Sunset with the Bats - Broadway Ave Bridge - Tuesday 09/09/2025

Sunset with the Bats - Broadway Ave Bridge - Tuesday 09/09/2025

Trip Cost: Free, but please register to attend

Join us at sunset as we watch thousands of bats come out of their man-made roosts below the East Broadway Boulevard Bridge in Tucson to feed!

Compared to other places, we have many bat species living in and around Tucson. The most common are the Mexican free-tailed bats. Those roost in the thousands, and 99.9% of the time, if you guessed you saw a Mexican free-tailed bat fly out from beneath a bridge, you’d be correct.

The large roosts we see under the bridges are maternity roosts. The females arrive here in April already pregnant. Over the summer, the females give birth to their young – one pup per female in June or July. In the fall, usually around September, they fly back to Mexico with their offspring. In the meantime, the females and their pups come out around dusk to eat. With the sunset as a natural backdrop, it’s an amazing site to see. And the Broadway Bridge is one of the most popular viewing spots.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club upper-level parking lot at 3:15 PM for carpooling, departing at 3:45 PM. Comfortable shoes, water, a tripod and a folding chair are suggested. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge, if available. For those carpooling, $2.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

We’ll stop first at Hawaiian Brothers Island Grill, 203 South Wilmot Road in Tucson for an optional no-host dinner. Check out their menu here. 

We’ll depart Hawaiian Brothers by 5:30 PM for the short drive to the Broadway Boulevard Bridge, which is conveniently located near the Hilton Tucson East Parking Lot (7600 East Broadway Boulevard). Upon arrival, you’ll have time to set up and get ready for nature’s amazing show. We never know precisely when the bats will start heading out, so we’ll be sure to get there in ample time. The “show” should end shortly after dusk, at which time we’ll head back to Green Valley.

GVR requires that every person participating in club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability.  You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs.

If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Facilitator Monica Parker at 618-304-1164 or email mparker582@aol.com. We may have people on the wait list to take your place. 

Even though this is a free trip, please call Tom and/or Monica as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.

The club strives to provide several field trips specifically designed for members with physical limitations.

In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.