Abstract: Camera trapping is increasingly used to collect information on wildlife occurrence and behaviour remotely. This provides insights into habitat use by species of interest and gathers information on non-target species. We implemented ground-based camera trapping to investigate behaviours of ground-dwelling birds and to monitor activities of Agassiz’s desert tortoises at their self-constructed burrows in a wind-energy facility near Palm Springs, California. While doing so, we collected data on numerous burrow commensals, including birds. Monitoring from late spring to mid-autumn showed regular use of tortoise burrows by 12 species of birds, the most abundant being the rock wren. Birds appeared to use the interior or vicinity of burrows for gathering nesting material, displaying, feeding, dust bathing and other activities. Of the species observed, 10 are known to be occasional casualties of turbine-blade strikes. Using camera traps focused at ground level can be a useful tool in avian conservation effort for measuring bird presence, activity and behaviour in altered habitats. Acquiring data over the long term by using ground-based monitoring with camera traps could add to our understanding of avian behaviour and habitat use in relation to wind-energy infrastructure and operations, and help determine the vulnerability of avifauna utilizing the area.