Each year, the Flagship Inn staff members buy plain birdhouses from craft stores, and using their own personal time, materials and creative skills, they design gorgeous works of art to sell in the lobby. The birdhouses vary in style from a quaint log cabin to a bright purple castle to a multi-bird condo house, each as unique as the artist who made it.

The houses cost $20 each, and every dollar goes to Habitat for Humanity.

“It's a great charity,” said Nancy Bosio-Pickett of Flagship. “We are all glad to do it and enjoy decorating the houses and seeing them sell.

“We have a big craft box available for staff to take home for a day or two to paint and decorate their birdhouse, and every time one sells we make sure to start another to take it's place. Some are functional, some are decorative, and every one is unique.”

Also, visitors staying at Flagship Inn until May 24 can get their room at half-price for their entire stay by making a single $35 donation to Habitat for Humanity at the hotel.

By making a donation, the room rate drops to $39.50 a night. So if you are staying three days, your total cost with the donation would be $153.50 (including the donation), and without would be $237. There is a limit of seven days.

This deal is part of the Maine Innkeeper's Associations “Hospitality for Humanity,” a program where Maine hotels and inns can support Habitat for Humanity. This is the third year Flagship has participated.

The Flagship's goal this year is to donate $500 or more. To get the half-price deal, reservations must be made in advance. Call 1-800-660-50941-800-660-5094 or visit www.boothbaylodging.com.