#71: Get a Little Something For the Birds

If you live on the North Fork, chances are you've driven by the sign on the south side of Route 25 in Mattituck: "Bird Houses."

But who makes them, and what's so special about them?

A man named Nick — who refused to give his last name — has been building bird houses since the mid 1990s out of his garage and selling them from a stand in his front yard.

After being hit by a car in 1987,  the former carpenter can only work for four hours at a time these days. And though he says he listens to more blues music than any other, he says he does his best to "make the world smile" through his creations, many of which are painted by his girlfriend.

The bird houses range from an ordinary two-toned bird house for $50 up to bird churches for $300 and up. Gazebos, barns and other structures and hand-crafted lawn ornaments dot the landscape where Nick says he's lived since 1990.

Nick says he donates part of his earnings to Independent Group Home Living, based out of Manorville, which helps disabled individuals find permanent housing.