The National Aviary has received a $1 million boost to its $28.5 million capital campaign. A grant from the Colcom Foundation will be used to support construction of a new theater and education center.

"The theater will be the first of its kind," said Linda Dickerson, National Aviary chief executive officer, "and will allow us to offer free-flight bird presentations in an indoor theater setting, year-round.

"In past years, the Colcom Foundation provided us with several million-dollar grants that were donated anonymously," Ms. Dickerson said. "Mrs. Cordelia Scaife May had a great passion for Pittsburgh and for the environment, and through the Colcom Foundation was a long-standing supporter of the National Aviary's conservation, education and avian care programs."

Mrs. May died in 2005.

The aviary has reached the halfway point in its $28.5 million campaign.