Carey and Phillips were in Michigan as guests of Michigan TNC to discuss international bird conservation issues with potential donors and other cooperators. Their visit to Michigan and meeting at ELFO is a continuation of an international relationship with the Bahamas initiated several years ago by the Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Team, the FWS, U.S. Forest Service, Michigan DNR and The Nature Conservancy. This effort has resulted in Carey's appointment to the recovery team, several visits to the Bahamas by team members for discussions with government officials and citizens, field work and a recovery team meeting, and a current research project in the Bahamas conducted by the Bahamas government, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Forest Service.

The research project is intended to investigate Kirtland's habitat use in the Bahamas, and to employ and train Bahamas students for natural resource careers. The Service's International Affairs office assisted with Recovery Team travel to the Bahamas and travel of two Bahamian students to Michigan for summer field internships with the U.S. Forest Service, which included field experience with the Kirtland's warbler management program.