Book Review: The Falcon Thief
The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird, by New York Times bestselling author Joshua Hammer, recounts the fascinating tale of the real Jeffrey Lendrum, a master falcon egg thief. The novel begins with Lendrum’s childhood in South Africa, where he developed an acute interest in falcons and falcon eggs at Matobo National Park. Over the years, this fascination developed into an obsession, involving Lendrum stealing the eggs right out of their nests, and leading to his eventual expulsion from the national park.
Shortly after his dismissal, and as he grew into adulthood, Lendrum found himself traveling globally in pursuit of these eggs. In The Falcon Thief, Hammer describes Lendrum’s heightened ability to locate, seize, and smuggle wild falcon eggs across continental borders to ultimately sell them to buyers in the Middle East. Whether hanging from a rope attached to a helicopter in Canada or scaling mountains in Brazil, Lendrum never lost his keen eye for finding these nests, even in circumstances that would seem impossible to others. Hammer further explains the high desirability of wild falcon eggs priced at over one hundred thousand dollars, with premiums sometimes increasing beyond that, depending on the breed and quantity of the eggs available for sale.
The Falcon Thief is rich with historical and cultural relevance, as the ancient tradition of falcon racing in the Middle East traces back thousands of years when nomadic Arab tribes captured and trained falcon raptors as hunting partners in order to catch food and feed their families. The Bedouin tribes, which originally inhabited the desert areas in the Arabian Peninsula, relied heavily on falconry for hunting purposes. Evidence gathered by British archaeologist Austen Henry Layard suggests that falconry was prominent more than 2,500 years ago in modern-day Iraq. However, as technological developments began to occur, the practicality of falcons as hunting aids decreased, and these birds became utilized exclusively for racing purposes.
More recently, Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of elite falcon racing competitions. In 2017, the Saudi Falcons Club established the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival (KAFF). This prestigious competition measures the birds’ vision and speed in a series of 400 meter races. In determining the winners of these events, the KAFF utilizes photographic technology similar to that used in the Olympic games’ speed events. Owners of the most elite falcon racers can win millions of dollars in prizes, and, with the event surging in popularity over the last few years, the KAFF has repeatedly broken its own racing records, even setting a Guinness World Record. Saudi Falcons Club CEO, Hussam A. Al-Huzaimi, explains how he envisions the KAFF as the “Grand Prix of falconry”, pushing beyond physical racing and creating a tradition that is sustainable for future generations.
Similarly, in the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Falconers Club was launched by the government in 2013 to promote the practice of falconry and racing within the country. The Abu Dhabi Falconers Club’s head trainer Hamad Al-Fasali and his team train different falcons for participation in the Presidents Cup, a renowned competition with over 7 million dollars in prizes. This event works to promote the cultural aspects of falconry by keeping it alive in the form of racing, as falcon hunting is now banned in the UAE. Falcon racing has become one of the most important sports in Middle Eastern culture and will continue to hold significance on the world stage as these competitions increase in popularity.
However, individuals like Jeffery Lendrum, who participate in wildlife egg theft, directly contribute to the endangerment of the falcon species. Author Joshua Hammer recounts the lack of criminal convictions for egg thieves in the past, and how the changing laws in Great Britain assert that those who steal wild eggs now face severe consequences. Hammer narrates the life of Andy Mcmillan, a retired police officer and head of Britain's National Wildlife Crime Unit who played a pivotal role in The Falcon Thief as the figure responsible for the arrest and prosecution of Jeffery Lendrum. Hammer further explains Mcmillan’s passion for raising awareness of the importance of preservation, as well as his dedication to enhancing criminal consequences for egg thieves. Furthermore, the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 has recently been amended to include custodial sentences, which, in turn, has decreased the number of egg collecting crimes reported to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). The imposition of real legal consequences for egg theft alongside the popularization of wildlife preservation movements has helped encourage birds that were on the brink of extinction to reintegrate into their natural habitat. It is crucial to ensure the preservation of falcons in national parks across the world so that no species becomes extinct.
Ultimately, The Falcon Thief raises awareness about the necessity to prioritize falcon egg preservation efforts through the thrilling tale of Lendrum’s life. I highly recommend this book to any reader who is interested in birding, wildlife preservation, or those who are simply looking for an adventurous and chaotic story of a master egg thief.