OK, I've decided that this is the only practical solution I can come up with to accomplish "operation purge scoundrels"; that is, getting the grackles and doves that roost in my front tree and crap on my pickup, is to take them out under cover of darkness. The owl doesn't work any more. Does anyone know whether a standard night vision scope is subject to the same breakage from the abnormal recoil of an airgun, as is a normal scope? What scope might you recommend, if any? Is there any reference to a source that indicates that one or another of these can stand up to airgun recoil? Any other suggestions on how to kill these birds at night, or get rid of them? And is shooting a dove out of season a federal crime, due to their being a migratory bird, as I have heard from a suspect source? They're not "waterfowl", are they? Thanks. I am definitely a newb to all things night vision...