When was the European starling originally introduced?

In 1890, avian enthusiast Eugene Schieffelin released 60 to 100 European Starlings into Central Park in New York City in an effort to introduce to North America all birds mentioned in the works of William Shakespeare.

The project did a little too well. Currently there are approximately 200 million of them across the United States, Canada, and even as far south as Central America.

While they are an attractive bird with beautiful calls, they can be a nuisance. They have a tendency to muscle other birds out of their already built nests, and often flock in the hundreds of thousands where their concentrated droppings can kill trees.