
DATE: Sunday, July 27, 1997                 TAG: 9707250289

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 02   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: Coastal Journal 

                                            LENGTH:   94 lines

MOTHER NATURE EQUIPS CRITTERS TO FIND WATER DURING DROUGHTS

Recently on one dry, droughty day, after I had finished watering the garden, I noticed a butterfly that behaved as if it were sipping nectar from a sandy path around my raised beds.

The big tiger swallowtail was so intent on that little spot of sand that it didn't notice my presence at all. Then it dawned on me. The butterfly was thirsty and was actually sipping water by sticking its proboscis down into the sand to extract moisture.

The butterfly tested a tiny puddle of water in the pocket of a dead leaf a couple of times, but seemed to prefer the sand.

Later, I learned that folks with butterfly gardens know to provide a shallow tray of wet sand as a water source for butterflies. The critters can't fly if they get their wings wet, so damp sand creates a safe oasis for drinking.

Because they don't like damp wings, high noon is the butterflies' time. Every day, the insects have to dry their wings out from the moisture of morning dew before they can fly well. For this reason, butterfly lovers also will put a large, flat rock or two in their gardens where butterflies can rest in early morning to take advantage of the reflected heat to dry out their wings.

Wild creatures, in coping with water or the lack of it, often show a creative streak. Take honeybees. In hot, dry weather, not only do honeybees need to find water to drink, but the smart critters also use water to ``air condition'' their hives, said Art Halstead of the Tidewater Beekeepers Association.

``We try to encourage beekeepers,'' Halstead said, ``to be good neighbors and keep a water source available.''

Otherwise, the bees will travel to any water source they can find and that could be a neighbor's swimming pool or bird bath. After drinking, honeybees collect water to take back to the hive, mouthful by mouthful. There they create their own form of air conditioning by fanning their wings to create a breeze over the water on their mouth parts.

``The hot air evaporates the water and takes out heat from the hive,'' Halstead explained.

Still, that hive gets mighty stuffy inside. So on hot summer afternoons, you'll often see honeybees gathered outside the hive entrance.

``They're front-porch sitting,'' said Halstead, ``just like your grandparents sat on the front porch after supper to cool off.''

As honeybees will find a water source no matter where, so will birds. It's always been said that if you want to attract birds to your yard, the first thing to get is not a feeder but a birdbath.

Birds can get a lot of moisture from some foods, such as berries. But seed eaters need another source, and they will fly until they can find it, said Judy Urwin, assistant curator/birds at the Virginia Marine Science Museum.

I am sure hummingbirds in my yard get plenty of moisture from the sugar water I keep in the feeders because I have never seen them in the birdbath. But when I cut on the sprinkler, I know that even hummingbirds are water lovers.

I have watched one take semi-shelter in a Carolina jasmine vine and then just indulge itself. Sitting still for longer than I have ever seen a hummingbird sit still, it preened and ruffled its feathers, seemingly delighted, as drops of water passed overhead.

Other critters in the garden that like the sprinkler are box turtles. The one or two that frequent my yard seem to hole up in the middle of hot summer days, but if I cut on the sprinkler, they'll come alive. And they come out of hiding with an appetite, too, searching out any of my tomatoes that may be low down to the ground.

I also have noticed that after an afternoon shower, turtles back in Seashore State Park also start roaming around. If tomatoes are any example of a box turtle's food in the wild, it must be able to get most of the water it needs from its food. But it sure helps to have a sprinkle to work up the appetite. MEMO: Have you seen an unusual critter or a normal critter doing unusual

things? Grown a giant vegetable or come across a footnote to history?

Call me with interesting trivia on INFOLINE, 640-5555. Enter category

2290 or send email to: mbarrow(AT)pilotonline.com. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY REID BARROW

If you want to attract butterflies, like this tiger swallowtail, to

your yard, put out a tray of wet sand.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

CarolAnn Curran, a Virginia Marine Science Museum interpreter,

reported that a bald eagle pair was sighted recently along the

museum's saltmarsh trail on Owls Creek. ``They spent the entire

day, trying to steal fish from the osprey and being mobbed by the

crows,'' Curran said. ``It was really fantastic.''

The 69th Street Irregulars, a loosely knit group of North End