Chapter 1: The Hunt for Endangered Birds

As Easter approaches, many people are preoccupied with the annual tradition of egg hunts. However, for some, the quest for eggs never ceases. This theme is brilliantly explored in Joshua Hammer’s book, The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird (Simon & Schuster UK, 2020). The narrative unfolds the true account of an audacious thief, caught multiple times across three continents, who pilfered the eggs and chicks of endangered raptors. In contrast, a dedicated British wildlife crime investigator is resolutely set on putting an end to his illicit activities.

Chapter 2: The Rise of a Criminal

The story of Jeffrey Lendrum, who began his criminal exploits in his youth, takes off at Birmingham International Airport in May 2010. A janitor at the Emirates First Class Lounge grew suspicious of a passenger who lingered in the restroom for an unusual period without any apparent activity. When the janitor discovered a suspicious blood-red egg in the trash, he alerted airport security, leading to a shocking revelation: the man had fourteen live eggs strapped to his body. These eggs had been illicitly removed from peregrine falcon nests nestled on the cliffs of Wales.

Chapter 3: A Global Pursuit

This startling incident sets off a gripping cat-and-mouse chase between Lendrum, a globetrotting smuggler devoted to the theft of endangered raptor chicks and eggs for affluent buyers in the Middle East, and Detective Andy McWilliam from the UK’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, who is determined to safeguard these majestic birds.

Part travelogue and part character exploration, Hammer retraces Lendrum’s steps through breathtaking locations, from the volcanoes of Patagonia to the picturesque Matobo National Park in Zimbabwe, and from the icy tundra near the Arctic Circle to extravagant aviaries in Dubai. Along the way, readers will encounter falcon breeders, scientists, conservationists, legal experts, and detectives, while uncovering astonishing facts about peregrine falcons, including their incredible diving speed and the exorbitant sums Emirati sheiks are willing to pay for a single live falcon egg.

Chapter 4: The Tragedy of Endangerment

A profound sense of tragedy permeates this meticulously researched narrative. The decline in raptor populations across the Northern Hemisphere can be traced back to the reckless application of the pesticide DDT, which weakens eggshells, leading to their destruction during incubation. In addition, the capture of young wild raptors during migration for sale to falconers and racers in the Middle East exacerbates the problem, compounded by poaching and habitat loss. In Britain, the juvenile fixation on egg collecting, or oology, remains a concern, as some disaffected individuals pursue this hobby with little regard for its destructive consequences.

Chapter 5: Lendrum's Obsession

Lendrum, a charismatic and arrogant Irish national raised in Zimbabwe, cultivated a deep appreciation for wildlife from an early age, influenced by his father's love for collecting bird eggs. As he matured, Lendrum developed into an expert cliff climber and naturalist. Tragically, his genuine passion for nature morphed into a fixation on oology, ultimately leading him to believe that by stealing eggs and selling them, he was somehow contributing to the preservation of endangered raptors.

Chapter 6: A Captivating Narrative

This fast-paced adventure is not only well-researched and informative but also beautifully articulated. Hammer skillfully blends classical research with modern interviews to portray the rich history of falconry in Europe and the Middle East, the obsessive nature of oology, wildlife crime and its repercussions (particularly in the UK), and the intricacies of falcon breeding and conservation efforts.

This riveting tale combines elements of adventure and true crime, offering a fascinating and frustrating narrative that feels more like fiction than nonfiction. The Falcon Thief is sure to resonate with readers who appreciated The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson and The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean, as well as those with a passion for birds, nature, and travel.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. Additionally, as an Amazon Associate, I earn micropayments from qualifying Amazon purchases.