Didn't work (sad)
I changed the code as you suggested and I get an image icon for the recordset but not the actual picture itself. I also tried the File Maniuplation as I thought this is where I would download the picture and I get an error message (you will see it in the attachment.
I tried it both ways as well:
<td><img src="/membersPage/avatar/thumbnails/<?php echo($rs_birthdays->getColumnVal("avartar ")); ?>">
<td><img src="membersPage/avatar/thumbnails/<?php echo($rs_birthdays->getColumnVal("avartar ")); ?>">