By Jo Anne Efird, Lifestyles Editor
Sunday, April 5, 2009 — Students at a local school provided input for a new pictorial book, “What Bluebirds Do,” written and photographed by Pamela F. Kirby.
“They are very extraordinary - such special children. The love in their hearts just carried me,” said Kirby of the students at Park Ridge Christian School.
Her sister teaches there.
“I talked to them about eagles and bluebirds and what they do, the plight of eagles and bluebirds, the history behind it, basically.”
She said the classes at Park Ridge School supported and encouraged her, wrote notes, showed such enthusiasm about conservation.
“The book just happened. I got such encouragement from them it made me want to send it off to the publisher.
“The book came about because of them. I shared pictures and the story with the children.
“I was the one who really got the blessing because of the way these children reached out and gave so freely and so easily from their hearts.”
Throughout her struggles with serious illness in her family, including her own cancer and stroke, Kirby spent countless hours photographing bluebirds from inside a blind in her yard.
During the writing and editing, she sought input from many children, including those at Park Ridge.
She gives these children ample credit for helping her create a book that will engage young readers in appreciating and protecting nature.
Pamela F. Kirby, who lives in Gibsonville, is a photographer whose images have been published in “Nature Photographer” magazine and Web site, “Birder’s World” magazine and Web site, “Photographer’s Forum,” “Wild Alabama,” “Nature Photographer Annual” and the National Wildlife Federation’s Web site.
She has won the grand prize in the Birder’s World photo contest.
She has exhibited her images and she has also used them to raise money for schools and for wildlife conservation causes.
To contact Jo Anne Efird, call (704) 982-2121 ext. 20 or be e-mail at snaplife@vnet.net
