It works best when the snow flies to capture Starlings and in the summer to capture house sparrows. Place bait inside the trap. The sparrows and starlings enter thru the v-shaped opening at the top of the trap. They can't get out. You need to enter the trap through the door, to dispose of birds. Always leave some birds in the trap to use as additional bait. If leaving birds in for a long duration place water in the trap.