It's that time of week again, time for a reader's question! This week, Marylyn from Arizona asks...

"I'm planning my daughter's birthday party for a local park, and she loves balloons, but I've heard balloons are bad for birds. Is this true?"

Balloons are a dangerous threat to birds if they are released or accidentally get away, but balloons as party decorations won't hurt birds so long as they're properly disposed of after the event. To be safe, secure any balloons you use with multiple tethers so they can't get loose, and don't let the partygoers release them. After the party, puncture the balloons to deflate easily and put them in a covered trash can, or else take them home to enjoy indoors where they won't be a threat to birds.

Do you have a birding question? Submit it to Mailbag Monday!

Party Balloons
Photo © David365