I'm going to have to stop feeding the birds

 Firstly, because it's getting too expensive, secondly, because the wrong birds are getting all the seed!

I began a few years ago with feeding mealworms to the magpies who seemed to really enjoy them. Then the crows hustled in and the magpies took off to find food elsewhere. So I continued putting out mealworms for the crows. Until they no longer came for them. 

Meanwhile, my upstairs neighbour thought this was a great idea and began tossing out a couple of handfuls of oats for the mourning doves. I'd hear her calling to them, "come, come" and come they did. About a half dozen at first, then more, and more. They're like pigeons, fat and greedy. 

More recently, the doves have discovered the seed that I have been putting out for the Sulphur Crested Cockatoos, those lovely big white birds you've seen right here on this blog. But they rarely come down now. I hear them squawking and screeching, I see them in the trees. But the seeds are being gobbled up by about three dozen doves. They're so thick around the pan I can't even see it. 

For the last three days I have put out the seed and left it until it began raining, then I just tossed the leftovers onto the grass, where the doves would get it the next morning. Today, two cockies came down but barely ate before being scared off by cars and people coming and going, then the doves swooped in.

So I will put out less and less seed until my supply runs out and then stop. I don't care what the upstairs neighbour does.