BETA
Chapter 1
The bat bridge phenomenon
Chapter 2
The birth of Keep Austin Weird
Chapter 3
The blue dot in a red state
Chapter 4
Music, festivals, and quirky landmarks
YOUR GOAL
Master of Keep Austin weird
Ch 1 · The bat bridge phenomenon
gertrude Austin Bat Bridge
At dusk in Austin, a sight to behold, A million bats from Congress Bridge, a story told.
gertrude Austin residents initially feared the bats, but conservation efforts turned them into a beloved attraction.
gertrude A 1980 bridge reconstruction accidentally created the perfect concrete crevices for roosting bats.
Fun Fact
Bat appetite: The Congress Avenue Bridge bats eat up to 15 tons of insects every single night, acting as nature's ultimate chemical-free pest control.
Glossary
roost (noun)
A place where birds or bats regularly congregate to rest or sleep. In 1980, reconstruction of Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge accidentally created an ideal concrete roost for migrating bats.
A place where birds or bats regularly congregate to rest or sleep. In 1980, reconstruction of Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge accidentally created an ideal concrete roost for migrating bats.
Quiz
In what year was the Congress Avenue Bridge remodeled, accidentally creating the perfect bat habitat?
Quiz
How wide are the concrete expansion joints under the bridge that the bats sleep in?
Quiz
Approximately how many pounds of insects can the Austin bat colony eat in a single night?