Bluebird society honors wildlife photographer

Clockwise from above: Regina and Steve Garr check on a bluebird nest box Friday outside their store. Regina has been recording the nesting information which she then sends to the Missouri Bluebird Society. The couple own Birds-I-View and sponsor a number of bluebird boxes throughout the city; A young bluebird in a nesting box; A male bluebird sits in a tree above its nest of chicks; and a second nesting box of bluebirds.
Clockwise from above: Regina and Steve Garr check on a bluebird nest box Friday outside their store. Regina has been recording the nesting information which she then sends to the Missouri Bluebird Society. The couple own Birds-I-View and sponsor a number of bluebird boxes throughout the city; A young bluebird in a nesting box; A male bluebird sits in a tree above its nest of chicks; and a second nesting box of bluebirds.

The inaugural "True Blue Service Award" was given to former Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife photographer Jim Rathert at the Missouri Bluebird Society's annual conference.

Rathert was instrumental in establishing the society in 2006.

The locally held conference drew bluebird enthusiasts from eight states and Canada.