SummaryThe problem of establishing the breeding status of burrowing birds is compounded by the inaccessibility of long meandering burrows. A solution, involving manipulation of a mini video camera and monitor, using infra-red light is presented which enables efficient, reliable recording of burrow occupancy with minimum disturbance to the birds and burrows. It was designed to establish the breeding status of the Wedge-tailed ShearwaterPuffinus pacificusin the Capricorn Group of islands, Great Barrier Reef, but with proper screening and possibly, further modification, its use need not be site or species specific.