Nightwing
N 30° 15.547 W 097° 44.780
14R E 620602 N 3348163
A rotating metal sculpture honoring Austin's resident Mexican Free-Tail Bat population.
Waymark Code: WM8KNF
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/15/2010
Views: 21
This sculpture was placed in honor of one of Austin's most beloved residents. The approximately 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tail bats that spend a large part of their year living under the Congress Avenue Bridge. This is the world's largest urban bat colony.
This is a kinetic metal sculpture of a stylized bat on a concrete base. It rotates freely so when the wind is up, as it often is here, the bat sways back and forth, simulating flight.
It is located on a triangular traffic island at the very busy intersection of Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Drive.
On the base is a simple plaque which reads "Nightwing".
On a utility box in front of the sculpture is a dedication plaque which reads:
NIGHTWING
By Dale Whistler
The following donors gladly give the City of Austin this Great Bat, honoring Austin's most famous part-time residents, the Bats of the Congress Avenue Bridge:
Austin American-Statesman
Austin Energy
Embassy Suites Hotel
Hyatt Regency Austin
Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas
The Downtown Trust
Additional support provided by
Archillune, Inc.
Black & Vernoby, Architects
Clan Cut Landscaping
June 1998
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Nightwing
Figure Type: Animal
Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Dale Whistler
Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: June, 1998
Materials used: Aluminum, steel rods on concrete base
Location: Intersection of Congress Ave. and Barton Springs Rd., Austin, Texas
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