Aligned birefringent fiber segments are reliably and efficiently rotated approximately 45.degree. relative to each other until the extinction ratio measurement at the output is approximately 0 dB, then birefringent fibers are fused. To determine the extinction ratio, a Wollaston analyzer is placed at the output of the birefringent fiber. Photodetectors placed on each output of the Wollaston analyzer, substantially simultaneously measure the output intensity of each propagation axis.