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Three-year-old Grand Island girl deemed "bird-whisperer"

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GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) — All summer long, three-year-old Vivian Budnack of Grand Island sang out these words.

“Mr. Cardinal!!!” Vivian said.

Her friends and family even proclaiming her as a bird-whisperer.

“[She] has gotten this great interest with birds, and she just wants to be friends with them,” her mom Rachel Budnack said. “She tiptoes all over the backyard, all summer, saying ‘I’m Vivy, I’m your friend,’”

Well, on July 15, a bird friend answered her call. A red cardinal.

“I love cardinals,” Vivy said.

Mom says the cardinal approached her at a picnic table at Sandy Beach. She called over Vivian over and the two chatted for about 10 minutes. Just enough time for mom to capture this photo.

“I talked to it and I fed it,” Vivan said.

“And you know, she’s gonna think she’s a Disney princess now. Stick out my hand and here comes the bird,” mom said laughing.

Vivian says she doesn’t always get the chance to come in close contact with a red cardinal, but she always tries.

“Yeah and this has been her prayer and her big dream all summer. To be friends with the birds,” mom said.

A prayer that has been answered for this new fairy princess. At a time when so many spirits could use a lift.