How to Make a Botswana Bird Trap

Locate a number of straight sticks. Break the sticks in pairs of lengths from one foot down to 3 inches.

Tie the two longest sticks together with two pieces of twine to form a box. Turn one stick over so the twine forms an "x" in the center of the sticks.

Insert the next shortest two sticks, one on either side of the "x", and slide them to the outside so they snug up to edges and form the box frame. Insert the next shortest two sticks under the "x" on the opposite sides as the last two inserted sticks.

Continue inserting sticks of descending lengths in this method by alternating which side they slide into. The trap should begin to build upwards forming a square pyramid with the twine "x" always visible on top.

Insert a handful of 3-inch sticks running parallel to each other to form the roof. Add sticks in this manner until no more will fit under the twine "x" and the trap is sturdy and tight without gaps.

Find two sticks with a "y" at one end. Break one stick so that it is 3 inches long. Notch the non-"y" end of this stick with the pocketknife and slide the notch up against one side of the trap. Place the ends of two smaller sticks into the "y," and angle the other ends back to the corners of the trap. Hold onto all these trigger sticks while you place second "y" stick--the supporting stick--beneath the first trigger stick. Use the "y" in the supporting stick to hold up the trigger sticks.