From KEYE, April 28, 2009...
Every spring our Mexican Free-tailed Bats return by the thousands to once again call the Congress Avenue Bridge home. And every spring visitors flock by the thousands to witness their massive sunset flights. But a disease could threaten our bat populations in the years to come.
“So far this die off has exceeded our worst nightmarish expectations, it has never been seen before ever on the face of the planet,” Tuttle said.
And seeing fewer bats also equates to seeing more bugs... Way more!
“Just our bats under the congress bridge consume over 30 thousand pounds of insects on an average night,” Tuttle said.
Read more...
Showing posts with label Bats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bats. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Bats preparing for fall migration
From statesman, September 24, 2008...
Central Texans might find winged visitors in unexpected places over the next several weeks as most of the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge begin their annual migration to Mexico.
The bats will roost for a few days in places that are usually bat-free as they move through the Austin area and other parts of Central Texas, said Barbara French, a biologist and science officer for Bat Conservation International.
Read more...
Central Texans might find winged visitors in unexpected places over the next several weeks as most of the 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats under the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge begin their annual migration to Mexico.
The bats will roost for a few days in places that are usually bat-free as they move through the Austin area and other parts of Central Texas, said Barbara French, a biologist and science officer for Bat Conservation International.
Read more...
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hill Country bat colony puts on a wild show
From Star-Telegram, Septempber 7, 2008...
You’re standing just an arm’s length away, so the breeze generated by the beating wings is the first thing to startle you as the waves of little brown creatures begin careening into the waning daylight.
We have come to the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area, about a dozen miles from town up an undulating Hill Country road, to see the nightly emergence of Brazilian Free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), a Milky Way of bats, 3 million of them pouring in a thick, fluttering stream into the deep-blue evening. These are the same species of migratory bats, often called Mexican Free-tailed bats, that swarm out from under Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge, but watching them take wing in the limestone hills, from a much closer perch, makes for a far more sublime nature experience.
Read more...
You’re standing just an arm’s length away, so the breeze generated by the beating wings is the first thing to startle you as the waves of little brown creatures begin careening into the waning daylight.
We have come to the Old Tunnel Wildlife Management Area, about a dozen miles from town up an undulating Hill Country road, to see the nightly emergence of Brazilian Free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis), a Milky Way of bats, 3 million of them pouring in a thick, fluttering stream into the deep-blue evening. These are the same species of migratory bats, often called Mexican Free-tailed bats, that swarm out from under Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge, but watching them take wing in the limestone hills, from a much closer perch, makes for a far more sublime nature experience.
Read more...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
"Rabies Exposure Warning" In Effect In Central Texas
From KEYE, September 3, 2008...
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is sending out a "rabies exposure warning" to all Central Texans.
Most cases of rabies in Texas happen in September and October.
Central Texas has plenty of high risk animals including bats skunks, raccoons and coyotes. Austin is home to one of the largest urban bat colonies. Roughly 1.5 million bats live under the Ann Richards Congress Ave. Bridge.
Read more...
The Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department is sending out a "rabies exposure warning" to all Central Texans.
Most cases of rabies in Texas happen in September and October.
Central Texas has plenty of high risk animals including bats skunks, raccoons and coyotes. Austin is home to one of the largest urban bat colonies. Roughly 1.5 million bats live under the Ann Richards Congress Ave. Bridge.
Read more...
Monday, August 25, 2008
Bat Fest officially set to go
From News 8 Austin, August 21, 2008...
It's official. The Bat Fest will take place this year.
On Thursday the Austin City Council approved the waivers needed to close down the street needed to hold the festival.
Instead of being held on the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, the festival will take place at the South First Street Bridge.
Read more...
It's official. The Bat Fest will take place this year.
On Thursday the Austin City Council approved the waivers needed to close down the street needed to hold the festival.
Instead of being held on the Ann Richards Congress Avenue Bridge, the festival will take place at the South First Street Bridge.
Read more...
Monday, April 7, 2008
Leander High Shows Bats The Door
From statesman.com April 4, 2008...
About 250 Mexican free-tailed bats temporarily turned Leander High School's performing arts center into a bat cave last week.
The animals were discovered after school officials noticed a single bat flying around inside two weeks ago.
Read more...
About 250 Mexican free-tailed bats temporarily turned Leander High School's performing arts center into a bat cave last week.
The animals were discovered after school officials noticed a single bat flying around inside two weeks ago.
Read more...
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