09-46: The Feather Detective with Chris Sweeney
The American Birding Podcast
naswick
4.7 • 677 Ratings
🗓️ 13 November 2025
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Smithsonian researcher Roxie Laybourne may be the most influential ornithologist you've never heard of. Over the more than half a century she was a pioneering figure in the fields of forensics and aviation, all through her work with birds, and, more specifically, their feathers. Her incredible life is documented by journalist Chris Sweeney in the book, The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne, released earlier this year. Chris joins us to talk about Laybourne's legacy in fields that go far beyond birds.
Also, the big eBird update is here and our lists are looking a lot different this week. What does this mean for our muddled taxonomic authorities in North America?
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Transcript
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| 0:01.0 | Hello, it's Wayne Klockner, Executive Director at the American Birding Association. |
| 0:06.8 | As we look back on the past year, we want to pause and say something simple but important. |
| 0:12.4 | Thank you. Your generosity, your membership, and your belief in our work have made an incredible |
| 0:18.7 | difference, not just for the ABA, but for the entire |
| 0:22.1 | birding community. Because of you, birders of all ages and experience levels have found |
| 0:27.7 | community, knowledge, and inspiration through the ABA, from our publications like Birding |
| 0:33.4 | magazine, to our events like community weekends, from our Young Birder Mentoring Program, |
| 0:39.3 | to the celebrated American Birding podcast, Your Support Fules at All. |
| 0:44.3 | Recently, we introduced our new mission. |
| 0:47.3 | We make birding better by providing knowledge, sharing experiences, and building community. |
| 0:53.3 | Every word of that mission is possible only because of you. |
| 0:58.0 | We're excited about what lies ahead. |
| 1:00.0 | In the coming year, we'll be growing our programs, |
| 1:03.0 | strengthening connections among birders, |
| 1:06.0 | and creating new opportunities to celebrate and protect the birds we love. |
| 1:10.0 | Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for believing in the power of new opportunities to celebrate and protect the birds we love. |
| 1:12.5 | Thank you for standing with us. |
| 1:18.0 | Thank you for believing in the power of birding to create connection and opportunity. |
| 1:22.8 | And thank you for being such an important part of the ABA team. |
| 1:27.5 | From all of us here at the American Birding Association, happy burning. |
| 1:37.0 | Hello and welcome to the American Birding podcast from the American Birding Association. |
| 1:39.8 | I am your host, Nate Swick. |
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