Spruce grouse -- an iconic Adirondack bird -- is dipping toward extinction in New York and likely can only be saved by bringing birds from Canada or other states to strengthen breeding, according to the Times Union.

The spruce grouse has a distinctive red "eye comb."Seldom seen by hikers, birders or hunters, spruce grouse look like chicken, but their preferred habitats are the bogs and wetlands within evergreen forests of spruce, tamarack and balsam fir. To thrive, the birds need a relatively young forest, with trees about 40 years of age, and with fewer large trees that create a canopy over the forest floor.

"We need to do something real soon, in the next few years," said John Ozard, head of wildlife diversity for the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

DEC's tentative plan calls for managing areas where spruce grouse can still live by cutting back trees. Adirondack grouse appear to be closest genetically to those in the Canadian province of Ontario, so that would be the best place to supply new birds for the Adirondacks, Ozard said.

DEC is taking public comments through March 1 on the plan, which can be found in its entirety here.

Make comments to fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us (include "Spruce Grouse Plan" in the subject line) or to NYS DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Bureau of Wildlife, Spruce Grouse Management Plan, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754.