Austin is home to many things: live music, the University of Texas, the state capital; but many people don't realize Austin is also home to the nation's largest urban bat community-and it's right downtown. More than 750,000 Mexican Free-Tail bats make their home under the beams of the Congress Avenue bridge. Following renovations of the iconic bridge in 1980, the bat population took up shelter under the bridge, and it has been their home each summer since.

During the cooler months, the bats make their home in Mexico, but every year during March and April they make their way North to Austin to give birth and feed on the cities abundant bugs (coincidentally, the summer months are when Austin's cricket population reaches its height as well). And before the sun goes down, when they're resting up for their nightly romp around Austin, the bats spend their time under the Congress Avenue bridge. Each evening, just before nightfall, the bats leave their refuge en masse, in an incredible natural exodus-a massive swarm of hundreds of thousands of Mexican Free-Tail bats swirls its way up around the bridge, then dissipates as the bats head off in every direction to feast.

Apparently, the renovations made in 1980 left deep crevices in the bridge, which provide an ideal habitat for the bat colony. Many Austinites consider this an accidental blessing, as the bats are credited with greatly cutting back on the insect population both within the city and throughout the surrounding countryside. In fact, it's estimated that, as a group, the bats consume between 10,000 and 30,000 pounds of insects!

This incredible sight has become an integral part of summer in Austin, and draws hundreds of spectators nightly during the summer months, culminating in late August, when the colony is at its largest-averaging around 1.5 million bats. Austinites have come to treasure and even celebrate this unique natural phenomenon, with a summer celebration called BatFest. Held during the last weekend of August each year, BatFest brings together all of Austin's favorite things-live music, food, people and (you guessed it) the Mexican Free-Tail bats. The family-friendly event features educational displays, arts and crafts, and a whole host of activities centering around the Congress Avenue bridge bats-plus more than 30 bands rocking the weekend away from two different stages.

Austinites love a good reason to party-it's a trait the city is well known for. In fact, BatFast falls just a few weeks before Austin's biggest music festival, Austin City Limits, which draws thousands of visitors a year and brings the country's hottest bands to Austin, Texas, for one sweltering weekend each September. But, unlike ACL or South by Southwest-Austin's other major music festival, which also doubles as a film festival-BatFest is first and foremost about promoting the protection and appreciation of one of Austin's natural wonders.

In a city with such strong environmental pride, and wonderful resources like Barton Springs Pool and Edwards Aquifer, it's no wonder this incredible phenomenon would capture the imaginations-and hearts-of so many.

Ki lives in Austin the coolest city in the world :). He helps clients interested in Austin real estate. If you are interested in the Austin market you can search for homes using the Austin MLS are read about market trends on his Austin real estate blog.

It takes unimaginable amounts of energy to power the United States, and the needs is constantly growing. As global warming and fuel crises gain more and more public attention, people everywhere are now looking for ways to live a greener lifestyle. But this doesn't mean rebuilding your home to run on solar energy, or overhauling your current lifestyle. There are plenty of small, simple things you can do every day to help reduce your household's energy consumption (and even waste). Here are five effective changes you can make right now.

1.Turn Off the Lights
We've all heard this a million times, whether in the midst of an energy crisis or not. But that doesn't make it any less true. By turning off the lights when you leave a room, or simply using one light instead of several, you can save big bucks on your electric bill over time. Plus, you'll cut back on a lot of wasted energy by using it more sparingly. Also, installing lower wattage bulbs not only reduce energy use, they also typically last longer, meaning you'll save money on your shopping bills, too.

2.Check Your Insulation
Poor insulation can cost you big time in wasted energy. Year round, insulation works to keep your house cool or warm, depending on the season. If you have poor quality insulation, or if it's old and losing effectiveness, you could be wasting not only an incredible amount of energy, but you could also be significantly overspending on your electricity bills. Just like it doesn't make sense to leave the air conditioner on with the windows open, heating or cooling a house with poor insulation is both wasteful and ineffective (and frankly, kind of silly).

3.Fix Leaks
Drip, drip, drip. Leaky faucets are huge water wasters, particularly because people often think of a leak as a small problem how much water can really be wasted by a tiny drip? Well, you'd be surprised. Just plug the sink or tub for a day and see how quickly that drip, drip, drip fills it up. If you spot a leak, fix it as quickly as possible (you may even be able to do it yourself, if you catch it early enough). Not only is it the responsible thing to do for the environment, it's the responsible thing to do for your budget, too.

4.Consolidate Wash Loads
Washing machines and dishwashers use an incredible amount of water, so next time you're going to do a load of laundry or dishes, make sure you have enough things that need cleaning to fill the load and maximize your water and power usage. If there are only a few dirty plates or clothes, either wait until you have more to do, or simply wash what you need by hand.

5.Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle
Being conscientious about your household's waste is the first step toward a greater environmental awareness. There are lots of ways to cut back on waste: eat leftovers; use old rags for cleaning instead of paper towels; recycle bottles, cans and paper products the list goes on and on. And always donate unwanted items instead of throwing them away you'll not only be helping the environment, you'll also be helping someone in need.

Ki is a real estate broker working in the Austin real estate market. His site has a map based search of the Austin MLS along with a free mortgage calculator.

