HOMES OF THE TREASURE COAST
13
acres west of Fort Pierce. It had the space and solitude
they had hoped for, and when an additional 7 acres
and then another 5 came on the market, they snapped
them up. They now find themselves surrounded by
St. Lucie County preserve land, including the 120-acre
Paleo Hammock.
Painted and indigo buntings, grosbeaks and chipping
sparrows are among the feathered friends who flock to
Hackberry Hammock, thanks to the efforts of the Comers.
The couple named the place after the native Florida
tree whose berries are a plentiful diet for wildlife. The
warty bark and lichens on the hackberry trees also attract
insects that provide food for warblers.
“We were both birders, starting about the time we
got married, but in a casual way,” Sam said. A few
years later they got serious about it, when a former
neighbor called to tell them they had moved into
bunting territory. “We were unaware of it, but it’s likely
they were around,” said Sam.
Sam made some cage-like feeders that hold millet to
attract the colorful birds and the couple bought others,
but they all did the trick. More and more birds come
every year, he said. So do members of the St. Lucie
County chapter of the Audubon Society. They are regular
visitors to the bird sanctuary and in February the
Martin County chapter made its second pilgrimage to
watch the buntings feed. Plein air artists and photographers
have been known to capture the birds on canvas
and memory cards. >>
Hackberry berries found around
the Cromers’ property attract
many birds, including the
painted bunting.
Sam Freid
Clockwise from top: Common ground dove, painted bunting, indigo bunting.
Hart Rufe