North Reading Resident Honored With Four Emmy Awards for Television Show

Resident Jonathan Bird’s television show Blue World was awarded four 2012 Boston/New England Emmy Awards for Outstanding Children/Youth Program, Outstanding Musical Composition/Arrangement, Outstanding Editor-Program, and Outstanding Magazine Feature/Segment.

"They are very good at creating drama at the Emmy awards and intentionally create an atmosphere where you are on the edge of your seat hoping to win. When they open the envelope and say your name, it's hard not to jump up and scream," Bird said.

Bird has won an Emmy for the  for the family show that explores the world's oceans. The show has been airing on public access television stations since 2008. You can also see the show online.

The latest season included segments on the blue holes in the Bahamas, dolphins in Curacao, the Goliath Grouper, a sinkhole in the Yucatan, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and more. The season also covered the rescue of a Pilot Whale named Sully and the adventures of a 13-year-old boy named Jake.

Sully was found stranded in Curacao. Due to difficulties feeding, Sully is now safe at Sea World in California.

Jake Whitlock, 13, took diving lessons and then went on a trip to the Cayman Islands where he became officially certified. While diving in the Caymans, he explored a coral reef, sunken ship and swam with Manta Rays. 

"Co-produced by Jonathan Bird Productions and Oceanic Research Group, the series has been shown over 13,000 times in 38 states to over 74% of the USA. Season 4 of the series is scheduled for release in 2013," according to a press release.

Bird has produced films for National Geographic, PBS, ABC, and other networks. He is also an underwater cinematographer, underwater photographer, producer and author of seven books.