I brought my pair of Nikon Monarch Binoculars about four months ago and I fell in love with them straight away. I brought them mainly for bird watching, and as I wanted a good pair of binoculars I spent quite a bit of time researching. They have a really nice feel are well balanced and weigh only 689grams with the strap on! I've even dropped them once on concrete and there was no damage done.

I recently took them with me when I went on safari in Kenya. They were excellent for viewing animals at a distance from the safety of our jeep. Without these binoculars the trip would not have been half as good. The optic quality of the Nikon monarch binoculars is so good that I could pick out the features on people's faces in a distant village when I was looking into the sun.

My father-in-law, also an avid birdwatcher, thinks these are the best binoculars you can use. He has invited me along on almost all of his trips ever since I got them. The quality of these binoculars is fantastic for the small price you pay. If you want to the top class pair of Nikon binoculars you could easily expect to pay over $2000, but you would be heartbroken if you lost or damaged them. I would not lose any sleep if I lost my new Nikon monarchs as they are affordably replaceable.

I always point out to people that the optic technology is moving so fast, all the $2000 binoculars will be less than 500 in a matter of years.

There was lunar eclipse last week, and I had a chance to try out my Nikon monarch's at night. There was a group of us who went out off the city to get a good view of the eclipse, between us all there were three different pairs of good-quality binoculars. My monarchs were by far the best! This was unfortunate for me as it meant I had to share them with the rest of the group for the entire night.

One of the good points about buying a pair of Nikon's are the options that come standard on their binoculars. These include being waterproof and having fog prevention on their lenses, these are great qualities to have in any binoculars. There is also an extended eye relief option for people who will be wearing glasses, or using the binoculars for long periods of time.

The Nikon monarch binoculars are past all my tests with flying colours over and over, I don't think I'll ever be switching to a different model - just upgrading these! Highly recommend!

Viewing nature in all of its glory can be tough in a society filled with machines, technology, and other devices that make viewing birds in their natural form difficult. But obtaining the correct birdhouse can give the wonderful benefits of nature to bird lovers everywhere- the trick is finding the right birdhouse.

Birds who like to live in a congregation will not normally take housing in a conventional birdhouse. Instead, they tend to find other housing arrangements that allows them to be with other birds of their species. Birdhouses with multiple compartments and feeders will appeal to these types of birds as a result. The Purple Martin bird is a prime example of such a bird that conforms to this behavior.

Predators are a natural threat to birds, no matter where they are or live. But they can help reduce the threat of predators by living in specific birdhouses. The swallow, for instance, will prefer birdhouses that have small openings so that predators may not interfere with their sleeping or living arrangements. Swallows and birds like them will almost never take residence in a conventional birdhouse as a result.

Although many birds require specific things in order for them to get proper living arrangements, many aren't so picky. Most will be perfectly fine in taking a living in a generic birdhouse with the normal features and housing compartments. Birds such as the woodpecker will take residence in average birdhouses in frequency- meaning the average birdhouse will often attract a large amount of attention from the bird community.

Other types of birds will need a large space in which to build their own nest in. Just like the woodpecker, the Great Crested Flycatcher will be able to make use of most conventional birdhouses. But this bird will attempt to make its own nest in the birdhouse- meaning it should be slightly larger than the average birdhouse most are accustomed to. It's important to include an easy way of cleaning the birdhouse when making them.

Many types of birds are perfectly fine with making a conventional nest in a tree or bush- and bird watchers don't necessarily need to provide special housing just to enjoy a good view of nature. But in the case of bird watchers who enjoy up close action, and views of specific birds, setting out the right birdhouse can mean all the difference.

Final Thoughts

The excellent sport of bird watching is something to be enjoyed by all ages. It helps out the bird community, gives elderly and young children entertainment, and gives homes a very homely and kind feel to them. Just keep in mind that attracting the right birds may take specific requirements- although the average birdhouse will do just fine in giving bird lovers a form of release.