Maple flowers

My maple tree has unfurled it's spring leaves and also it's tiny red flowers. I don't know what pollinates them, although there will be lots of aphids soon so maybe they do it. The pollinator is very efficient because little maple trees come up all over my garden. It's a lovely tree but after the big wind we had recently I noticed its main trunk has a crack in it. I hope it doesn't mean it's time is limited.