Forbes Biological Station
More Than A Century of Studying Illinois’ Wetlands and Waterfowl
Located on the edge of the Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge in central Illinois, the Stephen A. Forbes Biological Station is North America’s oldest inland field station. Founded in 1894 by Illinois Natural History Survey Director Stephen Forbes, the station has spent more than 130 years advancing science, stewardship, and policy in the Illinois River Valley and beyond.
The station is home to the Frank C. Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, where a committed group of scientists focuses on wetlands, waterfowl, and marsh birds. Their work supports conservation efforts across Illinois and the Mississippi Flyway by tracking migration patterns, studying habitat conditions, and informing management practices. Long-term aerial surveys, wetland restoration studies, and field-based monitoring projects form the core of the research. The station also partners with agencies such as The Nature Conservancy, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many others to help manage and protect critical wetland areas.
The Forbes Biological Station supports year-round research with on-site housing, lab space, wetland access, and a deep well of institutional knowledge. The station also trains the next generation of biologists through mentorship, fieldwork, and graduate study.
