The Richard King Mellon Foundation has contributed another $2 million to the National Aviary on the North Side for construction of the nation's first indoor, year-round, free-flight bird theater, the aviary has announced.

The grant brings the foundation's total investment in the avian immersion theater project to $5 million and brings total contributions raised to date to $15.7 million.

Construction of the theater, along with upgrades and renovations to the existing facility, will cost $28.5 million.

The new theater will be the first of its kind, allowing the National Aviary to offer free-flight bird presentations in an indoor theater setting. It will provide audiences a chance to see rare and endangered birds from around the world in flight and demonstrate their natural behaviors. The presentation will include music, sound and educational messages.

Linda Dickerson, the aviary's chief executive officer, said foundation grants will help "awaken people's interest in nature" and "create a new generation of environmentally conscious Americans."

The aviary plans to break ground for the new theater next year.