Roxie Collie Laybourne

Roxie Collie Simpson Laybourne (September 15, 1910 – August 7, 2003) was an American ornithologist born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She pioneered the study of forensic ornithology while at the National Museum of Natural History; these forensic techniques for identifying species of birds involved in bird strikes led to aircraft safety improvements.[2][3]

Roxie Collie Laybourne
Laybourne identifying bird feathers, circa 1944.[1]
Born(1910-09-15)September 15, 1910
Fayetteville, North Carolina
DiedAugust 7, 2003(2003-08-07) (aged 92)
Manassas, Virginia
NationalityAmerican
Alma materMeredith College, George Washington University
Spouse(s)Philip Simpson, Edgar G. Laybourne
ChildrenRobert Laybourne
Scientific career
Fieldsforensic ornithology
InstitutionsNational Museum of Natural History, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Early life

Laybourne was raised in Farmville, North Carolina. She was the eldest of 15. When she was young she preferred playing baseball to other activities such as learning to sew.[4]

Education and career

Laybourne earned her B.A. from Meredith College in 1932 and her M.S. in plant ecology from George Washington University in 1951 with a thesis on mosses.[5] She worked for the North Carolina State Museum of Natural History in its taxidermy and exhibit departments in 1932, as well as the National Fisheries Laboratory, the United States National Museum from 1944 to 1946, and the Bird and Mammal Laboratories of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from 1946 to 1974, before retiring and joining the National Museum of Natural History as a research associate.[6] While at the National Museum of Natural History, Laybourne pioneered the study of forensic ornithology.[5] She worked as a feather specialist for the Smithsonian Institution.[7]

During her career, Laybourne developed "the speciality of identifying dead birds from their feathers to learn what types of birds struck planes." This information was instrumental in safety improvements within the manufacturing of aircraft engines, the development of military fighter canopies, and the creation of runway management plans. Laybourne's skills in forensic ornithology helped solve around 1,000 cases of bird-related airplane incidents a year.[2]

In addition to her employers, Laybourne's expertise aided the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, General Electric, the National Transportation Safety Board, Pratt and Whitney, and Rolls-Royce.

Awards and honors

Laybourne's work was recognized by the Air Force Bird Strike Committee in 1966 with its lifetime achievement award.[2]

References
  1. "Roxie Collie S. Laybourne (1910-2003), identifying bird feathers c. 1944". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Smithsonian Institution. 1944-01-28. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  2. Staff, From; Reports, Wire (2003-08-18). "Roxie C. Laybourne, 92; Pioneer in forensic ornithology aided aviation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  3. O'Connor, Anahad (2003-08-21). "Roxie C. Laybourne, 92, used bird knowledge to save lives". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  4. Bennicoff, Tad (2016-03-24). "Roxie Laybourne: A Bird of Many Feathers". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  5. Dove, Carla J.; Heacker, Marcy; Adair, Bill (2004-10-01). "In Memoriam: Roxie Collie Laybourne, 1910–2003". The Auk. 121 (4): 1282–1285. doi:10.1093/auk/121.4.1282. ISSN 0004-8038.
  6. "Oral history interviews with Roxie Collie S. Laybourne". Archives, Manuscripts, Photographs Catalog. Smithsonian Institution Research Information System (SIRIS). Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  7. Clines, Francis X.; Times, Special To the New York (1985-05-08). "WORKING PROFILE: ROXIE LAYBOURNE; IN FEATHERS, SHE OWNS THE CAP". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
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