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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ovenbird43" data-source="post: 1574670" data-attributes="member: 64478">This is also something I wish for, but I don't know what the best way is to change our birding culture.  Maybe rising gas prices or an increased concern of the impact of travel on the environment will encourage more people to choose their travels wisely, and visit fewer but more exotic places to get more "bang for their buck".  I used to think I would like to do an ABA-area big year, but I no longer feel that way.  For the number of plane rides back and forth across the country that competitive big year listers make to chase vagrants, for example shorebirds from Europe or Asia, I would sure rather take one or two farther trips to see those birds in their natural ranges, along with loads of other new birds.  I don't even think I'd want to do a big year within my state- again for the amount of driving around I'd do, I'd rather just take one week-long trip to Colorado or somewhere.Another proposal in the article was to do away with the ABA area altogether, but I don't see that happening.</blockquote>