After more than a decade of work, state wildlife officials say a major effort to save one of New York’s rarest birds has reached a key milestone.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced Dec. 30 that it has completed the release phase of its spruce grouse recovery program, wrapping up a 13-year translocation effort in the Adirondacks.
The program began in response to sharp population declines tied to habitat loss, fragmentation, and low genetic diversity. Spruce grouse are a state-listed endangered species and live at the southern edge of their range in New York, making the remaining population especially vulnerable.
DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said the effort shows what long-term, science-based conservation can accomplish. She credited DEC staff, volunteers, and partners in Canada and Maine for helping move the species closer to long-term survival in the state.
Since 2013, DEC biologists and researchers have worked with partners from Ontario, Maine, and SUNY Potsdam to introduce spruce grouse into suitable Adirondack habitat. Over that time, crews released 363 adult birds and 711 chicks into existing lowland boreal forest areas where grouse numbers were low.
The final release took place in 2025, with 50 adult birds introduced this summer. With that, DEC said the translocation phase of the recovery plan is now complete.
DEC Region 6 Director Randall Young said cooperation across borders played a critical role in the project’s success. Researchers from SUNY Potsdam also helped lead the work and involved students in field research tied directly to the recovery effort.
Crews selected release sites based on forest conditions shown to support spruce grouse survival, including spruce-fir stands between 35 and 45 years old with strong blueberry shrub cover for nesting and foraging.
With releases finished, DEC will now focus on long-term monitoring and habitat management. Wildlife staff plan to conduct occupancy surveys and habitat assessments to track whether the population remains stable and continues to grow.
DEC officials said the data collected will guide future management decisions as the state works to protect boreal forest habitat and prevent the spruce grouse from disappearing entirely from New York.
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