One of the most beautiful and unique attractions Austin has is Hamilton Pool Preserve, located just a half an hour out of the city, in the gorgeous Hill Country. The historic swimming area and its surrounding grounds were designated a preserve by the Travis County Commissioner's Court in 1990, and this idyllic, untainted spot is like an oasis, offering an accessible get-away from the hustle and bustle of the city. With 232 acres of nature preserve, the emphasis is on preservation of natural habitats, and environmental education, but the crown jewel is the pool and grotto.

Formed from the collapse of an underground river thousands of years ago, and the natural erosion since, Hamilton pool is a classic swimming hole, with the added spectacle of a fifty-foot waterfall. Hamilton Creek causes the spill, over limestone outcroppings, to create the waterfall, streaming down to the pool. One of the nicest naturally occurring benefits of Hamilton pool is that it is covered by a half dome-shaped ledge below the falls, providing cool shade for a refreshing dip. The pool leads into a brook that eventually feeds into the Pedernales River. Although the waterfall can deplete in times of drought, the water level of the pool stays fairly constant, making this a year-round destination in the warm environs of Central Texas. Water quality is gauged, and swimming is permitted only when the water quality meets safety standards. Updated information is posted at the entrance booth and provided on the park's telephone recorder message (512-264-2740).

Nature lovers will appreciate the lush plant communities, the diversity of wildlife species, and the natural shelter that attracted the area's first inhabitants over 8,000 years ago. The hike from the parking lot to the pool is about .5-miles round-trip; the hike along the creek from the pool to the river is about .75 miles, or for those who don’t stop to swim, 1.25 miles round-trip from the parking lot. A great variety of birds can be viewed, including the Golden-Cheeked Warbler, and in addition to the juniper and oak savannah, and the variety of native grasses and wildflowers, several rare plant species including canyon mock-orange, red bay, and chatter box orchid have been spotted in the canyon areas along Hamilton Creek.

Because this is a preserve, care must be taken not to disturb the ecosystem unduly, and therefore, no pets are allowed. A maximum of 75 cars are admitted, and should the number of visitors exceed this amount, cars will be held at the gate, and as visitors leave, new ones will be admitted.

Although no camping is allowed, Hamilton Preserve is close enough to make a day trip easy, and offers enough to make return trips essential. Visitors are welcome to participate in nature study, picnicking and hiking their many trails, and groups can inquire about naturalist-led programs on environmental education and nature study.

Ki helps investors looking for properties in the Austin Texas real estate market. His site provides a free graphical search of the Austin MLS along with market updates on his blog about Austin real estate.

Texas wildflowers are celebrated throughout the state of Texas thanks to the efforts of the late former first lady Lady Bird Johnson, and Austin is home to the institution she helped created, named in her honor. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a unique attraction, paying homage to the woman who helped elevate and preserve the native plants and the natural beauty of Texas.

The Wildflower Center works daily to educate the public on sustainable use and conservation of native wildflowers, plants and landscapes. With beautiful gardens, expansive meadows, and woodland trails to explore, visitors can experience the plentiful offerings of Texas’s native plants up close. Tours are available, but visitors can enjoy the grounds at their own pace with the available printed information or with an audio podcast to guide them.

In addition to the gardens, the Center curates rotating exhibits, many of which include art. Whether viewing oversized bronze insects throughout the grounds, or viewing sculpture and paintings on display indoors, the beauty of nature is enhanced by its pairing with visual arts. Many exhibits are mounted in their McDermott Learning Center, which also holds a permanent exhibit, and features a large picture window from which to view the natural surroundings. A docent is often available in the learning center to answer questions, and to help visitors identify the plethora of different flowers and plants they will see on the grounds.

Children will find a world of fun and education designed especially for them. A tiny door indicates that the room within is dedicated to the wee ones, with puppets, books, arts and crafts that help illustrate the wealth of nature that exists at the center and throughout the state. This is also a great place to take a break and beat the heat while discussing the different plants located on the trails and in the gardens. A popular destination for school field trips, the Wildflower Center also offers teacher resources to maximize a class visit. They also offer summer camps – a perfect way to engage school-age youngsters in nature and science during their summer break.

The Wildflower Center is home to a delightful café. Featuring fresh and inventive sandwiches, salads, baked treats and thirst-quenchers such as hibiscus mint tea, the café is almost a destination in itself. Soups are made from scratch, and vegetarian including the sensational Wildflower Wrap (Roasted Poblano & Portabella Mushroom wrapped in a tomato basil flour tortilla with lettuce and tomatoes,sun dried tomato spread) are available.

Events including fundraising galas, artisan nights, plant sales, and nature nights are held throughout the year, in addition to guided tours. Their website is an extensive resource both for planning a trip, and for learning more about the myriad of things encountered on a trip. They publish a newsletter and magazine in Austin, in addition to the materials available at the main office.

The last stop of the visit should be to their gift shop – featuring clothing, books, gifts and educational toys that will commemorate and unforgettable visit.

Escapeso Austin Real Estate is a small realty company in Austin. They help clients interested in Austin real estate and provide a free web search of the Austin MLS. They also provide visitors updates on the Austin market on their Austin real estate blog.