BY BROOKE SJOBERG
The life of a bat Bats come home to their roosts in February, bearing and rearing their young before migrating to warmer temperatures in the winter.
The plan
Looking forward
Yawn said the suburban colony provides a bat tourism alternative closer to home and with smaller crowds. While plans are still in early stages for how the city might promote its new spot as a viewing platform for the bats, Yawn invited spectators to pull up a chair. “Bring your lawn chair,” Yawn said. “Come out, be together, and watch the bats.” While bats return to the roost en masse in Febru- ary and March, the largest emergences happen later in the summer, according to Texas Parks & Wildlife. There is a sweet spot, Mackenzie said, in March when the sun goes down later in the evening, and bats are visible against the sunset. “The numbers won’t be as big because the pups won’t be flying yet, but it’s still wonderful bat watching,” Mackenzie said. He also said as the weather warms up, bats are also less likely to find their way into homes and other structures where they cannot safely remain.
A future project to widen I-35 from Georgetown to Round Rock, which is in early planning stages, would provide increased space for bats and could facilitate population growth.
October-February: Bats spend winter in warmer climates, typically migrating to places such as Mexico. March-June: Female bats form maternity colonies and give birth to a single pup each. July: Baby bats grow and are ready to fly within five or six weeks. August-September: Baby bats begin flying by mid-August, and larger groups of bats emerge from their roosts.
Where to view the bats 1 From a distance Urban Rooftop
N. SAN SABA ST.
1
offers a view from its patio seating.
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SOURCE: TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
2 Up close
2
A city-owned pad at the intersection of McNeil Road and I-35 is available for public viewing.
“As much as we’ve changed our environment to suit ourselves, I think it’s important to recognize the wildlife that also shares this space with us,” Mackenzie said. “That’s where a lot of the magic in the world is.”
Bat roost
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SOURCE: AUSTIN BAT REFUGE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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