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Celebrating 130 years of research

The Stephen A. Forbes Biological Station, established in 1894, is located along the Illinois River in Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge near Havana, Illinois. It is the oldest inland field station in North America and one of nine Illinois Natural History Survey field stations. The Frank C. Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center is housed at the Forbes Biological Station.

The Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center staff conducts research on various topics relevant to wetland ecosystems, with a specific focus on the ecology and management of wetlands, waterfowl, and other waterbirds. Our research efforts focus on the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and the wetlands throughout the state.