Holiday Contest

Hello Everyone,
I am having a little contest just in time for the Holidays. Its quite simple. Answer the question below in a few sentences and email me @ Title of the email should be CONTEST.
A correct answer will enter you into a pool where a computer drawn number will pick 2 winners. There will be 2 prizes, the grand prize will be a print of your choice, signed and numbered. Second place will be a 2007 William Kramer Studio Calendar. Contest winners will be announced January 1, 2007.


The question is:
Why is it that oak trees retain their leaves throughout the winter?


Good Luck and stop back soon for exciting news of a solo Art Show in Bethel, Connecticut for the month of December. I will also have limited number of Calendars on sale featuring 4 new paintings. Price is $15 with shipping. Let me know if you would like to purchase one. First come first serve.
Have a great week,
Bill

Bucks are running!

The mating or rutting season for the white tailed deer starts in late October and extends through early January. In Connecticut, the peak of the rutting season is the last two weeks in November. Fawns, weighing from four to eight pounds, are usually born in June. They remain under the female’s care through September, when they are weaned. The number of young born ranges from one to four, depending upon the age and condition of the doe. In Connecticut, twins are common and triplets and quadruplets have been recorded. Female fawns born early in spring have the potential to breed by the following fall.

Being nearly mid November I have seen bucks nearly every day. The past week (when it was not raining) I have been going to a south edge of a field (down wind side) and sitting and scoping for bucks when sun first rises. Its a great experience to watch these rut crazed bucks chase does. There are a few nice big guys in there but they are much harder to get pictures of because they will spot you first in most cases and make off into thick cover. Here are a few images from this week.
Enjoy and have a great weekend
Bill

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Hello, seems like there are lots of these woodpeckers around right now. Named for its least obvious field mark, a faint blush of red on the belly that is rarely seen, the red-bellied woodpecker is the largest common woodpecker of the eastern United States. The red bellied doesn't seem to be bothered by my presence, I have seen them 10 times in the last week, from deep in the woods, and also right outside my window...

November Birds

A few new bird photos from a hike last Saturday on the Stietzel Family Farm in Redding Connecticut. Lots of Cedar Waxwings! and the Kinglets seems to still be around, after this cold snap today I have a feeling this is the last we will see of them as they migrate south...