From March to October, 1.5 million bats emerge each night from narrow crevices at the bottom of the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge in Austin. They usually start flying out of their "homes" about 20 minutes before sunset.

The path on the east side of the bridge, on Congress Avenue, is the best place to watch the appearance of bats and their flight over Lady Bird Lake. The hillside under the bridge is more suitable for families with children. There you can spread a blanket and even have a picnic. However, the animals can be seen “close-up” only for several minutes and then they disappear behind the trees.

But perhaps the best viewing platform is the lake. Kayaks and canoes can be rented along the coast a few hours before the show starts.

A company called "Live Love Paddle" organizes night tours during which you can watch the bats. Guests can also take a two-hour city kayaking tour with a guide who knows all of Austin.

August is the best time to watch bats. Then the children of the bats begin to fly out with their parents. On days when the temperature rises above 35 degrees Celsius, bats go "for a walk" a little later. They wait for it to get cooler. Unfortunately, it may be too dark to see them by then. The "bats defile" can also be ruined by bedbugs. In rainy weather, their number increases. So the animals simply do not need to look for food.

You can choose the right time to monitor the flight of animals on the Bat Conservation International website. They provide a daily estimate of the bat observation time in Austin.