Thoughts on Austin

Well, we're just back from Austin, and I thought I'd share some of my impressions. Bear in mind that we were there for somewhat less than four days, so I don't speak with great authority or breadth of experience. Many of you know that cottonmanifesto and I are shopping around for a new location in which to live (several years from now, after certain family members graduate from high school). I've ranted and rambled, unintentionally insulted and alienated people, and generally been tediously obsessed with finding the best place for us to move.

The short review is this: We didn't eliminate Austin from our list.
( the positives and negatives )

Insect ID help

Any entomologists interested in helping me on this one? I'm pretty sure it's either Chlorion aerarium or Chalybion californicum. If only I'd watched it long enough to see it grab a spider or a field cricket.



( two pictures by cottonmanifesto )

Heard in Austin:

"squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak..."

The sound of a dog's squeaky toy, coming closer, down the sidewalk, as we eat lunch outside. What should come up the way but a family--mom and dad and just-walking baby--the baby's shoes are making the squeak noise. Someone is manufacturing baby shoes with squeakers in them. There were a few people around us, and we all exchanged unbelieving looks. One guy said "that's the weirdest thing I've ever seen!" Well, no, but it's pretty weird.

Cut to a few hours later, in the airport, waiting for the announcement to board our plane: "squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak..." Another just-walking baby, with squeakers in its shoes. Someone is manufacturing baby shoes with squeakers in them, and at least two people have bought them. I can only imagine that the point of these shoes is that you always know where the baby is--you know, rather than watching them. I know, I'm not a "kid person," and I'll never have children so I'll never understand, but isn't this whole idea really obnoxious? The message I'm getting from it is "My child's safety is more important than your comfort."

They are coming to your school, your daycare center, your laundromat, grocery store (think of it--dozens of pairs of shoes--"squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak") dentist's office, your city street!

What do you think?

365 Urban Species. #253: Mexican Free-tailed Bat

Photos by urbpan. Location: Congress Ave. Bridge, Austin.
The bat on the far left shows the "free tail," protruding past the membrane between the back legs.

Urban species #253: Mexican free-tailed bat Tadarida brasilensis

According to Bat Conservation International, one and a half million Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge each night, between March and November. These mammals are migratory, and spend winter in Mexico. When I learned about the Congress Avenue Bridge, I assumed it was a highway bridge at the margin of settled Austin, on a remote piece of desert. Visiting it in person, I was amazed to find myself on the main street of downtown Austin, a few blocks from the Texas Capitol building, surrounded by skyscrapers. The bridge is one of several that cross the Colorado River, which winds through the city (this section of the river is dammed, and is known as Town Lake). When the bridge was renovated in 1980, changes in the structure proved to be attractive to roosting bats, and the most remarkable urban nature attraction in the country was born. I was thrilled to see, not just the swirling mass of flying mammals, but the huge crowds of people gathered for the experience. It's similar to the regular eruptions of a geyser in a National Park, only this is an artificial serendipity. Every human activity potentially creates habitat: skyscraper ledges provide nest space for pigeons, subways shelter mice, garbage provides a year-round food for skunks and many other animals. But this was one of the only places I've seen where the fact that the construction accidentally created wildlife habitat was celebrated. Future engineers should study this example, to encourage the wildlife that we, collectively, want to share our city with.

Mexican free-tailed bats are welcomed, in large part, because they eat insects. While many people like to think that bats control mosquito populations, the truth is that mosquitoes are paltry sustenance. While some mosquitoes are probably eaten by bats, the greater bulk of their food consists of beetles and moths. The larvae of many moths are serious pests of the vast Texan agricultural fields surrounding the city. Migrating bats stopover in open buildings, abandoned mines, and in tunnels and bridges. Before there were man-made structures in the bats' range, they roosted entirely in caves. These bats are encountered more frequently than any other species in Texas, and are often seen hunting insects attracted to streetlights.


The water of Town Lake is visible in this picture. In both photos, we are looking down at the bats, as they stream out from under the bridge.

( More, including a video. )