America. You can see more exotic bats, such as vampire bats or large flying foxes and other fruit-eaters, in captive care at zoos or similar facilities, many of which are also listed in this guide. If you are interested in viewing these exotic bats in the wild, BCI offers specialized bat-focused tours all over the world. Please see page 95 for more details.

Location

Congress Ave. between First St. (Cesar Chavez) and Riverside Dr. in downtown Austin, TX.

Mailing address

: c/o Bat Conservation International (BCI)
P.O. Box 162603
Austin, TX 78716

Phone

Bat-watching hotline: 512-416-5700, category 3636 or call BCI at 512-327-9721

Fax

:512-327-9724 (BCI)

Open

Not an actual facility. Bats live under the bridge from spring through fall, and it is a favorite local pastime to watch them emerge at dusk.

Admission

Free.

Special programs

Thursday through Sunday evenings from June through August, a bat interpreter is at the bridge to answer questions and hand out brochures. The interpreter can be found at the Bat Observation Center on the southeast side, on the lawn next to the Austin American-Statesman building.

Bat viewing

:Approximately 750,000 female bats come to roost in the crevices on the underside of the bridge each year from March through October. In June, each of these bats gives birth to a single baby, which doubles the population. When the entire colony leaves the bridge each night to feed, the emergence is a spectacular sight. The best viewing time is late August, when new bat pups join mothers in flight, often well before sundown. The time of emergence is usually just before sunset, but it can vary greatly; call the hotline above for an estimate.

Species

Tadarida brasiliensis