Jonathan Bird
Jonathan Bird (born March 1969) is an American underwater cinematographer, photographer, director and television host known for his work in marine filmmaking. He is the creator, host and producer of the Emmy Award–winning public television series Jonathan Bird's Blue World. Bird has produced underwater films for broadcast and educational distribution, with his work appearing on networks including PBS, National Geographic Channel and Discovery Channel.
Jonathan Bird
- Name
- Jonathan Bird
- Born
- 1969 3
- Occupation
- Cinematographer, photographer, director, television host
- Education
- Electrical engineering
- Spouse
- Christine Bird
- Awards
- International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame
- Nationality
- United States
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Jonathan Bird (born March 1969) is an American underwater cinematographer, photographer, director and television host known for his work in marine filmmaking. He is the creator, host and producer of the Emmy Award–winning public television series Jonathan Bird's Blue World. Bird has produced underwater films for broadcast and educational distribution, with his work appearing on networks including PBS, National Geographic Channel and Discovery Channel.
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In this article
Biography
Biography
His cinematography has earned nine Emmy Awards and two CINE Golden Eagle Awards. In addition to television production, Bird has directed large-format documentary films for IMAX and giant-screen theaters, including Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (2015), Ancient Caves (2020), Secrets of the Sea (2022), and Call of the Dolphins (2025).
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Jonathan Bird • Born — 1969 3 • Occupation — Cinematographer, photographer, director, television host • Education — Electrical engineering • Spouse — Christine Bird • Children — Elise Bird, Liam Bird • Awards — International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame • Website — http: www.jonathanbird.net/
Cinematography
Cinematography
Bird co-founded Oceanic Research Group, Inc. in 1991. The organization became a non-profit in 1993 and produced educational marine science films for schools. His first television film, Sharks: The Real Story, aired on PBS in 1995. In 2005, he completed Sharks: Deep Trouble for National Geographic. His film Ancient Caves (2020) received Giant Screen Cinema Association awards including Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Film for Lifelong Learning.
Jonathan Bird’s Blue World
Jonathan Bird’s Blue World
Premiering in 2008, the series was distributed to public television through NETA. The series has received multiple Emmy Awards, including recognition for Outstanding Magazine/Feature Segment and Children/Youth Programming. Beginning in 2012, episodes were released on YouTube, where the channel has attracted over one million subscribers. It is also distributed on the educational platform Epic!.
Selected filmography
Selected filmography
• Sharks: The Real Story (1995) • Beneath The North Atlantic (1998) • Sharks: Deep Trouble (2005) • Jonathan Bird's Blue World (2008–present) • Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit (2015) • Ancient Caves (2020) • Secrets of the Sea (2022) • Call of the Dolphins (2025)
Scientific contributions
Scientific contributions
Bird has contributed to marine science literature. In 1997, he was a co-author of an early paper documenting in situ observations of a live oarfish, Regalecus glesne, published in Copeia. The paper is considered a foundational in situ observation of the Oarfish. Bird also co-authored research on sea lamprey parasitism of sharks and teleost fishes, published in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A in 2004. Bird's underwater photography and video footage have also been incorporated into peer-reviewed marine science research, including studies of Atlantic wolffish behavior and Hawaiian monk seal vocalizations.
Personal life
Personal life
Bird lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two children. He is the grandson of Kenneth T. Bird, a pioneer in telemedicine.
Underwater photography
Bird learned to scuba dive while in college at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He worked as an electrical engineer before leaving his position in 1993 to pursue underwater photography full-time. His first book, Beneath the North Atlantic, was published in 1997.
Awards and honors
• 9 Emmy Awards • 2 CINE Golden Eagle Awards • Inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (2019) • NOGI Award in the Arts category (2026) • Worcester Polytechnic Institute Ichabod Washburn Alumni Award (2000)
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Profile. October 15, 2010.
- 2.The Wonders Down Under. UNH Magazine.
- 3.Jonathan Bird. X-Ray Magazine.
- 4.Jonathan Bird CV.
- 5.National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 33rd Boston/New England Emmy Awards Winner List.
- 6.National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. 35th Boston/New England Emmy Awards Winner List.
- 7.Astronaut: Ocean to Orbit. MacGillivray Freeman Films.
- 8.2020 Awards. Giant Screen Cinema Association.
- 9.2023 Awards. Giant Screen Cinema Association.
- 10.Revealing the Ocean's Mysteries.
- 11.The Wonders Down Under. UNH Magazine.
- 12.Beneath the North Atlantic.
- 13.Oceanic Research Group Mission.
- 14.ORG Films.
- 15.Jonathan Bird Films.
- 16.NETA Program.
- 17.BlueWorldTV.
- 18.Jonathan Bird's Blue World: Great White Shark Adventure. Epic!.
- 19.Bird, J. In Situ Observations of the Oarfish, Regalecus glesne (Pisces: Regalecidae). Copeia. 1997. 4. 880–882. 1447310.
- 20.Benfield, M. C. Five in situ observations of live oarfish Regalecus glesne (Regalecidae) by remotely operated vehicles in the oceanic waters of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Journal of Fish Biology. 83. 1. 28–38. 2013. 10.1111/jfb.12144.
- 21.Wilkie, M. P. Lamprey parasitism of sharks and teleosts: high capacity urea excretion in an extant vertebrate relic. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology. 138. 4. 485–492. 2004. 10.1016/j.cbpb.2004.06.001.
- 22.Bemis, Katherine E. Functional and Developmental Morphology of Tooth Replacement in the Atlantic Wolffish. Copeia. 103. 4. 886–901. 2015. 10.1643/OT-14-141.
- 23.Parnell, Kirby. Underwater soundscapes within critical habitats of the Hawaiian monk seal. Endangered Species Research. 54. 311–327. 2024. 10.3354/esr01336.
- 24.Parnell, Kirby. Hawaiian Monk Seal Karaoke Gone Wrong. Marine Mammal Research Program.
- 25.CINE. 2002 CINE Golden Eagle Awards Winner Directory.
- 26.CINE. 1997 CINE Golden Eagle Awards Winner Directory.
- 27.ISDHOF Bio.
- 28.Academy of Underwater Arts & Sciences announces 2026 NOGI Award recipients. DiveNet.
- 29.Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Jonathan Bird.
References
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References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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