The Bird, the Bard-Lover: a real drama? In 1890, Eugene Schieffelin, released European starlings into New York City. His goal: introduce all the bird species mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays to America. In Henry IV, Shakespeare has a rebel fantasize about teaching a starling to torment the King by saying the name of his enemie: "Nay, I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak nothing but Mortimer, and give it to him to keep his anger still in motion." Jason Bittel, NYT, April 11, 2022.
