Re: Blackbirds

I think modern people find the idea of songbird pie far more novel than our medieval and rennaisance ancenstors. Remember that in a hunting culture 'game' of all kinds was the highest food, mostly the right of the nobility esp. the King.

Today event those that like the occaisional goose are seen as rebels, much less swan :).
Somewhere I read an account of Henry VIII having a huge selection of birds, pheasants, sonbirds, geese swans etc.. As I recall variety was much more in evidence than freshness and the whole thing sounded rather gross.

I can reccomend a movie called Vatel, for anyone who would like to see a rennaisance steward in action.