Q I'd like to show bird migration to my kids, and my son is fascinated by hawks and eagles. Is there someplace without a long drive where I can let him watch the big birds migrating?
A There are several such spots nearby but I can't think of a better one than Carpenter Nature Center northeast of Hastings. Carpenter has many trails on the property, where you can view songbird migrants. Your son should especially enjoy the overlook with its long view high over the St. Croix River, a flyway for raptors. There's no charge for a visit and Carpenter is open daily, with a visitors center housing many wild creatures: http://carpenternature center.org/.
Broken leg survivableQ A house finch visiting my feeders seems to have a broken leg. Will it survive?
A It's not uncommon for a bird to break one of its delicate leg bones, and this usually isn't life-threatening. The leg dries up and falls off at some point. Birds seem to adapt fairly well to getting around with one leg.
Suet in summerQ I put out beef suet all summer, and the birds love it. Is this OK, since I have a birdbath nearby that they can bathe in?
A I'd advise against putting out raw suet in the summertime. It does melt, unlike suet cakes, which are made of rendered suet and thus are less "melty." I've seen oil dripping off suet left out in summer and this is dangerous to birds if it gets on their feathers. They can't wash it off; the only way to remove it is to molt a new set of feathers, and this only happens once or twice a year. Suet on feathers impairs all the qualities that birds depend on them for, such as insulation (from both heat and cold) and protection from sun and rain. Try suet cakes for the warmer months.
Hummingbird hazardsQ I found a dead hummingbird on my balcony and wonder what killed it. I don't think they fly into windows, but they do get quite aggressive around the sugar-water feeder and chase others away.
A Sorry to hear about the hummingbird, and I suspect that it did hit your window, possibly during a chase by another hummingbird. Hummingbirds crash into glass to their detriment, just as songbirds do. They see the outdoors reflected in the glass and don't realize they can't fly through it. Many migrating birds are in our area now, and they're unfamiliar with all the local hazards. Try putting some UV-reflective decals on your balcony door -- these are nearly invisible to humans but very visible to birds (check with your local wild bird supply store).
