Some Texas TV Coverage;
Legions of laptop-toting bloggers are signing off Sunday after a big political weekend in Austin. The third annual Netroots Nation conference, which included a surprise guest this year, wraps up at the Austin Convention Center after four days. The big surprise came Saturday when Al Gore took to the podium, but it didn't end there. Now is the time to think of re-electing the next president,” Gore said Saturday.--Rebecca TaylorMore story here with other convention news links.
We are winding down. Convention is over, but I am here in Texas for another day. The weather is hot but the vibe is cool.
LM left after lunch, Sara was out watching the famous Austin Bats, Jesse has headed back to the pacific northwest, HS, Myself and Tokyo Terri are kicking back listening to Elton John, sipping prosecco in a lovely outside courtyard... ahhhhh
Here is everything you could want to know about the Austin Bats;
How Many Bats Live Under the Congress Avenue Bridge?:
The Congress Avenue bridge in downtown Austin is the spring and summer home to some 750,000 bats with up to 1.5 million bats at the peak of the bat-watching season. It's the largest urban bat colony in North America.
Why Did the Bats Choose the Congress Avenue Bridge?:
While bats have called Austin home for many years, it was after renovations to the Congress Avenue bridge over Town Lake in 1980 that they found their favorite hang out. Narrow but deep openings created in the bridge turned out to be perfect accommodations.
Congress Avenue Bat Flights:
Each evening around sunset the Congress Avenue bats emerge like a black cloud from the crevices of the bridge. Covering the countryside in search of food, it is estimated that the bats consume from 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects.
Giving birth in June or July, the bats and pups hang around til October when they head back south. Watching the nightly forays for food is a favorite evening activity, especially in late summer.
When and Where To See the Congress Avenue Bats:
Although the Congress Avenue bats are in residence as early as March, the best bat views are in August when the young pups join their mothers in the nightly flights. It can take as long as 45 minutes for all the bats to exit the bridge. There are plenty of locations along Town Lake in the vicinity of Congress Avenue where you can watch the bats. Flights normally occur around 8 to 8:30 pm but could be earlier or later. Best bet, call the Bat Hotline at 416-5700 ext. 3636 for times.
How cool is it, I ask you, that there is a Bat Hotline?
Soon it will be time to get back in the fray, Fired Up! Ready To Go! But for tonight, there is just good friends, sparkling wine, and the time to reflect on a great week.
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