Center staff frequently respond to a wide variety of requests for information regarding wildlife and wetlands. Although the Center's primary mission is to conduct research, these requests are directed to Center staff because of their knowledge and because there are no wildlife extension specialists in Illinois as there are in most states. Requests for information usually come from state and federal agencies, private wildlife groups, private foundations, individual sportsmen, and concerned citizens. Management agencies, hunting clubs and sportsmen, and citizens with wildlife problems and interests often want to learn more about wildlife, how to manage their land for wildlife, or how to control wildlife pests. Center scientists cooperate with the University of Illinois and other universities to provide guidance to undergraduate and graduate students who often play an important role in the research mission of the Center.

At the Stephen A. Forbes Biological Station, staff responded to numerous inquiries regarding aerial censuses of waterfowl in Illinois. Information on the aerial censuses was distributed via mailings to various agencies throughout Illinois as well as agencies in Missouri and Iowa. Newspaper reporters from St. Louis, Peoria, Alton, and Quincy devoted weekly columns to the waterfowl census data during the hunting season. Dr. Stephen P. Havera, Director of the Forbes Biological Station, was interviewed frequently by radio and newspaper journalists about various aspects of the Illinois River and Wildlife and Plant Ecology. Staff at the Forbes Biological Station hosted over 300 visitors to the station to discuss research, obtain information, or assist with station programs. Visitors represented the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee Wildlife Technical Section, Office of the Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Long-term Resource Monitoring staff, Canadian Broadcasting System, The Nature Conservancy, Lieutenant Governor's Illinois River Ecology and Economics Advisory Committee, Big Rivers Committee, AmeriCorps-Illinois RiverWatch, faculty and students from three universities, media representatives, and interested citizens.

Center scientists gave numerous scientific presentations and public lectures, and participated in many workshops. Presentations were made at meetings of the American Ornithologists' Union, American Society of Mammalogists, Illinois Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Mississippi Flyway Council Technical Section, Prairie Grouse Technical Conference, Society for Ecological Restoration, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition, Center scientists were invited to give seminars at 12 universities in the U.S. and Canada. Researchers presented papers on a wide variety of topics including general avian biology, conservation of neo-tropical passerines, agro-ecology, general waterfowl biology, research programs at the Forbes Biological Station, habitat fragmentation effects on midwestern wildlife, habitat analysis for determining best habitats available for specific wildlife, waterfowl ecology and management, wetland delineation, wetland ecology, management of prairie chickens in Illinois, preservation and restoration of the Illinois River, and the ecology of small mammal populations.

Center staff remained deeply involved in service to professional groups, serving as referees for 28 professional journals. Scientists and staff also reviewed a wide variety of book chapters written by fellow scientists as well as proposals from government agencies and a wide variety of professional and private groups including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Tennessee Council of Science and Engineering, U.S. Forest Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Argonne National Laboratory, and the University of Illinois Research Board.