Research head of zoology at the New Brunswick Museum Donald McAlpine tells Tide News the birds were attracted to the large flame at the plant in the foggy weather, very much like moths are attracted to flames.
Canaport has been working to reduce flaring, and McAlpine called the event extremely unusual. He did say, however, that could have been predicted with the large amounts of birds migrating at this time of year and also the low cloud ceiling.
The flares are a way to burn off excess gas.
