About Gene

Gene Koziara is a family medicine physician by training and is now retired. His undergraduate degree was in Biology from the University of Michigan, where he graduated with high honors. He is passionate about warbler photography, and has spent considerable time in the field with camera over the last 15 plus years, working with warblers from the end of March thru late fall. Over that time Gene has learned a lot about warblers, and warbler photography, and has made many modifications to his approach. It takes a special skill set, not quickly or easily obtainable, to successfully do warbler photography. This is especially so when special compositions are desired. Gene has photographed all 37 eastern warblers, and importantly almost all of them on their breeding grounds, from Georgia to several Canadian provinces. He knows where to go to find each targeted species, when to go to maximize composition opportunities, and how to locate them by habitat and song.

Gene has learned over the years that each warbler species has its own peculiarities when working with it, and that there is variability as well from bird to bird within a species. This is important when choosing which bird to work with and when. This know-how saves much valuable time in the field and can produce some outstanding composition opportunities.

Gene’s goal whenever possible is a singing male in a pleasing composition. His skill set helps to improve those odds. It is important to Gene to minimize habitat encroachment. This often means choosing locations that do not have much birder/photographer activity. It also usually means choosing areas where the targeted species are in good numbers and to most always work prior to the hatching of young.

Gene believes that when attracting a warbler subject with the use of calls the methods used should endeavor to keep the subject curious and confident, and perhaps to leave it feeling even more dominant than it did prior to the session. If we base our behavior in the field on keeping those goals in mind, we will get better results, and any negative impact on the species will be minimized or altogether eliminated. Gene believes there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstandings concerning the use of calls. This is in part due to the attitudes and beliefs held by those who for the most part have limited experience using them in the field. Yes, calls can definitely be misused and they often are. They also can usually be used much more effectively, and much more efficiently than most realize. Gene’s use of calls for warbler photography has undergone many revisions over the years. He has been self taught and as his client you will benefit from his many many hours of field experience. Perhaps you have heard the phrase from a photographer, “Just turn on the call.” When Gene first started photographing warblers over 15 years ago that was his approach as well. That approach is often counter productive as it often over stresses the bird. You won’t get many pleasing compositions including those with the bird singing on an intended perch with that elementary approach.

Gene’s goal for each Warbler Photo Journey is to teach what he can to each participant about photographing warblers while helping them achieve their own warbler photography goals. He believes in a team effort approach to our work each day and to open communication between team members. The final goal is many pleasing images and an enjoyable Warbler Photo Journey for all.

Gene is married to Janelle, and they have three adult children.

Last updated 1/2026.

PUBLISHED WORK

Gene has had his bird and/or warbler photography published which includes but is not limited to the following:

1)BIRD CONSERVATION, The Magazine of American Bird Conservancy (spring 2019, Golden-winged Warbler)

2)HANDBOOK of WESTERN PALEARCTIC BIRDS volume II by Shirihai and Svensson (Cerulean warbler-first fall male and first fall female)

3)North American Birds a quartely journal of ornithological record published by the American Birding Association (various)

4)Chicago Daily Herald; monthly column Words on Birds featured a Yellow-billed Cuckoo image

5)Sierra Club of Canada for an endangered species of Canada campaign (Williamson’s Sapsucker)

6)Birder’s Guide, American Birding Association (Wood Thrush, 2019 Travel issue)

7) The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website (various images have appeared here)

8) BIRDING Magazine (ABA). He has authored several articles including those on Swainson’s Warbler, the Waterthrushes, Winged warbler hybrids, and the Cerulean warbler.