AUSTIN, TX — On August 26, join the Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation (MTBC) team and bat expert Merlin Tuttle—Austin’s local Batman—for an excursion that will include bat watching and Tuttle’s stories from his 60 years of bat conservation. Refreshments will be provided. 

 Austin has become a world leader in bat conservation and education. In 2020, Austin’s mayor, Steve Adler. proclaimed August 26 as Merlin Tuttle Day in honor of Tuttle’s success in saving Austin’s world-famous Congress Avenue bats. 

“I’m very proud of the conservation work we’re accomplishing through MTBC and our now famous bats,” Tuttle said. “These bats bring in millions of tourism dollars every year and they are an important part of our ecosystem.” 

Guests will have a front-row view of these famous Austin bats, while joining Tuttle and his team on the Capitol Cruises Pride & Joy II (a double-decker boat). The boat will set sail at 7 p.m. on August 26 and the tour will be led by Tuttle himself. 

“I am so thankful that I was able to use my years of experience in bat research to convince the city to provide a safe place for the millions of Mexican free-tailed bats that call the Congress Avenue bridge home,” Tuttle said. “It’s an honor to be celebrated and to share my legacy with Austinites who share my appreciation of bats."

Bat enthusiasts and novices are welcome to join Merlin and his staff for this  event by purchasing tickets on the MTBC website, merlintuttle.org/events. Tickets include admission on the cruise, refreshments and a raffle entry to win a signed and matted print of one of Tuttle’s professional photos of the bat emergence over Austin’s skyline.

Items can also be purchased on the website. All proceeds go toward continuing Tuttle’s legacy and supporting MTBC. 

About Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation: Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation was founded in 2014 with the goal of protecting often misunderstood bats worldwide through Merlin Tuttle’s more than 60-year legacy of experience and photography.

MTBC relies on a combination of science, field knowledge and photography to help save millions of bats, while protecting public health, economies and ecosystems worldwide by teaching people to live harmoniously with bats through Merlin’s  experience. Learn more at merlintuttle.org