"11 years old and willing to help..."

                       ...is how Olivia Bouler described  herself to the Audubon Society when she contacted them about the tragedy in the Gulf.  Now, over a year later and 12 years old, she has raised $200,000 for Gulf recovery efforts.

Aspiring ornithologist, artist, and saxophone player, Olivia wept when she heard about the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, a place where she spent many vacations with her cousins and grandparents who live in Louisiana and Alabama. Knowing birds were going to suffer, she had to take action.  

Inspired by her hero James Audubon, Olivia wrote to the Audubon Society about her fundraising idea, using her talent as an artist to give bird drawings to those who donated to wildlife recovery efforts. Olivia drew and donated 500 original drawings, and AOL distributed thousands of prints on her behalf.  She was named 2011 Artist Inspiring Conservation by Audubon.

Concerned about the plight of birds in the Gulf, Olivia went to visit her representatives in Washington D.C., and was named a Hometown Hero by Congressman Steve Israel.  Olivia was named 2010 ASPCA Kid of the Year, won the Tommy P. Monahan award, and starred in a Disney's Friends for Change public service announcement.  

Olivia's children's book, Olivia's Birds: Saving the Gulf, was released on this year's anniversary of the spill, with part of the proceeds going to Audubon.  She has been named Kohl's Cares National Winner, Artist Inspiring Conservation Award by the Audubon Society, and a Champion of Change by the White House.

Follow Olivia's adventure on her
 Facebook Fan Page, Twitter as BirdgirlLiv, or email her at Oliviasbirds@aol.com.