"We have, therefore, raised the matter with the regional
NRSI, which has responsibility for investigating the installation of traffic light cameras, and made sure we share any feedback with Northumbria Police.
"If you stick something up in the air, whether it's a flag pole, apartment or turbine, there is the possibility a bird will collide with it, particularly if it's lit," says David Stephenson, co-founder and senior biologist with NRSI.
Brookfield Power's and NRSI's pre-construction work involved using a small radar unit to gather data on bird population, flight patterns and heights.
This spring, NRSI was in the process of moving their Sault office into a downtown space on Elgin Street.
Before NRSI was established in 1998, senior aquatic biologist Rob Steele had worked with Great Lakes Power (now Brookfield Power) for 20 years on hydro-electric projects on the Montreal and Magpie Rivers.
The Government-funded pounds 1.28 million
NRSI programme, aimed at reducing accidents, has been running since April 2004 in Sandwell and has been so successful it has now been extended for another year until March 2007.